ESP Price Increase

[Miguel]

Stef B8=3300
http://www.samash.com/catalog/showitem.asp?itemid=68988&SourceType=RecentItems

Stef B7=3000 ($600 increase from last yr)
http://www.samash.com/catalog/showitem.asp?ItemID=55893

-Looks like ESP is raising the fuck out of the prices again.

ESP hanneman=3900
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/ESP-Jeff-Hanneman-Electric-Guitar?sku=512026

[guitarsatbmusic]

Had a look at the US dollar lately?

[Metfuk]

Had a look at the US dollar lately?

Nice and all...but will they ever go down when the dollar is getting better again?

[Miguel]

Had a look at the US dollar lately?

Yeah I know of some reasons why they increased prices and I'm not saying their right or wrong for doing so. They are a business..... but from a consumers perspective this huge increase fucking blows!!! Should I be happy about having to pay a shit load more? Of course not!

[BrazilianBootyLover]

Stef B8=3300

Damn, thats how much I paid for my custom!


You might as well go for a custom.

[Butch]

Nice and all...but will they ever go down when the dollar is getting better again?

thats a really good point dude. This happens all the time in my experience, dollar increase or some raw material increases and prices hike, but when they go down the price remains fixed. I mean sometimes they do go down, but its usually in the form of a sale or something.

esp prices however dropped for 2007 from 2006 though, and now theyre back up.



(oh and yeah i know there are many other expenses occurred that the business has to foot etc, and a price increase only happens when it is only absolute etc etc etc. )

[ESPVIPERCAMO]

yea esp got people hooked by lowering prices in 07 and giving us semi gas

now price hike in 08 is double(make up for last years drop) and feed us with tons of guitars we like so we will pay the prices.

wait for 09

[guitarsatbmusic]

Nice and all...but will they ever go down when the dollar is getting better again?
Who says it will? And even if it did there would be plenty of other factors at play by then that would affect the price.

[bloodstyle]

yo.... the canadian dollars was 60¢ and it's now 1$ compare to US....that means it increased by 60%... and everything in canada cost the same fuckin price as before. that's how bullshitting capitalist world works

[guitarsatbmusic]

If a manufacturer sells in US dollars and the value of the US dollar goes down, price goes up. What do you think is happening with oil?

[xdaynex]

yo.... the canadian dollars was 60¢ and it's now 1$ compare to US....that means it increased by 60%... and everything in canada cost the same fuckin price as before. that's how bullshitting capitalist world works

exactly eh.i live in canada and a lot of guitars are priced at 445 when the us price is 429. dunno wtf is happenin

[Butch]

(oh and yeah i know there are many other expenses occurred that the business has to foot etc, and a price increase only happens when it is only absolute etc etc etc. )

Who says it will? And even if it did there would be plenty of other factors at play by then that would affect the price.



Wow i am right for once

[Metfuk]

If a manufacturer sells in US dollars and the value of the US dollar goes down, price goes up. What do you think is happening with oil?

We know, but also with oil I'm wondering if it ever goes down.
I imagine the oil giants LOVE the extra profit they get if they keep the prices high.

[Butch]

We know, but also with oil I'm wondering if it ever goes down.
I imagine the oil giants LOVE the extra profit they get if they keep the prices high.

as much as this is true, we humans are getting more and more greedy, and well the oil is pretty much dwindling. The oil in my country is almost done, in the next 10 years we are screwed. Funny how things come around full circle, we are the largest exporter of ammonia in the western hemisphere, and we'll probably end up like haiti. Bye bye custom! :|

[Greatdeceiver]

Fuck capitalism! Adopt kommunism! The China shall lead us forward!

[Metfuk]

as much as this is true, we humans are getting more and more greedy, and well the oil is pretty much dwindling. The oil in my country is almost done, in the next 10 years we are screwed. Funny how things come around full circle, we are the largest exporter of ammonia in the western hemisphere, and we'll probably end up like haiti. Bye bye custom! :|

Yeah that shit scares me. Not only do most vehicles/transports consume fuel, the oil is also used in a shitload of products like plastic. Hard times ahead of us...

