Shipping a 40' can from rotterdam to here was $6500(ish) in 2020, I was quoted $16,800 in May (with a 3-4 month delay), so yeah, it does matter. $4 each? Sure, sounds legit if the numbers are there (or, more accurately, 17 tons of sks...). But its not only that, I pay more in ei/cpp than i did 2 years ago (both rates and wages go up), shipping costs in country are higher, my lease and vehicle costs are up... Thats what inflation is, more money in the system typically means things go up in price. Not only by the fake CPI, but also the perceived value of dollars worth goods. The reason they should cost 20% more is people are willing to pay 20% more for them. And if they don't, then the dealers will get tired of them on the shelves and will mark them down. Tenda has be selling b-grades for $479, so ir seems thats the market.
Its all demand, SVT has gone up by 4x in the last couple years, Tokarevs have barely moved. So we shall see. But I'd bet one of my G40s that they aren't going for $399...