While anxiously waiting for DFK Hunter's story lines, I read through this thread and thought I would put in my 2 cents.
CG: why not bring price down? (Valid observation with current economic situation, but...)
[Disclaimer: I dont write like a wallstreet journalist, so please excuse any wrong terms or anything that may be confusing, again, just my 2 cents]
Competition:
This hobby is operating under free market, but cartels could still exist. So economic principle of supply and demand applies as well as vendors willingness to compromise. In any free market, there are competitions, when store A decide to lower price a bit to bring in more customers to their shop, Store B will typically react by offer incentives or lower their price a bit more or at Store A level. Then Store A reacts and this sea-saw will end up at a equilibrium point, which the customer is the winner. However unlike other apple to apple sectors of market, hobby market got its apples, oranges, melons, grapes etc, multiple flavors. (man-mades, all-naturals, athletic, bbw, etc etc). Until each flavor group decide to lower its price or offer incentives, competition doesnt happen. Like when you see oranges at $0.50/pound while grapes were still selling $2.99/pound. The thing is, price cut doesnt have to be alot to see competition, $5 here, then competitor might lower by $5 their side, and so goes seasaw chain...
This brings up my next point, cartel. If you dont know what cartel is, think OPEC, oil companies. I remember when gasoline was at $5.00/gallon a few years ago. People want put pressure on OPEC to lower price. Their response, HAH! Of course, we could start biking or walking to places, but most us just sacrifice other luxuries. Back to point, if providers decide they need to stick together and set standard for their price, then there isn't much us hobbiest can do about it, unless you go try other hobby, I don't know, breakdance.
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Oh, there's also this.
IMAGE:
Most ladies on this side of hobby have a higher image to maintain. It's like Toyota and Lexus, they're pretty much the same, heck even made the same company. (I pick toyota because they've been on the news quite a bit lately, first car company that came to my mind). One is consider luxury car, higher status. I guess driving a lexus give you this higher status feel. What does Lexus do when facing difficult times, they offer specials, incentives to bring in more customer. Are they still consider a luxury car, Yes, if you see Lexus at much lower price than they usually go for and think it's a "steal", would you go for it, most likely yes.
My thought: This is like any business, if one learns to adapt and adjust, and put customer satisfaction as a top priority, they'll go a long way.
OFF TOPIC: (No need to read if you dont want to)
Someone here mentioned College degree and such, you know degrees are not hard to get these days, night classes, online classes. It's all about what you're willing to do to compromise. I had a chat with a man I met on the airplane a while back. He worked at a middle-of-no-where plant, the money was good, but it was long hours, barely any time to spent with family. Of course nearest "civilization" was farfar away, it was hard on the family. He ended up taking online classes and accepted a lower paying job in a metropolitan city. More time to spend with his family and they can enjoy luxury of "civilization". He told me, "pick your priorities, just don't have regrets later." Wise words that still echo in my head.
I need to keep replies small
Jarz@