S&W Manufactuer's Suggested Retail Pricing

[Ala Dan]

Greeting's All-

Understanding that the final consumer price on modern
Smith & Wesson handgun's is set by the respective
dealer, I just dropped by S&W's web-site to take a
peek at the latest offering's from that firm.

Needless to say, I was totally astonished to find the
maufactuer's suggested* retail prices on most
models too be "out of sight"; at least for a good many
consumer's! In case you haven't visited their web site
lately, here are a few examples:

329PD = $927.00
340PD = 832.00
360 = 790.00
360PD = 829.00
386PD = 843.00
442 = 580.00
60 = 574.00
66 (F-COMP) 3" = 798.00
625 = 790.00
629 (CLASSIC) 815.00
637 = 463.00
649 = 629.00
686 = 677.00
SW1911 = 960.00

Looks too me like these folk's are real proud of their
model's. I don't imagine old' St. Nick will be toting around
too many of these toy's in his rucksack this Christmas!
Seems like S&W wants to RAPE the consumer's?

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[10-Ring]

YIKES! YOu know I knew that the store price was less than MSRP, but I didn't know how much less But isn't that true for most/ if not all, manufacturers? I mean, don't that add on a haggle factor?

 

[Standing Wolf]

Seems like S&W wants to RAPE the consumer's?

Well, why not? The company has already done everything in its power to strip its customers of their Second Amendment civil rights, hasn't it?

 

[Ala Dan]

Yes, in all cases mentioned. I don't know what percentage
the haggle factor plays; whether or not its a courtesy 10%,
more or less? On the second thought, I certainly wouldn't
think its more than 10%; unless it was a company or dealer
that had just lost their rear end.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[caseydog]

Wife recently ordered me a new 627PC (Christmas present) which carries a list price of $1106.00, price paid was $745.00 . I'd say thats a heck of a lot more than 10% "haggle factor", the same dealer is selling SW500's for $775. Earlier this summer I bought a new 637 at the price marked in the case ~$320 for a gun with a $463 suggested, even on the lower price guns there's a huge difference between dealer cost and suggested retail, and the greedy dealers take full advantage of it , but all it takes is one good dealer selling at a reasonable markup to show just how greedy some dealers are. Case

 

[Ala Dan]

Greeting's Case-

You are certainly correct, my friend. We are lucky, for
here on my small area of this island we have a really
good dealer who happens to treat folk's real well. I
have been doing business with this dealer for well over
30 year's; without a hint of a problem. With that said,
I've dropped close to 20K in that time frame; often with
multiple purchase's. When someone ask for my opinion,
well these folk's are always at the top of my list!

Simmons Sporting Goods
2001 - 2nd Ave North
BESSEMER, AL 35020 PX: (205) 425-4720

I don't mind sharing information about this truly remarkable
dealer. Ask for Clay or Barry Simmons, Dale Smith, Ray
Grubbs, or John Bodiford; as these guys are good guy's
with a vast knowledge of firearms and accessories.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[P95Carry]

Hey Ray .... saw that 627PC didn't I ..... nice one

Seems a very similar state of affairs re Ruger prices .. in very round figures ..... the SRH comes in at about $760 or so ... my local guy put a mark of about $539 on it ... now i ain't complain but ... man, that is some difference!!

 

[caseydog]

Hiya Chris , Yup you shot it too! wifey left me show it to the internet friends at the shootemup , but not the local ones yet. Now there is where " haggle room" factors in, the closest shop to me has the 44mag SRH at $569 and the 454 at $589 ,but he will move some for regular customers so it's probably a wash or close to it, I'll give a bit to support the local guy.
My favorite haggling line with him is " you save me forty on that gun and i'll put forty more to it and buy some accessories, which gets his prices down to the ballpark of the dealer that I'd have to drive 1 1/2 hours to get the same gun. These guys ain't tryin to get rich , unlike the guy on GunsAmerica with a standing ad for SW500's for $999 , heck add postage and ffl fees to that and it's over suggested retail. Ray

 

[Tamara]

Ala Dan,

MSRP has absolutely nothing to do with actual street prices. (Although they do allow some prolific posters to make yet another cut'n'paste soundbite, right, SW? )

EVERY manufacturer's MSRP is 10%-20% higher (or more) than actual street price.

We sold our last 329PD for six-something, our last PC627 for $825ish, our last 66 F-Comp for something like $540, and our 686+'s sticker in the low fives (with regular 686's in the mid-fours.)

FWIW, stainless/synthetic Ruger M77's have MSRP's in the high $600 range, and SIG P-229's have an MSRP of over $850, IIRC. (Street prices are in the mid-fours and high-sixes, respectively...)

