Questions about "the new normal"

[SeabeeKen]

When you have people who werent permitted to go to work, manufacturers cant make a product but people are still shooting and more than ever because they are off work. Add to that politicians causing a panic by threatening to ban everything which sells guns like crazy, which means new shooters and gun owners and handloaders. An now inflation ramping up, its no wonder prices are rising. There is more but Im not getting into it. I talked to CCI about a year ago and they told me they were running 24/7 and had no plans to expand their manufacturing because they expected this to blow over. I personally am not paying the high prices to hoard and I dont have to shoot every day so I hunker down, I have enough, and ride it out. YMMV

 

[drop_point]

When you have people who werent permitted to go to work, manufacturers cant make a product but people are still shooting and more than ever because they are off work. Add to that politicians causing a panic by threatening to ban everything which sells guns like crazy, which means new shooters and gun owners and handloaders. An now inflation ramping up, its no wonder prices are rising. There is more but Im not getting into it. I talked to CCI about a year ago and they told me they were running 24/7 and had no plans to expand their manufacturing because they expected this to blow over. I personally am not paying the high prices to hoard and I dont have to shoot every day so I hunker down, I have enough, and ride it out. YMMV

But are these makers in states that didn't allow them to go to work? Why is it some retailers are so much higher than others? Academy is far cheaper than Midway or Brownell's. My LGS is so much cheaper than just about anybody...why 3x the price but not on other components?

 

[SeabeeKen]

But are these makers in states that didn't allow them to go to work? Why is it some retailers are so much higher than others? Academy is far cheaper than Midway or Brownell's. My LGS is so much cheaper than just about anybody...why 3x the price but not on other components?

Im not saying there isnt price gouging and greed. Call and ask them. I hope you get an honest answer. Each person has the choice to deal with these gougers or not. Our LGS's are as empty as the big box places around here and charging higher prices. Ive told 2 of them they will never see me again for that reason

 

[David Milisock]

Demand in my area is way up for reloading supplies. Last year I put a new AR and cartridge on line, reloading materials (not the press, trimmer, Yada, yada) just dies, shell holders, a year or two supplies of powder, projectiles and primers were 1/3 the cost of the base rifle.

 

[338 dude]

I keep reading that the new current high prices of components, namely primers, is due to component costs for the manufacturer and that it isn't going to come down. Its "inflation," so they say.

Meanwhile, bullet prices haven't gone up 3x+ in price. What raw materials are driving the increased price of primer manufacturing? Additionally, I'm seeing the big box stores and large shops charging these prices, yet I keep seeing primers at the local gun shops barely inflated selling limited quantities of primers for less than half the big shops. If this is the "new normal", why aren't their costs so much higher? Are they losing money with every sale?

Any insiders, please provide insight as to how the local little guys are significantly cheaper than the big stores that should have volume purchasing discounts.

It’s all part of the transfer of wealth and this new administration combined with greed plain and simple

 

[hogpatrol]

But are these makers in states that didn't allow them to go to work? Why is it some retailers are so much higher than others? Academy is far cheaper than Midway or Brownell's. My LGS is so much cheaper than just about anybody...why 3x the price but not on other components

Part time versus full time employees and the attendant overhead. I would guess the online vendors have two shifts to handle the volume. The LGS in my area run six days a week, around eight hours a day. Some only are open five days a week and hire part timers. That overhead has to be made up somewhere.

 

[drop_point]

Part time versus full time employees and the attendant overhead. I would guess the online vendors have two shifts to handle the volume. The LGS in my area run six days a week, around eight hours a day. Some only are open five days a week and hire part timers. That overhead has to be made up somewhere.

So then you're saying you believe the big guys are charging more for primers because of labor cost? And volume? That doesn't make sense because volume means they are selling other items as well. Why primers? Why are bullets, powder, and cases not 3x? Why are the big guys only marking up primers? That's what seems funny to me.

 

[L.Sherm]

But are these makers in states that didn't allow them to go to work? Why is it some retailers are so much higher than others? Academy is far cheaper than Midway or Brownell's. My LGS is so much cheaper than just about anybody...why 3x the price but not on other components?

Simple, people hit the buy button.
Over the last few weeks primer prices have went up on internet vendors, WHY
because people cleaned them out in the new NORMAL price now theres a
HIGHER NEW NORMAL. My little local LGS sell Bergers for the same price as Blue Collar do you really think he gets them cheaper than Midway, Brunos, Brownells etc.

