I regret that I don't have more time to post on any of the forums--part of the price of "success." Diystompboxes.com remains my "home", because "ya dance with the one that brung ya," but it is gratifying to see many other busy venues catering to DIY FX. I think I'm now OK with the OP of this thread, and I just wanted to comment on the economics of selling the Blue 3PDT switch.
I am not at all unhappy with the fact that that part has become a commodity; its low cost and ready availability have made it easy for more people to roll-their-own pedals, and that drives traffic to SBE as well as other DIY sites. I maintain a fairly high price for small quantities, because the profit margin helps to feed 6 hungry people (+1 sometimes growly Bear) and pay the freight for a shop that will soon hit over 2,000 square feet. Every business has this issue: On what part(s) of its product line is it going to make its money?
I would also add that the version of that switch that I have always sold is made by the same Taiwanese factory that designed it 10 years ago. I have been offered numerous, much cheaper, Chinese clones, and I have stayed with the product I have. Some of the clones are competitive in reliability, and some are junk, as you can tell from the occasional on-line horror stories. Meanwhile, we are healthy, profitable, and able to keep plowing bearskins back into more made-to-order parts. Keep checking out the New Additions on the Stock List, and keep making LOUD NOISES!
Regards
SD
I am not at all unhappy with the fact that that part has become a commodity; its low cost and ready availability have made it easy for more people to roll-their-own pedals, and that drives traffic to SBE as well as other DIY sites. I maintain a fairly high price for small quantities, because the profit margin helps to feed 6 hungry people (+1 sometimes growly Bear) and pay the freight for a shop that will soon hit over 2,000 square feet. Every business has this issue: On what part(s) of its product line is it going to make its money?
I would also add that the version of that switch that I have always sold is made by the same Taiwanese factory that designed it 10 years ago. I have been offered numerous, much cheaper, Chinese clones, and I have stayed with the product I have. Some of the clones are competitive in reliability, and some are junk, as you can tell from the occasional on-line horror stories. Meanwhile, we are healthy, profitable, and able to keep plowing bearskins back into more made-to-order parts. Keep checking out the New Additions on the Stock List, and keep making LOUD NOISES!
Regards
SD