price elitism
- Thread starter Newton24b
- Start date
Newton24b
I don't really believe we do "price elitism"
I've been on threads where no one has looked down at my "mere" RIA when they have a Kimber II.
I've also been on threads where I've asked people whats the difference from their custom built (insert "any gun here") 9 mm vs. my beat up S&W 469 I paid $350.00 for.
The nice thing I always get is:
An answer from some one whom knows what they're talking about
We are a community of people whom enjoy the ability to shoot, whether it's Rifle, Shotgun, Revolver, Pistol or ................What the heck is that????
Just my .02
I don't really believe we do "price elitism"
I've been on threads where no one has looked down at my "mere" RIA when they have a Kimber II.
I've also been on threads where I've asked people whats the difference from their custom built (insert "any gun here") 9 mm vs. my beat up S&W 469 I paid $350.00 for.
The nice thing I always get is:
An answer from some one whom knows what they're talking about
We are a community of people whom enjoy the ability to shoot, whether it's Rifle, Shotgun, Revolver, Pistol or ................What the heck is that????
Just my .02
People have varying experiences, likes and dislikes. Often they are merely recounting a negative experience with a particular brand or gun. In the main I don't think that it is elitism based on price, although I suppose some might feel that way.
One thing I find surprising is that people who are obviously on very limited incomes spend money on a discretionary items like guns. If the finances are so tight that small amounts make a difference then some adjustment in priorities is probably appropriate.
One thing I find surprising is that people who are obviously on very limited incomes spend money on a discretionary items like guns. If the finances are so tight that small amounts make a difference then some adjustment in priorities is probably appropriate.
LockedBreech
New member
I understand the frustration of perceiving judgment in others. I grew up poor as dirt, as I'm guessing many others here did. We hunted to eat, not simply for sport or recreation.
That said...
You must be careful not to conflate price snobby with quality snobbery.
The brands you named in the original post, such as Taurus, Rossi, and Charter, tend to be looked down on more than competing brands because they have worse quality standards and control. Simple as that. Sure, there are competing factors like brand-name loyalty and such, but in a forum with this many people errant comments like that tend to be the minority. Mostly, as a community, we watch for something that pops up more than average as "uh oh, problem!". A brand with such a reputation undergoes more scrutiny.
$25 more for the Ruger? Yeah, absolutely, and maybe that's an extra $25 that takes you a few weeks more to save. Think about this, though. You're not buying a television set or an end table or a lawn mower. You are buying a deadly tool that you may place the lives of yourself and your family on. Think that gun will bear the weight in that crisis moment? Unless you KNOW, for SURE, don't bother to get it! Wait the week or two.
Is your life worth $25? An entree and appetizer + drink and tip at Applebees? Mine sure as heck is.
Also don't confuse the terms "cheap" and "inexpensive".
My buddy paid $405 for a Stoeger Cougar. My LCP retails for about $300 all told. They both have solid, reliable reputations and are backed (especially in Ruger's case) by companies with good or great customer service reputations.
There are $1,000+ guns (including lots of 1911s) that I wouldn't trust for a heartbeat, but I trust my 'lil LCP every single day.
You get what you pay for, usually. If you don't do your research, you pay more, every single time, guaranteed, in money or in peace of mind.
Doesn't make the price easier to pay. Doesn't make it any less true.
That said...
You must be careful not to conflate price snobby with quality snobbery.
The brands you named in the original post, such as Taurus, Rossi, and Charter, tend to be looked down on more than competing brands because they have worse quality standards and control. Simple as that. Sure, there are competing factors like brand-name loyalty and such, but in a forum with this many people errant comments like that tend to be the minority. Mostly, as a community, we watch for something that pops up more than average as "uh oh, problem!". A brand with such a reputation undergoes more scrutiny.
$25 more for the Ruger? Yeah, absolutely, and maybe that's an extra $25 that takes you a few weeks more to save. Think about this, though. You're not buying a television set or an end table or a lawn mower. You are buying a deadly tool that you may place the lives of yourself and your family on. Think that gun will bear the weight in that crisis moment? Unless you KNOW, for SURE, don't bother to get it! Wait the week or two.
Is your life worth $25? An entree and appetizer + drink and tip at Applebees? Mine sure as heck is.
Also don't confuse the terms "cheap" and "inexpensive".
My buddy paid $405 for a Stoeger Cougar. My LCP retails for about $300 all told. They both have solid, reliable reputations and are backed (especially in Ruger's case) by companies with good or great customer service reputations.
There are $1,000+ guns (including lots of 1911s) that I wouldn't trust for a heartbeat, but I trust my 'lil LCP every single day.
You get what you pay for, usually. If you don't do your research, you pay more, every single time, guaranteed, in money or in peace of mind.
