Are Bow Prices Too High?
 

I don't want to pick on any one Company . There are several Companies that make expensive high end bows , but I don't think any bow is worth $700 to $1000 for hunting purposes (3D Maybe) . I paid less than $300 for mine two years ago and have taken several deer with it since .I have been bowhunting for over 20 years and have owned about a dozen different bows . Do you think today's bows are too expensive ? I would like to see a trend towards bows that are priced under $300 and have all the features that the so called "High end" bows have .

RE: Are Bow Prices Too High?
 

I love my HavocTec, it's quiet lightweight, shoots great too. I paid $580 for it. I shoot league twice a week for 10 weeks = 20 days, I hunt about 30 days each archery season plus all the days I shoot in the summer in the back yard and 3D not to mention the handful of days I turkey hunt. I figure I must have my bow in my hand a minimum of 100 days each year. At $5.80 a day just for the first year, doesn't seem like that much. For a hobby that I enjoy all year round, I am not complaining.

RE: Are Bow Prices Too High?
 

If you are asking if I would like bow prices to be less expensive then my answer would be a resounding "yes"....

<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

RE: Are Bow Prices Too High?
 

I'd say you've made a valid observation Mr. Tom and I won't even start to disagree. I got into the highest priced Pearson model last year for alittle more than half the price of some other brands average prices through the same shop. I'm real happy with it too. Decked it out with some trick cessorys too and still kept my investment under the cost of the more expensive brands (bow only).
The shop guy once said, &quot; ya know, that bow you've got will kill deer just as dead as one of these new ones.&quot; He was talking about my 20 year old Martin. That's an honest salesman if you ask me.
Good post.

RE: Are Bow Prices Too High?
 

This is such an individualistic question, it is kind of hard to answer. For me personally.....maybe. I bought a magna tec in '00 for a decent price, that was not the part I have the problem with. It came equipped with absolute junk sites, no quiver, etc... That is where I dump a fair amount of cash on carbons, sites, stabalizer, then this mediocre priced bow all of the sudden started getting kind of expensive! Do I think a Mathews is worth the $1,000 they are asking, absolutely not. But people will pay it, so there is your answer. The demand is so high for these bows that they are difficult to keep on the shelves at a grand! And believe you me, if they gave some lamo excuse and raised them to two grand, people would buy them just the same.

I have about $700 invested in my rig, but I plan on keeping it for a long, long time...probably until it literally breaks in the hands. Bows are just like everything else (cars, computers, etc.), everybody wants the newest and best of everything, and they want it NOW, no matter what the cost.

If someone like Tribal shoots as much as he does, has the money to spend, and isn't going to lose any sleep while he runs to the bowshop to see if his bow is still the fastest.....more power to him.

Just my two cents.

Chad

Edited by - oregonhunter on 01/22/2002 09:27:40

RE: Are Bow Prices Too High?
 

Welcome to the board oregon! Tribal is a she just so ya know.<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle> I didn't buy my HavocTec because it was fast, (225 f.p.s. at 45lbs. w/ 26 1/2&quot; draw using a 301 gr. arrow) because at my specs, I'll never get 300 f.p.s. I bought it because it was pretty<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle> I am a sucker for a bow wrapped in Mossy Oak forest floor! It was love at first sight, then I shot it and fell in love again. If bows were less expensive, I would just have more of them.

RE: Are Bow Prices Too High?
 

Take a look at tradional bows. I mean, they have personality, they are hand made - but $800-$1200 !! WHEW !!

But then, I would LOVE to have an Acadian Woods takedown, full blown options - a cadillac looking bow, and would buy one if I had the money. I'd be scared to use it for fear of scratching it though ! :)

RE: Are Bow Prices Too High?
 

That's kind of a tough one to answer. Should a $700 dollar bows cost that much, hell no. But neither should jewlrey, or stereo equipment. The markup it rediculously high. I would assume bows are the same way. And the small time dealers are getting just as screwed as we are. They don't make that much off bows from what I understand. I have looked at expensive bows and compared them to bows around 300 to 350 dollars, which is about half the price. It sure doesn't look like it cost twice as much to make them. They are made out of pretty much the same materials and made with simular equipment. The quality on all the newer bows is outstanding, but the more expensive ones are a little better, as they should be.

