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From: Ken S.
Remote Name: 207.200.116.13
Date: 05/10/2009
Time: 02:00:00 AM
Well then it sounds like all those chinese made stein bodies just ate into their sales too much. They certainly have more detail and workmanship than other modern steinmakers ala King and Zoller and Born, etc. I can speak directly to potentially one cause: the exchange rates and labor costs in Germany have pushed new stein prices well over $100-125 here in the US and with the economy the way it is, it may have been a double whamy. I discussed this with a German crystal and gift shop that has been in business since the early '60's. They also don't carry much German crystal anymore, they rely on Bohemian, Czech and Polish products now as the German pieces are just too high for many people. Sad state of affairs--there is very little high quality merchandise period anywhere for sale anymore.