Sgt. Barnett,
With all due respect, it has been explained to you several times. With between $125 and up to $250 in materials, it is hard to sell a bow of any quality for $250. I agree there are those who are doing it, but I assure you they are not making anywhere near what they are worth. The foreign market is a very different animal than American custom bowyers. Initially, they are buying, or building, material product in massive quantities, building their own composites, utilizing children, elderly, prison labor, national loyalists you get the idea. They are paying little or nothing in assembly cost, and their materials cost are much less due to the mainly state owned factories pumping out glass, foam core material and epoxy with minimal cost to any corporate institution. ACLU don't allow that in the good ol US. Same song, different verse, my father's foundary went bankrupt in the 80's along with thousands of other small, like businesses due to foreign compitition. I use the term compitition loosely. In fact, Dad lost his business to a company in India which undercut his prices on castings. When dad went to talk to the municiple officials he had been serving with water/sewer rings and lids for years, they showed him the cost difference. They were actually selling finished product shipped for what dad was paying for scrap. Welcome to the US.
I recall a recent post here that Bob put out asking if anyone wanted to work in his shop. I am not sure how many returns he got off of that, as well he should. I wish I had the opportunity to work along side a man of Bob Morrison's charactor. Problem? Pay. Not many, if any, who called, PMed, emailed, or actually physically went to Bob's shop inquiring about the coveted position could make it on what Bob was offering. I am sure some were flustered if not outraged at the pay offer. Well, I know for a fact that it wasn't that Bob didn't want to be more generous. I felt he was overly kind. But, those who were ready to sell out and leave their homes, families, dogs to work for Mr. Morrison found out they couldn't make it on what he was able to pay. I, Sgt Barnett have been an employee and an owner. I made more money working for a bow company than owning one.
Liability. Since the 80's Americans have learned that being a professional victim is a pretty dang good job. As a result, insurance has gone through the roof. Seems it is bowyers fault that people choose the string their bows differently than instructed, sometimes backwards, whatever..... Fall on it while climbing a tree, although we and treestand companies make it very clear they should use towstrings in order to have both hands free and the area around the tree free of hazards. They aren't awarded stupid signs by the courts, but thousands in liability for physical therapy and psychotherapy for PTSD suffered form the fall. When I was a kid, I used to get my ass beat for falling out of a tree and hurting myself. Me and dad still laugh about it. Only in America does McD's have to write on a coffee cup, "Contents May Be Hot". In other countries, they don't worry about liability that much. Hurt yourself with a bow you bought, hurt youself with it doing something off the beaten path with it, and you go to jail. Say if a guy buys a bow from an importer and puts his eye out stringing it with the ol push/pull meathod, they go after the American import company, not the foreign manufacturer.
Taxation without representation. The feds require 11% tax off the top of every item manufactued in this field. Wait, there's more. We then pay self-employment tax. The highest tax range the IRS can come up with. Many then pay Uncle State their taxes for the pleasure of living and doing business in that piece of heavan.
Bottom line. Hell, it don't matter, buy the bow you want. Aren't you the same guy that posted a while back a "bowyer's challenge" to build quality short bows for ground blind hunting? Sir, how offensive is that to Bob Lee's Little curve, Kemph's lil Griz, Ron's short Shrew's, I know I'm missing many quality bows that foot that bill. Oh, the Sheepeater.
So, I wouldn't go making comments to Chad about chips on the shoulder, or threats of lost clientel, until you leave your government job with salary, health benefits, 401k, paid vacation, equiptment expense.........yes, I was a cop too, and try to eek out a living as you suggest. Pay $150 in materials only, from fine American companies, and spend 12+ hours hands on crafting a working piece of your soul. Oh, that 12 hours is after you spend years figuring out how to set up your shop, and minimize your time on max efforts. Then sell that puppy for $250. I got the number for Binghams if you would like to get started making good money right away. Besides that, I understand through very reliable sources that Chad is one of the finest men on this forum. So, as a brother archer, and an ex brother of the badge, I ask you to stand down on this one Sgt. You just told a real fine bowyer he wasn't worth his salt.
By the way, Martin's new all boo core longbow is $300 more than mine, and I use clear glass. Oh, and it is short enough to shoot comfortably in a blind.
Have a good one out there in NoDac Sgt. You stay safe and warm out there. I sure appreciate what you do my brother. Cold hard place to be a cop.
Brent
Topic: Bow Prices/Reasonably Priced Bows... (Read 1848 times)
