As a non-US buyer, the $1000 barrier is less of an issue. What with fluctuating exchange rates and somewhat arbitrary and obscure duties, you're never sure what you'll pay until the thing finally arrives. Currently, the total (exchange, delivery, tax, duty etc) cost to me of a $1000 sword would be about £800.
Geoff

I would add to what Nathan said that so far the introduction of new swords has been impressive and welcome but getting previously announced swords into production should take priority over adding new products.

The danger is that Albion overreaches and gets into financial trouble or stops being a reliable vendor, the hit to it's good reputation could create a negative spiral of fewer orders as people wait to see if things get back on track.

The best sales techniques is good product delivered when promised at a price that is both profitable for Albion and affordable for the buyers. Having a range of product prices that covers the smaller budgets as well as large ones should be maintained in the product line.

Well, I would say that we shouldn't start rumours based on this topic: At the moment the only negative is scepticism about the marketing wisdom of the Benefactors program. The rest is just speculation about how much more can Albion expand and at what pace and not have problems.

I noticed the Special edition of the Dicerner (I'll never get the spelling right) is gone, and now the regular edition is $1500 (+$300 from before). This is one I was planning on doing soon, but now due to school I really need to do some more thinking. I keep thinking about what I want to get, but school sucks my funds. I hate to see price fluxuations, but what can we do? Remember, the Conan swords went up and down, so who knows what will happen. As for being bumped by a "bennefactor", I think thats a little harsh sounding to make public. What you do behind the scenes is one thing, but I would hate to be told I was bumped. Now if it was a cash in hand issue, I would understand. If someone walked up with $2k and said gimme, I would be a fool to wait for final payment from another customer who may be a few months in the fiunal payment.

I'm a little tierd, and have been typing for most of the day, so I'll leave it all at that. However, once done with school and employed, I will be more than happy to have Albion garnish my wages in order to feed my addiction. ;)

We all want Albion to keep doing well and producing more toys to feed our obsession; And hopefully be able to afford buying some. :eek: :lol:

Actually its not speculation.

Businesses have three sources of capital: operations, financing, and investing. Where a business goes for capital tells us something about the company. On the product launch webpage for the Benefactors Society, Albion tells us quite a bit. In fact they tell us more than they should, they tell us where they went for capital.

I prefer Albion's other program where we, as loyal customers, purchase and put money down on swords not already in production. We're fronting money by doing this which amounts to an investment. Like other investments, these ones will also pay off as the sword follows through development and into production. But before that process is complete, we're fronting investment capital to fund the R&D. I personally feel good about this type of investment and would imagine it's benefited Albion quite a bit. I certainly hope so.

I was just over at Albion musing over the swords (as many of us do) and I noticed that all the estimated completion dates for the unreleased models have been removed.

Roger,

Good eye.

I just checked and it is as you say, but that's completely craptastic news. :mad:

With this latest news, I'm honsetly a bit pissed.

I'm not going to buy anything else unless its in production.

Until something I have on order gets delivered, I doubt I'll buy anything else from Albion period.

This sucks.

I agree that is how it should be (price quoted at time of advanced reservation should be honored) but do not know if the policy has been guaranteed for older orders. Below is a "happy story" example where Albion terms were very fair in just the last few weeks.

One of the orders I made (late January 2006) on the recent Albion holiday sale was for the Ringeck. Albion did guarantee the price as it was listed based on the time I reserved it, plus took $50 off the price (only cost about $508 with shipping that way versus about $650 plus shipping if I were to reserve it now.) This was really quite generous, since the sale could have been construed as restricted to swords already in production.

If one counts reservations for swords expected to be delivered this year plus orders recieved, I already feel like a "benefactor" since I have very close to $2000 in purchases on swords alone.