[emg32]

Despite the reason for the major price hikes, it looks like ESP's USA sales will tank this year.

They tried the big price hike in '06 and their sales suffered for it. In '07 they brought the prices back down and the sales jumped back up so now they are ready to try the price hikes again.

I personally don't think the dollar has anything to do with it. The dollar wasn't that weak in '06 when ESP jacked up prices.

You don't see Toyota vehicles or a bunch of other Japanese products jumping 40% in price this year because of the weak dollar.

All I can say is good luck ESP in '07.;)

At least the used ESP's will start selling good.

[emg32]

Yeah that shit scares me. Not only do most vehicles/transports consume fuel, the oil is also used in a shitload of products like plastic. Hard times ahead of us...

I don't think times will be that hard. Oil is not even close to running out yet and most think oil prices will be back down to $30-$40 a barrel in another year or 2. There is also a bunch of oil yet to be tapped into in the world.

The major oil producing countries know that they can't keep these high prices going for to long. It's going to backfire on them in the long run.

Right now they are just keeping production steady so they can reap the profits. If they really wanted oil prices to go down right now all they would have to do is increase production. They refuse to do that.:rolleyes: GREED.

[Miguel]

All I can say is good luck ESP in '07.

Very true EMG32. If ESP wants to play these bullshit unrealistic games good luck. I was planning on buying a b7 or b8 just because but fuck that. The price hike is too much for me plus going by past behavior with esp during the last two yrs, they will get their ass kicked because people refuse to pay that much of an increase and they will have to bring down the price to one that people can AFFORD. The target mkt for esp is not a bunch of rich dudes. They will learn once again the hard way. If I'm paying close to 3k or over I'm getting a custom made guitar, not a fucking manufactured signature series which I have one of and it doesn't compare anything to my customs!!

[Scott]

Despite the reason for the major price hikes, it looks like ESP's USA sales will tank this year.

They tried the big price hike in '06 and their sales suffered for it. In '07 they brought the prices back down and the sales jumped back up so now they are ready to try the price hikes again.

I personally don't think the dollar has anything to do with it. The dollar wasn't that weak in '06 when ESP jacked up prices.

You don't see Toyota vehicles or a bunch of other Japanese products jumping 40% in price this year because of the weak dollar.

All I can say is good luck ESP in '07.;)

At least the used ESP's will start selling good.

Well, the USD has dropped dramatically over the last years compared to more stabler currencies, like the Euro.
http://www.x-rates.com/d/USD/EUR/hist2006.html
http://www.x-rates.com/d/USD/EUR/hist2008.html

And I guess you mean good luck to ESP in 08...cos that's the year most of us live in... ;)

ESP didn't lower the prices in 07 compared to 06 - they just didn't give you guys in North America the OHSC with the standard series...

[Scott]

I don't think times will be that hard. Oil is not even close to running out yet and most think oil prices will be back down to $30-$40 a barrel in another year or 2. There is also a bunch of oil yet to be tapped into in the world.

The major oil producing countries know that they can't keep these high prices going for to long. It's going to backfire on them in the long run.

Right now they are just keeping production steady so they can reap the profits. If they really wanted oil prices to go down right now all they would have to do is increase production. They refuse to do that.:rolleyes: GREED.

For every barrel of oil that's used today, only a quarter of a new barrel is found...conservative estimates from governments and major oil drilling companies agree that the worlds oil reserve will be gone by 2060.
Also, I fail to see how it's gonna backfire on the oil-producing countries...it's not like we're gonna quit using petroleum products just to piss them off...not that this would really matter to them...
Ever noticed how many of those countries started shifting most of their investments away from oil and towards real-estate, etc.? Guess why? ;)

[Butch]

true dude, except here, being a developing country and all, we are just squandering it all under the pretense that it will last in my country. No tourism development, not much non-petrol industries going up, pretty much no kind of sustainable development.

