all the used bows and at such low prices?
Yeah I like to scan the classifieds here on tradgang and man there really is alot of bows up for sale and some with crazy low prices. I wonder are the bowyers short on work or just guys not wanting used bows and ordering new stuff?
It is actually alarming to me as well. There are some spectacular deals. I know I had an awesome bow, mint condition and I couldn't sell it close to what it is really worth. Part of me thinks many have decided that a simple bow will work just as well as a fancy one so why spend the extra cash.
For me, if the difference between a custom bow and a used bow is only $100-$200 I would rather save the money and go with a custom. My custom bow is just a used bow to anyone else, and likewise your custom bow is just a used bow to me.
Current administration doing poorly when it comes to food, clothing, and shelter.
We need those tax refunds to start showing up.
There are a lot of good deals, but not one that is a bow I want. That is part of it. Lots of too light, some too heavy and plenty too short. Many titles have caught my eye the last month, but all turned out to be outside my spec's.
I'm with gringol on this one. Plus someone else name on the bow is a deal breaker for me.
Buying a used bow or even a new bow without trying it first is risky. Was the bow well taken care of? Was it strung wth a stringer? Will it shoot well for you? Why are they selling it? Is it exactly what your looking for? If the deal is good enough maybe it's worth taking a chance on it.
Prices are to high on most bows, $100 or $200 below cost of new just don't work. 1/2 maybe, used is used. Like many have mentioned a bows is costume one time. There are people buying and giving bows a spit and polish, with the hopes of flipping
Many good bowyers here on site selling very good bows at very good prices. If a person can wait, the reward for new far exceeds price and risk of used
Some of the well-known bowyers have chosen to expand their shops into mini-factories over the years. You can't recover the cost of expensive cnc machines unless you produce a lot of bows. When demand falls off, they sometimes continue to make bows in order to avoid laying off people. Normally you can get these stock bows for a discount, either stated or there if you ask for it. This has some effect on the price of used bows, since either way you're not getting a custom bow, but if you buy a new bow from the bowyer you're getting whatever protection from defects, etc., he might offer.
Foreign manufacturers like Samik are able to make a good quality entry level bow for a very low price, and some higher tier bows for good prices too. This hasn't had much of an effect on the top dozen or so bowyers in the country yet, since people are still willing to pay premium prices for a new custom bow from a top-notch bowyer, but has an effect on the used market, where somebody might have a choice of getting a new Samik for half the price of a used bow, which already might be offered for half the price it was originally sold for.
So do you think the bowyers are getting less orders if the times are tough?
I agree a name on a bow is deal breaker for me. then again I'm not buy and sell kinda guy so for me I'd rather spend the extra and get one made just for me. But I did take advantage of a used GN bushbow with no name on it for my step son and it turned out to be a really sweet bow.
Bows are definitely descretionary spending, especially after the first one. If people are worried about their jobs they probably won't buy that second or tenth bow. People who have lost their jobs may have to sell most, or maybe even all of their bows.
BTW, most bowyers put the name on after all but the last coat of finish has gone on, so it is easy to remove the name with a little light sanding through the top coat of finish only, and after you put a coat or two of the appropriate finish over where you sanded, you'd never know there had been anything there. The chances are, at some point, you're going to get a scratch on the bow that you're going to want to repair, and it will be a bigger job than removing someone's name.
McDave
you bring up a vary valid point on oversea production
I maintain a home in southeast asia where there is a local shooting club. knockoff bows i've seen being shot there are just scary. I could get a very good shooting bow for under $100 .
The cost of a wooden arrow complete, under $1.00
Sign of the times, gonna get worse...
Froggy
With all due respect to McDave, are you certain of your facts? I have met many a bowyer and I don't many that have CNC machines... That being said some of the production bows are really decent but I haven't seen too many of them dropping their prices.
I do agree with many that the economy is a big factor and that fewer and fewer folks can really afford much in the way of discretionary spending. In my opinion this has more to do with the price of the used bows more than anything. Folks are needing money for other things and thus they are willing to take less for what they are selling in order to get what they need. Simple economics really, supply and demand combined with less money to pay for things.
Oh and by the way, can you all spell sequester? It does look like it's going to get worse now!
Froggy
Sadly much worse. Until used bow price grasp the realty of current market. Unfilled listing in classified will remain mainly Unfilled.
Government state all is well. We just cant notice for the void in our wallets, which one held cash
BWD, that could be stated, haven't been able to fill the hole left by the past administration. How about the economy is making it hard for extra's in the archer's budget.
Names come off pretty easily. If it saves me a few hundred dollars off a bow I want. . . write whatever you want on it and I will take it.
Regarding overseas production... don't blame the government. We are the ones buying that stuff and sending our jobs overseas.
ChuckC
Chuck is 100% right there. I am in the construction trades and hunting and other money items had to be cut back some, but I have been blessed in that I could still afford some discretionary spending. BUT I live well beneath my means also. Plenty of my co-workers are living is 250,000 dollar houses so when tough times come they scramble. I make the same money but live in a $100,000 house and my truck is paid off, so I have alot more left over after bills. SOOOOO, I spend it in bows and arrows Ha. I don't really want a "nice" home, I want my land and my toys
Oh and, like was mentioned you can get fantastic bows, custom made for you at or below the cost of some of the used ones too. Example.. JD berry Vixen or Misty dawn are Hill style bows custom made for $485!!!! Or a sweet mild d/r bow , the JD Berry Argos that is super quick for yep, $485. I choose 33yrs of experience and a short wait
Don't blame the government?
When I was kid, governments measured C.p.i as a basket of goods bought in country of consumption.
Today C.P.I is measured on goods produced worldwide
As much as shopping at home sounds like a great idea, My currant income is based on worldwide distribution of products.
Am Canadian and fully put blame on Canadian government polices. Thing might be very well different in U.S.A
I'm with gringol to.
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!
must repair that
When I was kid, governments measured C.p.i as a basket of goods bought and pruduced in country of consumption.
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.
Believe the representative for the great state of texas, has hit the nail very close to the head.
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.
You ought to try and find what you want in your poundage, length, etc, and LEFT HANDED. :banghead: :D
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
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.
QuoteOriginally 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.
A name on a bow that performs well is no big deal to me. I'll take all the good deals I can afford.
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.
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.
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!
Passing a bow on is a fine idea, better then my kids selling at the yard sale for next to nothing
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.
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
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
The bows are worth whatever somebody is willing to pay.