How does that matter in this comparison? Because they don't offer a entry level model they are compensating that fact in the price point of their Pioneer DC?
I think Gamma shoots themselves in the foot a bit. The average tennis player who is considering stringing is hopefully going to do some research on machines. They will most likely come across Alpha machines if in the US. Gamma for $300-329 offer the Progression 602 or X-6. Both DW/6pt mounth but floating clamps. The Pioneer for $99 more gets you the fixed clamps where as Gamma takes that step to $469-499.
I guess I'm just beating a dead horse here. Prices are the prices, and it gives the consumers the power to make the best choice for their intended needs and budget. I was really hoping to find something more plausable as to the $100 price point difference. Oh well, no worries.
Just a few thoughts for you here...
From what I've seen, Alpha doesn't have the name recognition (in the broader market, it is well known to the stringing community) that Gamma has, and doesn't appear to have the distribution that Gamma does.
So in part it could be that the Gamma folks are looking to leverage those market advantages by going for a higher price-point. An example...when I was younger, my brother (bike nut) used to lecture me that though Schwinn bikes sold for a price premium over other brands, they were not worth the additional money. Still, many of our friends and neighbors happily paid extra for their Schwinns.
Also, pricing needs to be reviewed in the context of both Gamma's own product line as well as their products vs. other manuf. products...they may have up-sell or other goals that would make sense (to the Gamma marketing team) that aren't apparent in a one-to-one comparison here.
There is also the very basic choice that any retailer makes...simply put, choose to sell more units at a lower price or fewer units at a higher price. Focus more on volume or margin. What makes sense depends on many factors and often varies over the product's life-cycle. Gamma clearly appears to have decided on the high-margin option for this unit, as I would expect their costs are not going to be higher than Alphas. (Conversely, companies may price a product low to generate interest in the brand and then up-sell you to another product - in this case, a Revo.
)
All of this does not refute the old saying that you get what you pay for, the problem is that sometimes you're paying for things you don't really need or want, like a better known brand, or the CEO's summer house in the Hamptons.
Hope you found that interesting...
