red dot sights, markup issues, and 'sight snob' issues

[fat tony]

I am wondering how much of a mark up is enough for the privilege of having a red dot sight with a US label on it? Also wondering about these red dot sights from Europe etc, imo you are paying for someone's elaborate employee benefits package if you are paying more than a few hundred bucks for it. I have no doubt the most expensive red dot sights are very nice to have and have a big 'snob appeal' factor, however, after you have a red dot sight that does what you expect of it, any more $ spent is either spent on 'snob appeal' or for someone else's imaginative retirement plan.

Tired of getting treated like a *****. From now on Deal extreme is going to get my red dot sight business. You can take your state dept regulations and shove them up your arses, the local retailers can take their markups and shove them up their arses also. Have a nice day all.

 

[little_airwolf]

I totally understand! The mark up here is inexcusable. The motorcycle industry here in canada is the same way. I just try stuff at the local shops and then buy online. Paying more than double the US cost should outrage all canadians but that being said, I've learned that it's also canadian not to complain and take it where the sun doesn't shine.
Our dollar isn't 65-75 cents on the greenback. Prices should reflect that!!!

 

[bwerb]

Most Canadians don't realize how much of the retail price of the items we buy is inflated by our government policies. The cost of doing business in this country with increased paperwork, taxation, registrations, freight costs etc. make the prices of much of what we buy higher out of the gate. As against politically correct as it is...our bilingual packaging requirement is a HUGE burden on our collective wallets.

Unfortunately, as per usual, government and media like to focus on "greedy retailers" or "greedy suppliers" instead of taking the time to see how the very policies they promote and enforce build a distinct cost disadvantage into our prices.

 

[little_airwolf]

On almost all my gun stuff, the manuals are in english and chiness. I don't think I've seen french anywhere. lol
Unlike buying stuff from Ikea, I think they print ten or so different languages.
I don't think this would add to much to the cost if Ikea does it.

 

[fat tony]

Eh. I guess things are tough all over. The thing is, it's not business as usual anymore, for anyone. The traditional retailers are going to have to do (?) to remain relevant. I don't envy retailers these days, esp if they are flogging goods from the states.

 

[bwerb]

On almost all my gun stuff, the manuals are in english and chiness. I don't think I've seen french anywhere. lol
Unlike buying stuff from Ikea, I think they print ten or so different languages.
I don't think this would add to much to the cost if Ikea does it.

I'm getting a little broader in my discussion from just referring to instruction books in products which tend to be sold in plain cardboard boxes with printed instructions. Go take a look at something like a coffeemaker or TV or Cereal or most any other product you regularly purchase at retail. You will see that the packaging is completely bi-lingual, this means that when the factory received an order, they made 50,000 units for the US with one spec, then they did a run of 2,000 units for Canada with the other package. The cost per unit of almost everything we buy in Canada is higher simply based on the fact that our production runs are smaller with different specs than an item sold in the US.

Since this is the business that I'm in...I can tell you that on average we have a 5-20% (depending on the item) higher base cost than the EXACT same item from the factories.

 

[Onagoth]

I didn't think deal extreme would ship to Canada? IIRC< i tried when I bought my aimpoint and they cancelled my orded

 

[fat tony]

They are in Hong Kong - the state dept has no juristiction over them. Lolz. Don't worry onagoth, I am sure there are others out there eager to get the word out that you will have problems with dealextreme.

lolz. dealextreme not shipping to Canada, that would be the absolute apex of f****try wouldn't it?

 

[Onagoth]

They are in Hong Kong - the state dept has no juristiction over them. Lolz. Don't worry onagoth, I am sure there are others out there eager to get the word out that you will have problems with dealextreme.

I might be thinking of some other online dealer then.....now that I think about it more, I think I ordered from opticsplanet.net, or at least tried too

 

[Flying Beaver]

I am wondering how much of a mark up is enough for the privilege of having a red dot sight with a US label on it? Also wondering about these red dot sights from Europe etc, imo you are paying for someone's elaborate employee benefits package if you are paying more than a few hundred bucks for it. I have no doubt the most expensive red dot sights are very nice to have and have a big 'snob appeal' factor, however, after you have a red dot sight that does what you expect of it, any more $ spent is either spent on 'snob appeal' or for someone else's imaginative retirement plan.

Tired of getting treated like a *****. From now on Deal extreme is going to get my red dot sight business. You can take your state dept regulations and shove them up your arses, the local retailers can take their markups and shove them up their arses also. Have a nice day all.

Good to know that at least one other person feels this way. Been trying to find an inexpensive red dot for a light-duty, occasional use. NFW I want to drop a couple of C notes because some U.S. importer has pasted their sticker over the "made in China" label. I know there are good Chinese RD's and rotten Chinese RD's. - but fed up with getting done over by the layers of middlemen.