The economy must really be bad

[ermont]

I build cabinets as a side business. Been pretty quiet for the last two years. I got a request for a quote today. I can't believe faced plywood is now over $75 a sheet! Not quite double but pretty close. Hope I get the job. Couple of bows I'm looking at on St. Judes auction.

[rbcorbitt]

Come on Eric!  There are more than a couple       !!

Hope we're not looking at the same ones   !

[ermont]

Sorry, we have the same taste in bows.      

[Tall Paul]

I think the national economy has been bad, for so long, that most peoples reserve of cash or disposable income is history.

With interest rates so low, retired people are unable to make any money on their investments, and are living on their principal.

Theres just not a lot of spare cash floating around out there, in other words.  And all the credit card debt that was fueling the economy is used up.

Unfornately, prices  haven't come down.  Actually, they haven't come down in my lifetime and I'm 47.

Plus, all the manufacturing jobs have gone to China. Before NAFTA, you could graduate from High School, get a job at the local factory, work 30 years, have insurance and a retirement. Now some dude in China is doing your job for 10 cents an hour.

Sorry to be so depressing, but I wonder...

[Shawn Leonard]

There are pockets of the country that are insulated from the bad economy, like parts of the south and a few other parts of the country. It is still bad overall, I live in an area of state government and work for a local town, we lose someone now to retirement, new job(rare) or someone gets hurt there is no replacing anyone. Never was like this(40 years plus knowing the town)that tells me the economy still sux! Shawn

[flinthead]

Tell Paul and Shawn are right. Have sold a Robertson and Dye [bought used]that would not have sold a couple years ago. Just bought a Blacktail here and may move it on just to keep my investment in Trad. archery down.Looking to keep bow rack down to 3 longbows and 3 recurves[three if which I made risers for another bowyers limbs]  as this recovery seems to sink to depression levels. Not seeing jobs or changes needed to turn this around happening either.Still hoping for the upturn, Roy

[beaver#1]

Lol why would it get better after november.  No political speaking here but if things keep going the way are, we will all be gladnto have any bow and be in a arrow rush.

[finkm1]

The economy is due to corporate greed. Its not rocket science people. Pay a person a FAIR WAGE for a days work, whether the person is blue collar or white collar and that person will buy products and stimulate the economy. The oil company's are  raping us, then lying about it. As far as bows I have 6 recurves now and am planning on buying a long bow sometime in the next 6 months that's about all the bows I need at this point. Maybe sell a couple off and replace them.

[moththerlode]

Oakie dokie


(The economy is due to corporate greed. Its not rocket science people)

[Jon Stewart]

I passed on 6 recurve bows at a yard sale yesterday that were $50.00 each. all in good to very good shape. BUT, I was 2 minutes from getting a cheaper model  Bear takedown for that same $50.00.  The guy also had custom made damascus knives that were very nice and he offered me one for $40.00 and turned it down. Just don't need any more bows or knives.

I did buy a Marine Corps cap for one of my grandsons for a quarter.

[Jake Diebolt]

Honestly, I don't think I'd buy a used bow unless it was about half or less of the original price - especially if it's a custom. I'm the kind of guy who shoots 1 bow at a time. I'm saving up a little at a time to buy one in the next year or so, and I'm going to buy straight from the bowyer if I can. Saving $200 on a bow from a regular price of $800.00 doesn't seem worth it, unless I'm buying a lot of bows or I'm anxious to get a new one RIGHT NOW.

Maybe there's just more guys like me out there holding out for a new bow?

[Ryman Cat]

I think if someone wants something they will do whatever it takes to get that bow for themselves regardless of the times.

I have seen men sell things at a loss to get something else even men selling their prizes but onething I never saw was a man sell his bird dog yet?  

I doubt if this will recover things just aren't worth what we pay new and thats the best indication when we sell a lot of times 50 % or lower.

[Roadkill]

Pplenty of greed to go around.  Corporate raiders and trade unions take up the top and workers suffer.  I am trying hsrd to corral my expenses now so I can afford to hunt this Fall.  I have 4 very diffetent longbows to last me.  There are other things the auction may temp me to inverst in

[LoneWolf73]

Economy must be bad? Now that is a complicated issue. Alot of signs are looking up. I think like alot of things in the world go thru cycles. Over the years I have seen the Traditional people dropping off. Less interest in Trad events, archery gear buying etc. I just believe people get bored and move on to other venues. They spend their money in those areas. There is alot of cool stuff to do in the world. Trad is a tiny bit of it in good times.

I have been amazed at how strong traditional archery has stayed with our crumbling economy. We are subjected to price controls by very powerful forces in all things that are not archery related. Gold and silver prices are held artificially low through the naked short selling of gold and silver shares on paper by the bullion banks, while the real stuff gets bought up by wealthy people at a cut rate. A convenient shut down raises the gas prices when two chicago refineries decide to shut down at the same time, even though supplies are high and crude oil is low, espcially for the high grade stuff coming out of North Dakota, we pay more.  The Fed banks, which are private, not owned by our government, are controlling the price of most things, while their policies erode the purchasing power of the dollar.  Quanitive easing has gone infinitive, the money that is declared out of thin air is available for the big players to prop up wall Street, it does not circulate through the rest of the economy.  I think we've been had.  Traditional archery remains a breath of fresh air that is maintained by the ethical persistence of how our suppliers do business.  The country has a lot to learn from them.

[LYONEL]

I know things are tougher over there than they have been for a long time. But I have tried to buy three bows in around the last twelve months off Tradgang with no luck, two guys didn't want to take paypal even with me paying the fee's & the other didn't want to ship overseas. They all eventually sold though.

[arrow flynn]

Our exalted members of congress who couldnt make a fart in a windstorm. Have sold us all down the river.when. the troops come home there will be no work for them.if you have a good trade Australia. Has work and new zealand also.if I was a young man I would get out. A friend of mine. Went to Australia in the 70s on vacation he. Got back and he immigrated. It was the road not taken for me.

[Knawbone]

Hang on to your A%% it's going to get a lot worse before it gets better! Good buy capitalism, it's been nice knowing ya! They may be able to keep us out of ammo, but not arrows. Don't be deceived!!!

[nineworlds9]

Yup.  Socialism hard at work..push the middle class from top and bottom and eventually eliminate it...what do you have left?  The masses ruled by a power elite that answers to no one but itself.  Wake up.  At least those of us who shoot a bow will be able to eat squirrel when the grocery stores run out of food.

[damascusdave]

I am fortunate to live in Alberta, Canada where things are still pretty good...I just bought a very nicely refinished 1960 Kodiak for about a third of what I paid for an original condition one a couple of years ago...definitely a buyers market