You can argue that some of the money goes into research and devopment, and I have. Us humans always want what is at the edge of cutting technology, and that tends to cost more. But there are companies that do a lot of R&D and still don't charge an arm and a leg for their product. Darton comes to mind obviously. That brings you to the next step, Advertising. Who has some of the most expensive bows you can throw money at. Mathews, Hoyt, and PSE. All of which have very aggressive and impressive marketing campaigns, This costs money. Where do you think they are going to get it from. But in defense of Hoyt and PSE they have a very extensive line up with price ranges to fit everyone that would want a bow. And Hoyt offers enough options to make you dizzy trying to make a decision. Then on the other hand mathews cheapest bow is 400 bucks( not including the genisis). I guess we can see the crowed they are catering to. Don't get me wrong, I like mathews and think they make an excellent product, but they are also marketing geniuses.

Are the more expensive bows better. Sure they are, to a point. When I go to look at bows I like to take my darton with me so I can compare them side by side. I have looked at some bows that I really liked on their own. But when I got my bow out and looked at them side by side and shot them, all of a sudden I was not that impressed. I know I shoot my bow every day and it feels comfortable in my hands like an old pair of gloves, and I am sort of biased becuase of it. But I try to be objectional when trying to make comparisons and look at facts instead of how something feels. I will be honest, I love the way Mathews bows feel in my hand, especially the Mq32. I have deffenitley shot bows this summer that had better qualities than my bow. Some were much lighter, not always a good thing though. My bow is actually fairly light if I take all the crap off of it too. Some were deffenitely smoother to shoot and quieter, Mathews in general. But they were slower also. The only bow I shot that was considerably faster was the ultra 2. But other than that it felt alot like my darton, actually it had more kick. So again, do I think they are better, yes I do, but not twice as better as the price would suggest.

With all that said, I will most likely end up with one any way! I really like some of the mathews and parkers and would probably spend the money if I had it. Not so much becuase they are better, just because I want one. And as long as there are people like me, there will be expensive bows. It's sad, but true.

Paul

RE: Are Bow Prices Too High?
 

Sometimes looking at things from really broad perspective helps me relate costs to usefullness. I like to feel like I &quot;get my moneys worth&quot; out of stuff.


See if this makes any sense:
&gt;If you shoot 192.3 arrows a week, every week of the year for 10 years.
&gt;That would be 100,000 shots from that particular bow (this may or may not be a reasonable life span, I'm guessing it would for the sake of my example)
&gt;If you paid $700 for your bow, you actually paid $.007 or; less than 1 penny per shot over the life of that bow.

When I look at it like that, by all means I got my money worth. That's alot of shootin!~

RE: Are Bow Prices Too High?
 

If I had the money....(that's how LOTS of my sentices start!!!) I would be shooting a *high end* hoyt. Why? Just cuz' I want one. I can kill deer and shoot 280's with my PSE NOVA I payed $138 for! High end bows are nice....but not nessesary.

John

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[Deleted by Admins]

RE: Are Bow Prices Too High?
 

StealthyCat..the cost of so called Custom made traditional bows is terrible, just look at the cost of black widows over 900.00 for some of those and you dont even get to choice any fancy woods! I guess its just the all the overhead they have to cover.

As far as cost for the machined aluminum bows they are expensive. My husband has helped Hoyt in the past with some designs in his machine shop, and I can tell when you start machining bows on machines that have a shop rate of 125.00 a hr to run, plus the machinist rates, and all the other people who handle the bow to make the finished project it all adds up.

My current Recurve was right about 600.00 it is preety custom though as far the woods and limb tips and checkering go.I can guarantee their will never be another bow just like it!

Edited by - Cliff_N_Di on 01/22/2002 12:11:43

RE: Are Bow Prices Too High?
 

So traditional and recurves are as much as if not more than compounds?! That figures. I always ending up picking expensive hobbies! I figured that when I tire of all my hi-tec hunting stuff, I would go traditional and save some bucks. Ah, the joys of archery! Thanks for letting me know. I think.

RE: Are Bow Prices Too High?
 

Quite frankly, I don't see much problem in spending $500 and up for a hand made, custom recurve with exotic hardwoods, expertly rendered and finished. Those custom bowyers aren't getting rich, for sure.

But spending that much and more on a machine made, mass produced hunk of of plastic and metal that never saw a human hand until it came time to assemble the parts...

But then, it depends on how much disposable income you've got, how much of it you're willing to dispose of, and how bad you want a certain bow.

Myself, I don't have much disposable income. There's a teenager/money sponge living in my house. I've probably bought my last new bow for quite a spell. If, or when, I need a different bow, I'll snoop the used bow racks and secondhand shops.

RE: Are Bow Prices Too High?
 

My bad Miss Tribal, I didn't know. But even us tough ol' fellas are suckers for a pretty bow or color scheme from time to time (did I just blow our cover guys?!?!?). I must admit, that didn't hurt in my bow purchase!