Doesn't make the price easier to pay. Doesn't make it any less true.
"I don't really believe we do "price elitism""
No? Buy a Rohrbaugh like I did 4 years ago and see how much ignorant crap you regularly hear from people about how stupid somebody would have to be buy a gun that costs that much. There are two ends to the "price elitism" scale.
Maybe they just need to get a second or third job.
No? Buy a Rohrbaugh like I did 4 years ago and see how much ignorant crap you regularly hear from people about how stupid somebody would have to be buy a gun that costs that much. There are two ends to the "price elitism" scale.
Maybe they just need to get a second or third job.
L_Killkenny
New member
I don't notice so much of a price elitism but more so of a gun elitism. Take the dreaded "save you pennies and buy a S&W" response to EVERY Taurus or Rossi thread. That response would be all fine and dandy except I've been around long enough to know that 90% of the people saying that have no personal experience with a Taurus or Rossi (and in many cases none a Smith either). Some will admit that fact while others will swear up and down that they've had 10 of em and they all were junk. Some saying have had them and had problems too.
Remember this is the internet. Someone can be anything they want, they can present themself as owning any gun they want and have oodles of experience. Do YOUR research, make your friends and read all you want but take everything with a grain of salt. Like most things the truth is usually someplace in the middle.
LK
Remember this is the internet. Someone can be anything they want, they can present themself as owning any gun they want and have oodles of experience. Do YOUR research, make your friends and read all you want but take everything with a grain of salt. Like most things the truth is usually someplace in the middle.
LK
Kreyzhorse
New member
Not all guns are created equal. Let's face it, a Taurus isn't made nearly as well as a Ruger or a Smith. Sure you can get a good Taurus, but generally a Ruger or Smith is worth the extra money. To me, that isn't about being a gun snob in so much as it is about getting value for the money you spend.
Don't confuse price with value, they are not the same thing.
Don't confuse price with value, they are not the same thing.
I'll stay out of the Taurus part of this conversation because, well, just because.
Moving on to a more fun subject: I do spend allot of time at the range as do many here. Watching people clear stovepipes from their expensive guns while my sigma just keeps going, pretty much sums up the price thingie.
Moving on to a more fun subject: I do spend allot of time at the range as do many here. Watching people clear stovepipes from their expensive guns while my sigma just keeps going, pretty much sums up the price thingie.
dalegribble
New member
get a bunch of guys together talking guns and suddenly you would think they were talking about their johnsons. mine is bigger says one, no mine is says another, mine is prettier, mine works better, girls like mine because i have more money. no one admits theirs is over rated or fails to work at times especially those with more money.
guns are tools, they don't have to be gold plated to get the job done. profesionals may require higher priced tools because their jobs may depend on them. a typical handyman may have less expensive tools because he dosn't use them everyday. he is happy that they always work when he needs them.
the problem with taurus guns isn't reliability it is cost. when ever someone says they are happy with their taurus or other brand of less expensive guns someone else has to pipe in and say that you couldn't possibly be happy with that gun and you should have saved up enough to buy the gun that i own. my more expensive gun must mean it is better and that i am smarter than you and have more money than you.
i own colts, s&w's, rugers, springfields, amt's uberti's, rossi's and taurus revolvers and semi auto pistols. i cc my rossi, or taurus as often as my springfield's or s&w's or amt. i cc these guns because i trust them to protect me if needed. there may be more expensive guns, prettier guns, there may even be better guns but i don't believe they would be more reliable for my purposes. please don't feel sorry for me or look down on me, after all it is my money, my life and my choice. i am happy and when all is said and done i am the only one that counts.
guns are tools, they don't have to be gold plated to get the job done. profesionals may require higher priced tools because their jobs may depend on them. a typical handyman may have less expensive tools because he dosn't use them everyday. he is happy that they always work when he needs them.
the problem with taurus guns isn't reliability it is cost. when ever someone says they are happy with their taurus or other brand of less expensive guns someone else has to pipe in and say that you couldn't possibly be happy with that gun and you should have saved up enough to buy the gun that i own. my more expensive gun must mean it is better and that i am smarter than you and have more money than you.
i own colts, s&w's, rugers, springfields, amt's uberti's, rossi's and taurus revolvers and semi auto pistols. i cc my rossi, or taurus as often as my springfield's or s&w's or amt. i cc these guns because i trust them to protect me if needed. there may be more expensive guns, prettier guns, there may even be better guns but i don't believe they would be more reliable for my purposes. please don't feel sorry for me or look down on me, after all it is my money, my life and my choice. i am happy and when all is said and done i am the only one that counts.
