X-Message-Number: 13943
From: 
Date: Thu, 08 Jun 2000 12:16:03 -0400
Subject: Alcor Prices, etc. (long, sorry!)

I figured I should weigh in on my opinions on this debate, since I seem to 
disagree with most of you.  First I am no marketing expert, but I do have 
my minor in it, and any basic marketing class will teach you that the 
supply/demand curve doesn't always apply.  You will also know that in many 
cases as the price goes up, the demand also does.

This is why I chose Alcor, someone who charges the highest fees, and has 
the most cash in the bank is going to be able to keep me frozen longer.  If 
there are less people there, so be it, I'd much rather there be 1000 
cryonauts in the yr 3000, and have 1Trillion in cash to store/unthaw us, 
than an organization that has 1Million cryonauts, and 1Billion to 
store/unthaw (or even the same 1 Trillion!).  We aren't selling widgets, we 
are selling insurance (sort of), stability, and longer life (hopefully), I 
don't arbitrage on price here, I looks for who makes me feel better.

Alcor might be termed elitist, and I have been called it, and far worse, 
but they are conservative and cash-rich (patient trust).  I don't want 
someone taking risks, (i.e. taking all comers, just to grow membership), 
when I am not really "there" to defend myself.

Look at the recent history, how many "cheaper" cryo-solutions have come and 
gone, how many have had disastrous consequences?  I mean the $100 or so I 
spend a month (full-body non-term insurance) is an absolute pittance 
compared to all the stuff I waste my money on (gas prices anyone?).  My ex 
only pays $50 for a neuro, in non-term rates, she's not rich, but seems to 
fit that payment in.  How much cheaper do you want this to go?  Oh yeah the 
dues $100 a quarter...  If anything, I would argue Alcor needs to raise 
their rates, not lower them.  I don't want to start a debate on who can 
afford what, or whatever, its just I find the prices extremely fair.

A good real-world example, non-anecdotal piece of evidence for the 
price/demand curve on Alcor is the life-member deal (I am not one).  Look 
how many there are of these, 50 or so.  It can be argues that this is a 
cost savings in many ways, that is not my point.  My point is, it is a 
larger commitment of funds in a shorter period of time, any way you slice 
it, and many people seem to convert (the one flaw is these are already 
elitist Alcor members, so their rich anyway, right? j/k).

We heard from one person who says the high-price is the reason he hasn't 
joined, I can respect that, there are exceptions to every rule, but I would 
say that by lowering the price you would increase membership by the dozens, 
MAX, not nearly enough to warrant the risk.

Now this "suspensions going to other organizations" recently point is 
interesting...  Whats the story here?  I have noticed far fewer 
suspensions, I just assumed we were getting luckier...


As always, just my opinions, I already know you disagree, so no flames please :)

Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=13943