Hey Guys ....
The fun and exhilarating rush of selling our own mods yesterday came to a complete standstill when I got some news that could likely bury PureSmoker.
At the start of making mods ... My goal was to get a complete kit UNDER the $100 mark, which I was successful (or so I thought) with the release of the Protégé. Production numbers going up = better pricing on buyers end, at least that is what I always felt would be the case.
As I go in to discuss the Future of the Protege and PS USBpass yesterday, I get a spreadsheet, with the realization, that our next Production Run for both is going up ..... way up ...... It made me sick.
For the first time ... I finally understood WHY USA businesses are taking their needs offshore. The same thing, built in China, would likely be 1/5th the cost of having it manufactured here in the United States.
With that said .... Here is the realization of keeping the Protege and USBpass Manfacutured stateside, in stainless steel and carrying the warranties they do ....
Protégé Old Pricing:
$89.99 Full Kit
Protégé New Pricing:
$110 - $115
PS USBpass Old Pricing: (Aluminum Version, 2 Piece Button, no atomizers)
Started at $29.99 ... Ended up at $39.99
PS USBpass New Pricing: (New SS Version, 3 piece button, 2 eclips, 1 atty)
Pricing $65 - $70
Prodigy Old Pricing: (Aluminum Version)
$139.99 Full Kit
Prodigy New Pricing: (Stainless Steel Version/Redesign)
$120 - $125 Full Kit
Summary:
The PS USBpass Pricing makes me sick. I'm not entirely sure if the market can handle a price like that, thus I tried to supplement pricing by putting in a free atty. Pricing on the Protege increased roughly 60% on my end, thus cutting my margins even closer. I am trying NOT to pass that large a sum on to the consumer. Prodigy Pricing came down a bit. Initial run was quite a bit more expensive due to the amount of engineering and design behind it. I was originally trying to hit the $99, but at this point, I can't.
I really don't want to have to supplement via China (importing again) I'm trying to reach a *middle ground* so to speak with Protégé's and Prodigy's, thus the reason, 1 $$$ amount is going up, and 1 $$$ amount is going down.
My main issue is the pricing on the PT's. If you have one of our PT's and feel confident it is worth the pricetag above, please let me know. We are making the button better (should alleviate any *sticking*), and we are also now building it out of stainless steel like the Protégé. Please share your thoughts and concerns. If support isn't there, or you guys feel the pricing is high, then I will simply have to make the unfortunate decision to stop making PS PT's .....
Appreciate it guys and gals!
CaSH
The fun and exhilarating rush of selling our own mods yesterday came to a complete standstill when I got some news that could likely bury PureSmoker.
At the start of making mods ... My goal was to get a complete kit UNDER the $100 mark, which I was successful (or so I thought) with the release of the Protégé. Production numbers going up = better pricing on buyers end, at least that is what I always felt would be the case.
As I go in to discuss the Future of the Protege and PS USBpass yesterday, I get a spreadsheet, with the realization, that our next Production Run for both is going up ..... way up ...... It made me sick.
For the first time ... I finally understood WHY USA businesses are taking their needs offshore. The same thing, built in China, would likely be 1/5th the cost of having it manufactured here in the United States.
With that said .... Here is the realization of keeping the Protege and USBpass Manfacutured stateside, in stainless steel and carrying the warranties they do ....
Protégé Old Pricing:
$89.99 Full Kit
Protégé New Pricing:
$110 - $115
PS USBpass Old Pricing: (Aluminum Version, 2 Piece Button, no atomizers)
Started at $29.99 ... Ended up at $39.99
PS USBpass New Pricing: (New SS Version, 3 piece button, 2 eclips, 1 atty)
Pricing $65 - $70
Prodigy Old Pricing: (Aluminum Version)
$139.99 Full Kit
Prodigy New Pricing: (Stainless Steel Version/Redesign)
$120 - $125 Full Kit
Summary:
The PS USBpass Pricing makes me sick. I'm not entirely sure if the market can handle a price like that, thus I tried to supplement pricing by putting in a free atty. Pricing on the Protege increased roughly 60% on my end, thus cutting my margins even closer. I am trying NOT to pass that large a sum on to the consumer. Prodigy Pricing came down a bit. Initial run was quite a bit more expensive due to the amount of engineering and design behind it. I was originally trying to hit the $99, but at this point, I can't.
I really don't want to have to supplement via China (importing again) I'm trying to reach a *middle ground* so to speak with Protégé's and Prodigy's, thus the reason, 1 $$$ amount is going up, and 1 $$$ amount is going down.
My main issue is the pricing on the PT's. If you have one of our PT's and feel confident it is worth the pricetag above, please let me know. We are making the button better (should alleviate any *sticking*), and we are also now building it out of stainless steel like the Protégé. Please share your thoughts and concerns. If support isn't there, or you guys feel the pricing is high, then I will simply have to make the unfortunate decision to stop making PS PT's .....
Appreciate it guys and gals!
CaSH