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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - How does THIS cost $500? (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 11/16/2007 10:04:35 AM EDT
 Youy can buy QUALITY rifle scopes with adjusting reticles and variable levels of zoom, illumination etc. that cost less. I don't know why mfr's don't realise that if they sold these for say $100-150 which would EASILY eclipse the cost of the materials (i.e. they still make a profit), they'd sell more than 4x as many and therefore amke more money in the long run. IMHO this is just CRAZY 
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How do you know how much it costs Aimpoint to make these? |
While I too think that it's overpriced, please realize that cost of material and labor are not the only factors in the price of a product. R&D COSTS HEALTH INSURANCE FLEET VEHICLE INSURANCE PAYROLL TAXES PROPERTY TAXES MORTGAGE/RENT ON PROPERTY UTILITIES PATENT FEES TESTING FEES |
I'll bet its alot cheaper than their asking price. Like I said people will buy it though.
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I know but it JUST a magnifier - how much R&D and extra development outside of the existing engineering specs that these companies have already develped for their regular scopes, do you think this requires? And i think my point is still valid: drop the price - sell more - make more money. |
You are more than welcome to start your own company and offer these in the $100-$150 range. Tell me when they are available, I might buy one. |
most of which they are already covering with the other products on the market. the only thing new is tooling up for production and r&D costs. i'd bet the actual aimpoint itself has a higher production cost than the magnifier. other than a couple of lens <even high quality> thats all there is. |
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The cost is relitive to your needs and economic status. If they are under contract to .gov types they may not have the option of selling it cheaper. Even when it might move more units. What you see is simple supply and demand. Its not how much it costs to make its how much you can sell them for. |
exactly |
| Sometimes the road to profit is not sheer volume. You need a good balance between profit volume and volume. Focus too much on margin and you won't sell enough units to make up for your initial costs. Focus too much on volume and you increase the overhead required to meet demand while lowering your profit per unit. Ultimately demand will set the price. |
Pretty much my sentiments, anyways, I figure if they can build and sell DVD players for $50.00 and still make a profit, $500.00 for this is a bit spendy. After a while, R&D costs are covered for a particular product, thats why they build something different and price it as they do. |
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XYZ Company (Aimpoint in this case) cannot sell a product to the private sector (us) for less than the NEGOTIATED PRICE they sell to the GOVERNMENT for. If the GOV is paying $480, then that is the price they can sell it to you for. At the end of the contract they will renegotiate a lower price on the GSA Schedule. The price for us civies will also be lower. |
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Well i just got one for $90 Of course its a fake. But damn it looks exactly the same and it doesnt really have any thing that can break. No lazer's or lights or adjustments even. So the glass might be a little less quality and not as bright. For $90 bucks though it will go nicely with my $45 Aimpoint red dot. I am still shocked that you can get a red dot Aimpoint for less then the 3x mag. Crazy world we live in. |
Well you paid about double for your fake Aimpoint magnifier than what you paid for your fake Aimpoint...  
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Well,I got in contact with a distributer and amy be able to offer these for ~$100 plus shipping FROM THE US, not Hong Kong etc. I'm trying to get 50 of them in my hands stateside so long as they agree to my terms (I want to use an escrow account so they don't screw me). I would probably offer them on th EE here first, so long as I wasn't run out of town by the Gun-Gucci brigade. Stazy tuned, |
So in other words, you started this thread in order to garner interest for YOU to SELL a product. |
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Nope - I started it as a rant and someone said "why don't you start you own company" so I contacted a seller of these and asked them if they give me a discount if I bought them bulk, cos I don't think anyone should pay $500 for a frikken monocle. It don't have a co. or ebay store or anything of the like I was basically trying to see if I could do a group buy of sorts. Hey, if you don't want to buy one, no one is forcing you, and in any case this deal I'm trying to swing is in infancy right now. Shit, you try and offer to resolve an issue and you get knee-capped for it.
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NO, you get knee-capped for cloaking your true intentions in a thread designed to lure people into a discussion about a product, NOT a sales ad as you are trying to turn this in to. And before you get any grandiose ideas about selling these on this site, you might want to read the rules regarding the EE. |
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They are pricey $481.50 is MAP. If you guys are look for one I will give you guy a good price on the ones we have in stock. Mike @ CSGW www.csgunworks.com [email protected] Here’s some testimonials about CS GunWorks What do YOU have to say about CS GunWorks What Do You Think Of Cs Gunworks? FEEDBACK about CSGUNWORKS.com |
Actually, I told him to start his own company, but he already had that on his mind. He is getting flamed for being less than truthful about the intentions of this thread. |
Who told you that? There are numerous items people can buy off the shelf commercially at lower prices than the US government pays for them. Plane tickets for one. Rental cars for another. I've been in govermnet contracting since 1996 and I'm rather familar with the FAR. |
The only adjustment I can imagine it having is a eyebell focus adjustement. And that is a simple screw in/out of the rear lens, like in a regular scope. All the same that type of thing is very basic. |
Nothing like that at all, it has more to do with my dislike of supporting the counterfeit making scumbags. If he is selling REAL Aimpoint magnifiers at that price then more power to him but that is not the impression I got. |
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I wish I could find real ones at that price. I work for a Swedish co. too and trust me the benefits the guys in Europe/Sweden get are nuts. Makes us US workers feel like Chinese sweatshop workers.  US guys get 2 weeks vaca a year, no paternal leave, and medical comes out of your wages for example. In comparison our Swedish counterparts get 6 weeks a year, plus 2 months paternal leave AND fully paid medical. Explains why Aimpoint is charging like a wounded bull for these things. 
