But I do remember quite some posts that people were rushing after sell-out boxes when they were below 500 here in Europe, possibly the Mini was 298 or 368 or something like that. Mostly it read like '...if I could get one for that price, but they are soldout -anyone knows a shop who still has...'
Bargain hunting - don't buy when it's released, wait until the sell-out... remember NOAH... etc.
An original Minimoog had a salesprice of 3700 DM back then in pre-Euro days.
While the currency was exchanged 2 for 1, the 'real' value in everyday life was 1 to 1, so a Mini would represent an investment of almost 4k Euro, as would the Odyssey I couldn't afford as a schoolboy.
Now open that box and look inside, the parts are barely 50 Euro, plus keyboard, case, frontpanel and powersupply.
The Moog company had a product with healthy margin, respected by it's customers - and it allowed support and ongoing R&D.
if you're willing to invest according to that scale, then you may get the kind of support you obviously expect. Otherwise it's ecomomic overkill for the company.
If a process doesn't sell more machines, you normally cannot afford it - there are debts and salaries due.
You may ask whoever met someone from SonicCore at one of the Fairs - these folks are trying to give the best support and product developement possible.
Limitation are by budget and not by intention - and no, they don't just play Mr. Nice Guy at the show
I don't intend to defend SonicCore's business practice - I can only explain a few items because I'm in a similiar business myself and I've worked in support, too.
Since we made an average (sales) profit in the 25% range with key accounts, and up to 40% with 'consumers' in the shop, we could afford to take time for our customer's questions.
Afterall it was a benefit for both sides, as most of what we supplied 'on the fly' is sold as 'consulting' separately today.
Anway, times have changed and people voted - as usual with their wallets...
in the end you always get what you paid for.
cheers, Tom
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