This is interesting as I feel the OP was only asking about the price, but many peoples responses are about the value. Those two aren’t connected.
I, like the OP, would be interested to know how much some things cost. This wouldn’t necessarily change my perception of the value. Naim is a for profit company, so I’m sure they charge whatever they can get away with, regardless of their cost.
My perception of the value (Star & Qb) is mixed. Where I feel Naim doesn’t provide value is the software, that’s not befitting of a premium product at their price point, but to me their hardware leaves little to be desired.
Similar experience here. The machine decided it wouldn’t dry clothes and it turned out that the fluff filter was choked. Apparently it couldn’t just be cleaned out (why?) and we needed a replacement part and what’s more the cost with fitting would be around half the cost of the machine. The washer was out of warranty but not that old and, after a bit of argy bargy, Miele agreed to go halves on the cost. Still expensive, though and I suspect that we were somewhat to blame by not always running the “rinse out fluff” program after drying. So, with apologies to the OP for the thread diversion, if you have one of these machines, ALWAYS run “rinse out fluff” after drying!
Oh my god this is the exact problem we have with our current Panasonic washing machine. Won’t dry clothes. There’s a secondary filter deep inside that is not user servicable. Replacement parts and labor: $600!
We’ve had it for 6 years and this has happened 3 times. Two more and the filter will have cost us as much as the machine.
Now that is being taken to the cleaners. No pun intended.
One problem with answering questions about the cost of products from a tech company is that many of the “costs” are centralised and it is not at all obvious how these should be attributed to individual products across a wide range in a meaningful way. Examples include the centralised cost of running the factory, advertising budget, development staff etc. Similarly with R&D, I understand that, for example, there has been some trickle down from the Statement project to the DR power amps. If so, how much of that research cost do you attribute to eg. a 250DR? And the new streaming platform is found in several products, so the R&D costs will need to be shared across multiple products. This applies even more to software such as the control app. Overall I doubt about whether the ‘cost’ of a product can be calculated in a way that means anything useful to a potential purchaser.
And I don’t think just costing a BOM would be any more insightful.
There wasn’t any fluff, and the problem was the heat sensor. We do use the rinse out fluff and then rebalance the drum. We only use the dryer for towels and sheets in the winter - it’s so much nicer to dry it on the line.
In response to the cost of an item I fully understand the OP’s question but for me I would not to know. If a box retails at 2,000 and I found out it cost 100 to produce I would prob have the hump. If it cost 1900 I would be concerned the company would not continue as a going concern and worry about owning it. Clearly neither is true and the truth is somewhere in the middle in which case I am “meh, whatever” and move on. I get paid to do a job, just like all the people at Naim. Good luck to them all I say !
Here we are agreed 100%. I have always loved that Oscar Wilde description.
But I don’t think the OP would disagree either. All he was asking for, was an indicative cost of the parts which contribute to both the overall cost and the value.
The cost of production matters because it determines, in part your profit margin. To some cost is irrelevant, but to me I hark back to my MBA days and would like to know how Naim treat sunk costs. For example, is R&D a sunk cost ?
Naim’s holding company is now in the hands of a new venture capitalist, specialising in family run businesses (according to the press), They should have an interest in the cost base as well the usual overheads. All this makes we wish that Naim owners had a share in the business…
We (well me 90% of the time ) get the washing dried at the laundrette. There’s a few to pick from but the nearest one is the cheapest. I can get 5 big Blue IKEA shoppings bags of washing dried for less than £4 and only takes around 40 minutes. These washer driers sound like they’re more hassle than they’re worth. Can appreciate that not everyone has access or is able to get to a laundrette though.
One could argue that some art (not much in my personal view) is involved in the industrial design of the black boxes for which we pay extravagantly. Otherwise, it is all strictly straightforward engineering and know how.
The next visiting member to the NAIM factory could inquire how many of the employees there see themselves as artists.
I feel I should apologise in advance for posting on the original topic rather than washing machines, but here goes.
Reading an old copy of What Hi-Fi in the smallest room in the house (best use for them, I would say), I happened upon this in an article about Chord:
“I would argue that the Mojo is better value for money than anything else on the market… Normally, you’ll have £10 worth of parts in a £250 product. And the difference between component costs and sales price for Mojo is considerably smaller.”
Matt Bartlett, Production Director for Chord, quoted in What Hi-Fi August 2018 p24
Discuss. Again. Then re-read the very pertinent Oscar Wilde quotation.
That is a lot of wet washing to carry to the launderette. Or do you drive? In which case factor in the fuel cost as well I hate launderettes, and can think of a lot better to do with my time than sitting in one - or is there a nice pub next door? But them I’m lucky in having a garden to dry washing in the summer half of the year, and a utility room heated by freezers and boiler with drying racks that does the rest of the time, so saving energy and its cost.
The garden is more than big enough but I can be back home in an hour with a load of washing that’s dry instead of having it hanging around the house in winter. Still take it in summer for the same reason. The closest laundrette is only a 5 minute drive away.
I was going to apologise for taking this thread off into a sideshow about washing but actually I see that HH was responsible for the first deviation. So I won’t.
Yes, 2x5 minute drives + 40minutes of electricity at whatever power rating. Not eco-friendly. But I suppose if it provides enjoyment then do it - before both the car and tumbledriers get banned in the drive to Carbon Neutral.
) get the washing dried at the laundrette. There’s a few to pick from but the nearest one is the cheapest. I can get 5 big Blue IKEA shoppings bags of washing dried for less than £4 and only takes around 40 minutes. These washer driers sound like they’re more hassle than they’re worth. Can appreciate that not everyone has access or is able to get to a laundrette though.