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« on: January 12, 2009, 10:21:07 PM »
I thought I might add my perspective to the price increase wars, too. First off, I am not a subscriber as of yet. I'm just a regular working guy who happens to have exceptional hearing, kind of like most everybody else on this board. I do make live recordings to open reel tape, as I'm sure most on this board probably already know. I am a HUGE fan of the reel format. However, I will admit that Paul's rather curt (IMHO) sounding response to the flack over the price increase does beg some questions to be asked. For example, why was this financial issue not addressed long ago, and shared honestly with the subscribers? If the TP guys are losing that much money, why not put in for a modest increase a year or more ago? I'm sure anyone here will agree that a 50% increase is a bit much, especially for something that is clearly a luxury item. Secondly, are there not ways to combat the cost of the final product? Things like less elaborate packaging, more master recorders to make more dubs at one time (going from the present four ATR-100's to six or even eight), switching to RMGI LPR-35 to get 45 minutes per tape instead of 30 minutes per tape with RMGI 468, etc. I'd even go so far as to suggest that the TP copies for customers are done at 2:1 or even 4:1 copy ratio, so more of them can be done faster, with little sacrifice in the final sound quality. Please do not misread my intent here. I echo all the sentiments about the Tape Project succeeding. But, as KenKirk has stated, a line must be drawn somewhere here in the real world. To wit: I have a wife and an adopted son with special needs. I work at a real job, which means I make far less than I believe I should. I am not like Mikel, in either what I do for a living, or in all of the nice toys he has to play with, but I oh so wish I was! Every year I have been married, thirteen at last count, my wife has out-earned me (she is a teacher of Special Education). She already thinks I've lost my mind. Imagine the look on her face when I tell her I have a music subscription that cost me just $3,000! I'll need to then move into my car, or the local sanitarium. All I'm saying is that most people here are just regular folks, with everyday bills to pay. And as much as it pains me to say it, I must reluctantly agree that 45 RPM LP's are looking like a better alternative to have high quality music reproduction in my home. I know how hard the TP guys have worked on this. But, unless cost can come back down to the real world so regular folks can take advantage of this, it will only be a matter of time before the whole thing crashes down. Paul's comments really deflated me Sunday when I read them. I mean here I am, busting my hump to make it in before the February deadline, and I read that?! I guess what I'm trying to say is that the way it came across to me, it was as if Paul was blaming the customers for the Tape Project losing money all this time, and it very much rubbed me the wrong way. I suppose, if I can get my subscription in before the deadline, it will be both my first and last one. I cannot justify this kind of outlay when there are so many other things that need to be paid for, like the house, car, and my son's education. And, I certainly cannot afford to spend my very hard earned money with anyone that displays contempt for me, the consumer, no matter how wonderful their product is. If anyone is offended by my words, I'm sorry. But, please know that they are true in the eyes of both my heart, and gut.
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