Ok, after I rambled on and on about the positives and negatives about expensive bows, I have come to this conclusion. SCREW IT! You only live once, and if you want to burn a few bucks on a bow that may or may not help your groups, who am I to cut on ya for it.

There are all kinds of scenarios we can play out on a individual basis, but for the most part I agree with Paul...I think, I may have nodded off about half way through (just kiddin' Paul)! <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

Just my two pennies.

RE: Are Bow Prices Too High?
 

To me it is just the price that you have to pay to have a hobby. You look at eveything from fishing rods and reels to golf clubs to mountain bikes they are all just as expensive as you want them to be. I have this talk with my wife all of the time when we discuss the money that we spend. I always tell her that with the meat that I kill with my bow I save us money at the grocery store.

RE: Are Bow Prices Too High?
 

To quote Lee Iaccoca(sp?) &quot;We charge those prices because people pay it&quot;

I'd rather my 2000 Honda 4-wheeler be in the neighborhood of around $600.00, but it wasn't. Most people wouldn't have had the use to realize the difference in costs for the 4X4, 400 and whatever CC engine, full floorboards, electronic shift, shaft drive, or Honda's proven reliability. But for me, I'll probably have it for 10 years, abuse the heck out of it, and hope it lasts.

A bow isn't much different. Most people would never tell the differences between a $400.00 bow and a $800.00 bow, but some do, some can, and if they have the money, it's probably worth it. I personally feel the price of land and automobiles have increased just as substantially, if not more.

It's kind of funny, but I remember how much my PSE Fire-Flite seemed to cost when I basically mowed lawns to buy it in 1988. Now looking back, the $223.00 seems pretty nice compared to todays prices. What about some 18 year old buying his first bow for $500.00 or more, how's that going to look 14 years from now??

Guess it's all relative.

Jeff...U.P. of Michigan.

RE: Are Bow Prices Too High?
 

Prices seem steep to me. What do I know? I've never owned a new bow. I want one this year though. Hope it's worth it!

RE: Are Bow Prices Too High?
 

Gutshot, I tell my wife the same thing, then when I make meat, she informs me that stuff cost $233.153 per pound. Not only do I have a teenager in the house, I'm married to an accountant! <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

RE: Are Bow Prices Too High?
 

I have a hoyt I bought years ago.Use it for both hunting and 3d shooting.It gets the job done for me so I have no interest in another
one.

RE: Are Bow Prices Too High?
 

We can wish they cost less all we want, but as long as people keep buying the more expensive models, then prices will continue to rise.

If you think about it, the price range is pretty wide. There's something for just about every size pocket book. Not everybody can or should pay for the best, especially when second best is so close in quality.

RE: Are Bow Prices Too High?
 

As far as high prices, YES, for the most part a store bought bow is a ton of money. Like has been said, stop buying them. You would see a big rush to attract shooters back to their products. Just like Toyota is now offering cash and low interest because of lack of sales, PSE and Matthews would get off their high horses and come back to reality.

RE: Are Bow Prices Too High?
 

I plan on being that 18 year old purchasing a $500+ bow. I am saving my money and selling a few cows so by summer I will have plenty of money. I plan on telling my proshop to pick out the best bow for me that will last me years to come. I expect it to be around $600 or so.

RE: Are Bow Prices Too High?
 

When compounds got faster and faster, bows went higher and higher. Not only paying for higher priced materials but due to the extreme speeds we are paying for that &quot;lifetime warranty&quot;!

RE: Are Bow Prices Too High?
 

Why do most of us drive $20,000+ 4 wheel drive vehicles when we could be driving around in 1964 volkswagons?

RE: Are Bow Prices Too High?
 

to some paying over 500 for a bow may seem like alot. too me it is not, i spend all my free time outside recreating in one way or another i dont drive a fancy truck i dont even own my own house but i do have a 2700$ mtnbike a 1200$ whitewater kayak w another 1000$ worth of gear, 300$ snowshoes, and 850$ into my bow all set up. we all have different needs and i have the need to play outside. i dont need nice clothes or 100$ dinner dates. just my biased opinion

RE: Are Bow Prices Too High?
 

Interesting question, but a moot point.

Bow prices are certainly not too high; there is a vast price range for just about any budget.

I have priced a lot of bows and bow packages in the past several months just out of pure curiosity. An archer looking for a decent hunting bow can get a good package deal (from many different manufacturers) starting around $300. The higher prices reflect additional features, be they real or intangible. If you want the latest, greatest, or coolest bow with all the whistles and bells, then you have to pony up the cash.

