Is the economy holding back buying a new bow or supplies

Plumber · March 17, 2009, 08:19:00 PM

I work very hard at raising a family I do everything work ask me to do with in reason. when times are tough I got to slow on my spending . however if I have any extra money witch I always have a little.I save it.I like to buy a bow once a year. but its hard to save 500. or 600. at a time If I have that kind of money laying around an a bill comes up I got to pay it or your car breaks down the money is gone. so what I do is find a bowyer who will let me put say 100. down an if he has a 1yr wait Iam good to go.I just send them 100. a month .not all bowyers will do this an I understand .I mostly save all my change for the month then make up the differance an send off my 100. It is an easy an painless way to buy a real nice bow.

sputterman · March 17, 2009, 09:57:00 PM

Like trapperdave said i'm to poor to pay attention.So no new bow for me.Besides i can't even shoot the one i got that good.
But thank GOD i still have my job.

Pat B. · March 17, 2009, 10:26:00 PM

That Bonner dude is pretty sharp...

And yep, times are kind of tough so I've slowed down on all purchases.. Fortunately I have enough supplies on hand to hunt this coming year without having to buy more..

Hope everyone pulls out of this slump quickly!

sweet old bill · March 18, 2009, 05:49:00 AM

I had to go out of business with the archery pro shop. My traditional business was always less than 10% of sales, with the compound business being the major part of the business. So after 27 years of being in business I just have closed down the business. I again would like to take a minute to thank all the customers over the years. I started out just making custom arrows and the shop got bigger and bigger. When I took the early retirement from IBM it sure made a good fit for me to keep busy. NOthing like doing work you love. I will be selling off my inventory at the local 3D shoots.

Now we also have also cut back on travel, and eating out. Did have to buy a used 2005 buick to replace the one that was totaled by a guy and his family rear ended me.

Bill

Don Stokes · March 18, 2009, 06:40:00 AM

I'm one of the lucky ones, I guess. Several years ago I decided to get out of debt and stay out, and my modest income is secure, so it's pretty much business as usual at my house. Now if the stock market would give me back my savings...

MMilin · March 18, 2009, 02:17:00 PM

It's obvious that one should live within his/her income.

Today, however, many people who have relatively secure incomes aren't spending. All the bad economic news has made them OVERLY-cautious.

That deepens and lengthens recessions.

Times will get better when consumer confidence returns and consumer spending goes up.

Buying archery equipment/materials, if you can reasonably afford it, is a step towards a rebounding economy.

Mark

Jeff Strubberg · March 18, 2009, 02:21:00 PM

The key is spending what you have, not spending what you can borrow.

I feel for those who have lost jobs to this mess, but you just cannot run an economy on credit the way we have for the last ten or twelve years. It's a ticking time bomb.

Pat B · March 18, 2009, 02:59:00 PM

I'm a REALTOR in a limited market area so you can imagine where I stand now. My last sale was last summer. My wife of 30 years and myself have always lived within our means, we owe very little but with less coming in even the regular monthly utility bills and insurance(I hate paying insurance but wouldn't live without it)are strapping us. Our home is paid for, our 25ac are paid for and our cars are paid for.
Being a REALTOR, I still have to pay quarterly MLS dues, dues to local, state and national associations, I have continuing education coming up at $108 and any advertising that I am doing or that will come up has to be paid, plus any other business related expenses.
I make all my own archery equipment and trade for what I don't have or what I need. My only archery related expenses are to the USPS.
I will not be paying dues to my club in GA or be buying an non-resident GA hunting license this year. A first in over 25 years.
I've even been looking for other work until the RE market comes back but in a town of 7000 and a county of 30,000, not even Lowe's, any local contractors, the county dump or any local businesses are hiring. In these times no job is beneath me but unfortunately none are available.

JEFF B · March 18, 2009, 06:07:00 PM

well being that everything has turned to s..t down here and i go in to the hospital on monday. i had to cancel my trip to the states this year as it was going to cost to much and any way its paying for my opp as well as selling my bows apart from one. but hopefuly next year will be a better one.

Van/TX · March 18, 2009, 09:08:00 PM

Sad situation for lots of folks. For me it's just a decline in my "201K". Yes, I'm lucky. But I'm frugal too. Haven't bought a bow in 10 years. Was going to retire last year from Fed service but will go to the end of this year at least.

Retired Air Force (1966 - 1989)

Almost Retired DoD Civil Service (1989 - present)

Social Security Eligible (62+ years old)

Some "201K' left ;-)...Van

john fletch · March 18, 2009, 10:22:00 PM

I have had 6 jobs since I 'retired' from a cushy Fed job. Can't seem to find a compny to stay in business. Unemployment here in Kalispell is about 16 to 18%. I am goiung to try to go into full time bow and arrow making. Hope folks are interested in buying. I went to the Monroe WA Mountain Man Trade Show and did pretty good. Most vendors did OK but it depended on what you had for sale. I have mostly been 'primitive' for the Mountain Man events, but I will venture more into the Traditional with my wood arrows and B50 strings. I will leave the newer stuff to you young folk and see how well that plays out.