How much!? 2 - It's all in the marketing

ari

ari

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How much!? 2 - It\'s all in the marketing

Talking of Monterey (sorry to go on about them but I was quite taken by them at the show).

Their 218 cuddy cabin with a Mercruiser 4.3MPI is £26,000.

The next model up is a 228SI. Now looking at the brochure it appears to me that they've taken a 218, put a different top moulding on (has slight design detail differences), given it a different cockpit layout, and crucially, stuck a chunk of GRP on the back as an extended bathing platform. So it's longer, but the actual boat less the platform stuck out is identical size.

Pick the same engine again and the price shoots up from that £26,000 to over £31,000!

Now I can't imagine that a chunk of GRP and a different cockpit layout adds £6K (about 25%) so can only assume that the marketing bods feel that extra bit of length (not in the boat remember, that's the same size, just in the platform) justifies the £6K.

I guess it's all about marketing... /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
 
Re: How much!? 2 - It\'s all in the marketing

hm yes.

I've thought the same about cars. Pick a car model - any model - and look at the extra price for the higher-powered versions. Same number of bits, pistons, crankshafts, seats and everything but a whole heap more loot.
 
Re: How much!? 2 - It\'s all in the marketing

Or maybe the profit margin is lower with the base models to encourage buyers and allow Monterey to build market share based on customer loyalty....

As you say.. its in the marketing /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
Re: How much!? 2 - It\'s all in the marketing

Perceived value.?If somebody thinks its worth the extra,they will pay it.
 
Re: How much!? 2 - It\'s all in the marketing

I think you will find the 218 is a more basic model. The 228SSI has better quality cushions, deckgear and various other tweaks. Chaparral do the same. The 205 is built at a price to get people into the brand. the 218SSI is so much better, has a one piece cockpit moulding, sexier and better SS fittings, better quality seats etc.

Look beneath the skin and they are finished to a very different standard. Mind you I have not done an actual comparisson of the Montereys so could be wrong??/

Paul
 
Re: How much!? 2 - It\'s all in the marketing

[ QUOTE ]
Mind you I have not done an actual comparisson of the Montereys so could be wrong??/


[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah you are /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif my 218's lovely /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Mind you haven't seen the 228... /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
 
Re: How much!? 2 - It\'s all in the marketing

I agree the 218 is lovely! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

I was not critisising it just highlighting that to keep the boat affordable the spec is right for the price. The 228 however has those little tweaks that make you go arghhhhh, then you see the price and think 'No way!' /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

For the record I went with the more sensibly priced Chaparral and never regretted it, as it was a lot cheaper it even sold easier second hand.

I take it you still love your boat then /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Paul
 
Re: How much!? 2 - It\'s all in the marketing

Oh yes /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif although I'm hoping to get my hands on a new toy soon.... even convinced the other half!! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
Re: How much!? 2 - It\'s all in the marketing

[ QUOTE ]
I think you will find the 218 is a more basic model. The 228SSI has better quality cushions, deckgear and various other tweaks.

[/ QUOTE ]

Maybe thats it, although you'd think if so they'd mention it in the brochure. And the photo of the cabin looks like it is the same boat, same upholstery, colours, and everything!

To be fair the 218 seems very good, pop up cleats, GRP cockpit liner, radio/CD with cockpit and cabin speakers, sexy s/steel bezelled instrumenrs etc etc.

Oh well, one of lifes little mysteries...
 
Re: How much!? 2 - It\'s all in the marketing

Hi..... I'm always a little cautious about posting as I don't want it to look like I'm "marketing"!..... but I thought I had best explain. The Monterey 228SIC has the large sunpad aft but it takes up a lot of room and in the UK we don't get that many days when it's warm enough to sunbathe on an open location like that. The aft seats on the 218 also lift up to make an aft platform if you want. The 228 sunpad also makes for a far smaller cockpit as a result. The 218 gives you a larger cockpit and the passenger side back to back seat that folds flat to make a more enclosed sunbathing area. The vinyls, fixtures and fittings on both boats are of the same quality. It's not like the SSe/SSi comparison on a Chaparral.

The reason for the pricing difference is simply the fact that we know we will move a lot of 218's (about 40 last year) but the 228 would be a slower selling boat... and yes someone above was right when they mentioned getting the margins on the entry level cuddy as low as we can to get people into the brand. So.... no lower quality - just lower marings...<sigh>. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

Hoped that helped it to be less of one of life's little mysteries and that Kim approves of us just trying to stick to the facts and not going into marketing mode!

Kind regards,

David (slightly biased!)
 
Re: How much!? 2 - It\'s all in the marketing

I was told once by an insider at BMW Munich that the actual build cost of an M3 coupe was about Euro6.5K, thats parts only excluding labour, marketing, development costs etc.. don't know what a basic 318 cost but must be about minus 30K given the final retail price.
 
Re: How much!? 2 - It\'s all in the marketing

Thats it then Chas, once you have convinced SWMBO a new toy is fairly inevitable - trust me, its happened to me three times in three years - each time SWMBO was the fianl back stop to say 'no', she has said yes and new toy duely arrives!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

What are you looking at going up to?

Jez
 
Re: How much!? 2 - It\'s all in the marketing

[ QUOTE ]
Thats it then Chas, once you have convinced SWMBO a new toy is fairly inevitable
What are you looking at going up to?

Jez

[/ QUOTE ]

He's looking at the 250 - Chas is doing course with me next weekend and we are going to be doing a bit of work on the Monti 250 on the sunday!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
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