I'd say so!

Dumpster diving pays off bigtime, eh BigJ12?

I got my Hoyt ProTec as a distinguished service award from the archery club.

A friend gave me a Wing Presentation II recurve.

Materials for my longbow cost $125, then there was the time it took to build it.

My favorite selfbow came from a board I got for ten bucks at Lowes.

The most expensive bow in my rack right now is my custom CheckMate Kings Pawn Special. $250.

Prices vary from location to location. It's not really fair to say he got raped because he paid more than others. Maybe he could have driven to another location to say he paid $700 for it , not counting the $100 in gas?

I don't know. True Story. I never ask. I went to Lens shop to buy a climbing treestand. I'd never been there. I saw him on line. So anyway he showed me the treestand I wanted. He had it and several others of various makes and models. He then proceeded to tell me what he didn't like about it. He even showed me a couple he was waiting for satisfaction from the manufacturer. He ended with, I'll sell it to you if you want, but you can do better.

While I mulled the decision over and fondled a few of his bows he said, "Hey, did you ever shoot a Darton"? Or words to that effect anyway. He had about 15 manufacturers bows in the store. So anyway, he let me shoot his bow. Then he said, it's too long for you so he grabbed another and adjusted it and set it up for my length. And that's how I came to not buy the stand. I walked out about 4 hours later with an order for arrows, new rest, new sights, new quiver,... oh... and a new bow. I never did buy the stand. A couple years ago Len finally consented to sell me a stand he was trading in for a new model. It was some rediculous low price and I still have it. The bow, I have no idea. I bought a custom package from someone who knew what in the hell he was doing. He said I'm giving youthis off and that at a discount. I said, I don't need to know that. Just give me the bottom line and I'll give you my card.

A few days after I got the bow I was filling out the warranty card. They wanted to know how much I paid for it. I had no idea. I called Len and told him my problem. I said, just give me a figure that'll make them happy. I don't care what I paid for the bow. It works, it's great, the service is great. It's a package deal I can live with. I never ask for a discount. I never ask Len the price. He always insist he wants to give me this or that. I insist I want him to prosper and do well. If all the world becomes a discount center we end up with only Walmarts for service. That's a scary proposition. It's not the price of something.... it's the cost that I'm worried about.

In business I did it about the same. When I first started out I had lots of debts and no customers. There was this one little old supplier that was good. He came, I ordered, he shipped. Others came, said fill out these papers for credit ...yada yada yada. I did a couple, the one little old distributor never ask for that. Terms.... they all said, payment immediately etc, interest rates etc. The little old distributor said nothing. Business started slow. Little old distributor let me get into him pretty good. He never once came with his hand out saying pay me now. He did make notes on his bills, 30 days, 60 days 90 days. Business picked up. I had long ago locked out the other distributors. Business became good and profitable. I always paid the pills first once the money came. I never ask MY distributor for a break. He had been good to me. He had a heart attack and died. His brother and wife took over. They came together the first trip. I told them, "as long as the Gordons own a business and I own a business, we'll always be partners. If I'm not here, look around, send me what you think I need. Don't use me and we'll always be partners. Don't screw me and I won't beat you over the head about prices. DEAL????" They are Jewish, they said DEAL. And that's the way I ran the business until I sold it. The Gordons never screwed me and the prices of supplies didn't bankrupt me.

After a few years all the big suppliers came back, first bearing gifts, then trying to price cut to get my business. I thanked them for their time but told them I was fine...over and over and over. One day a particularly pushy salesman starts with, "I've got a deal for you. What do you pay for hangers"? I told him I had NO IDEA. He was incredulous... He said, "WhaT????? You can't run a business like that. How much. I told him I was being sincere. I had no idea. he said you're being taken. I said I'm happy. He said you're a fool. I told him he was out of there. See ya. I told him the story of "In the beginnig there was debt and the clouds parted and the Gordons came". I ask him if he didn't feel loyalty was a valuable commodity that was dirt cheap in the long run. He rolled his eyes and left.

Arthur,

You might say it paid off in a BIG "J"way!

Here is the story behind it.

http://www.huntingnet.com/forum/tm.aspx?m=1288275&mpage=1&key=One%2cMans?

06 SwitchBack XT bare bow....... $730. I received a 5% discount
from my shop and that just about took care of the tax.

[&:]still not sure I could make myself part with over $600 for a bow, if even that much! [&o]

David,

I think that's about the best post I've ever read of yours -- at least up there at the tops.

Thanks for taking the time to write it.

My 05 Reflex SuperSlam ran me 300$ straight, and it was new.
Now after accessories and arrows and setup, we are talking 800+