signs of the times

[biganimal]

stopped in at east coast guns today and saw a bunch of people in there but i also noticed that I have more guns than they do.
sales must be good.

also I have noticed that ARs have quadrupled in price. Bought my bushmaster 6 months ago for $689 and now on armslist.com they are commanding prices around $2500.

 

[craigp]

People can ask whatever price they feel like, that doen't mean they are going to sell at that price unless someone really, really wants one and money is no object.

 

[Midnight Raver]

Price gouging is doing everyone NO good. When they want business later on, people WILL remember what they have done to their customers.

 

[Rosea Carpa]

We can hope so but we know how short people's memories are.

 

[Tigerstripe]

could the AWB be a ploy to stimulate the economy?

 

[biganimal]

could the AWB be a ploy to stimulate the economy?

Maybe

 

[armaborealis]

I am always shocked at the folks that are upset at "price gouging."

There's really only two options:
1) Store keeps prices normal. Store sells out. People then resell the junk they got at way below market price on the internet for quadruple. Store doesn't get inventory for three months due to supplier backlog and has trouble keeping doors open. Manufacturers have no incentive to add additional machinery or pay overtime to ramp up production.
2) Store increases prices. Distributor also increases prices, increasing $$$ going to manufacturer, who now has an incentive to ramp up production, which helps alleviate long term backlog.

As a consumer I'd prefer to be able to buy a PMAG at $45 or an AR at $2K than to not be able to buy one at all because the price is "$12 PMAG -- BACK ORDERED FOR THREE MONTHS." I bet that guy who just got his first AR is happy that he can get a few spare mags too, even if the price is above normal. In tight markets the choice isn't between "normal prices, fueled by magical pixies running the magpul lines and unicorns that deliver extra stock to stores" and "evil gouging!" The choice is between "no stock available" and "market price." Brownells burned through more than THREE YEARS of PMAGs in about 72 hours... That's a serious change in the supply/demand equation and prices will change too.

It kills me that people will cat lady about the "socialist policies" and then get all upset when some actual free market capitalism kicks in.

 

[Midnight Raver]

Well, there is a big difference between free market capitalism and outright piracy, true enough?

 

[bigfutz]

No one is crying "price gouging" over $12k for a M16. Food for thought.

 

[Tigerstripe]

o, i cried. but that is supply and demand.

 

[Rosea Carpa]

Well, there is a big difference between free market capitalism and outright piracy, true enough?

Yup yup

 

[Rosea Carpa]

Just left ATP and they had a m855 20 round box with a 18.99 sticker on top of the old 8.99 sticker :? May as well have just used a pen and added the 1...

 

[PANZER22]

Biganimal....Eastcoast has never been overly stocked......I stopped going there around August this year.

 

[PANZER22]

Looks like everywhere is charging a dollar each for 5.56/.223.............

 

[Rosea Carpa]

Looks like everywhere is charging a dollar each for 5.56/.223.............

God I hope this doesn't turn into the norm....... :shock:

 

[rotarymike]

Ammo prices should come back down. Probably after the new congress is seated. Some of the frenzy is all the new AR owners (many of whom probably shouldn't own one) "stocking up". But the 5.56, .308, and 9mm rounds are used in way more than just military guns, so that should return to normal. If, on the other hand, there is a provision in any new federal laws about selling surplus ammo, then expect prices to be in Norma territory (>$1/round) for any rifle caliber.