Cirrus Icon Development

Originally posted by pondmonkey ..... And this is going to sound very Grumpfesque.... but in other industries you may well find products are given at sub-market rate prices to early adopters to help them establish themselves against incumbent competition.  Worth a thought maybe?

I think you can only do that if you have the might of a company at least the size of RS behind you. To work out your costings on a batch of 100 is a very different game from building 3 or 10 in the first year.
It also helps if the product has little direct competition, which I think was true for the RS100 and D-One, not really so true for the iCon or Alto.

If you look at the cost of something as the money you put in divided by the number of opportunities to get value out of it, the established classes with fleet racing are good value, with reasonable residual values and good racing on offer many times a year.
Purchase price is a difficult measure, because those of us who are sensitive to the capital cost will often buy secondhand.

Originally posted by rodney ......I think that you must have missed this 'BTW, the price of a new Icon is modest when compared with most other similar two handed classes. Even better, with the current introductory offer!' The 'current introductory offer' is 'at sub-market rate prices to early adopters'.  First 3 Icons at any club will be at the special offer and I have to say it really is at a sub-market price.

What's that in £?
How does it compare with a nearly new Merlin?

What's the cost per year if it goes the way of the 59er etc?

Discounting the first three at at club seems like a fine way of putting off the fourth person in the club. Making people feel they are subsidising others who got in before them is a interesting road to go down.
In practice of course, if the discount is real, you  would just join a second club for the purpose.

How much is an iCon to a first in club member and how does that compare to a new N12 DCB?

Originally posted by RS400atC Originally posted by rodney ......I think that you must have missed this '<span style=": rgb251, 251, 253; ">BTW, the price of a new Icon is modest when compared with most other similar two handed classes. Even better, with the current introductory offer!'</span> <span style=": rgb251, 251, 253; "></span> <span style=": rgb251, 251, 253; ">The 'current introductory offer' is '</span>at sub-market rate prices to early adopters'.  First 3 Icons at any club will be at the special offer and I have to say it really is at a sub-market price. What's that in £?How does it compare with a nearly new Merlin?What's the cost per year if it goes the way of the 59er etc?Discounting the first three at at club seems like a fine way of putting off the fourth person in the club. Making people feel they are subsidising others who got in before them is a interesting road to go down.In practice of course, if the discount is real, you  would just join a second club for the purpose.

Different people have different priorities and different disposable income levels. Whilst not wealthy, I have never chosen a boat based on hoped for resale values. I pick a boat I think will be good to sail.
I don't see that discounting the first three boats at a club is any harsher on the fourth than RS subsidising the first 100 100's is harsh on the 101st. Likewise, those buying at a show to get a discount is not unfair on those who wait till high summer.
I am certain that the Icon will be a success. It is very rewarding, very simple, very well proportioned and very well priced. Devoti's tentacles reach far and wide, and their reputation for excellence must surely help.

Just for fun - other sales strategies: A Groupon 'mass sale' day? A refer a friend scheme? Free entry to the Bloody Mary included in the price? Tickets to Garda?

The price used to be on the Cirrus page, and was on the leaflets at the Dinghy Show. May be the exchange rate is causing a re-evaluation?