K-ZOO SHOW EYE OPENER!!

[trashwood]

bows are just like knives.  you can make it your whole hunting life with a $50 Geber folder.  it is fine or you can get an Andre Van Heerden folder for $1200.  is the $1200 Heerden worth $1150 more than a $50 Geber?? only you and your pocket book can answer that question.

Same thing with bows.  Only you will know the answer.  

rusty

ps there is over a 12 months waiting list for certain Randall Knives.....and they are not $50 knives  

[Tim Fishell]

Originally posted by Dsturgisjr:
From what I hear, you aren't the only guy at Kzoo to experience STICKER SHOCK!      

Now that is funny right there!!             From what I hear there were a few people!

[Biggie Hoffman]

Let it go Denny..........

[kbetts]

I'm coming to terms with what looks pretty and what works for me.  I have two Widows that are close to mint and absolutely beautiful.  This past week, I bought a used Reflex Nomad (aluminum riser, fiberglass limbs, ugly as hell).  I can shoot that Nomad far better than the others.  The price difference is over $500 between the "customs" and the aluminum, but if I had to pick one for a do or die situation...it would be the Nomad.

[Dsturgisjr]

This is a picture of a guy with sticker shock over the price of his new hat at Kzoo last weekend.    

 

[Arwin]

       

[Herdbull]

Biggie's head block-out Brian's entire body in the Tall Tines booth! Ha!

[NDTerminator]

There are lots of beautiful bows made, and with a couple notable exceptions, pretty much any bow built to say, 50#@28" will shoot the same arrow pretty darn close to the same speed as another with the same draw weight & design.

Truth be told, a lot has to do with established big name bows, and pride of ownership. When you enter the trad world, in short order you know the big, established names and the prices their bows command. There's something about owning one of these that appeals to most all of us.  Kind of like when someone asks you "hemi"?, and you casually say "of course"...

It's like the guys I know in the compound world who have killed a bunch of deer with their lower end PSE, but positively covet the newest & hottest big money Matthews model.  It's not that the Matthews being able to kill deer better, it's owning a MATTHEWS!

On that note, I killed a lot of deer back in the day with a Bear Whitetail II I bought for $90 new, but I digress...

What really puzzles me is not the cost of big name customs, but the cost of Bear & Martin production bows.  Now that's insane!!!!

[Guru]

[gregg dudley]

Originally posted by NDTerminator:
What really puzzles me is not the cost of big name customs, but the cost of Bear & Martin production bows.  Now that's insane!!!!

Best statement in the whole thread!

[Hud]

The most gorgeous bow with all the inlays, and exotic woods is going to cost more than the bowyer's standard bow, if he builds both. It is not always a good idea to compare different bowyers or manufacturers based on price alone. Generally, custom bows are going to cost more than a production bow, but you will find expensive production bows. That doesn't mean they are equal. So, don't base you decision on price alone.

When really matters is the arrow. Neither bow will shoot a poor arrow well; both will shoot a good arrow better.

Almost everyone developes a preference for a particular type of bow, or bowyer, after shooting for awhile. Some find the needed for the fastest, the prettiest, something really unique, the best shooter, others are happy with a basic bow. Bowyers are trying to find out find out what sells best for them. Try some bows and take it one day at a time, unless money doesn't matter. But, buy or make the best arrow for you can for what you a going to use it for...

[patvro]

Ya sticker shock  :eek:     Then a little of this when the wife see the receipt  

[hunt it]

The term is supply and demand. Good quality and service allow a bowyer to demand only what customers will pay. I bet none of the $900.00 bows you saw were the very first one that bowyer was trying to sell. Newer and smaller bowyers often have great prices during their introductory or early years. As they get known as good bowyers/craftsmen they can demand more. Whip gave you all the ingredients for what/why quality adds up. $900.00 is a deal, all the bows I've bought in recent years were $1,100.00 +.

[Whip]

Originally posted by Dsturgisjr:
This is a picture of a guy with sticker shock over the price of his new hat at Kzoo last weekend.        

   

But you did notice how slim, trim, and handsome it makes him look didn't you?  
Great hat Biggie!  :D

[BowHuntingFool]

Originally posted by hunt it:
The term is supply and demand. Good quality and service allow a bowyer to demand only what customers will pay. I bet none of the $900.00 bows you saw were the very first one that bowyer was trying to sell. Newer and smaller bowyers often have great prices during their introductory or early years. As they get known as good bowyers/craftsmen they can demand more. Whip gave you all the ingredients for what/why quality adds up. $900.00 is a deal, all the bows I've bought in recent years were $1,100.00 +.

I usually stay out of this type of talk and probably still should, But, your saying that you can't get a quality bow unless you spend $1000+ dollars for one?? I whole heartily disagree, I see all bows as works of art that each bowyer puts his heart and soul into each one made, just because he doesn't need to charge or "demand" $1000+ sure as heck doesn't mean it's not worthy bow! I shot a lot of different bows in Kalamazoo, it just so happens that the one that felt the best to me was about $525...

[michaelschwister]

I dunno about $1000 bows, but with materials at $225 per bow, time and equipment invested, I can't see anyone staying in business selling bows for $450.

[stickytoes]

if you cant find a great bow between 100 and 500 between fleabay and all the great bowyers out there , you are not lookind  hard enough... also a used bow is still new to me and like an older woman , they may be able to show you somthing that you didnt know.....

[**DONOTDELETE**]

You guys complaining about bow prices should try and make a living as a bowyer....it is near impossible!

I sell things for a living....and I sell them for as much as the market will bear.So should bowyers.

[buckeye_hunter]

I'll pay whatever the price is for the bow that feels best to me. I like several recurves and they are in the $500- $750 range. If these bowyers changed their price to $1,500 I would pay it(after saving for a while of course)!

[ron w]

Just like anything else in this world...you get what you pay for! ....Biggie, was that hat to tight???