I wanted to respond to some of the comments in this thread. My goal for coordinating a group-buy was to find a good price for this (and other) specialized equipment. I hoped and suspected that I might be able to get a better price if the order/volume was larger and I wanted to share that opportunity with my classmates and alumni peers from Ecole Chocolat. I added a brokering fee because I run a business and my time has value. In the spirit of full disclosure, I am happy to share with you that my fee per order is $25 which barely covers the time I am, and will spend, coordinating this purchase. I also updated the web page to include that info. I want to address a few incorrect statements mentioned in this thread. The item at Chef Rubber is similar in price but has 4 frames not the 5 that the Martellato package includes and it does not include a stainless steel tray. The Martellato package does come with 5 frames, a stainless steel tray, and an array of other accessories. And, not to pick nits, but the price savings for the group buy is $249.00 not the $200 someone else mentioned. There is definitely some question as to whether the plastic base of the Martellato is sturdy enough. For those of you with small or medium volume production, or for those of you on a tight budget, this is great option. The plastic is a heavy grade and with care, will last a long time. For those of you with high volume production, or those of you collectors-of-the-finest-equipment, you probably want to consider other packages. I have been in discussion with a number of other manufacturers. The model I personally prefer is one made in Belgium and distributed by Tomric. I’ve seen this model at ChocoWorld and it is beautiful. It has 5 frames (same dimensions as the Martellato), a rolling metal storage cart, and a metal base. Unfortunately, the price for this unit is quite high, even with some discounting by TomRic. I will continue to explore this option (and others) for the future. I don’t know about your business (or reasons for wanting to purchase a guitar), but I find that the number of ways to spend money far exceed my budget. I am looking for a solid model at a reasonable price that can support my volume and growth for the next two years. I am thrilled that this offer has been shared with your forum. And, I’m thrilled that it has caused a stir--prompting some of you to take initiative to find a better deal. I hope you do. If you’re open to working together, I would communicate your findings to those on my list so that they can choose the option that works best for them. A group-buy allows us to negotiate a great price for the product. At the end of the day, that is all I’m trying to do. Sincerely, Mary Jo Stojak Tiggrio Chocolates