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Then you have obviously never handled one. |
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No I haven't. Found the manual online though and there is an adjustment to center the dot, but it is not necessary to do so as it doesn't affect anything, it just makes it feel more natural to have the dot in the middle: http://www.aimpoint.com/upload/products/manual/41650-Manual-3XMag_11358.pdf |
I'm with you on the counterfeit issue 100% If it looks substantially the same as the real deal, but does not portray itself as an actual aimpoint product (logos etc...) it's not a problem legally, ethically, etc... I don't believe this type of scope is patentable |
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I'm not sure why so many people have a hard time understanding this concept, but a product will command whatever price people are willing to pay. It has nothing do with the cost of manufacture, R&D, healthcare, etc. The government will buy them at inflated prices, and lots of us will also. fwiw- An Aimpoint, or Eotech isn't really "worth" over $400, but there will always be guys that insist on paying top dollar for the "real deal" Any product is worth exactly what people are willing to pay. The magnifiers are just an especially egregious example. Of all the overpriced guns-n-gadgets we buy, they are the biggest ripoff, and that is saying something. 
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Stazi, You sure made it seem like you were talking about real ones for $100. Which aint going to happen. Mine should be here in a few days. So i will let you guys know what i think. I hear good things about the Aimpoint Red dot clones. Would i take one to war? NO Would i spend $45 bucks on one that holds zero to take to the range. Yup just did. It is rather strange that the Mag cost twice what the Red dot does? I guess there still new. As far as buying fakes. The only problem i have with fakes is when people try to pass them off as the real deal. As long as the buyer knows its a knock off. I dont think there is much harm done. I dont think all the Airsoft guys would be out spending a few hundred on real Aimpoints if there went fake around. I dont think Aimpoint is losing much money. It might even help them sale more. All these kids are buying the copies, do to that is all the can afford. When they start making money they will probably be more likely to buy the real deal if they liked their fake. |
Where? I can only find the $279 knock-offs on the EE. |
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I'll do a side by side comparison of the Aimpoint 3x (just did deal for a NIB one on EE for $400) and the Hensoldt that comes with the Larue flipper package deal. I've used the Hensoldt for local rifle matches and for a rifle class. Combined with the Larue flipper, it kicks the ass of anything at that price. What I expect to get from the Aimpoint is: 1) Glass. Better clarity and resolution 2) Better exit pupil and eye relief. I wear glasses so this is important. If it's not noticeably better than the Hensoldt, it'll be back on the EE faster than you can say ACOG. BSW |
And that's the only one you need until you try mass producing an optic that must be mounted in line with another optic and you have no control over what mounts are used or what they are mounted to. Even looking at a single platform like the AR15 there is variation in the exact height of Aimpoint mounts When you start dealing with those parameters it becomes important to have a magnifier that can be adjusted to center the aiming dot in the optic. Centering the dot is important both because of increased distortion as you get out to the edges and because under time stress you will want the point of aim to be on target when the target is centered in the field of view. |
I disagree. I am in the construction business and therefore have a lot of tools. Now a Dewalt 18v cordless drill, depending on where it is purchased is between $200-300. An electric tool used for crimping solder less pipe connections made by staedler is over $1000. These tools are very similar in there make up but one is sold in masses and the other is a specialty tool. If the crimping tool moved as many units off the shelf as the dewalt drill I would imagine it would be far less expensive. But the manufacturing costs, R&D, heat care, etc are covered by far less sales of a specialty tool and therefore the unit price is much higher. That being said, a product is only worth what someone will pay for it, but the asking price has to start somewhere. And people will pay for Aimpoint and they do. It is battle proven for many years. Though most will only ever use it on a range, I would rather have a tried and true product then a knock-off. Also consider the resale on aimpoints. Those who shoot them at the range and keep them in a safe can usually get most of the money they paid back when they sell it. |
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Well I bought the first airsoft knockoff mag and it sucked. light gathering sucked, eye relief was horrible. it was a piece of junk IMO. the real magifier was 100% nicer IMO. anybody who pay's $500 for the aimpoint is not shopping. it can be had for less. I paid $544 from larue with the pivot mount. so $394 was my cost right from a reputable dealer. that is still expensive though. I may buy this new actual aimpoint clone as see how it works. I emailed someone on ebay selling them and they claim the eye relief to be around 2.5" just like the real one. I still think $394 I paid is high but I have yet to find a cheap solution that I really like. |
[ARCHIVED THREAD] - How does THIS cost $500? (Page 1 of 2)
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