[jaymz097]

The US economy is in trouble as a result of several factors. Our dependance on foreign oil has got us by the balls and there is no hope in sight. Our president thinks it is all a joke. He has his hands in the pockets of the oil companies and the contractors doing the cleanup in Iraq. Bush will go down in history as one of the worst presidents ever. He's the same idiot that traded Sosa when he was the owner of the Texas Rangers.
The cost of war in Iraq.
$275 million per day
$4,100 per household
Almost 4,000 U.S. soldiers killed and more than 60,000 wounded
700,000 Iraqis killed and 4 million refugees
I sell Toyotas for a living and the fact is the Japanese build a superior product to the US automakers. People will still buy ESP Guitars for the same reason.

[emg32]

ESP didn't lower the prices in 07 compared to 06 - they just didn't give you guys in North America the OHSC with the standard series...

That's weird because I have never bought a ESP Standard that didn't come with a free hardcase. I've personally never seen a ESP Standard sell without a hardcase in '06 or '07.

ESP, lowered prices dramatically in '07 compared to '06 in the USA. For example, in '06 ESP raised the prices of the Standard Eclipses to around $1700-$1800. In '07 the ESP Standard Eclipses went back down to around $1300-$1400. All of them in '06 and '07 came with hardcases.


I sell Toyotas for a living and the fact is the Japanese build a superior product to the US automakers. People will still buy ESP Guitars for the same reason.


Like you said, you sell Toyotas for a living. That right there makes your statement useless in regards to what you think of other automakers.

If ESP raises prices on most of their models like they did in '06, sales of new guitars will be way down, like they were in '06. Most people won't shell out that much money for a ESP in the USA, they will go to other brands like most did in '06.

Resale value is a major factor in what people will pay for new guitars. Most ESP's are well known to have very crappy resale value in the USA.

[Scott]

Might be weird to you, but I clearly recall a lot of members on here that were bitching about not getting an OHSC with the standard series.

[emg32]

Might be weird to you, but I clearly recall a lot of members on here that were bitching about not getting an OHSC with the standard series.

I actually don't remember that many people here even buying new ESP's in '06. If they did and didn't get a hardcase, a hardcase is only around $100. The price hike was around $400 on the Eclipse. It was more on higher end models.

Most here seemed to go with Ibanez, Gibson, etc.. in '06. That's why ESP lowered the prices back down in '07.

I havn't seen the ESP '08 pricelist so I don't know how extensive the price hike is. If it's just on select models then it won't hurt them that much but if it's across the board, like in '06, then I see a major down year.

[Metfuk]

There is a white MX250 on ebay now.
Last week it was $2,400 and now it's fucking $2,600. :eek: Where's the logic in that?

[Microdomus]

^^The current decreasing USD currency maby?;)

[Metfuk]

^^The current decreasing USD currency maby?;)

In the course of a WEEK?
The dollar has been low for months.

[Microdomus]

Well...the USD has decreased more and more each week. Last week 1 NOK(Norwegian kroner) was the same as 5.2 USD. Today I see 1NOK is the same as 5.1 USD....Its falling like all hell. I guess the Japs have realised this, and take adventage of it...

[emg32]

Well...the USD has decreased more and more each week. Last week 1 NOK(Norwegian kroner) was the same as 5.2 USD. Today I see 1NOK is the same as 5.1 USD....Its falling like all hell. I guess the Japs have realised this, and take adventage of it...

I don't think this is an advantage for the Japanese. They can raise the prices to compensate for the lower dollar but all that's going to do is convince most potential USA buyers to start looking at other brands that havn't raised prices.

[Miguel]

Of course everyone knows about the decrease in value of the US dollar. So wouldn't u think that because price increases demand Decreases? US people are therefore taking a double hit. 1. with the intitial falling in value of the US dollar. 2. ESP increases prices bigtime.

