R15 Product Price Drops

[apprenti23]

Not that anyone cares but I just got an email- R15 price drops!

[Jmikecpa]

That time of the year.  Wait until January when they are $99 at PGA Superstore.

[mbrodeur86]

Boy they just keep shooting themselves in the foot!

[apprenti23]

One of the reasons I love Titleist and Ping is that they hold true to their two year product life cycles.

[dhayse32]

One of the reasons I love Titleist and Ping is that they hold true to their two year product life cycles.

 

EXACTLY!  TM producing 4 sets of woods a year is just killing them!  That is one of the number one reasons I stay away.  I love Cobra, but they are starting to do the same thing...

[Jmikecpa]

One of the reasons I love Titleist and Ping is that they hold true to their two year product life cycles.

Not too mention that they make some nice equipment.  I went back to Titleist this year for my driver and 3 wood since they were just the best of the bunch that I hit.  Ended up throwing in two hybrids from the 913 line that I also like a bunch.

[oaks]

I find the R15 to be a great driver - is it that much of an upgrade over the SLDR - not really.  

 

I still think that if they hadn't bungled the release of the R1 & RBZ-2, the JetSpeed, and then the SLDR-S that TM wouldn't be in such of a bind (not sales wise - perception wise).  

 

Think about this.  If they had gone from the R11S & the OG RBZ to the SLDR line (technology wise) people wouldn't have as much hatred towards TM.  

 

R15 is a refined SLDR and when properly equipped they are phenomenal drivers.  Discount pricing is great at the end of the season for those looking for new gear, doesn't help perception but the problem with publicly traded companies are numbers and balance sheets - not product cycles. 

[ZenGolfer]

Boy they just keep shooting themselves in the foot!

How are they shooting themselves in the foot?  The M1 is coming out and they are dropping the price to clear the shelves.  Everyone does it.

Clearly its a formula that works because the rest of the industry is following suit.

[ZenGolfer]

I find the R15 to be a great driver - is it that much of an upgrade over the SLDR - not really.  

 

I still think that if they hadn't bungled the release of the R1 & RBZ-2, the JetSpeed, and then the SLDR-S that TM wouldn't be in such of a bind (not sales wise - perception wise).  

 

Think about this.  If they had gone from the R11S & the OG RBZ to the SLDR line (technology wise) people wouldn't have as much hatred towards TM.  

 

R15 is a refined SLDR and when properly equipped they are phenomenal drivers.  Discount pricing is great at the end of the season for those looking for new gear, doesn't help perception but the problem with publicly traded companies are numbers and balance sheets - not product cycles. 

Exactly.  People have always been hating on TMAG for short product cycles but it made them the #1 company in golf.  The problem for TMAG isnt short product cycles, its that theyve had a string of drivers that didnt live up to the Taylormade reputation.  All they need is 1 driver thats a hit and they are back.

[mbrodeur86]

How are they shooting themselves in the foot?  The M1 is coming out and they are dropping the price to clear the shelves.  Everyone does it.

Clearly its a formula that works because the rest of the industry is following 

 

 

AND that's why they are having problems. They over saturate the market with their stuff (and by the way, I don't hate their stuff) but why would anyone with half a brain go running out and buying this driver when it hit the market when not even 6 months later it's already discounted? 

[MmmmmmBuddy]

The timing of this price drop is quite interesting to me. Callaway has 2 new drivers scheduled to hit shelves starting TOMORROW, with a retail price starting at $449.99.  If the average player walks into a big name retailer, and sees a Callaway driver for $450, and the top of the line TaylorMade on sale for $130 off, I have a very hard time believing that most players aren't leaving with an R15. (a GREAT driver btw, as is the GBB...) 

[Jmikecpa]

I am also in the camp of not hating their stuff and actually really liked the R15 430 TP that I hit this year.  When push came to shove I really had a hard time plunking down close to $500 for a driver that I know I could get in a few months for maybe half of that.  Callaway is in the same boat since the two drivers I had it narrowed down to were the Titleist 915 and the Callaway Big Bertha 815......which like two weeks later was marked down $150.  At least with the Titleist 915 that I bought I know that if it did not work out I could at least get a good chunk of my money back through a resale.  I have a Big Bertha Alpha in the basement that I got new the middle of last year that I would be lucky to get $100 out of since it is now three product cycles old.

[apprenti23]

430TP is a gorgeous looking driver to me, just screams Hit Me!

[Hula Rock]

Jmikecpa sums it up the best:

 

"a hard time plunking down close to $500 for a driver that I know I could get in a few months for maybe half of that"

 

This is where Tmag is shooting itself in the foot.  Until they figure that out they will continue in their downward spiral with consumers.......