epijunkie67
Member
Let me preface this with the fact that I am not in the gun business. This is just an observation I've made recently.
Over the last several weeks I've been reading about all the panic buying. Yes, my local store shelves are empty also. In response to this crazy buying frenzy some stores are raising their prices. In some cases they are selling guns and ammo for two or even three times what they were worth just a few months ago.
But when I read threads about the price increases on this or other forums a lot of people are really mad about it. "This is a rip off!" "Well they've lost my business..."
Why? Why the anger? This is simple supply and demand economics. The more popular and less available something is the more people are willing to pay for it. It's not "gouging". If I have a bike the two people want to buy from me and they get in a bidding war over it who's fault is that?
Guns and ammo aren't life sustaining items. It's not like they are tripling the price of food or medication. Currently there is a shortage and a high demand so they can charge more. If you don't like the price then don't buy the item. Why be mad at them for making more money while they can? It's a business, not a charity.
What about when the situation is reversed? Low demand and high availability? I remember a few years ago when the shelves got flooded with cheap Mosins and they were selling for $75 or less. Did you rush to the store and demand to pay $200 for that rifle? Should the store owner have been mad that people were "taking advantage" of him?
No. Low demand and high availability means low prices. High demand and low availability means high prices. You charge what the market will allow. You increase the price until people aren't willing to buy from you any more. That isn't dishonest. That isn't even shady. That is just business.
So stop being mad at the store owners. They didn't create this monster. The prices will go back down again in good time. Until then either pay more or buy less.
Over the last several weeks I've been reading about all the panic buying. Yes, my local store shelves are empty also. In response to this crazy buying frenzy some stores are raising their prices. In some cases they are selling guns and ammo for two or even three times what they were worth just a few months ago.
But when I read threads about the price increases on this or other forums a lot of people are really mad about it. "This is a rip off!" "Well they've lost my business..."
Why? Why the anger? This is simple supply and demand economics. The more popular and less available something is the more people are willing to pay for it. It's not "gouging". If I have a bike the two people want to buy from me and they get in a bidding war over it who's fault is that?
Guns and ammo aren't life sustaining items. It's not like they are tripling the price of food or medication. Currently there is a shortage and a high demand so they can charge more. If you don't like the price then don't buy the item. Why be mad at them for making more money while they can? It's a business, not a charity.
What about when the situation is reversed? Low demand and high availability? I remember a few years ago when the shelves got flooded with cheap Mosins and they were selling for $75 or less. Did you rush to the store and demand to pay $200 for that rifle? Should the store owner have been mad that people were "taking advantage" of him?
No. Low demand and high availability means low prices. High demand and low availability means high prices. You charge what the market will allow. You increase the price until people aren't willing to buy from you any more. That isn't dishonest. That isn't even shady. That is just business.
So stop being mad at the store owners. They didn't create this monster. The prices will go back down again in good time. Until then either pay more or buy less.