The Mouse

RE: Are Bow Prices Too High?
 

I have to agree with mouse, goodies cost more, well basics cost less.
Good shooting.
Dylan

>>>>--------o-->

RE: Are Bow Prices Too High?
 

I am betting that there will be some company to come out with a line like Kimber has done with the M1911 handgun. They have put all the custom shop features on a production gun and have virtually taken over the market for 1911's. It doesn't perfectly translate into archery, I know, but part of that philosophy can. There will be a smart company that takes a big chunk of the market like that.

The most important bloodtrail leads right to the foot of the cross

RE: Are Bow Prices Too High?
 

Yes they are too high priced if you are buying the top end bow just to hunt some of the largest deer I have ever seen taken were taken with a yard sale bow.

There is nothing in the price of the bow that kills the game so go for what you can afford get a bow that fits and put decent acc's on it and practice and you will kill if there are no mistakes made and there are deer where you hunt.

Some of the high end bows today with all the whistles and bells as in a muzzy ZE rest a high dollar sight then a dozen good carbons and at least 1/2 dozen broadheads can cost upward of 900 to $1000.00 and when and if the time comes to sell or trade it in you may get 200 for it.

While on the other side of hunting for $1000.00 you can buy one of the best rifles on the market and outfit it with a 300.00 scope and if you take care of it in 10 years it will still sell for nearly the same.

And I say all this speaking from experence as I have been in archery since 1964 and love it. I have been a factory shooter and a staff shooter for a local dealer for several years. Buy the best you can and learn to shoot properly and you wil enjoy the sport a lot better.

Just my opinion..............

RE: Are Bow Prices Too High?
 

Right up front, let me apologize for sounding like an accountant (I am). Do I think some bow prices are inflated? Yes, in some cases severely. But to answer the question we need to look at it from the manufacturers point of view also.

First of all, I don't think we can compare the price of bows to the price of firearms. Think of the advancements in bow technology over the past 15yrs - its staggering. While gun manufacturers have made some advancements, there is absolutely no comparison. What has fueled this leap in technology? Money, competition and the demands of the consumer are responsible. Technology costs money. Now add to that the fact that the average customer base is much smaller for a bow manufacturer than for a company like Remington or Ruger and you have much fewer customers to collect those R&D dollars from. The result is higher prices for each product you sell.

Now if it ever gets to a point where Hoyt is selling as many bows per year as Ruger is selling firearms then, maybe, you'll see bow prices comparible to firearms. Not likely in the near future IMHO.

So, if we as archers continue to demand the smaller, the faster, lighter, shock-free bows we're currently enjoying, be prepared to pay for it.

Turc

RE: Are Bow Prices Too High?
 

When I decided to go from recurve to compound I went to sports store and bought used bow with right draw length for $50. Still using same bow.

RE: Are Bow Prices Too High?
 

You have to remember that you are not only payiong the costs of the goods the labor, and fixed costs, but you are also paying for Research and Development (so our bows can be even lighter and faster).

RE: Are Bow Prices Too High?
 

JUST MY 2 CENTS BUT I THINK A LOT OF THE EXPENSE ON NEW BOWS IS THE TECH AN ENGINERRING THAT GO INTO DEVELOPMENT OF THESE BOWS, BUT YES I DO AGREE THEY COST TO MUCH, BUT ALSO THEY SHOULD LAST ALIFE TIME

RE: Are Bow Prices Too High?
 

yep way to much money if you ask me!

RE: Are Bow Prices Too High?
 

yes i think the price of bows have gone thru the roof, but you do get what you pay for. you can still buy $200 bows worth the money and they will do the job. me personally, i buy the $400 to $650 bows. the latest in high tech equipment.

RE: Are Bow Prices Too High?
 

YES , TOO MUCH MONEY!
I do compare it to buying a firearm. You can buy a great firearm for $700 that you could pass down from generation to generation if you take care of it. Could you do that with a compound bow? Not likely.
A top of the line recurve or long bow is a different case. If you take care of it , you could pass it from generation to generation.


&quot;Nocked,cocked & ready to rock&quot;

RE: Are Bow Prices Too High?
 

like navy says if a bow lasted a lifetime i wouldnt mind. If you buy a rifle it lasts a lifetime. But with bows ESPECIALLY the way that they change from year to year they are like computers you cant keep up with them they ought to have a year lease on them so you can get a new one every year I think the price is ridiculous.

Hunting with a bow brings about a different challenge on every hunt!!!