Do you know what the new prices are now?
I'm assuming the Tenor is now around $970-$980 (up from $950), where it should be to be in line with Kanilea/Kamaka?
ktm-00 1000.00
pineapple sunday 1500.00
I see the PS hasn't changed in price. That's good news. I also like that the concert and soprano are still substantially cheaper than the Kamakas.
But the suprising move here is Alan (I'm assuming the marketing master is in charge of this) pricing their tenor above Kamaka and Kanilea. Unless Kamaka and Kanilea also plan to raise prices for 2010, I think this is a bold move. My prediction is that Kanilea will not raise prices in 2010 since they already raised them somewhat recently (I think the tenor price went from about 920 to 970.) But I can see Kamaka raising their prices since they've been at 980 for the tenor for quite a while now.
The thing is that, although I love KoAloha and support their product 100%, I don't know how wise it is to price the product above the percieved "industry leader". Granted, IMO, KoAloha should have been charging 970 (just under Kamaka prices) for their tenors instead of 950 for the past two years, since when you're shopping in that price range, you're shopping on featues not price. But with theprice breaking into 4 figures AND the are charging more than Kamaka, I think there's a psychological effect. Same reason why $19.95 is different from $20.00. But then again, KoAloha can sell every uke they make, so assuming that demand isn't extremely elastic (which I don't think it is), they're fine charging the four figures. I'm just suprised.
I don't own a KoAloha tenor yet, and think I might want to scramble to get one before the price increase...
Jon,
I don't think they'll have an issue with a drop in demand with their price increases. Their tenors are no where to be found (at least on the mainland.) There are Kamaka and Kanilea tenors in every store I go to but there are no KoAloha tenors in stock. Island Legends in Torrance has been waiting months for its tenors.
FYI, they had a tenor on their second wall with a bowtie bridge and active pick up. I didn't ask how much it was out of fear I would buy it!!! I want to see what the rest of Pops' Signature Series looks like before aquiring more ukes. He has four more coming out so I'll have to hold off for awhile.
I was just noticing that the prices on the Koaloha Website are last years prices and do not show the increase from early this fall....Nice layout on their website and i reall y like the info and news stories
Oh yeah, I don't really think their demand will suffer at all. I'm really just more suprised at how bold the move is. To me it says, "yeah we can charge more than the direct competition, b/c we add more value." And damn straight they do.
And interresssting...I was about to say that the KoAloha shortage might just be a Mainland thing, but now that I think of it, there were no KoAlohas a Easy Music Center last week either (I wanted to play one in walking distance from home)...however they did have Kamakas and Kanileas on the shelf.
As for that Tenor on the wall, it sounds hot. I wonder if anyone at the factory could use a extra kidney that I don't really need...