SoundSplinter price increase

CMR22 · 10-12-2007

I feel bad for Mike as he is a really great guy to deal with.

Quote:

Greetings loyal customers, fans, strangers, veterans and nooblets alike. It is with some dismay that I am here to announce an increase in our direct sales pricing that will affect all SoundSplinter products. As many informed online audio enthusiasts are already aware, our producer (original equipment manufacturer) has recently decided to move towards full scale retail distribution in conjunction with some incredible markups along the order of 100% - 200% per unit.

Though initially hoping that these markups would not affect our OEM pricing schedule, it turns out that indeed they will. As a result, future production costs for the SoundSplinter brand are increasing substantially. Given my extremely thin margins and relatively low production volume conjoined with a value oriented customer base, this puts me in quite an awkward position as my production costs have suddenly eclipsed my asking price!

Fortunately I have been able to secure two additional contracts for product delivery through the end of the year. Rather than throwing in the towel, I'm going to try to make this work for both myself and my customers. However as I refuse to compromise the quality of the products offered, the prices on both the Ignition and Premium Series line of drivers will have to increase along the order of 17 - 22% per unit. While this is unfortunate, I still firmly believe that these rates will prove to offer a very fair value for DIY enthusiasts (and a downright exceptional value when compared to similar drivers that will debut in brick and mortar retail outlets come 2008!).

So without further ado, the new rates...
RL-i8: $199 single, $185 each for multiple units
RL-i10: $215 single, $200 each for multiple units

RL-p12: $295 single, $280 each for multiple units
RL-p15: $335 single, $310 each for multiple units
RL-p18: $420 single, $390 each for multiple units

RL-s12: $450 single, $410 each for multiple units
RL-s15: $580 single, $535 each for multiple units

For forum members that have been on the fence about a purchase and are experiencing some shell shock by this rate increase, I am happy to honor my original pricing through the 31st of this month. That gives you more than two weeks to pick up a fantastic product at an increasingly scarce and awesome value. All you have to do is PM me through the bulletin board stating your intended order along with your complete shipping address, email address and phone number.

You guys rock more than you know, and I would like to express my most sincere thanks to those of you who have offered your support and friendship over the past several years with not only your purchases but especially the kind words you have shared about myself and my business, and I hope that you will bear with me during the coming year as I plan my next steps.

I will be the first to admit that the extended future production on the current lineup of SoundSplinter products lies in the balance. Nevertheless, I want you to rest assured that should SoundSplinter ultimately become a legacy brand, I will keep a small inventory of drivers on hand for any warranty service that may need to be addressed, or will refund the original purchase price of the driver should no replacement be available at that time. In other words, though production may ebb and flow, customer service will continue to remain a priority as long as there are customers to serve!

So here's to the future... Unknown and exciting!

BassBaller5 · 10-12-2007

sad day

GlasSman · 10-12-2007

I don't understand why TC Sounds has to increase your price structure. Is it due to conflict of interest?

Pseudonym · 10-13-2007

damn. my dad picked up 4 rl-p 15's not too long ago based on the incredible design and most importantly the price. awesome subs but this is going to make it difficult to pick up bulk orders from them in the future.

osamu · 10-13-2007

I almost picked up some RL-i's a while ago. Anyone know how the Audio Pulse subs are going to be priced?

dejo · 10-13-2007

sounds to me like TC Sounds will be in the same boat with everyone. and will effectively run off all of their buisiness.

Genxx · 10-13-2007

Here we go again, with TC Sounds never going to make it.

People prices go up its how the world works.

Odd how SoundSplinter says going to raise prices and no one says stuff like those Dirty Bastards but TC Sounds raises prices and they are the Devil.

I respect SoundSplinter the same way I did TC Sounds for making a public statement instead of one day just raising prices.

So now we are going to blame SoundSplinter prices all on TC Sounds. If business owners do not want to charge the prices they have other options to get subs manufactured.

No I am not a TC fan boy and have only owned 1 of there subs.

It's just crazy how people liked TC Sounds before they made a business move and now they must be hated.

Shit have we not lost enough of the good old manufactures or will people not be happy until the industry is completely ruined.

If you don't like the Prices don't spend the money buy else where. Nothing wrong with cheap but hell can we let people stay in business and actually make a living also.

I wish SoundSplinter best of luck same as TC Sounds. I hope they are both around for many years to come.

CMR22 · 10-13-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Genxx

People prices go up its how the world works.

Odd how SoundSplinter says going to raise prices and no one says stuff like those Dirty Bastards but TC Sounds raises prices and they are the Devil.

So now we are going to blame SoundSplinter prices all on TC Sounds. If business owners do not want to charge the prices they have other options to get subs manufactured.

No I am not a TC fan boy and have only owned 1 of there subs.

It's just crazy how people liked TC Sounds before they made a business move and now they must be hated.

Shit have we not lost enough of the good old manufactures or will people not be happy until the industry is completely ruined.

If you don't like the Prices don't spend the money buy else where. Nothing wrong with cheap but hell can we let people stay in business and actually make a living also.

