The Steel Guitar Forum

I noticed on the Jeffran website that prices have been increased due to "increased production costs". The new prices have not been updated on the website yet. A call to the 800 number will give you the current prices.

Your opinion?

Well, my opinion is that the price increase is more than justified.
Jeff's videos and teaching materials have worth that is hard to measure. He was a very intelligent person and had a great knack for getting the ideas across to the player.
So what I'm saying is, In my humble opinion, these methods are a value at about any price. And he is my #1 competitor, even today, in the teaching realm.
I guess I shouldn't say these nice things from a business point, but I feel strongly that Jeff's materal is a value at any price.
I'm talking as a fellow player to you guys, not a salesman.
(this is all my personal opinion)

Bobbe Seymour

I'm in the supply and manufacturing business. Certainly there are production costs that increase.

There are times when the items that I sell and manufacture do not increase in price but everything else around me does. Insurance, rent/maintence, taxes, electric, gas, shipping,....etc......the cost of living and I can go on and on with regard to being nickel & dimed to no end with all kinds of "crap" that there is no return on.

All of this has to come out of the product and passed to the consumer, more than ever. Every little service or extra that was free or included at one time is now an expense and it has to come from somewhere.

You have to be in business to see where your money is wasted and then you can appreciate a mom & pop business trying to survive.

HowardR, my hat is off to you!


Bobster,

I just ordered some videos from Fran and got DVD's. She said she has nothing in the video line anymore. I told her I didn't have a DVD player and she set me straight on something. She said, "You guys will pay $5000.00 for a steel and then bitch about having to buy a little $30 DVD player at Wal-Mart to play this great instruction on". And you know what? She is right. I picked up one of those little DVD players from Wal-Mart($39) and am glad I did. Since everything now is pretty much DVD the player will pay for itself in no time from the knowledge you will get. Great instruction from one of the best steel teachers ever. So what if the price of the Jeffran instruction goes up a tad. It's worth it. If you're thinking about getting any of Jeff Newmans' instruction, don't wait. Order it now. The sooner you do, the sooner you will be out playing a gig and making money. Jeff knew we didn't have time to spend years learning pedal steel. He knew we needed a "crash course" in steel playing and that's just what he created. Thanks to Jeff he made it possible for those of us to get a "foothold" on this instrument so we didn't feel like it was impossible to play. God bless you Jeff Newman. And thanks a million.

Fran set you straigt on the DVD issue. It sounds like Jeff's words! Strong but true.

DVDs are cheaper to produce and ship. I suspect their price would have gone up even more if they didn't change to DVD format. Besides, it better.

I have some of Jeff's instruction video's.
They are worth every penny and I feel they will be sought after for many decades at any price.
James,Jr.

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1975 Sho~Bud Pro III Custom (8-7)
1981 Peavey Session 500

The DVD format is much better to learn from. Fast searching, the ability to loop things, play it on your computer & mini-DVD player in the car, etc., etc. Sometimes "New and Improved" is actually "New and Improved".

Good for Fran! Those Jeffran materials are priceless. A DVD player is only $49.95. Let's go with the flow....al

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My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus/

I'm sure it's apprpriate, after all one must make a profit, if he is to stay in bussiness, It's always hard to raise prices, but I know from experience, you must, I hate to say it but sometime we think we should give it all away, and that's fine to if that is what you choose to do.

Jeff's work is well worth the money, for what you can accomplish, and gain from His knowledge.

I THINK FRAN HAS DONE THE RIGHT
THING... THE NEWMAN INSTRUCTION
IS ONE
OF THE BEST JEFF IS/WAS
GREAT PLAYER BUT HE HAD A GREAT GIFT AS A TEACHER
ALL HIS STUFF AND FRANS WAS VERY LOW IN PRICE AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE FOR ALL THE
WONDERFULL THINGS IT GAVE US
AFTER USING VIDEO TAPE THE DVD IS SO WAY
FAR A HEAD OF ANYTHING BEFORE IT
ITS LIKE GOING FROM A STONE TABLET
TO WHITE PAPER IMHO

A-men

One fact that I know of. Jeff had a printing press that he ran himself. Now, Fran has to have that process done, and it isn't cheap.

Fran could let Jeff's life work fade away, but apparently she chooses to continue to make it available.

But, she cannot be expected to do this at her own expense. To make Jeff's work available, it accrues expenses and it should be added to the purchasers price for the product...not by the widow!

Come on guys...there is no "robber baron" here, just a widow who wants to continue her late husbands contribution to the steel guitar world.

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<img width=100 src=http://genejones.bizland.com/Scan10351.jpg>

www.genejones.com

Do I detect in these posts that someone is blaming Fran for raising her prices? I sure hope what I wrote didn't imply that. Nothing could be further from the truth. If you read my post I clearly state that what she said was the truth, and that I didn't mind having to purchase a small DVD player to get this great instruction. And the task she is having to take over doesn't come free. If prices have to be raised for Jeff's work, so be it. Far be it from me to complain. I've learned too much from Jeffran. I have nothing but praise for Jeff and Fran for taking on this job of trying to teach us hairy legged old boys and pretty girls how to master this instrument. I sure wouldn't have done it. I'd be pulling what little hair I've got left out by the roots if I'd had tried to teach. If you read this Fran, continued success. You're the best.

In Bruce's original post, I think it would be a stretch to think he meant anything negative at all by simply saying "Your opinion?"

In all of the other posts, all I saw were positive things about Jeff Newman and Fran.

There is no need for anyone to feel they said anthing wrong at all. No one did.

Bob P.