Dear Brian, List, et al,
The confusion about our prices seems to stem from our not having raised prices in three years. Our June 1, 1997 price list is still valid. We will probably need to increase prices later this year which will be our second increase in about 6 or 7 years. We are able to do this by selling only direct, and maintaining very low overhead. We do not use retail credit cards, toll free phones, etc., which bothers some of our smaller customers. However, they also benefit from the same low prices we make available to piano factories and major rebuilders. There is no “price fixing” or discrimination as Brian asks. Everyone pays the same.
There can be a price difference on the tools, however. The Renner USA hammer boring jig is $275.00, as Roger said, and has been for over three years. In order to promote attendance at the PTG seminars, we often lower our tool prices by 30% at the conventions. In the case of the jigs, that reduces the price to $195.00. We offset this discount by not shipping an inventory of tools to the conventions. We only take samples, and ship later from one of our warehouses. That’s not as convenient, but can save us $2,000+ in freight costs for larger conventions which we prefer to pass along to you. I wish I had been smart enough to figure that out earlier.
The design of the Renner Jig originated with a special project at MIT and was then refined by our engineers and actually tested at the Mason & Hamlin factory, when I was consulting them, where it has been used for all of their hammer boring. We initially tried wood, but no matter what you do it does move, and we then went to this special material which is stable and used extensively for manufacturing jigs and fixtures.
Sorry for such a long response, but pricing questions of this type do need to be responded to, plus I guess I got a little free advertising in the process. Best wishes to you all, and keep up the good work you're doing. I'm not able to visit your forum as often as before, but am happy I caught this thread.
Lloyd Meyer
Renner USA
-- Original Message --
Subj: Re: Hammer Boring Jigs
Date: 4/16/00 1:54:22 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From: baldyam@sk.sympatico.ca (Roger Jolly)
Hi Brian,
I'm going from memory, $275 US a year ago. Now that I've done a dozen set of hammer with it, I'd gladly pay more. Took me 2 years to make the leap. <g>
Roger
-- Original Message –
Please forgive my boldness in asking...
I keep hearing, "...the Renner hammer boring jig is the best around, but it's expensive..." I did finally have the opportunity to check one out, up close and personal, just a few days ago. It's very nice.
How expensive is it? (The guy who showed me his didn't want to tell me.) Is anyone out there willing to attach a dollar figure to it? I've been looking at the Renner website as well as a few other sites, but keep seeing "Call For Price". What's that mean? It's a different price depending upon who wants to know?
Anybody want to spill the beans? (Or would that be price fixing? <tongue in cheek>) Or does it require a small mortgage, in which case people are too embarrassed to admit how much they spent? <grin>
Inquiring minds want to know!!
Brian Trout
Quarryville, PA
btrout@desupernet.net
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