Mac's Precision
Member
My reply to comments on gun quality in a previous thread makes me want to pose a bunch of questions.
What are modern gun prices supposed to be? Do you..the average consumer ...think that prices are too low? Too high? Or are prices appropriate where they are? Is the gun value today appropriate for your hard earned dollar? Are the gun companies slacking just to hose you...the consumer? Or...are they using CNC processes to make as many guns that are "acceptible" to make money on volume? Do we cut our own throats by complaining about prices and driving the prices down...along with the quality?
Has the gun market prices increased in pace with inflation? Is it reasonable to expect top shelf performance for prices that are below what they should be?
If you bought a Corvette in 1957...you expected top shelf performance. If you want a 2010 Corvette with it's performance... you WILL PAY for it now as it is a "premium" car for premium customers with lots of money.
If you want 1957 gun quality NOW....should we be paying more than we are?
Many guns shoot pretty darn well for the money we pay. They are available in volumes we would have never seen in 1957. Customers used to have to wait for delivery of a certain model...where as we can get most any model we want...any time we want.
If a gun in 1949 took 23 hours wages to buy .....then why do we have issues with spending that same 23 hours of Today's wages to buy the same gun? Is there a value problem? Is todays gun not the same gun from 1949? No...but we aren't paying full price based on inflation. It is ALMOST as good a gun...and we are paying ALMOST what it SHOULD cost.
We seem to have a problem dropping a reasonable price for a firearm...but no problem dropping $35K on a car. But you say..."I can't pay a lot of money for a firearm". "I want Corvette performance.....but I can't spend....$2000.00 for a top shelf rifle" " I bought a Kia....and then have issues with it's quality and mileage" "But I bought a budget minded gun...it SHOULD shoot and function....right?" YES....but if you bought a budget minded car...would you be shocked if it was in the shop several times? My wife bought a Kia several years back....it made it 450 miles...and was in the shop with leaking intake manifold gaskets.
Are budget guns priced under $600.00 ALLOWED to have problems? Are Corvettes not allowed to fail..leak oil..or stall on an onramp? Are ALL older guns BETTER than the new ones? Does anyone recall revolvers with timing issues and shaving lead when new out of the box? Did all old bolt actions drive tacks at 250 yards? Were all old shotguns more accurate on the Skeet range or never miss a duck? Did all repeaters feed perfect....or is it just our imagination?
Is there a reason that manufacturer's custom shops charge full boat prices for customs? Is there justification for custom smiths charging $1500.00 to upgrade your bolt action to Corvette status?
Here is the real question: Is there a value vs price issue? Are the gun makers cutting corners just to stay in business? Are custom guns priced where guns SHOULD be priced and the average priced guns are simply entry level?
What says you?
Cheers
Mac.
What are modern gun prices supposed to be? Do you..the average consumer ...think that prices are too low? Too high? Or are prices appropriate where they are? Is the gun value today appropriate for your hard earned dollar? Are the gun companies slacking just to hose you...the consumer? Or...are they using CNC processes to make as many guns that are "acceptible" to make money on volume? Do we cut our own throats by complaining about prices and driving the prices down...along with the quality?
Has the gun market prices increased in pace with inflation? Is it reasonable to expect top shelf performance for prices that are below what they should be?
If you bought a Corvette in 1957...you expected top shelf performance. If you want a 2010 Corvette with it's performance... you WILL PAY for it now as it is a "premium" car for premium customers with lots of money.
If you want 1957 gun quality NOW....should we be paying more than we are?
Many guns shoot pretty darn well for the money we pay. They are available in volumes we would have never seen in 1957. Customers used to have to wait for delivery of a certain model...where as we can get most any model we want...any time we want.
If a gun in 1949 took 23 hours wages to buy .....then why do we have issues with spending that same 23 hours of Today's wages to buy the same gun? Is there a value problem? Is todays gun not the same gun from 1949? No...but we aren't paying full price based on inflation. It is ALMOST as good a gun...and we are paying ALMOST what it SHOULD cost.
We seem to have a problem dropping a reasonable price for a firearm...but no problem dropping $35K on a car. But you say..."I can't pay a lot of money for a firearm". "I want Corvette performance.....but I can't spend....$2000.00 for a top shelf rifle" " I bought a Kia....and then have issues with it's quality and mileage" "But I bought a budget minded gun...it SHOULD shoot and function....right?" YES....but if you bought a budget minded car...would you be shocked if it was in the shop several times? My wife bought a Kia several years back....it made it 450 miles...and was in the shop with leaking intake manifold gaskets.
Are budget guns priced under $600.00 ALLOWED to have problems? Are Corvettes not allowed to fail..leak oil..or stall on an onramp? Are ALL older guns BETTER than the new ones? Does anyone recall revolvers with timing issues and shaving lead when new out of the box? Did all old bolt actions drive tacks at 250 yards? Were all old shotguns more accurate on the Skeet range or never miss a duck? Did all repeaters feed perfect....or is it just our imagination?
Is there a reason that manufacturer's custom shops charge full boat prices for customs? Is there justification for custom smiths charging $1500.00 to upgrade your bolt action to Corvette status?
Here is the real question: Is there a value vs price issue? Are the gun makers cutting corners just to stay in business? Are custom guns priced where guns SHOULD be priced and the average priced guns are simply entry level?
What says you?
Cheers
Mac.