Archery sales in a declining economy

[cijuanni]

I have been watching the used archery equipment for sale at this site and a couple of others since I decided I "needed" another bow.

I don't have that much knowledge or expericence in this market to judge its current state.

However, I do in my local (Phoenix) for machinery, tools, sporting goods, cars and motorcycles.
I have noticed a flood of incredible bargains in those areas lately.
Many screaming with desperation of Must Sell with resulting low prices.
Craigslist has been a great source for watching the state of the economy on a personal level.
Perhaps this is more so in Phoenix were we have had a 50% drop in home prices.

So what are your opinions?
Are bow makers orders declining?
Are the prices of used bows and equipment declining?
How are sellers of items in the classifed doing?
Getting their asking prices or having to settle for far less?

Thanks for any insight.

[Orion]

Don't know the impact on new bow orders, but seems like there are fewer bows being sold on this site.  Just as many, probably more, are being listed as say a year or more ago, but fewer people seem to be buying.  I've listed a few bows recently and got pretty close to my asking price on a few;  a couple of others haven't yet sold.  Luckily, it's not a great hardship for me.  I don't have to sell them.  They don't cost me anything sitting on my bow rack.

[TheFatboy]

Well, I just got into archery for real, and financial crisis or not, I'm ordering all the bow gear I need!  

[Joel John Solomon]

What has happened to Saxon Archery? Phone is disconnected and no answer to e-mail.

[ONE SHOT]

Iam a Custom Build Bowyer, I only make maybe 10 Bows per year. What I have seen is that people want a top Quality Custom Bow at cheap production prices. They want the Exoctic rare Hard woods in there Risers and Limbs, cause they are attractive to the eye, but really play no important role in how well a Bow will preform. I tell them then go to Cabela's and purchase a Bow for $129.00-$149.00. Like most things in life you get exactly what you pay for.

Cheap will always stay cheap, but Quality will always be Quality,no matter hold old it is, it will always be a Masterpiece to hand down thru several generations, be it Archery or Firearms equiptment.

These same people don't bat an eye paying $50,00.00 to $80,00.00 for a New car that they may only use for a few short years, or purchase a house for $400,000- $750,000.

My point is that way to many people have a Champagn appetite, on a Beer Belly Budget. Living way beyond there means. Just look at our Economy now in 2009....ONE SHOT...  :cool:

[mjh]

If a person has a secure enough job yes they will buy.  But they will be looking for quality, some will be looking for that deal and don't understand that quality costs a little more.  Others will find that deal on used equipment and someone who MUST SELL.

Overall I think many traditional archery folks understand the price of quality.  That being said, I also found in trying to sell just a couple of bows over the years that there are many looking for a deal that isn't there.  Somewhat contradictory, yes.  Human nature to some extent.  I want it but I don't want to pay that much for it.

For myself I had some bow money stashed away and just last week I spent it on some other thing that I was looking at too.  Maybe another year before I get another longbow, oh well.

[joevan125]

Im with you Fatboy i just cant help myself.  

[Steel]

I myself have bought a few great condition used bows and ordered several used bows this year. I also sold a few bows had no problem selling them in fact they were gone in less than a day. I try to price my used bows fair never have asked new price for one even though some brands with long waiting time on a new order like Shrew will bring top dollar in great condition.

[bayoulongbowman]

I think used bows have taken a hit, I know people are not getting top dollar for used bows.
  IMO ya still get what ya pay for. Id rather save money and get top bow , there is big difference to me..just my 2 cents.Money is too tight to buy bows in my house.

[Whip]

I've been much better for the past year and haven't been buying used lately.  I have sold a few and they went quickly when priced fairly.  I was lucky in that it didn't matter if they sold or not, and wasn't forced to take less.
 
I'm sure there are some people who find themselves in desperate straights and are forced to sell things at whatever price they can get.  I would hope that they are able to at least receive a fair price here.  It would be sad if someone facing tough times got taken advantage of just because they had no other choice.  Everyone loves a bargain, but at least try to keep in mind the situation of the person on the other end of the deal.

[WDP]

Aye Cijuanni!

A fellow Phoenician trad member. So your probably looking in the same places for some smoking deals as I am. Yeah, there does seem to be an increase in urgent sales.

[Ricker]

Well, I know if I was a builder of custom bows of "higher quality" and only made 10 year, I think my "status" would allow me to be kinder and decent to those whom do not realize my elite status...
I myself likely would refrain from being so callous as to tell a fellow traditionalist to "go buy from Cabela's....
 
Hopefully that was a comment made in the frustrations of our economy and not truly from the heart.

Sorry, but I had to stand up and speak for the love of the traditional lifestyle...and for some that may have been discouraged by it.
By the way "One Shot", what is the name of your champagne bow company?

Shame on you Sir.

[gilf]

Bows that would be gone in minutes (or at least attract plenty of PM's) seem to take days to sell now. It even seems that reducing the price doesn't seem to make people bite.

But times are difficult right now, even if like myself you are not directly effected by a job loss or reduction in earnings you still might not be as free and easy with your money.

[cijuanni]

Originally posted by ONE SHOT:

These same people don't bat an eye paying $50,00.00 to $80,00.00 for a New car that they may only use for a few short years, or purchase a house for $400,000- $750,000.

Huhhh??????
New car sales are down 40% and Residental Real Estate prices have plummeted and actual sales are non exisitent unless is is a screaming deal.

I started this topic for opinions about the financial state of the Archery industry  and market.

Posting a opinion that some people want more than they can afford or are willing to pay really doesn't add anything of substance to the thread about the current state of the economy.

I would like to hear your experience if your bow making business is increasing or decreasing.  If demand is strong etc..

And I sincerly hope your business is doing well, but it sounds like your bow making is more of a hobby and not your main source of income.

Thanks.

[2fletch]

The average guy or gal seems to be taking a little more time to make up their mind today. We find that sales are a little slower this year, and most people want to fit a purchase carefully into their budget. We sell a fair amount on credit and have had more than a usual amount of customers buying on lay away.

It probably isn't a good time to start a traditional archery business unless you have good financing and a good market. I was inerested in building bows at one time but now I'm glad that I didn't. There are so many good bows out there.

[stabow]

I had like 5 bows for sale 1 sold right away some interest was shown in a few others but didn’t sell so I took them off the market for now. Was looking at one that was in the classified for quit some time, decided to buy it but someone beat me to it. I was a day late again. I think every thing is slow now......stabow

[snapper1d]

Things seem kind of odd to me as I am selling more custom bows than ever and I havent dropped any prices.

[Brandon Stahl]

[legends1]

As a bowyer I can say things are about normal now for us.We saw a major change in orders at the last of the 2008.Nov. and Dec. of 2008 we didnt get a order and then on Dec.30 we got 3 orders.From that point on we have been back to normal.We will build around 80 custom recuves this year.I think durring that period people were just not sure what was in store.I think for some in this sport of archery they felt blessed to have the bow they were shooting and people were watching thier pennies.Its refreshing to see things starting to relax.

[Steel]

Overall my local area has not been affected much by the current ecomony. We don't have alot of factory jobs here mainly oil and gas field type jobs and a few smaller companies which offer products still selling well right now in this ecomony. What does slow people down here is when gas gets over $3 a gal people just don't have extra money to spend after filling their car/truck up. You get some oil/gas people spending money because its a great time for them but overall the average Joe cuts back on buying. I kind of worry about gas prices rising again and the effects it will have this fall here.