Also yes ESP adjusts prices to reflect this relationship but will they change prices when the US dollar increases again?? I think NOT!

[Butch]

There is a white MX250 on ebay now.
Last week it was $2,400 and now it's fucking $2,600. :eek: Where's the logic in that?

well if its a relist i guess the guy decided he just needed 200 bucks more.

[emg32]

Of course everyone knows about the decrease in value of the US dollar. So wouldn't u think that because price increases demand Decreases? US people are therefore taking a double hit. 1. with the intitial falling in value of the US dollar. 2. ESP increases prices bigtime.

Also yes ESP adjusts prices to reflect this relationship but will they change prices when the US dollar increases again?? I think NOT!

The weak dollar not only hurts us in the USA but it hurts foreign businesses trying to sell here. The first reaction to the weak dollar for foreign businesses is of course to raise their prices to compensate for it and keep their profits steady. Of course by doing that it decreases their chances of selling their items here. People will go elsewhere for the best deals.

IMO foreign businesses would be better off keeping their prices steady and taking a slight hit in their item profits to keep sales up. By raising prices to get their usual profits off of items they actual lose profits from lack of sales.

[jaymz097]

The falling US Dollar is just part of it. It probably costs more now than it did a year ago for everything ESP does including the cost to ship raw materials and the materials themselves. Are there petroleum products used in the process? Then the cost of shipping the finished product. That might explain an across the board increase, but to jack the price of a few hot guitars then thats not fair.

[Scott]

I actually don't remember that many people here even buying new ESP's in '06. If they did and didn't get a hardcase, a hardcase is only around $100. The price hike was around $400 on the Eclipse. It was more on higher end models.

Most here seemed to go with Ibanez, Gibson, etc.. in '06. That's why ESP lowered the prices back down in '07.

I havn't seen the ESP '08 pricelist so I don't know how extensive the price hike is. If it's just on select models then it won't hurt them that much but if it's across the board, like in '06, then I see a major down year.

Yeah, the shitty cases the US gets are definately not worth more than 100 bucks. Nonetheless, the dollar is weak and getting weaker by the day. Therefore the prices on foreign stuff go up, and the more expensive they were to begin with the more they will increase. Pure and simple.

The main problem is that the US wants everything cheap, so yeah, go buy an Ibanez if you want an ESP. Then sell it in the Spam section a few weeks later, taking a loss, and then end up buying the ESP you originally wanted. Makes sense. :lol

Can't really talk about other countries, but the weak dollar doesn't seem to hurt the german economy - still no. 1 exporting nation in the world. Quality seems to be more important to most.

[Gfunk]

Despite the reason for the major price hikes, it looks like ESP's USA sales will tank this year.

They tried the big price hike in '06 and their sales suffered for it. In '07 they brought the prices back down and the sales jumped back up so now they are ready to try the price hikes again.


Where do you get your figures?




Yeah, the shitty cases the US gets are definately not worth more than 100 bucks.


The hardshell deluxe cases that come with custom and standard ESPs, have been the same since the early 90s, and are very sturdy. Easily a $100 up sell.

[Scott]

Oh I know they're ok...just not the same as the ones we get.

[Gfunk]

They are not the same?




I thought they were all TKL deluxe style cases.



No?

[emg32]

They are not the same?




I thought they were all TKL deluxe style cases.



No?

Some of the cases used overseas are slightly different but nothing major in overall terms of quality.

ESP seems to use a variety of cases, not sure if all are made by TKL, but most probably are. The inside of the cases seem to be mainly identical. It's usually the writing on the outside of the cases or the outside texture of the cases that differs. Nothing really that important IMO and nothing that makes one more protective than the other.

[Metfuk]

What we all seem to forget here is that the wood has gone up in price rapidly too. Really...(good) wood is getting more and more hard to find. Prices for some woods have gone up more triple their previous value.
It sucks. One day, all good wood is gonna be very exclusive and only available to customers of builders like KL.

[FarBeyondDriven]

true thats a big factor in the ESP price increase