Ye Olde Rocket Forum

Go Back   Ye Olde Rocket Forum > Weather-Cocked > Current Kit Talk
User Name
Password
Auctions Register FAQ Members List Calendar Today's Posts Search Mark Forums Read


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
  #1  
Old 03-05-2006, 05:01 PM
SEL's Avatar
SEL SEL is offline
Officially Middle-Aged Rocketeer
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 1,356
Default 'Splain somthin' to me.....

Why is a Baby Bertha kit, with a B60 tube, 4 fins and a PNC60-L (or M or whatever they call it these days) $7.49, while an Alpha kit with a BT50, 3 fins and a PNC-50k $11.79? How does Estes come up with such whacked pricing? Inquiring minds want to know!

Sean
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 03-05-2006, 05:47 PM
A Fish Named Wallyum A Fish Named Wallyum is offline
BP Mafia
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Ft. Thomas, KY
Posts: 8,596
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by SEL
Why is a Baby Bertha kit, with a B60 tube, 4 fins and a PNC60-L (or M or whatever they call it these days) $7.49, while an Alpha kit with a BT50, 3 fins and a PNC-50k $11.79? How does Estes come up with such whacked pricing? Inquiring minds want to know!

Sean


Maybe because the Baby Bertha is aimed more at the Wal-Mart type of crowd and the Alpha is more of a classic recognized by people like us.
Couldn't tell you the last time I bought an Alpha, but I've bought a ton of Baby Bertha's. What's that make me?
__________________
Bill Eichelberger
NAR 79563

http://wallyum.blogspot.com/

I miss being SAM 0058

Build floor: Centuri Design Contest F-150 Hurricane Estes - Low Boom SST Semroc - Gee'Hod, Shrike, SST Shuttle

In paint: Canaroc Starfighter Scorpion Estes F-22 Air Superiority Fighter, Solar Sailer II Semroc Cyber III

Ready to fly: Estes - Multi-Roc, Solar Sailer II Semroc - Earmark, Snake Jumper
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 03-05-2006, 06:40 PM
SEL's Avatar
SEL SEL is offline
Officially Middle-Aged Rocketeer
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 1,356
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by A Fish Named Wallyum
Maybe because the Baby Bertha is aimed more at the Wal-Mart type of crowd and the Alpha is more of a classic recognized by people like us.
Couldn't tell you the last time I bought an Alpha, but I've bought a ton of Baby Bertha's. What's that make me?


Umm, a Big Baby?
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 03-05-2006, 07:20 PM
Chas Russell's Avatar
Chas Russell Chas Russell is offline
Retired Missile Technician
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Fort Worth, TX
Posts: 1,076
Default

I know the secret!!! Lean closer to the screen and I will whisper it in your ear. Closer. Closer!



Greed!


Seriously, the Alpha Trey was introduced many moons ago. So every time that Estes raised their prices by "X" amount, the Alpha III price went up. The Baby Bertha is a more recent addition and will incured price increases based on how long it remains in the production line. Manufactures are not going to reduce prices on a kit when they make 10K at a time, because material and labor prices increase regardless of what our incomes do. Hence, if a kit remains in production from year "x" and there are "y" price increases, well heck, do the math!

Chas
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 03-05-2006, 09:08 PM
Doug Sams's Avatar
Doug Sams Doug Sams is offline
Old Far...er...Rocketeer
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Plano, TX resident since 1998.
Posts: 3,965
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by SEL
Why is a Baby Bertha kit, with a B60 tube, 4 fins and a PNC60-L (or M or whatever they call it these days) $7.49, while an Alpha kit with a BT50, 3 fins and a PNC-50k $11.79? How does Estes come up with such whacked pricing? Inquiring minds want to know!
I think Bill and Chas are on the right track. In my business, we call it "meet comp" pricing for meeting the competition. In this case, estes has had to price the Baby Bertha to meet market expectations. My guess, besides needing to meet the WalMart Launchables price metric of ~$8, is that the Quest Full Moon, at ~$7.50 at Hobby Lobby, is also a factor.

Furthermore, the Baby Bertha can be positioned as a lower cost alternative to the Big Betty without having to bomb the price of the regular Big bertha. That may explain why the higher priced Big Bertha isn't seen at Hobby Lobby or WalMart. And it lets dedicated hobby shops carry the Big Bertha at a more comfortable margin without getting squeezed by the discount stores.

Doug
Just throwing out some more ideas...
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 03-06-2006, 03:37 PM
rraeford rraeford is offline
Master Modeler
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 556
Default

I'm more mystified by the price differences between kits by QModelling and Pimp Daddy.

How is it that the MRS Vega kit cost $10 LESS than the MRS Hawkeye. The Vega has at least 2 times the parts count.

AT PDR, the new Cherokee D is $21.95 but the SS Cassiopeia and Atlantis are only $19.95 each?

Odd.

Romie
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 03-06-2006, 04:26 PM
A Fish Named Wallyum A Fish Named Wallyum is offline
BP Mafia
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Ft. Thomas, KY
Posts: 8,596
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by rraeford
I'm more mystified by the price differences between kits by QModelling and Pimp Daddy.

How is it that the MRS Vega kit cost $10 LESS than the MRS Hawkeye. The Vega has at least 2 times the parts count.

AT PDR, the new Cherokee D is $21.95 but the SS Cassiopeia and Atlantis are only $19.95 each?

Odd.

Romie


A little. The only QModeling kit I've built has been the Rogue. Great kit. Incredibly well planned out and engineered. If I could afford to build more of them I would.
As far as the PDR kits, the only complaint that I've had has been the lack of updated materials. I'd like to see them include Kevlar as a part of the kits. They seem to be introducing improvements in a steady manner, so I'm hoping to see this one soon.
__________________
Bill Eichelberger
NAR 79563

http://wallyum.blogspot.com/

I miss being SAM 0058

Build floor: Centuri Design Contest F-150 Hurricane Estes - Low Boom SST Semroc - Gee'Hod, Shrike, SST Shuttle

In paint: Canaroc Starfighter Scorpion Estes F-22 Air Superiority Fighter, Solar Sailer II Semroc Cyber III

Ready to fly: Estes - Multi-Roc, Solar Sailer II Semroc - Earmark, Snake Jumper
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 03-06-2006, 08:07 PM
ghrocketman's Avatar
ghrocketman ghrocketman is offline
President, MAYHEM AGITATORS, Inc.
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Nunya Bizznuss, Michigan
Posts: 13,443
Default

Gotta agree with Bill on the Kevlar issue with the PDR kits.
They have upgraded all of their decals to Alps-printed water-slide, which is a vast imrovement over the original decals they used to supply with their kits.
The only real complaint that I have at all regarding PDR kits is in relation to recovery systems.....I have permanently shied away from mylar chutes and no-kevlar recovery systems.
I modified all my PDR kits with kevlar recovery straps attached to the thrust-ring as well as use nothing but Thrustline nylon chutes for recovery (excepting streamer-equipped rockets)
__________________
When in doubt, WHACK the GAS and DITCH the brake !!!

Yes, there is such a thing as NORMAL
, if you have to ask what is "NORMAL" , you probably aren't !

Failure may not be an OPTION, but it is ALWAYS a POSSIBILITY.
ALL systems are GO for MAYHEM, CHAOS, and HAVOC !
Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:24 AM.


Powered by: vBulletin Version 3.0.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Ye Olde Rocket Shoppe © 1998-2024