TOPIC: Price Increases?

Ryan-Rising wrote:
I say y'all in both XD Sometimes the Texan in me just needs to be expressed.

Thanks for the official response.

No matter what they will cost in the future, we'll always get the best for our money. That's all I have to say.

To break it down economics-style, let me refer to an old cliche: it takes money to make money.

As Knytiri has said, SF has grown explosively as of late. In addition to the ASP setup, they've increased the size of both their operating space and workforce several times over, they've opened up the Academy, and there have been some indicators that they're about to expand into other types of products, as well. A while back Phil posted a help wanted on FB looking for designers for armor, clothes, and other such things. He has also expressed an interest in wanting to widen out into the steel sword market (going so far as to post a few renders of possible designs), and I believe I saw blaster props mentioned as a possible avenue of interest, also.

Obviously, a lot of the recent growth and expansion has been paid for by the incredible outpouring of support the ASP kickstarter and indiegogo campaigns received. But even a million dollars doesn't last forever, especially when you're a company which produces hard products, and ESPECIALLY when that million came from a massive influx of new customers discovering your company and products.

And whereas custom lightsabers, even a year ago, were a relatively small niche market, now (with Disney having brought Star Wars roaring back to life and the resulting public exposure companies like the Forge have gotten), people all over the place are wanting lightsabers. I myself have probably a dozen friends and acquaintances who have seen my Bane and gotten bitten by the saber bug, who are now saving up to get one (or two, or five) themselves.

Considering how much Saberforge has had to grow recently to meet the new demand, coupled with their possible branching out into new areas of fan products on top of that, an increase of twenty-five bucks is really nothing.

I think the fact that the incoming price increases are so limited really speaks to the fact that Saberforge isn't just in this to make money, they're in it because the people running the joint are fans, just like the people buying from them, and they want people to have the best possible products at the lowest price that can possibly be managed. That's why I bought from them in the first place, as I've said before to anyone who will listen, and that's why I plan to stick with them for the foreseeable future. And it's also why a $25 price hike doesn't worry me too much. Because it's $25, and not $250.

If anything, I applaud the Forge for keeping their price increases in small increments so the customer base has a chance to adjust/catch up.

GREAT breakdown of the situation Afadir. Appropriate business practices (OSHA compliance, employee healthcare costs, etc.) are more expensive then most people realize which is why most small businesses will NEVER be able to break out of the "mom & pop" or "working out of my garage" business model. SF is moving from one type of business model to another so there will be, naturally, associated costs with expansion. $25 is a reasonable increase of (approximately) 30%-15% (depending on tier) of the cost of a saber because we're also seeing an increase in speed of manufacture, quality of components (the default LED upgrade), and options for builds (new hilts/ASP).

h2soy wrote:
Also, good on Phil for going about all that the right way, unlike my last boss. Let's just say if OSHA stopped by when it was raining they would've had a heyday.