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Old Tue Aug 04, 2009, 09:00pm
Ump153 Ump153 is offline
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Chasing the dream
Posts: 433
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kevin Finnerty View Post
It always cracks me up whenever anyone prices something at a rate that will simply squelch sales of the product. If this book wasn't priced so exorbitantly, thousands more umpires would buy it. Thousands. Even used or thrashed copies like the one they sent me.

It took me until this week to unload that much, even though I was introduced to it sometime late last year. And I'm pretty loose with the change when it comes to umpiring. It's a truly outstanding publication; it's too bad most umpires will never buy it just because of the price.

I had a business school professor that called the practice that they're employing "strategic sales control."
Neither you, nor your professor know the details to make such a judgement. Unless, of course you subscribe to a theory that all books of similar size and material should cost the same.

I had the pleasure of speaking with Jim prior the publication of his new manual. Pricing wasn't done willy-nilly. A survey was conducted of umpires, testing different price points. Additionally, the costs of different quantities of the first run were considered. Not to mention the cost, time and material that went into the writing and compilation.

As most marketing execs understand, lower pricing does not always result in a sufficient increase in sales to counter the reduction.

Also, Jim understands his market enough to realize the those umpires willing to pursue education and invest in materials to improve their craft, despite the internet, remains a small portion of the total number of umpires.

While you seem to portray yourself as an expert on everything that gets discussed, there are others who know what they are doing.

If you are unhappy, you have two choices. Fix the problem or continue whining.

Last edited by Ump153; Tue Aug 04, 2009 at 09:10pm.