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Topic: Why are cases for controllers so expensive?

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I can see paying a high price for a full Dj coffin that hols 2 turntables and a mixer. There is less wood to make a controller case so why do they cost so much. I feel like these companies know we do not have much choice so they inflate the prices and we buy it anyway to protect our gear.

Odyssey FZTERMIX4BL DJ Mixer Case $239 holds reloop terminal mix 2


Odyssey FZGSVCI400BL Black Labelvestax VCI400 Controller Glide Style DJ Mixer Case
by Odyssey $234

Marathon Flight Road Blk Series Case MA-DJ12Wltblk Battle DJ Turntable Case for 12-Inch Mixers with Laptop Shelf $199
 
Posted Tue 09 Apr 13 @ 4:00 pm
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They wouldn't sell many of those coffin nowadays, that coffin was probably made about 10 years ago and has sat on the shelf ever since.
 
Odyssey, Marathon, Gator.....these are low end brands though. These cases DO NOT stand the test of time. I really don't find the cases you've listed here to be that expensive.
A good case will be constructed from water proof russian ply. Those rounded corners on the cases you've listed here are a joke.
Two or three gigs of being packed and unloaded from truck to gig and then back to the warehouse and those rounded corners go south. Same thing happens to the latches and castors on cheap cases.
There are some really ridiculously priced items in our line of work but a controller case at 2 bills is not that bad. I don't mean to sound like a snotty prick but quality cases get much more expensive but they DO last.
 
I disagree. Had an Odyssey coffin for my CD Decks and Mixer with built in rollers. I gigged with those for 2 years. 2-3 gigs a weekend. In and out of my car dragging em in and out of venues, sometimes in the rain even. Dropping them at times. Protected my gear no problem. Everything was intact, nothing ever fell off. Matter of fact I was able to sell it for 75% the value I bought it for after all that use. DJ I sold em to is still using them to this day, they are nearly 3yrs old now. I have since bought individual cases for my decks and mixer as well as an Odyssey case for my DDJ-SX. I have taken these case on flights and have checked them in. They have held up well and protected my gear.
 
they hold the value fairly well over the years, some have warranties etc to look into.
alot factors in the price of the flight cases.
i always look at it better buying nice cases vs. an insurance claim that short hands ya
 
Lol, what better flightcases are you talking about?
 
I been using Marathon Pro for years, no complaints here! Slammed them, smashed them, dragged them and still hanging in there!
 
Because, so few manufacturers are making them. So they can set their own prices...
 
got a awesome custom case from a place called axe music Edmonton.. they have a division that builds them for you to your custom spec.. Im willing to look it up.. I have no idea about cost of shipping.
 
Charlie Wilson wrote :
Lol, what better flightcases are you talking about?



I'm not talking about Odyssey nor Marathon, that's for sure. Do some research guys. There are cases out there that are much better made to do the job. It does not mean anything if you find some poor fool to buy your used gear near to cost price..that does not prove anything.

In the end it's up to the individual to decide what he\she is willing to spend. There are cheaper products and there are more expensive products on every market. There are times when buying more expensive does not necessarily mean you've bought better. Then there are times when you get what you pay for. Enough said from me.

Happy hunting.
 
DJBIGMARK wrote :
I can see paying a high price for a full Dj coffin that hols 2 turntables and a mixer. There is less wood to make a controller case so why do they cost so much. I feel like these companies know we do not have much choice so they inflate the prices and we buy it anyway to protect our gear.

Odyssey FZTERMIX4BL DJ Mixer Case $239 holds reloop terminal mix 2


Odyssey FZGSVCI400BL Black Labelvestax VCI400 Controller Glide Style DJ Mixer Case
by Odyssey $234

Marathon Flight Road Blk Series Case MA-DJ12Wltblk Battle DJ Turntable Case for 12-Inch Mixers with Laptop Shelf $199



I know why a smaller controller case costs the same as a large DJ coffin... the price isn't really based on the amount of wood but rather the amount of labour required to assemble the case. For example, let's say you have 2 flight cases; one is a big 5 foot long turntable/mixer case, and the other is a 3 foot long controller case... the only difference between the large case and the small case is a couple of bucks worth of wood and rails but the number of man hours to build the 2 cases will be the same. I know this because I get my cases custom made and the guy who runs the company explained it to me. Also, the more intricate and the more pieces involved in making the case the more expensive it is. A simple "box" with a lid is quick and easy to bang out, but a more complicated case with wheels, a sliding shelf, several removable slats and lids, lots of latches etc. takes much longer to assemble. Also, when there are several lids and slats it has to be constructed properly so that everything fits together well... cheap cases have lids and slats that don't quite fit right and are a real pain to close up and latch.

I never have a problem forking out cash to get decent flight cases to protect my gear knowing that it's well protected. Besides, nothing says "amateur" like a DJ who transports his gear around in the boxes they came in haha.
 
The last case I had made (custom for an A&H mixer and two 1D controllers) was from a company called
Blacka Acoustics http://www.blackaacoustics.co.uk/flight_custom.htm

They've got a 10 year guarantee and are hand made by a man of 40 year experience.

Other companies told me it wasn't possible to have a case designed the way I requested, but Blacka made one.
 
i need Numark N4 Flight case or with slide here in Edmonton. where i should get? trusted online that can deliver here in canada alberta
 
101010101 wrote :
i always look at it better buying nice cases vs. an insurance claim that short hands ya


Exactly... A good flight case is an insurance policy on the kit inside. If the case lasted 5 years and cost you $500 then that's equivalent to a $100 a year insurance policy...

No brainer for me ;-)

Roy
 
From the most expensive to the cheapest case will last you as as long as you take care of your stuff. If you are the kind of Dj that just tosses things around, then the most expensive case will last you a few years to less than a year.

It all depends on how good you take care of your equipment. I've used the brands mentioned in this topic, and right now I'm using a marathon case, and I have never had a single problem. However, a friend of mine bought a case for his DJ equipment, for which he paid a hefty price, and he tore that case up in less than six months. After bitching about the poor quality of such case, he then realized that it wasn't the case, but how he was being so careless about his dj stuff.
 


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