Bat pricing
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SOULMAN1012

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Bat pricing
« on: December 05, 2022, 10:24:42 PM »
Saw this on FB today and found it interesting in how much bats have increased in price. Taken from a catalogue and shows the then top end bat from Kookaburra being the Diablo Damien Martyn at £170 and today the newly named Pro top end is £500 so in my simple brain that a 250% price increase in Kook bats since 2005 when this catalogue article is from. Not a sole focus on Kook as at 500 they are not the worst by any stretch.

Just how much has the money that’s now paid to international players impacted the amount you now pay for your bats and are you bothered??



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SD

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Re: Bat pricing
« Reply #1 on: December 06, 2022, 12:46:13 AM »
When I first started out, I used to buy all my kit from Bourne Sports.

Looking back at old catalogues, it is amazing to see the price inflation across all bat grades (and looking at old bats, the way that the standards to get into the highest grades has been reduced).

Demonstrates the problem when there is an effective monopoly in the supply of the raw materials to make bats
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Thamesvalley

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Re: Bat pricing
« Reply #2 on: December 06, 2022, 06:27:03 AM »
There has been a massive prices increases which makes GM bats even more incredible you can get spectacular bats but rarely in lower grades costing nearly late 2010 prices or less
« Last Edit: December 06, 2022, 06:34:25 AM by Thamesvalley »
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Neon Cricket

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Re: Bat pricing
« Reply #3 on: December 06, 2022, 08:18:20 AM »
Quote from: SOULMAN1012 on December 05, 2022, 10:24:42 PM
Just how much has the money that’s now paid to international players impacted the amount you now pay for your bats and are you bothered??

I can tell you for a fact that the money paid to players nowadays isn't even close to the likes of the late 2000s. Belly when using Kookaburra was paid an exorbitant amount, the sort of figure that'd bag you Stokes and Buttler together (plus plenty of change) right now.

Inflation alone that £200 RRP would be roughly £330ish, but you've got to remember that the cost of everything has risen sharply since 2005 - once you've taken everything into account (rent/rates/salaries/shipping/importing, the list continues) to go from £200 to £500 is probably about right? Also adding in that there's significantly more competition for the big brands since the dawn of the internet/social media too.

I guess you think about it this way, Freddo's back in 2005 were still in the 10p era - they're now what, ~25p? Obviously a different market entirely, but it's a good 'everyday' example to compare to.
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Thamesvalley

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Re: Bat pricing
« Reply #4 on: December 06, 2022, 08:28:12 AM »
Wow great insider info both … guessing we are looking at near 7 figures for bell in 000s or just below
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alba caerulea

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Re: Bat pricing
« Reply #5 on: December 06, 2022, 09:27:21 AM »
I think a fair question would be - Are the profit margins the same as 20 years ago or are batmakers making more, or less?
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dantsw13

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Re: Bat pricing
« Reply #6 on: December 06, 2022, 11:06:29 AM »
There must be close to a days labour goes into each bat. Add in the costs of the materials, then the tools/workshop overheads, many bats must be close to making a loss, especially at the lower grade end.
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hit4six

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Re: Bat pricing
« Reply #7 on: December 06, 2022, 01:59:11 PM »
Not adding too much value in regards to the conversation here, but this topic finally gives me an opportunity to post some screenshots from the Internet Archives!

2005, in my opinion, was one of the best years for bats with so many iconic models with timeless classics like the Purist and the Woodworm and then the out there models like the Beast.

I often think about how prices were back then. What we would all give to have a day where bats were priced like this:





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Jimbo

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Re: Bat pricing
« Reply #8 on: December 06, 2022, 02:03:42 PM »
Just a shame that in 2005 I was too busy saving my pocket money for PlayStation games to be buying up classic bats 😂
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Yorkershire

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Re: Bat pricing
« Reply #9 on: December 06, 2022, 02:16:41 PM »
Back in the day when everyone was chasing 100 bubber shers...  :)

Purist LE for just over 200...

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billyb

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Re: Bat pricing
« Reply #10 on: December 06, 2022, 02:31:20 PM »
Were Woodworm always positioned at a lower price than the big brands?
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edge

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Re: Bat pricing
« Reply #11 on: December 06, 2022, 02:45:19 PM »
Heavy nostalgia for that era of Kookaburra sticks :(
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SOULMAN1012

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Re: Bat pricing
« Reply #12 on: December 06, 2022, 02:46:32 PM »
Quote from: dantsw13 on December 06, 2022, 11:06:29 AM
There must be close to a days labour goes into each bat. Add in the costs of the materials, then the tools/workshop overheads, many bats must be close to making a loss, especially at the lower grade end.

Overheads is a big part for sure, it would be unfair to liken my business model and pricing for example who does it as a hobby more than anything from a workshop at home to a person who is aiming to make a living from bat making and needs more space or does more of the whole bat making process.

The point about has the profit margins increased would be a good one to gauge but doubt people are going to share mark ups but would be interesting to see if the % is there or there about the same as say 10/15 years ago.
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SOULMAN1012

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Re: Bat pricing
« Reply #13 on: December 06, 2022, 02:49:25 PM »
Quote from: Neon Cricket on December 06, 2022, 08:18:20 AM
I can tell you for a fact that the money paid to players nowadays isn't even close to the likes of the late 2000s. Belly when using Kookaburra was paid an exorbitant amount, the sort of figure that'd bag you Stokes and Buttler together (plus plenty of change) right now.

Inflation alone that £200 RRP would be roughly £330ish, but you've got to remember that the cost of everything has risen sharply since 2005 - once you've taken everything into account (rent/rates/salaries/shipping/importing, the list continues) to go from £200 to £500 is probably about right? Also adding in that there's significantly more competition for the big brands since the dawn of the internet/social media too.

I guess you think about it this way, Freddo's back in 2005 were still in the 10p era - they're now what, ~25p? Obviously a different market entirely, but it's a good 'everyday' example to compare to.

Great insight and one I wouldn’t have guessed, I would have thought with the launch of all the franchise cricket and coverage these days more money would be paid to players to use kit. However the fact so many chop and change so regularly is maybe evidence of why companies don’t, Ian Bell as you say is pretty much associated with Kook, I know he joined Woodworm in later stages and know is associated with Neon but by and large Kook, same as Cook with GN, but struggle to think of many who stayed the course throughout a career
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jonny77

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Re: Bat pricing
« Reply #14 on: December 06, 2022, 03:01:50 PM »
There's so much to this. As you at @soulman there are different business models, so comparing one to the other isn't easy. What it takes for one business to make a bat is different to others. Differing business costs, different locations etc will all make a difference. Some brands who have been established for a long time will charge more based on a reputation, whether that's justified or not is for the consumer to decide. Other brands less established, or in less affluent areas will have to charge less, but still enough to remain a viable business (whether they have pro's or not). In terms of labour, well there's another argument as some don't really have that cost as they will import and will still charge as much if not more than those who make here. No doubt doing so as they need to meet overheads and remain in business themselves.

With everything, there are choices to suit every budget, but I'd suggest it's definitely more expensive to make bats than it was, especially in the UK and that isn't down to just sponsoring pro's.
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