I haven't looked at new guitars in a couple years.. last time i looked standard MIM strats were about $350 at guitar center.. on sale for $299... I just happen to look today and it looks like the whole MIM line has jumped $150-$200 higher... WHY?? didn't feel or sound any different best i could tell.. played just as expected.. what happened in the last 2 years to drive the costs up? I'm not trying to get into MIA vs. MIM vs.MI whatever discussion... but specifically something had to change for the market to withstand a jump like that... $50 bux, ok.. i get it.. $100 bux.. ok, better something... but a 66% price increase?? I'm expecting a diamond or at least a gold nugget behind the pickguard... the MIA used to be a great starting place for a decent playing cheater custom.. now I'm not as sure...

oh, and by the way... i was reading a bit on the forum today.. I'm not going to make a special post like i was tempted to... but i sure wanted to call out a couple "douchey" characters on here for the way they were talking... one from Nebraska... another from Tennessee.. all i can say is, its a good thing you are safe and sound behind your keyboard... cuz poppin off at the mouth like that in person would get a guys jaw relocated around by his ear really quick here in Texas.. and I'm not even a violent person anymore.. lol I'm sure you guys know who I'm talkin about.. they cant be too popular..

TIA for info on why the MIMs are priced like MIAs these days..

bump... no one? really?

it's called inflation. Why does bread cost more, it doesn't taste any different? Same with anything you buy. Your employer pays you more he passes that cost on to the buyer, it's that simple.

I bought mine at CC about 2 years ago and it was $400.00+

And they are the same price today. It seems it has been quite a while since you have looked at them.

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hi there

Over here in the UK a MIM Standard cost £383 last year now they cost £392 and don't come with gig bags anymore. Convert that to US $ and it works out at $574.

We are seeing 'old' model MIA Standards being sold for £799 to clear stock for the
new 2012 revamped models.

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"money cant buy you love but it can buy guitars!!!!!!"

Thanks for the replies everyone... first, let me say, I still think the MIM is a fine guitar and a great value.. even at the now higher price point... I'm just looking for the root of the increase.. I think I'm really looking for an answer from someone at fender or someone who knows why... like a dealer possibly.. or anyone who can say why... not just speculate... like i said, at 66% increase, its got to be a fender thing... not just "inflation" or whatever.. my TV I bought at xmas 2008 was $2200.. same TV in 2012 is $1400 with more features and newer technology... on the "its just inflation" theory, if it was a fender MIM TV, it should be exactly the same and cost $3650... I'm not satisfied with "inflation" alone as the reason for a 66% increase... come on Fender, I'm a big boy, I can handle the truth... I'm still going to buy your guitars because i feel they are a good value and I love to play them...

It was February 2009, so 3 years when I was last looking at MIM Strats... I know because I dug out my receipt for 2 MIM strats I bought at GC to customize for a client who lost his in Hurricane IKE... I payed $300 + tax for each.. no cases or gig bags.. identical regular old MIM standard strats...

Today, on the GC website, they list for $670 and offered on "sale" at $500... (there are some HSS models on sale for $399, but I'm comparing apples to apples) that's a 66% "inflation" rate... like i said, I'd understand some inflation... $50-$100 maybe.. especially if additional quality or features are offered... as far as bread goes... sure bread's high too, hell, everything is.. but specifically, MIM strats jumped 66% in 3 years... something happened... maybe fender realized that the MIM was drastically under priced at the old pricing and adjusted to a more realistic price point... or, maybe the company was feeling the recession and adjusted the price point to bring up profits... i don't know, that's why I asked.. maybe someone from fender can chime in and explain... its not just guitar center.. its across all the big chain retailers... so its been handed down from fender themselves..

Epiphone went up too... Les Pauls went up $50 at the entry level and the nice customs went up $100 or a little more... now that's more understandable without asking for an explanation... some increase is expected.. that's "inflation"...

Thanks again for chiming in guys... like you guys are, I'd just be speculating as to what caused the increase... I'm still looking for an answer that explains why... I suppose I can call fender and ask someone in their marketing dept or dealer channel.. just thought maybe some fender guys hung out here and would know offhand and could offer an explanation...

Thanks again..

Are you from Canada?? because in the states the price is right at $499.00 for the standards.
ABS

With regards to price increases, it really depends on what you're looking at. Like Epiphone, Fender has taken to upping the ante on it's imported models, including authentic Fender US parts in some of their lines (e.g. Road Worn, Classic Player, various Factory Special Run "FSR" guitars for Guitar Center/Musicians Friend). Some of that may explain the increase you're seeing, plus a lot of folks (myself included) think the quality of the MiM line has risen dramatically over the last few years. Hope that helps.

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