Who and what determines value?

Are you saying they should be priced at 800 or 900 hundred dollars or 500 or 600 dollars. I don't understand your point.
 
I determine value ... and it pretty much depends upon my mood. The more fear I hold, the value of some things rises, while the value of other things drops.
 
PBP-
An engraved sterling silver lighter and a Bic lighter will do exactly the same thing. The Bic costs a lot less, is just as reliable (if not more so), is smaller, and lighter weight. I wear a Rolex watch, but I have no problem with wearing my Timex-it keeps much better time, anyway. So it is with guns. I can appreciate fine products and workmanship, and am capable of creating same.
I have an extensive collection of guns-many fine ones, and some cheapies. I guess as I have gotten older I have gotten more practical. While I drove a new Z 28 every 3 years from 1984-1997, the last one sat in the garage while I was driving my 1983 Toyota station wagon! In my quest for the ultimate pocket pistol, I bought most of the newer guns- NAA, Beretta, Keltec-and guess what? The Keltec fit the bill better than the mini revolvers, Guardian, Tomcat, and even my beloved Star DK .380. Now, if Seecamp, Ruger, Colt, S&W, or any other manufacturer had come out with the same gun at twice the price I would have bought it and carried it. Mine work, and work well. And they are cheap, easily replaceable, extremely lightweight, flat, accurate, and reliable. As a matter of fact, a member of this board showed a picture of the inside of the slide of his new HK the other day, and I remember thinking, "Wow, the machining on my K/T PF9 is a LOT better than that!"
Carry guns are a very personal thing, but if mine works 100%, and has all the attributes listed above, who is to say it is any worse than a Rohrbaugh or Seecamp? Those are also good guns, BTW. But my keltecs are tools-pure and simple. It has nothing to do with price, it has to do with suitability of purpose.
 
No, actually I think there are five Rolexes here! But, honestly-as much as I like them, my Swiss Army and Timexes keep better time.
There are many types of guns-utilitarian, collector, hunting, carry, etc. I appreciate them all.
BTW- did you get the DeLight problem sorted out?
 
i almost brought up the Rolex/Timex thing but i wear a Citizen and i know it keeps better time than my old Oyster Perpetuals, repair costs...jeeeeeez.

its a no/win argument for the bourgeois, so the value is whatever it costs to get one. but that doesnt mean its worth it. then again it might be.:D
 
What determines value? Supply and edemand. Regardless of what something is, how well it's made, how few are made, unless there's a demand for the item, it's worthless.
 
Playboypenguin said:
I just love how people like to arbitrarily pretend like they know what a pistol should cost. Like they understand the materials costs, design costs, production costs, delivery/marketing costs, and the market demand.
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Well, having been around the development of a custom 1911 program, from the sourcing of the frames and waiting for the necessary ATF variances to helping pick the rollmarks on the slide and discussing how the guns would be marketed and priced, I am somewhat familiar with this, yes.

I have at least a hazy grasp of how pistols are manufactured, distributed, and sold.
 
And?....is the retail price anywhere near the production and manufacturing costs?
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Should it be? They ARE entitled to a profit. Free market and capitalistically speaking, they are entitled to whatever profit they can make. Realistically, 300% over pure material cost is close to where "normal" products sell. Normal products, however, do not have to deal with ridiculously high legal and insurance costs. I would guess that a gun that cost $100 to manufacture probably has $200 for insurance and legal fees attached to it. Heck, I tried to market a ladder stabilization device that cost $60 to build. The inventor wanted to sell it for $99. The insurance companies wanted $15000 for the years insurance, for the first 100 units sold!! Zippo, there goes not just the profit but any hope of actually selling the thing. Guns are different in that regard. They ALL have those same costs and the market is forced to bear them, leaving us to complain about the "ridiculous" cost of XYZ Co. handguns.
 
They ARE entitled to a profit.
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Says who? Just because you make a mouse trap doesnt mean the world is obligated to beat a path to your door.

Obviously you know nothing about economics and business...:p
 
The owner of the gun names his price. The buyer determines it's worth.

I do not own, do not need, do not want a Rolex.
 
Retail price has little to do with manufacturing cost, other than a profit has to be made to stay in business.
How much profit is irrelevant. Remember "Pet Rocks?"
If I design a gun that costs $100 to build, and there is nothing like it on the market, and people will pay $1000 for it-that's REALLY OK! Why would anyone think otherwise? Items are priced at what the market will bear-until competition brings the price down.
It pains me to think that some of you think that profits should be limited!
 
I am all about Capitalism...but that isn't the point. The point is, in a market where there is nothing REALLY ground breaking or innovative, who or what determines the initial asking price? By what means does the retailer justify his or her asking price if there isn't anything really NEW lately in the gun world??
 
By what means does the retailer justify his or her asking price if there isn't anything really NEW lately in the gun world??
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it's all about what the market will bear. Folks will pay for High Points and bersas won't they? And they arent worth anyhting :D

WildptbarnumAlaska TM
 
The buyers, and, the products reputation certainly add into the 'value' of a gun. Marketshare and advertizing as well.

How well the above are manipulated by the gunmaker has a LOT to do with 'value'.

Currency exchange is huge, as well. And, let's not forget supply and demand...

Merry Christmas
 
Folks will pay for High Points and bersas won't they? And they arent worth anyhting
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But those people think they are diamonds in the rough. Wait...arent diamonds actually far more plentiful than De Beers would like for us to know?

How well the above are manipulated by the gunmaker has a LOT to do with 'value'.
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Seeing as how Tamara has already admitted a hazy grasp of the process, I sure would like to know just how over-inflated asking prices really are.
 
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