Has Kimber raised their prices beyond the value of their product?

[JR24]

Well, I got my Pro Carry for something like $680 OTD a few years back (traded it though, no regrets) and my Warrior for around $1100. Both worked perfectly 100% for me, were accurate and fun to shoot. Still have the Warrior and won't get rid of it.

Despite a couple thousand rounds in each neither exploded in MIM failsplosions like the detractors say they will so I'll just count myself lucky and keep shooting my Warrior.

That said, all my future 1911's (unless its a double stack, commander, dream gun) will be Dan Wessons. For my money they are the best compromise between price and quality.

 

[Deplorable me]

As many of you, I have watched the past 10 years as these guns have increased in price, and multiplied in configurations. Most of their guns are exactly the same other than the color or grips used on each model.
Is it just me or do they have far too many models of the same guns, along with new lines that overlap?
The idea of spending over a grand on a 380 that is really nothing other than a copy of a 1911, that doesn't even function the same as a 1911, hardly seems justified, yet they keep going up. The same for the 9mm that now have a dedicated mico 9 line aside from the regular 1911 that also comes in either 9 or 45 in most models. I just don't see 13-1500 for a gun that isn't even a custom gun or a semi custom gun, that comes with 1 magazine.
The single mag thing always bothered me, especially if you are charging over a thousand dollars for a gun, give the client 2 or 3 mags. It's not the money it's that elitest attitude.
I can't help but think that the majority of people who buy chromepurple and green and white guns, are new or very old.
Most times at shows I have noticed older men who didn't really know guns, buying a 15 hundred plus Kimber, because of the price, since more money must make them a better gun right?

Yes

 

[SeanSw]

Whenever I hang around the range too long or get caught up at the gun counter someone inevitably tells me to buy a Kimber. They don't own one. They don't carry one either, but they still think I should have one. That kind of endorsement and MSRP is all I need to buy something else on the price/performance scale.

 

[Old Dog]

People in the firearms community have got to be the only consumers who obsess so much about products they claim to have no interest in due to a product's alleged -- on the internet only mostly --defects, track record or pricing.

Even the Ford vs. Chevy truck guys will let it go, move on, and see no need to carry on the debate. Even then, those who weigh in on debates such as that at least own one or the other ...

Fact is, Kimber is a leading seller of pistols in this country. One presumes that those who actually buy, own and continue to buy Kimber pistols don't feel compelled to go online and complain about them ... If you don't like the brand, for whatever reason, don't buy it. Funny thing is, of all the used 1911s I see around in pawn shops, gun shops and at gun shows, I don't seem to see all that many used Kimbers for sale, so at least around my area, those folks must be hanging on to them ...

 

[rskent]

I don’t think so either.

And they sure do have a bunch of different ones. They must be competing with Sig to see who can make the most “different” models of a single model of firearm. Fifteen different micros alone. That has to be a record. I would almost buy a Micro Bel Air.

 

[Teachu2]

Has Kimber raised their prices beyond the value of their product?

In my eyes, long ago.

AGREED!

 

[PowerG]

Mine has been excellent, one of the best handguns I've ever owned.

 

[X-Rap]

I've sold more Colt 1911's than all others, are they over priced for what you get? Heck yes.
Did the Colts out perform the Kimbers? Not by a long shot.

 

[Rick McC.]

Has Kimber raised their prices beyond the value of their product?

In my eyes, long ago.

Years ago...

 

[jhb]

kimber has copied from the best at it....sig. meaning multiple variations of the same gun and high dollars for them. that said id always pick a sig over any kimber.

im no fan. their old guns were pretty darn good and were a good deal. i havent felt that way about them for a long long time. too each their own though.

 

[primalmu]

I purchased a Kimber Stainless II earlier this year. I had read all the complaints about Kimbers, but also recognized that a company that probably sells more 1911s than any other will have a proportional number of complaints. I compared the Kimber to other similarly priced 1911s at my LGS and felt that it was the nicer gun. At this price range is it overpriced? No more than other similarly priced 1911s -- $800-850 -- in my opinion. I couldn't bring myself to pay any more for a handgun anyway, regardless of manufacturer, so the argument saying if I had "only looked at the $1500 guns, XYZ brand easily outclasses the Kimber" is a moot point anyway.

 

[mjsdwash]

People in the firearms community have got to be the only consumers who obsess so much about products they claim to have no interest in due to a product's alleged -- on the internet only mostly --defects, track record or pricing.

Even the Ford vs. Chevy truck guys will let it go, move on, and see no need to carry on the debate. Even then, those who weigh in on debates such as that at least own one or the other ...

Fact is, Kimber is a leading seller of pistols in this country. One presumes that those who actually buy, own and continue to buy Kimber pistols don't feel compelled to go online and complain about them ... If you don't like the brand, for whatever reason, don't buy it. Funny thing is, of all the used 1911s I see around in pawn shops, gun shops and at gun shows, I don't seem to see all that many used Kimbers for sale, so at least around my area, those folks must be hanging on to them ...

