How much do YOU think they should cost?

[Handy]

I don't think anyone misunderstood how capitalism works. The post contained the word "should" and that's how it was responded too.

Based on your comments, a Glock "should" be the most expensive handgun around, due to it's ridiculous popularity. But the market does keep it at a price that is comparable to other guns the public feels are equivalent.

In the end, the price is almost totally perception. Prices too low come up to meet it and too high cause the product's death. But if prices were "fair", meaning every company was equally profitable, some would be lower and some higher. But the public hasn't figured out that a plastic gun isn't a good value because their value system has little to do with materials and labor.

 

[CZF]

Do glossy blued CZ97Bs really cost $700.00?

What about used guns..with custom work??

If i was to sell mine (maybe, if someone was dead serious) i'd ask $700 because that is what i have into it.

CZ97B glossy blued. SA ONLY champion trigger. MMC adjustable
night sights. Hakan custom grips. Also, the new bushing

My gun has only one box of FMJ thru it. Used for a CZF test
report. I never shoot it., because i prefer my 10mm's power.
So i have a one-of-a-kind CZ97B-SA that sits idle.

I guess the price would be ok for someone needing a SA
Only CZ in .45 caliber, and knows just how much the custom
work would cost.

The is a difference is paying for what is offered. and paying for
what you need or desire in a firearm, of which price is no
object.

 

[MoNsTeR]

I don't think anyone misunderstood how capitalism works.

If that were the case, we would live in a very different world
Seriously though, many posts in this thread said that brand X handgun should sell for $Y because it costs $Z to produce. There are plenty of reasons for arguing that something should sell for another price, but this isn't one of them.

Based on your comments, a Glock "should" be the most expensive handgun around, due to it's ridiculous popularity. But the market does keep it at a price that is comparable to other guns the public feels are equivalent.

Um, no. The operative concept isn't "popularity" it's "willingness to pay". Coca-cola sure is popular, but you can get a 12-pack for $3. Fords sure are popular, but a new Ranger costs $11,000. The difference is in what we're willing to pay for a can of Coke versus a pickup truck.

New Glocks sell for about $500-$600 because that's the most profitable price point for them, at least in the estimation of Glock/it's distributors/it's retailers. They would sell more at $300 and fewer at $1000, but the total would be less. To someone willing to lay out a grand, $500 seems like a fantastic deal. To someone only willing to part with three Benjamins, forget it. This is called "subjective valuation", which is probably what we should have been talking about all along: "what is your subjective value of handgun ABC?" rather than "what should handgun ABC cost?"

 

[Mark IV Series 80]

still don't get why a good handgun is more expensive than a good rifle (in general).....

I would say that approximately 35% of the price that the handgun manufacturers receive for their products goes to lawyers and other legal expenses.

It's very expensive to fight all of these lawsuits, and local governments seem to have an unlimited supply of lawyers and money to bring these lawsuits.

We saw what happens when a manufacturer caves in under the pressure of lawsuits...... So it would appear that the only way to stay in business is to charge enough per handgun to cover these legal costs.

 

[Ala Dan]

Greeting's All,

Boy, is this a loaded question or what? One must take
into consideration, there are a LOT of variables that must
enter into this picture! I guess I'm kind'a like lots of other
folk's; as I don't mind paying a "fair market" price for a
QUALITY piece; but OTOH, I don't expect to get
ripped off either.

As an example, I think a current fair market price for a
NIB SIG-Sauer P220A in .45 ACP with standard sight's
and blued finish should be in the neighborhood of
approximately $549.00. Likewise, the H&K USP
should follow suit.

To paraphrase WalMart's Ad- "We're rolling back prices
everyday". If this is true, then how come some items
aren't free?

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member