Source: REUTERS/Darren Staples
[Saba Sports News] After Yonex announced a price increase on its badminton rackets on its official Japanese website, Chinese dealers have also received notices of the price adjustments. For example, the AS-05 racket has increased from 38 per set to 48, and the AS-9 racket from 31 to 41. The price increases range from 14% to 31% for several products. According to reports, the main reason for this price hike is the sharp rise in production costs. The adjusted retail prices will take effect from July 1st. This is Yonex China’s second price increase since last July, while Yonex Japan had already raised prices twice this year, with the latest increases ranging from 4 to 5.5 per set. Despite the significant price hikes, Yonex badminton rackets are still in short supply, and it is unclear when they will be restocked. Some dealers have expressed concerns about future sales, saying that the price increase is too large and that it’s unlikely to sell well, so they are not planning to place new orders. In the view of the reporter, regardless of whether there is an official announcement, it is ultimately the dealers who sell the products, and how much they sell them for and whether they offer discounts will depend on market acceptance.