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So just how much extra are we paying for the big names? Who do you think is paying for all the TV shows, commercials and advertising that these two companies are doing? Does having that big name on your bow impress the deer you're shooting at?
Do you want to shoot a bow made by the company with the best advertising budget or do you want to shoot the best bow for you? Now you don't get to the top of the food chain by selling crappy products, and both companies make good bows, but so do a lot of other companies. I had a Hoyt a few years ago, I bought it because it was the best feeling bow to me that year. Unfortunately it felt good, but didn't shoot good. I had more problems with that bow then all the rest I've owned before or since. Why? Because where I bought it from was more interested in making money than providing a good bow tech service. Who you buy from, and who sets up and tunes the bow is much more important than what name is on the bow. The best bow in the world isn't worth diidly squat if it's set up and tuned by a moron! Once I figured that out and took my Hoyt to a different bow shop, all my problems were solved with 1 visit. Who you buy from maybe more important than what you buy. It took a Parker dealer to set up my Hoyt to shoot straight.
That just happens to be the best tech in MY area. Since then, I traded my Hoyt for a Parker and am very happy with it AND the customer service that goes with it. It maybe that the Hoyt or Mathews dealer has the best service in your area, or maybe someone else. My advice to anyone looking for a new bow is much the same as what the others are saying, go shoot as many as you can and while you're trying to find that bow that feels the best, you're also shopping for the best combination of quality equipment with quality service. Quality service is the more important of the two as most all American bow makers have quality products.
One of the clues that I got that told me to look for another bow shop was when the Hoyt dealer told me,"There's no need to paper tune any bow that I set up. We don't paper tune anything here." I went to the Parker dealer that same day, and ripped a 4" hole on paper at 10 yards! The bow tech then shot it himself and ripped a bigger hole. After 1 full year of fighting with my Hoyt and Hoyt dealer, the Parker dealer had it shooting bullet holes in less than 1 hour and I never had a problem with it after that. By no means am I saying all Parker techs are better than Hoyt techs or any other brand. Instead of asking what brand you should buy, ask who in your area is going to give you the best service?