Tired of overpriced industry
- This topic has 24 replies, 13 voices, and was last updated Sep 27, 2007 at 9:02 pm by
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At lunch today I drove to one of the local outdoor sportsman stores. I am in the market for a lumbar pack and I knew they carried a few fly fishing specialty items.
Sure enough they had a good selection of Fishpond’s latest offerings: chest packs, vests, and 3 different lumbar packs. I knew going in what products I was looking for and even knew what the retail price on said products was. I really like the Waterdance and one other that is very similar. The worktable feature was nice and I think it is actually somewhat practical. The main waist strap was very comfortable and the extra sinch strap was well thought out. The main feature that was glaringly missing was the retractable tool clips that usually come with these products. (but that is a minor flaw) All in all I really liked what I saw.
But I stood there for a moment and looked at this pack and wondered how on earth could these people justly put a price tag of $90 on this product! It is really quite unbelieveable. Almost $100 for a fanny pack!
With hunting season getting into gear the store was loaded with all of the latest stuff for the hunter. So I walked over to the backpacks and gear bags section for hunting. Up on the shelf was a lumbar pack made by Mossy Oak, one of the leading hunting gear manufacturers in the world. Sure enough Mossy Oak had a lumbar pack VERY similar to the Fishpond pack. It had two sizeable main compartments with a smaller zippered pocket on the outside. It had a H20 bottle holder (just like the fishpond) and a somewhat similar belt design…although I will say it wasnt as substantial or as comfortable. But these two products were very comparable. Price tag on the Mossy Oak lumbar pack…$19.99 Unbelievable. The only problem is that it comes in two colors…camo or blaze orange.
Ok Ok…I know the two responses….1) “you dont have to buy it. find another product” and 2) Demand controls the price. i.e.- a camo fanny pack is not a high priorty for hunters…therefore the gouging is not as evident. Fishpond can ask whatever they want because a large population of the demographic that is going to buy it are corporate types who to them, $90 is like a regular joe like me dropping 99 cents at Dunkin Donuts for a coffee.
But seriously, lets think about it for a moment. I can spend $90 on the Fishpond lumbar pack or spend $200 on that sexy handcrafted 5 piece work of art fiberglass Fenwick rod that Cameron got from Japan. if you ask me the stick is an incredible deal the the pack is a complete robbery.
I know there are many on this board who are “inside” the industry and I think it would be hard for you to look at this topic objectively because the lenses that you see through are so different from those of us that are not tied in. But you have to admit that some products, like an American hand made Scott fly rod is worth getting “raped” for…but not a fanny pack….shouldnt someone draw the line somewhere?
Sorry for the rant…
Frustrated in PAI agree with your theory….or more likely the facts.
Seafood…I carry a Osprey Transit bag for work and it holds EVERYTHING…lap top, PDA, case files, etc. etc. etc.
http://www.ospreypacks.com/Packs/TravelCouriers/
I don’t know how big your lap top is…so that would determine if you would need the Torque or the Transit…but these packs are really nice. I’ve had mine in constant use for the last 2 years with no problems.
Seafood….I’ll feel your pain man! I’m about to pull the trigger….er….plastic …on a Waterdance. Have you priced fishing vests lately? See….$90 is right in line, albeit still too much.
Regarding the Mossy Oak pack you mentioned….I saw it in the Sportsman Guide catalog I received this week. I thought the same thing as you….it sure resembles the Waterdance. Maybe Mossy Oak should paint it solid green, inscribe it with the word, “Battenkill” and immediately double the price. Add the word, “Presentation Model” and quadruple the price!
When I start my FF gear company I plan to set the prices at least double to the competion’s and I will brand everything with quotes like “Let them eat cake” and “Only the little people pay taxes”; I also plan to retire by 35.
Seafood,
There are really three kinds of over-pricing and you need only fear one.1) There’s overpricing to the point that no one buys your product because they can get comparable products somewhere else and your company goes broke. (Don’t buy this kind overpriced product)
2) There’s overpricing by companies gouging a captured, dependent customer base that can’t get a needed product anywhere else. (fear this one and expose it when you can)
3) There’s overpricing (perceived) because you just can’t afford what the market will bear for the product YOU WANT (Improve your financial position)Anecdotally, let me relate a long ago experience I had in this industry. In 1970, I was paying $0.31/gallon for gas in Great Falls, MT. When I travelled to Gardiner, MT to fish in YNP, gas was $0.39, nearly 30% higher. I could hardly pay to fill my tank and I thought I was being gouged. At the same time and place, Park’s Fly Shop was charging $25 for a full day float on the Yellowstone. A full day float was way overpriced for someone taking home only $100/month. In 2007, gas in Gardiner is probably $3.60/gallon and I could afford to fill up Hummer’s all day. A full day float trip with Parks is ~$350 + Tip. Is that overpriced? Not at all. In the next two weeks I’ll layout $395+tip four times for float trips in Montana. Additionally, I don’t care what the price of gas is either. I need it and I’ll pay for it. Why?–My financial position has improved considerably since 1970.
Good Rant Though!
Carter- “only the little people pay taxes”- hey!!! I resemble that remark:). Good luck on the retire at 35 , I’d be happy to SEE 35 again 🙂
Mike- congrats on being/feeling wealthy:)
I hate to toss a spanner in the works, but you guessed it I will try:)
Seafood as Buzz and Zach and others have pointed out there is a difference between utility and consumerism. Lets be real- you could easily put your flies in an old tobacco tin, steal your wife/girlfriend/partners sewing scissors/buy a spool of mono, toss the lot in your pocket and with whatever suitable rod and reel and line you have,
While I do buy a lot of things retail, like my Blue River lumbar pack and Simms wading staff, I will always check my eBay feeds and forum feeds for good deals on things I need. Forums really pay off for reels and rods and I wouldn’t have near the amount of gear I have if it wasn’t for the great deals I find. I have quite the gear fetish and with a wife in the water now too I try a bit harder since I am lusting for two.
All good thoughts and I appreciate the input.
I guess at the end of the day, it comes down to personal preference and what you want to spend money on. Personally I would rather spend $3.50 to drink a Paulaner Oktoberfest instead of $1.00 on Girls (Coors) Light. But might be just as quick to go the “cheap” route on other things.
Yeah! but are you willing to pay top-dollar for a good pickled egg?
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