 

[drop_point]

Simple, people hit the buy button.
Over the last few weeks primer prices have went up on internet vendors, WHY
because people cleaned them out in the new NORMAL price now theres a
HIGHER NEW NORMAL. My little local LGS sell Bergers for the same price as Blue Collar do you really think he gets them cheaper than Midway, Brunos, Brownells etc.

Therein lies my problem. I'm sure my local guys aren't getting them as cheaply as others. But some of these others people, even one on this forum, is claiming they are paying exponentially more for primers and not making much profit. Somebody isn't being honest.

 

[3Sigma]

The term "New Normal" is both false and misleading. Things are ever changing.

Those of you who lived through the late 70s and early 80s know what is coming. My parents first house was at 14% interest in 1977. They have been less than 4% for over a decade. It was always going to swing the other direction, it just needed an event to push it.

I'm not saying it's good, nor that I'm happy about it, but that's where we are heading. Rates have to go up, it is the Fed's only lever to pull, and then we'll have stagflation and Jimmy Carter 2.0.

Relative to component pricing, scarcity is driving demand and the prices reflect that. If I made primers, I would manage my production capacity to maintain the current market conditions as long as possible. It sucks for the consumer, but no one new is going into that business any time soon, and margins are great. Call it gouging, or price manipulation, doesn't matter. Shareholders will make money and the executives will get big bonuses.

 

[L.Sherm]

A cheese burger basket 2 years ago was in the neighborhood of 10.00 now if it was 30.00 would you still buy it, I think 100% of the people would say Hell no, but don't bat an eye paying 3-4 times for primers and call it new normal and claim cant live without.

 

[acloco]

Two companies do. But its been YEARS since Remington was a solvent company. I hadn't seen Remington primers for sale since well before the bankruptcy. So we still have "Winchester" and Vista. Not all that much has changed, really. But why the price disparity? I've seen primers anywhere from $60/1000 to $150/1000. Even primers of the same maker.

Brands – Vista Outdoor

vistaoutdoor.com

 

[drop_point]

Brands – Vista Outdoor

vistaoutdoor.com

And?

 

[acloco]

And?

Not sure if everybody knew what Vista owns now......sharing info.

 

[Woofie]

Since you mention Vista...................
Most folk don't know how or where to look in SEC filings, but they're right there on Vista's webpage. Management and director compensation is listed in the annual proxy. The latest was 6/11/21. Mr. Jason Vanderblink, President Ammunition Division. is the bald gentleman Vista's PR department dresses in a plaid shirt and then sends him out on You Tube to cry crocodile tears about how hard they're all working.
From the proxy, in 2020 Mr. Vanderblink's total compensation was $1,234,351; in 2021 it was $3,515,859.
I'm sure he's worth every penny. To whom, we might discuss.

SEC Filings - Vista Outdoor

investors.vistaoutdoor.com

 

[drop_point]

Not sure if everybody knew what Vista owns now......sharing info.

I thought maybe you had been trying to imply price-fixing and wanted more elaboration.

 

[tsyarnall]

"The Great Reset" from the World Economic Forum/Agenda 2030.

Thank you! I guess my memory is going with my hearing.

 

[Full Chisel]

Everything is cyclical, based on cyclical crises. The ultra wealthy tend to be pretty damn good at creating these crises, and not surprisingly tend rack up big time during them while they pretend to be concerned about all of us. Trying to hard to get down to the particulars and you might just miss the big picture. If you're looking for the solution to getting lower prices, then really it's just to stop buying and find something else to do for a while. Simple supply and demand.

 

[drop_point]

Everything is cyclical, based on cyclical crises. The ultra wealthy tend to be pretty damn good at creating these crises, and not surprisingly tend rack up big time during them while they pretend to be concerned about all of us. Trying to hard to get down to the particulars and you might just miss the big picture. If you're looking for the solution to getting lower prices, then really it's just to stop buying and find something else to do for a while. Simple supply and demand.

Reminds me of the stock market situation. Certain people will run up stock prices, everybody jumps in, then the managers all sell-off at the same time. When those stocks hit rock bottom, they buy them back. Profit-takers have the influence to pull that scheme and its a real money maker.

 

[FNSafari]

I sure wish Jason had a financial incentive to get reloading components onto the shelves again! Yes, I realize they make more selling loaded ammo than components, just musing.