22 minutes ago, volzfan59 said:

QE, Quantitative Easing, has pretty much been going on since 2008 hasn't it?

 

On and off since 2008, but it ramped up hard when COVID hit.

Did anyone notice how a couple of retailers suddenly have every model of the Orochi line in stock... Thats dirty.  

2 minutes ago, TNBankFishing said:

Did anyone notice how a couple of retailers suddenly have every model of the Orochi line in stock... Thats dirty.  

No dirtier than consumers shopping around. Retailers sell things for the most they can, consumers buy them for the least they can, and meet somewhere in the middle. 

1 minute ago, Deleted account said:

No dirtier than consumers shopping around. Retailers sell things for the most they can, consumers buy them for the least they can, and meet somewhere in the middle. 

I agree its always a back and forth, but hording a product you bought low with insider knowledge to gouge your customer is shady. Makes me less likely to purchase anything from them in the future. 

I was looking at fly rods around October to the beginning of December.  Picked up a couple low cost rods.  Really wanted a Sage Foundation.  Price $325, but figured I'd wait until next year (this year now).  Eventually decided not to wait.  Guess what?  The price had jumped to $425, although a couple places still had them at the $350 price they had when the MSRP was $325.

 

I can see an increase, but a $100 jump is ridiculous.  Sage lost a customer.  Douglas gained one.  I think I see a DXF in my future. 

My barber jacked his price from $40 to $50 and then has the nerve to complain about how his schedule is empty around Christmas when it used to take 2 weeks to get an appointment. I really think a lot of businesses are just using this as an excuse to raise prices.

13 minutes ago, TNBankFishing said:

I agree its always a back and forth, but hording a product you bought low with insider knowledge to gouge your customer is shady. Makes me less likely to purchase anything from them in the future. 

That is the prevailing consumer sentiment, and every consumer has the right and freedom to purchase (or not purchase) anything wherever they choose. 

2 minutes ago, The Maestro said:

My barber jacked his price from $40 to $50 and then has the nerve to complain about how his schedule is empty around Christmas when it used to take 2 weeks to get an appointment. I really think a lot of businesses are just using this as an excuse to raise prices.

 

I agree. I expect prices on goods to go up. I don't think anyone is ignorant to how hard it is to get materials. I think raising prices in a logical way makes sense, and the MB price increase doesn't. Your barber increased the cost of a haircut by 25%, but has his cost to run his shop or buy his gear increased the same? As horrible as it sounds a haircut is a luxury item a lot like a fishing rod. You can get by with Great Clips and an Ugly Stik. 

2 minutes ago, Deleted account said:

That is the prevailing consumer sentiment, and every consumer has the right and freedom to purchase (or not purchase) anything wherever they choose. 

Just so I'm following, you don't approve or disapprove of them trying to gouge their customers? 

 

I understand being able to shop around, but I find it interesting you stand up for the business against the consumer. 

2 minutes ago, TNBankFishing said:

 

I agree. I expect prices on goods to go up. I don't think anyone is ignorant to how hard it is to get materials. I think raising prices in a logical way makes sense, and the MB price increase doesn't. 

LOL.

1 minute ago, Deleted account said:

LOL.

....

Increasing the cost of a 4 year old line of rods is a bad look. Also increasing the cheapest line by 25% is hard to justify. 

 

I do enjoy your snark, but I wish it came with a hair more elaboration. 

12 minutes ago, TNBankFishing said:

....

Increasing the cost of a 4 year old line of rods is a bad look. Also increasing the cheapest line by 25% is hard to justify. 

 

I do enjoy your snark, but I wish it came with a hair more elaboration. 

I think the LOL was at the notion that the layman isn't ignorant to the process of procuring materials from overseas, not at the price increase. Just a guess though.

4 minutes ago, TNBankFishing said:

-Just so I'm following, you don't approve or disapprove of them trying to gouge their customers? 

 

-I understand being able to shop around, but I find it interesting you stand up for the business against the consumer. 

 

-Increasing the cost of a 4 year old line of rods is a bad look. Also increasing the cheapest line by 25% is hard to justify. 

 

-I do enjoy your snark, but I wish it came with a hair more elaboration. 

I don't believe that maximizing margins constitute "gouging", I also believe that retailers are not in the business of justifying prices, or pricing policies and strategies. I am not standing up for businesses, just stating a point of view. Full disclosure, in addition to being a consumer, I am also a retailer of sporting goods, and have been in the industry in one form or another for over 35 years, (not in any significant way fishing, thank the Lord). I get it that consumers don't want prices going up, duh! But I also get that businesses, including those that sell tackle and cut hair are there to make money. 