This is a forum to discus things like this, not a gunshop counter where the clerk just want you to go away. The idea of "if you dont like it, dont buy it" is the same as "if you dont like the subject of the forum, dont participate".... OP, Yea the kimbers ive seen arent worth any more than 700$ in my opinion.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Without quoting numbers or arguing about individual companies, I believe the overall price of guns has gone up across the entire industry. Good deals can be had and many guns are a fine value.

However, I've never felt Kimber guns offer an equal value for their price point. The day I picked up a brand new Kimber 1911 with a $1200 price tag, and saw the muzzle had surface rust on it, Kimber was relegated to my "do not buy" list.

I feel I can get a better built gun at lower price points from other companies. Their new revolver does interest me a bit, but I doubt it offers anything my 3" 686+ doesn't offer.

 

[Valkman]

I've had 3 Kimbers, still have 2, and all three were and are great guns. BUT, I never paid more than $900 for any of them. Much of this thread is just BS Kimber bashing - buy what you want but I've yet to have to send a Kimber back and I can't say that about my Springfield or Colt 1911's. The Colt was the biggest example of poor quality control I've ever seen.

 

[Eugen]

I am not feeling much love here for the Kimber brand. I only own one Kimber, a Micro 380, and really enjoy it. It is very reliable and is a hoot to shoot that little guy. I enjoy it as much as my Sig, HK and other brands guns. So many fun guns out there, and so little money.

 

[Rock185]

Kimber and SIG sure do seem to produce a bunch of colorful variations, I'll give you that. But I guess neither of these manufacturers has priced themselves out of the market for me. I've owned a half dozen Kimbers over the past 15 years or so, and bought another a few months ago. My most recent Kimber purchase, a 38 Super Eclipse Target, only has a few hundred rounds through it at this point. It has performed flawlessly with any and all factory and reloaded ammo I've used, that with Kimber, Colt, STI and Metalform magazines. It functions reliably with both 38 Super and 38 Super Comp brass with no adjusting or "tuning" anything required. It just works. I don't know guys. I'll happily report a Kimber horror story soon as I have one to report. But I've just not experienced anything like some others have reported on the internet. Just going by internet complaints, I sure wouldn't have spent my hard earned money on another Kimber this year if they were as bad as some say, no matter how colorful and glossy the Kimber magazine ads are

 

[Old Dog]

I am not feeling much love here for the Kimber brand. I only own one Kimber, a Micro 380, and really enjoy it. It is very reliable and is a hoot to shoot that little guy. I enjoy it as much as my Sig, HK and other brands guns. So many fun guns out there, and so little money.

Don't worry. You'll find that this forum, as all the rest, regularly displays collective bias against, or toward, certain manufacturers. And this rotates, goes in cycles. Apparently, these days, the only modern handguns it's safe to approve of on this forum are Dan Wesson 1911s, Glocks and CZ-75 variants. Come here and try to praise Kimbers, Taurus, Colt, S&W M&Ps, new H&Ks and everybody will post about how their brother-in-law or buddy or dad's friend had a horrible specimen and that's why that particular gun is junk. Oh, and if a handgun is expensive, it's unnecessary, because the $500 Glock or Ruger will do the job just as well ...

 

[HexHead]

Kimber is all about cosmetics with their handguns. 3 basic models, with what seems like 40 variations of each. People buy the for the jewelry factor.

 

[primalmu]

Kimber is all about cosmetics with their handguns. 3 basic models, with what seems like 40 variations of each. People buy the for the jewelry factor.

Isn't that pretty much all 1911s? I saw what I felt was the same thing from Springfield when I was shopping before I bought my Kimber.

 

[SSN Vet]

imo..... yes

 

[DaisyCutter]

I owned a Kimber. For a given price-point, I prefer other brands to Kimber.

I've never sold a firearm that I trusted.

 

[MCMXI]

All Kimber pistol, revolver and rifle frames/receivers are machined from billet here in the US and Kimber employs hundreds of people. That costs money. CNC machines cost money, electricity costs money, raw materals cost money. I own many quality firearms including Kimber rifles (six) and Kimber 1911s (two) and I plan on buying a Micro 9 when the DC (LG) model is available. I have three Ed Browns and two Dan Wessons and the DWs were by far the worst in terms of finished quality. I like my 1911s but don't use them for CC or home defense. I have Rugers, SIGs, DD and Remington for that. Ultimately it's the customer that sets the pricing so if Kimber pistols are overpriced that will change.

 

[Zerodefect]

Kimber is the leading seller of paper weights. Generally newer 1911 owners that don't know any better yet. Newbs that saw a pretty add in a magazine. I rarely see them at the range ever. That's not something I'd hold up as evidence that Kimber's are good.
.
F150's outsell F350's for towing 10,000 pound travel trailers. That doesn't mean that an F150 is better at towing that.

 

[X-Rap]

I think you have a bad analogy, F150's out sell Chevy 1500's and both pull about the same.
To say there is such a vast chasm between mass produced 1911's probably depends more on the date of production than the brand engraved on the slide.

 

[MCMXI]

Some will argue that buying any 1911 is a waste if money. When Hilton Yam moved on from the 1911 it was a kick in the nuts for many who`s very manhood is tied into their choice of firearm.