and why are the standard strats no longer with a gigbag not that im bothered but im interested to know if they are making any changes to the lineup ?

More profit. They don't give a free gig bag thats more profit for corporate.

I seriously doubt it is corporate greed considering Fender posted a 1.7 million dollar loss in 2010 and in 2011 only made 19 million on 700 million in sales, that is a paltry 2.7%.

I would say it is simply a matter of trying to stay afloat in a poor economy.

This in one reason why I think we are seeing Fender go public. In statements they have made they are looking to get 200 million from the IPO in which 100 million will go to paying off debt and the rest to expanding their market to try and increase profits.

If you want to talk about corporate greed there are a lot better examples than Fender

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Bob

Fender CD280S NAT, Recording King RO-127
Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster BSB
American Special/Highway One Telecaster hybrid Partscaster
Fender 60th Anv Am Std Telecaster, Natural/Rosewood
http://community.webshots.com/user/rjstaaf

yup,
theyre still in the green, the profit is after paying salaries, utilities, rent.
lets just hope they dont fall in the red.
giving up a gigbag, is better that cutting corners on the strat itself.

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"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present."

oogway, kungfu panda 2008

if your profits are fine then why cut. For more profit.

Simple, when you are 240 million dollars in debt, 19 million in profits is NOT fine...

The profit they made for 2011 is what they have to operate for 2012 and 19 million is NOT a lot for a company the size of Fender.

The IPO is an obvious clue that they are strapped for cash. No company actually "wants" to go public, it is generally when they are strapped or they don't have enough capital to expand that they go public.

Fender is NOT a charity, the idea that trying to increase profit is a bad thing in this case is just silly...

_________________
Bob

Fender CD280S NAT, Recording King RO-127
Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster BSB
American Special/Highway One Telecaster hybrid Partscaster
Fender 60th Anv Am Std Telecaster, Natural/Rosewood
http://community.webshots.com/user/rjstaaf

If they stopped giving us price increases maybe they would be making more profits. There was no need for the American Standard to go through yet another $100 jump in price. Things are bad as they are, in this economy. Are company execs just stupid? Send them back to Business 101. I think they should rethink their pricing, including the Gibson folks.

Offering a rebate is a great way to drive sales in a slow economy. Companies know that if they offer a mail-in rebate they don't have to directly lower the price of their product. rebate programs aren't meant to have a 100% return rate, most consumers forget to mail them in. Its a great way for Fender to drive their sales without taking a hit up front.

Seanboy

Where is this rebate? I just did a search and don't see anything for the US. I'm I looking in the wrong place?

Rebates help sales. As mentioned not everyone takes advantage of them, they forget or too much of a hassle.

As far as gig bags are concerned, I think they are useless. something to keep the dust off and carry the instrument. I usually tell my guitar shop to keep it and buy a hard shell case instead. It also provides protection from jarring, getting stepped on, or getting knocked over and breaking.

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RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head

Right, I remember that they did have a $100 rebate going not too long ago, but I thought it was over.

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

thanks for the comments and up dates the rebate is in britain. I was just getting curious as im looking to get a strat soon and was kinda hoping they were going to introduce new colours

if your talking about the american standard strat and tele rebates it is because those are the old models and they are trying to get people to buy they old guitars and offering them products with it (i think about 150 dollars worth of strings last time i checked)

Not knocking fender but with the economy the last few years American strats are out of reach of alot of people. So I want a back up strat I can a Deluxe players Strat which I like alot with the Noiseless Pickups I like and when GC has a special get it for $550 and have a very nice guitar or get a used one for $400. An American made one no but still avery nice guitar. But a guitar I can afford at this point in time.
Thing is you can get a very decent guitar now with pretty good quality for $500 or less. I have played a few very nice higher end Squiers that where nice.

People are cautious with there money. I'd love to have an American made PRS. But I have got a PRS SE Sem-Hollow but it is a beautifull very nice guitar. Get alot of comments on it. Not sure what the answer is but I know alot of people who didn't by the American Strat because it was out of reach. But needded a decent guitar.
Hope this makes sense

Who wants one of those crappy gig bags anyway. I don't feel like those things protect your guitar at all. Matter of fact, when it is swinging around in this flimsy little purse if feels like it's going to break. In the old days (yeah I am an old guy) a nice hard shell case was a given. Without question, it just came with the guitar.