I am on the other end. I like to see how little I can pay for a quality gun. I've done okay the last three years: S&W model 13 3" RB - $275, S&W 1937 38-44 HD - $270, S&W model 65 3" RB - $359, S&W nickel model 19 in the box - $300, S&W model 17-10 in the box $399, blued 1974 Colt Series 70 1911 - $679, etc.
All of these guns were worth more than what I paid, but I get a kick out of getting a good deal, and don't even think about buying high end stuff. I don't care if the next guy spends three grand on a custom 1911. I would probably never do it. I can't imagine that I would want it any more than my 1974 Colt 1911 anyway.
I like hearing about guys that spend less and enjoy the hunt of looking for a good deal.
All of these guns were worth more than what I paid, but I get a kick out of getting a good deal, and don't even think about buying high end stuff. I don't care if the next guy spends three grand on a custom 1911. I would probably never do it. I can't imagine that I would want it any more than my 1974 Colt 1911 anyway.
I like hearing about guys that spend less and enjoy the hunt of looking for a good deal.
This is a very frequent topic (really when it comes to any product). My Beretta buries your Taurus or my Ford Escape runs over your Kia Sportage (which my buddy actually said to me five years ago when I bought my Kia which is essentially a Ford Escape at a much cheaper price). By the way, they both are equal in every aspect outside of price IMHO.
Back to guns--Just this week I bought a .45 ACP carbine only after doing some serious research. I could have gone with a "Reputable" high-end brand name like a Beretta Storm and I am sure I would have been extremely happy IF price where of no concern. However, I like many of us in this torrid economy approach every matter in a frugal manner so I went with the Hi-Point .45 ACP Carbine.
I will let you know how it shoots (if it's comparable to my Hi-point C9, I know I will be happy). And yes, I do own some "Brand" name guns that work great but I bought those when my economic circumstances were much better.
-Cheers
Back to guns--Just this week I bought a .45 ACP carbine only after doing some serious research. I could have gone with a "Reputable" high-end brand name like a Beretta Storm and I am sure I would have been extremely happy IF price where of no concern. However, I like many of us in this torrid economy approach every matter in a frugal manner so I went with the Hi-Point .45 ACP Carbine.
I will let you know how it shoots (if it's comparable to my Hi-point C9, I know I will be happy). And yes, I do own some "Brand" name guns that work great but I bought those when my economic circumstances were much better.
-Cheers
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I totally agree with Mike Irwin's post (#11), just wish he wouldn't sugar coat it so much. 
Don't buy a gun to impress or gratify me or any other member, OP. That's a tough job with no reward. Do your research, ask for input but your wants, needs, tastes and budget should influence your choice, not ours.
One valuable point about sending your internet new gun purchases to the LGS. Try telling them what you want and let them do the shopping and tell you what they find. They do that-many do it every day. They have vendors that ship for reduced cost (or free) and they may not charge a transfer fee when they make a little off the sale. We need the LGS, they need to make a living and pay bills too. Quite often they'll save you some money and hassle.
Don't buy a gun to impress or gratify me or any other member, OP. That's a tough job with no reward. Do your research, ask for input but your wants, needs, tastes and budget should influence your choice, not ours. One valuable point about sending your internet new gun purchases to the LGS. Try telling them what you want and let them do the shopping and tell you what they find. They do that-many do it every day. They have vendors that ship for reduced cost (or free) and they may not charge a transfer fee when they make a little off the sale. We need the LGS, they need to make a living and pay bills too. Quite often they'll save you some money and hassle.
handgunfan101
New member
my thought on this is as follows. If it feels good in your hands and shoots without problems buy it no matter if its a 300.00 or 1000.00gun. to me its all about the above.
I love my kimber and i had to save for a year to get it. But i also love my S&W SD9 and use that as my carry. Not that the Kimber automatically goes in the holster because it was 3 times the price the SD is lighter and feels better on my hip. Never had an issue with either but the dollar difference doesnt mean that one is more reliable or less dependable.
Buy what you like i dont really care what people think as far as how much a side arm costs. my Kimber is amazing but i can 10 hole the SD at 15 yards i cant with the Kimber.
I love my kimber and i had to save for a year to get it. But i also love my S&W SD9 and use that as my carry. Not that the Kimber automatically goes in the holster because it was 3 times the price the SD is lighter and feels better on my hip. Never had an issue with either but the dollar difference doesnt mean that one is more reliable or less dependable.
Buy what you like i dont really care what people think as far as how much a side arm costs. my Kimber is amazing but i can 10 hole the SD at 15 yards i cant with the Kimber.
overkill0084
New member
A couple of observations:
Whatever you just bought, someone, somewhere got a better price.
Whatever you just bought, someone, somewhere thinks it sucks.
Don't let it keep you up nights.
Whatever you just bought, someone, somewhere got a better price.
Whatever you just bought, someone, somewhere thinks it sucks.
Don't let it keep you up nights.