I wish SoundSplinter best of luck same as TC Sounds. I hope they are both around for many years to come.

TC significantly raised their OEM prices which caused Mike to raise his price. Cause and effect. Why would anyone call Mike a "dirty bastard" for selling a product for more than what he paid for it?

Genxx · 10-13-2007

You missed the point completely. I was comparing the reaction between TC Sounds raising prices and SoundSplinter. Re-read what it says. I was writting in response to Dejo comment.

CMR22-Why would anyone call TC Sounds "dirty bastards" because they had to raise there prices?

All they did was venture out into new markets to try and grow there business. Cause and Effect-Either grow with the industry or get the hell of the way.

All lot of people wined like little girls when TC announced price increases and people where even saying "I hope they go out of business", which is simply retarded. My reply to that is if you cannot afford it look else where more than one woofer company out there.

Look they raised prices so has Seas and Scan Speak its the cost of being in business.

Now SoundSplinter raises their prices no big deal. Its just people wanted to jump on the I now hate TC sounds band wagon which is what was happening in this thread again.

Look pay the prices or do not buy it. But people stop crying about it. Unless we just want to end car audio and have all the companies shut their doors and find new hobbies, its that simple.

CMR22 · 10-13-2007

I don't think I missed the point at all. You are making an apples to oranges comparison between TC raising prices and Soundsplinter raising prices. The correct comparison, IMO, would be if TC raised their prices and everyone bitched but RE raised their prices and no one said a word.

Of course people are going to complain when prices go up, most people want to pay as little as possible. Dejo just commented that Soundsplinter will likely be another company who ends up no longer using TC as their buildhouse. I guess I didn't see it as crying.

**unpredictableacts** · 10-13-2007

in a way I agree....TC had a choice to raise prices.....a business move on their part.

SS Did not want to riase prices, or need to raise prices, but rather HAS to raise prices....thus the penalty on the customer for SS using TC as a build house.

Most car audio fans are on a budget so if you sale a great product for a fair price you attract business, but then you riase the prices 50% you run them off and then they go to another brand with similiar results.

Ill probably never buy TC woofers because of their price increase and the other cheaper choices out their.

Genxx · 10-13-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by CMR22

I don't think I missed the point at all. You are making an apples to oranges comparison between TC raising prices and Soundsplinter raising prices. The correct comparison, IMO, would be if TC raised their prices and everyone bitched but RE raised their prices and no one said a word.

Of course people are going to complain when prices go up, most people want to pay as little as possible. Dejo just commented that Soundsplinter will likely be another company who ends up no longer using TC as their buildhouse. I guess I didn't see it as crying.

I see your point and understand it.

The Dejo comment is all how it starts everytime generally with people start on that bandwagon again.

Dejo was not crying at all. I was going to try and stop the madness before it started agian.

I agree with the RE and TC thing you hit on the head with that one.

SoundSplinter has no options. However, I do not see them switching build houses either. Most of the subs are getting close to same price point it appears to me. Other will raise prices to.

I honestly just have never seen the use in complaining about prices going up for whatever reason. Not like we can affect anything either way.IMO

CMR22 · 10-13-2007

Here is the thread to watch:

http://www.diymobileaudio.com/forum/...179#post234179

yermolovd · 10-13-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by CMR22

Here is the thread to watch:

http://www.diymobileaudio.com/forum/...179#post234179

wtf!

well, SS raise doesn't look that bad. What's it $60 or something.
I can blow away $60+ easily just by going out one evening.
My theory states don't go out and now you can afford an SS driver even with new pricing.

dejo · 10-13-2007

my big fear is that with the TC increases (if that is a fair description of that jump that they made) will make a big difference in the industry. Anyone that knows me also knows that I will buy decent equipment, as long as its priced according to performance. And I cannot justify paying that much more for TC's equipment.
As stated elsewhere the SS price increase isnt that much and seems to be a fair cost of buisiness increase. the TC increase was just absurd.

osamu · 10-13-2007

werd. since TC was the OEM manufacturer for so many subs in the past, it feels like everything should be worth more. Does this mean I can sell my TC2+'s for more than I bought them for just because it's going to cost more if you want some new? I think when a company like TC increases prices it would be more likely to effect the whole industry.

I also think it's the general pricipal that usually people expect an upgrade to coincide with a price increase. Since people know the in's and out's of TC's technology so well, it seems like they haven't done anything to change or upgrade their designs (not that they really need to) but they just want to increase their profit margin. I'm kinda clueless, but was there any significant changes between lets say the tc1000 and the Epic line?

i'm just sad i'm going to have to part w/ more of my hard earned cash

. unless I hang on to my tc2+'s for the rest of my life.

cvjoint · 10-13-2007

Not in defense of TC but you guys do know that the value of the dollar is going down right?? Inflation is going up and you can notice it in the price of pretty much everything at the store. I take the Seas price increase as simply a market adjustment to inflation. Part of the TC increase would be that too but I will venture to say a very small price of the new product tag. Along these lines, if I were to TC I would increase costs to SS just so my new lineup will be more price competitive, cheap trick.