Very true. They were not the first with maglev, but I do think they had the best implementation. The other companies just slapped in 2 ring magnets and called it a day, while gan put them in a casing that holds them and keeps them at the same distances, which is quite nice as magnetic force does not scale linearly iirc.
This part is false; Chris Tran was definitely not the first to publish when it came to putting magnets in cubes.
From what I remember, Chris was the first to Press-Fit magnets in the outside wall of the cubie in contrast to gluing them inside(which is only a good idea if you know about press-fit charts) and I believe they made the first magnetic something.
In regards to your inflation comment, in 2018 the X was $65, still almost 3 times everything else. So it's possible inflation has impacted it some, but even if it has the prices have always been high.TLDR: Inflation is HUGE issue and adding substantial costs to cube pricing
Wow, lots of posts about GAN cube pricing, but considering:
All of these inflationary issues and more add substantial costs to cube pricing. All speed cube manufacturers and vendors have had to put up with profit pressures.
- Magnet cost inflation? Magnets are everywhere and in every product. "For example, a magnet that cost $1 in the first half of 2020 may now cost $2.50 to buy." source: https://sourcemagnets.com/control-cost-of-neodymium-magnets-for-product-development/
- Plastic cost inflation? Same: https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/PCU325211325211
- Labor cost increases? Same...
- Transportation from China to USA? Crazy, but finally coming down. The cost of a container transported from China to USA went from $1,500 to $20,016. (Currently $9,800ish). source: https://www.wsj.com/articles/one-price-dodging-inflation-china-to-u-s-shipping-rates-11655890200
- Overhead to provide speed cube shops some profit? Beats me, but I'm sure it adds up.
Personally, I haven't been cubing long (or fast) enough know and understand this specific industry, but I do not see evidence of a monopoly where GAN could charge whatever they like. It "feels" like there is lots of competition amongst the different cube manufacturers to design, engineer, and produce products that push the envelop and make good speed cubers faster. If that competition didn't exist, then we would still be using rough and tough turning cubes of my early days.
If you don't like the end user pricing, then a boycott by a substantial number of people may help lower the pricing. Another potential solution, if you like GAN cubes, is to purchase in bulk directly from GAN and remove one middle man and figure out how to distribute to your friends.
Choice and competition are good. I trust we don't get to a point where, like Apple, producing a different color product is a new product. (I hope I didn't touch the third rail with that last comment.)
FYI - I haven't ordered the new GAN cubes.
I agree, however there is nothing wrong with trying to change something to give more people access to it.
I think that's rather doubtful. I believe they set the price that high in the beginning because they know there is enough hype that people will pay for it, and as the demand dies down so will the price.
This. This is one of the fundamental things you will learn in a basic economics class lol. At release, the premium flagship model is released with a high price tag. Type A customers will purchase the cube at or soon after release. Type B customers will wait to for the price to drop or for a cheaper model to release. Type C will not buy the product (and probably complain about the price lol).
please lmk where i can get or put maglev in a meilong i need it badly
Its was the Weilong not Meilong