41 minutes ago, The Maestro said:

My barber jacked his price from $40 to $50 

Where on earth do you live? A barber charging $40, much less $50 to cut a man's hair? That's assuming you are a man by the way. The same lady, at the same salon that my wife goes to cuts my hair for $15, I give her $20. Albeit I live in a small, town close to BFE.

Probably Canada. I'm in NY state, and a man's cut, wash, and shave is $30 at a nice salon. 

1 minute ago, volzfan59 said:

Where on earth do you live? A barber charging $40, much less $50 to cut a man's hair? That's assuming you are a man by the way. The same lady, at the same salon that my wife goes to cuts my hair for $15, I give her $20. Albeit I live in a small, town close to BFE.

$40 is definitely on the high end to begin with but he is a very good barber who would take his time to make sure you were satisfied so I was willing to pay but I have to admit it left a bad taste in my mouth when he raised it to $50. The general excuse is that they have to make up for lost revenue during the lockdowns but I know for a fact this guy was cutting hair for cash out of his home the whole time WHILE receiving the government cheques for shutting him down.

We are not entitled to Levante at $200.

 

However, you are entitled to spend your money however you want, with few exceptions such as taxes. 

6 minutes ago, J Francho said:

Probably Canada. I'm in NY state, and a man's cut, wash, and shave is $30 at a nice salon. 

Yes Canada. Suburb of Toronto. I was paying $30 before finding this guy. $40 (+$5 tip) seemed high but still reasonable. It's now $55 which is tough to swallow considering how fast he can do it and the fact that it just seems like he's taking advantage. No wash or shave btw. That's extra.

2 minutes ago, The Maestro said:

Yes Canada. Suburb of Toronto. I was paying $30 before finding this guy. $40 (+$5 tip) seemed high but still reasonable. It's now $55 which is tough to swallow considering how fast he can do it and the fact that it just seems like he's taking advantage.

Did you consider increase in energy cost and lease?

Capitalism sucks

3 minutes ago, Mat_ski said:

Did you consider increase in energy cost and lease?

I have no idea about his lease but if his energy prices have gone up so have everyone else's. Difference being most people don't have the option of just changing their employer more for their labour. Ultimately if I do stick with him I'll just go less frequently as I think most people will do and my yearly haircut expenses won't really change. I know if everyone did this he'd be getting the same money for less work but I really think a lot of people will look for a new barber since there's like 5 within walking distance of his place. In the end I think it'll cost him a lot of customers.

7 minutes ago, Mat_ski said:

We are not entitled to Levante at $200.

 

However, you are entitled to spend your money however you want, with few exceptions such as taxes. 

 

I know I'm not entitled to a Levante at $200. What is more concerning is how a company which has a strong brand loyalty will surprise its customers with a price increase before its competitors and without notice. 

 

Hypothetically, if MB notified its vendors, wholesellers, and customers on X day there would be a "price adjustment" all three of those groups would be able to plan and act accordingly. Wholesellers would try to build stock, while vendors and consumers would make purchases or pre-orders. This method of increasing price would make a long time customer like me, more likely to stick with the brand.

 

By jumping prices suddenly, with a haphazard range of increases ONLY on USDM products I'm less likely to buy from them again. Their XXX, Valkerie, Evoluzion, Valkerie World Expedition, Triza, P5, and TS lines saw no increase. While some might think this mindset is entitled, I think its good business to keep your customers in the loop when your product is "premium" or "boutique". 

 

I guess we'll see if Shimano follows suit with their JDM and Loomis lines. 

17 minutes ago, The Maestro said:

Yes Canada. Suburb of Toronto. I was paying $30 before finding this guy. $40 (+$5 tip) seemed high but still reasonable. It's now $55 which is tough to swallow considering how fast he can do it and the fact that it just seems like he's taking advantage. No wash or shave btw. That's extra.

I moved into my house in 1995 and have been going to the same guy since I moved in. Over the years I've had significant hair loss. It got so bad that I get charged by the clip instead of a flat rate...?...way cheaper

3 minutes ago, Jigfishn10 said:

I moved into my house in 1995 and have been going to the same guy since I moved in. Over the years I've had significant hair loss. It got so bad that I get charged by the clip instead of a flat rate...?...way cheaper

Sweet ~

I say just shave that dome & be done with it !

A-Jay

 

While ya’ll ***** at price of a fishing rod increasing by $25 I’m looking at my gas bill with close to 100% increase year over year for month of December. I’m expecting January to be even worse. The increase is close to the price of levante btw. 

I bought a set of Conair clippers 20 years agonfor about 25 bucks.  Wife slaps those comb things on the clippers and cuts my hair in 15 minutes once a month.  Haven't paid for a haircut in decades.