I have never in my time on gunnuttz seen a used AR of any make for $700-$800 used in the EE or anywhere for that matter.
I do agree with you though ARs' are over priced up here , when you look at the gun buyers guide rand new AR in the states for around 7 or 8 hundred , same gun here , like $1400 or $1500. I do not think though that the norc AR's are going to bring down the price of other NA manuacture rifles , the M-305 did not in anyway make people sell their sprigfields for less.
The idea that Norinco (or any other brand) is going to "
bring down the price of other NA manufacture rifles" seems to display a misunderstanding of why prices are what they are... I think it's naive and just wishful thinking.
The pricing of NA manufactured rifles (ie U.S. Made) is based on the US Dealer Cost, the currency exchange rate, the export permit costs, transport costs, brokerage costs. Those are all set costs that have NOTHING to do with the Canadian importer/dealer nor are they in any way affected by the price of a Norinco rifle. The ONLY factor that is controlled by the Canadian dealer is the margin (profit) that he adds onto the cost and thereby sets his retail selling price. That part he can adjust.
But here's the point... Dealers in this country try to add enough profit to cover all of their operating costs (rent, heat, insurance, labour costs, phone, etc.) and still have money left over (that's the profit) so they can take home a pay cheque for all their risk and efforts. Cheaper Norinco AR's won't change what a dealer has to make profit on his NA rifles to stay in business. If he drops the price of his NA rifles all he is doing is getting rid of his inventory and trying to reduce his losses... he won't re-order and he won't order more. In fact he won't stay in business... not selling NA rifles anyway.
I sell my products at the prices that I need to get in order to cover my costs and make a profit... yes I make money doing what I do... I'm not ashamed of it and I don't apologize for it. If I can't sell my AR's for what I need to get then I blow-out the ones left in stock and I move on to something else... or I shut down the business and lay on a beach somewhere warm.
If I could buy NA rifles cheaper (and thereby sell them cheaper) then I'd already be doing it... I think I drive a pretty hard bargain with my suppliers... I think every other importer and dealer in Canada does the same thing. It's beyond me what makes people think that all of a sudden a $500 or $700 or $900 Norinco AR will change the pricing structure of RRA, or STAG or Bushmaster or LMT or COLT, etc. They couldn't care less... DPMS has backorders for over 100,000 rifles (that's over a years production). If you called them up today and told them you'd order 1,000 guns but you need a better "deal" because you need to compete with Norinco, the guys at DPMS would fall off their chairs laughing at you.
If all that mattered was price then I'd dump every AR we have and shut down the business... either that or jump on the Norinco band-wagon and eventually the only gun that dealers would have would be Norinco... until some other company offered a cheaper one. Thankfully price is NOT all that matters. Brand, quality, cosmetics, features, materials, durability, all matter... even perception... they all play a factor.
I think the new Norinco AR's are great... I honestly do. I think it offers many shooters an opportunity to get an AR and have fun with a much lower entry point than was previously possible... an entry point that previously was beyond their means. I won't sell any less AR's because of the Norinco's... we sell every AR we can get our hands on... in fact I suspect that over time we'll sell more. As new shooters start with a Norinco and learn the joys of AR's... they'll move on... trade "up" if you will and eventually buy other brands. I think that's great for the industry.
As for other brand's prices being driven down... well I just don't see that... I wish it was true but don't see how that's going to happen.
Just my .02 cents worth (I hope it's still worth that much

).
Mark