What's going on with........

[Warren Cowen]

I'm with gringol to.

[McDave]

Eric,

I am certain that at least one well-known custom bowyer that also makes a considerable amount of stock bows has a 10-15% off sale on them once or twice a year, with even deeper discounts on selected bows, and I also have bought stock bows from 2 other well-known bowyers that haven't had advertised sales at negotiated discounts.  As much as my wife might argue to the contrary, I don't really buy enough bows to be an authority on the subject, just my own limited experience.  I would not try to negotiate with a bowyer who makes his own bows and puts a few out on the table at a meet; if I like the bow and like the price, I might buy it; otherwise, I'll leave it alone.  But if I feel that a larger scale bowyer has produced more inventory than they can sell, I have no hesitation in asking if I can get a discount.  They certainly don't have to give me one, and there's no hard feelings if they don't (but they usually do). That just means that I won't buy the bow, and at least my wife, if no one else, will be happy about that!

[pruiter]

must repair that

When I was kid, governments measured C.p.i as a basket of goods bought and pruduced in country of consumption.

[Brazos]

Let me put a new spin on this.  I think there are more Bowhunters than ever.  I think a certain amount of the decided wheels are no longer where it is at.  They pick up a stick bow and it is more difficult (they actually have to learn how to shoot).  They read all these post on how this person or that person has this bow or that bow and can't miss.  Therefore they decide to sell there bow and try another.  Combine this theory with the ones above and I think you have your answer.  Especially the fine economy we have and foreign bows like the Samick Sage.  Things like this drive prices down.

[pruiter]

Believe the representative for the great state of texas, has hit the nail very close to the head.

[Hill Hunter]

I did not really see what I thought was a lot of high dollar bows for sell really cheap. after all they are used, everything takes a hit and looses value. trying to find the bow you want used in the poundage you are looking for is almost impossible, so you have to settle, take dollars to get someone to do that.

[David Mitchell]

You ought to try and find what you want in your poundage, length, etc, and LEFT HANDED.      :D

[ChuckC]

David, ,  now add in the fact that you are switching from righty to lefty. .  you don't KNOW what you want or need, and again, it is left handed.  Also not a good time to divest of all those righties you have collected over the years.

ChuckC

[leatherneck]

A lot of it has to do with the time of year. Hunting seasons are over so the classifieds get full. Taxes coming in so a new one is being made. Happens every year on the gang. Actually this time of year is the best time to get a good used bow. IMO.

[kat]

Originally posted by ChuckC:
David, ,  now add in the fact that you are switching from righty to lefty. .  you don't KNOW what you want or need, and again, it is left handed.  Also not a good time to divest of all those righties you have collected over the years.
X2
ChuckC

Finally gave away a nice widow to a young man, rather than sell it for way under what it is worth.
The economy is just not conducive to shelling out money on non essentials like archery equipment for the average guy.

[hitman]

A name on a bow that performs well is no big deal to me. I'll take all the good deals I can afford.

[cadillac]

We're in a buyers market at the moment. I just picked up an un-blemished, slightly used, A&H ACS CX at my exact desired draw weight and length last month for much less than half of a new one. I always considered it a dream bow. Unatainable, even in the used market, on my budget not too long ago.

Matter of fact, in the last few months I've seen centaurs, Habu's, and even a Blacktail go for what I would have considered crack-deal prices a couple of years ago. I'm supprised at how reasonable the prices have been on the used market.

[kill shot]

Try a used bow, most shoot good. If you know someone that knows trad bows, bring them with you. If your worried about the economy, don't buy an import.

[Goshawkin]

It's 100% used for me. All the bows I like are no longer made. I don't own one bow that you can have made new.There are a couple new bows that interest me,but I haven't pulled the trigger yet.Every time I get just about enough money saved up to order a new one,I sniff out an old bow I would rather have.I am on one bowyer's list,but my name won't be up for a couple years!

[pruiter]

Passing a bow on is a fine idea,  better then my kids selling at the yard sale for next to nothing

[Bowwild]

I've also noticed low prices on some of the customs as well. It seems this has gotten worse in the past three years.

I've ordered a few customs and waited 3-16 months. I'm currently been on a list for 26 months. I've bought more on the classifieds or LeftiesRUs.

I wouldn't sell one of my bows for half price and don't expect anyone else to sell one to me that low. I've sold off about 7 bows (bought 2 more) in the past 3 months. That sell-off should cost a Moose dearly this coming October!

If I don't think I can get 90-80% of what I paid new, I won't even consider listing it.  

I have a file of Left-Eye archers that I have dealt with.  We contact each other when we have a bow for sale. Some of us put the other on notice that IF we decide to sell a certain bow that we want dibs. Some of us would rather our bows never see the classifieds. Personally, I'd rather take $50-100 less by selling to a lefty friend in this file than list the bow in the classifieds.

Personally, I've tried a lot of bows the past 4 years. I am finally settling into strong preferences. There are a couple that I haven't tried that I would like to give a whirl, but I'm resisting so far (Eaglewing, Bob Lee, Wallace, Bighorn...sheesh...I'd better be careful!)

I have never been a collector. I've sold some bows I never dreamed I would let go. The good news is, it is much more difficult to make the call to sell than to box one up and send it off once the deal is made.

I'd bet a lot of Trad Gangers have gone through a similar cycle of trying many of the better reputed bows. Some they reject as not for them and others are great but duplicate something else. I sold one very popular brand 3 days after I bought it. Didn't lose a dime. Neither have I ever tried to make money on a bow. I bought a very special bow about a year ago. I know I could have made at least $500 on it. However, that wouldn't have been honest dealing with the fellow I bought it from or to the one I sold it too.

Finally, when other opportunities like dream hunts, hunting leases, etc. come up it is difficult to leave thousands of dollars gathering dust on bow racks.

The administration has nothing to do with my archery. My bows will tell me one thing today and the exact same thing tomorrow. Can't say that about the folks in charge these days, lying has become the new truth.

[Sixby]

It kind of drives the prices down when someone pays a thousand dollars for a bow and lists it a few weeks later for half that much. I have seen that many times. This disregard of value drives the market and hurts everyone; It hurts the bowyer in that it makes his bows worth less to future buyers and creates an artificially low market place. It could actually drive a bowyer out of business through no fault of their own or have anything to do with the quality of the bow. It even hurts the site in that if bowyers go out of business then they cannot any longer be sponsers. I have even made it a practice when I see these bows to find fast buyers for them or buy them myself to get them out of listing. Seriously. It is strange how some have such a dis-regard for money and value and others have so very little of it.

In case any of you think it is EagleWing I am talking about you are wrong. I'm solid and as independant as a hog on ice. I do know that it hurts any bowyer though to see his new bow at half price or even less.

Anyway. It is a buyers market and I for one do not believe it to be justified.

God bless you all, Steve

[pruiter]

My first custom bow was 20 plus years ago
Was hard to find custom bow back then. Today with internet ands a 1000 more options maybe the markets getting saturated?  The top bowyers have waiting list a year long. And they always will.

 Bows on the custom side have gotten cheaper or remained constant in price. Tells me even high end bowyers must be working with tighter margin.

 Market going to set the price, as it should be. believe a person building there bow collection, just need to wait for price to come to them

[Goshawkin]

The bows are worth whatever somebody is willing to pay.