 

[Ala Dan]

Many Thanks Tamara, And Warm Wishes For The Holiday's-

Yeah, I knew there was quite a difference between MSRP,
and the actual selling price, or what I call "tag price" of
an item; particulary handguns. But still, I was amazed
at the posting's by S&W. I was thinking back to my
purchase of my 6" S&W 686-5 in 04/2001, that you and
I discussed already. I gave $439.95 + 8% sales tax
for that bad boy; and have NEVER regreted it. All I did
was change the mainspring, and the trigger return
spring to the same as made by WOLFF; and the truth
of the matter is that the difference is UNBELIEVEABLE!
As there were no burrs, surface scars, etc. that needed
polishing. I stopped with the 12 lb trigger return spring,
now that piece is a slick handling firearm.

Best To You and Yours For Not Only the Holiday's, But
Even Forever More!

Respectfully,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[Tamara]

Ala Dan,

I gave $439.95 + 8% sales tax

See? Two and a half years later the same gun is stickering for about the same price. Pretty cool in this age of inflation, huh?

 

[Blueduck]

Had a dealer once pull a "Gun Digest" off the shelf to show me the MSRP of a gun I was asking about him getting for me. He then claimed what was in the book was HIS DEALER PRICE and that he would graciously order it for me for only $20 profit + a $40 Transfer Fee (sic), + another $40 or so shipping. Wow! only a $100.00 bucks over MSRP! how could I have let that deal slip between my fingers

MSRP jacked WAY up to make it look like sellers are giving you the deal of the century...

 

[BluesBear]

Well by the time you figure in all the expense of designing those wonderful locks, retooling costs to incorporate those fantastic locks and re-engineering the tooling for that much needed move of the firing pin from the hammer to the frame, you have an enormous cost.

That all has to be passed along to the gullable, er um I mean, faithful consumer.

 

[Gordon]

And you forgot the expense of that hy-tech lazer pecking, and the unpinned barrels that sometimes aren't lined up, and the sharp gaps between the parts that aren't fitted. And the expense of the warranty dept that sends gun with the same problem back two or three times.

 

[SnWnMe]

Is this really a revelation? Welcome to the world of retail eh?

Whatever you guys do. DO NOT look into a dealer's copy of a firearms accessories catalog.

 

[SnWnMe]

Edited out. redundant

 

[Waitone]

Every manager of a brand name, be it a manufacturer or a master distributor, plays the marketing game of positioning of your brand in the mind of your chosen customer. The primary means of doing so is pricing. Other factors are manipulated but pricing is dominant in importance. MSPR is the signal given to other brand managers where you intend to position your product in the universe of products.

All this nonsense is important at the street level because it how margin is maintained with respect to all the competitive products. All brand managers know street pricing will be a discount off MSRP and they know it will vary by region and by market. Marketing weenies will guage available market and market penetration knowing MSRP and average discount.

What is really interesting is when a dominant player such as a S&W decides to really play hardball by setting MSRP at street pricing. Bottom end of the market gets squeezed out, distribution margins drop rapidly, and the dominant player gains share. Problem is they are now vulnerable to a high quality, low price product being offered.

In short, MSPR has nothing to do with street pricing and has everything to do with games marketing weenies play on an industry scale.

 

[YodaVader]

It's been like that for years. I guess this is suppose to make you feel like you really made out like a bandit when you buy a suggested retail $815 Smith 629 Classic for $560. A big joke in my opinion.

 

[Blueduck]

I wonder if the marketing weenies have any clue how many sales they lose by newbies glancing through a "Gun Annual" at the magazine section of grocery store, seeing most S/W revolvers cost $600+ and thinking "Uhh nevermind"

 

[Highland Ranger]

We often pay close to list in NJ

 

[BluesBear]

It's all just a marketing ploy.

It's called "Perceived Value" and it's been used for ages.

You set a high value so when you discount the purchase price it appears to be a better value.


For instance look at all of these TV infomercials. Buy our new improved easier to use WIDGET. A $99.95 value for only $19.95. Who say's it's a 99.95 value? WE DO. Have we ever sold a single one for $99.95? Heck no, no one would be stupid to buy one at that price (of course all it takes is 1 or 2) but we will sell a lot of them at $19.95. Is it really worth $19.95? Nope. But because we make you think it might be worth $99.95 you'll gladly pay $19.95 for it.

The market is somewhat self-leveling so "street price" is a better indication of true worth.

 

[OH25shooter]

At my age, I already know what ever I purchase be it a gun, shirt, baseball or bag of dog food, I am getting riped off. Use to figure out the 40%-50% mark up on most retail, but have given up. This is America, and are follow citizens have and will continue to rip off fellow Americans. It will be going on when we are dead. Everyone wants to make a buck. Which is fine. But, the extra $20-$200 is not right. About the only thing that still pisses me off is the price of gasoline. On Monday it is $1.29. On Thursday it is $1.59. Then it goes back down, etc., etc., etc.

 

[COK]

In my area you can find dealers with list prices at 20-24% below MSRP on S&W and Rugers . It pays to shop around.

 

[Blueduck]

Use to figure out the 40%-50% mark up on most retail, but have given up.

If that makes you upset, please for gods sake never- ever figure out the markup on Starbucks coffee or a soda at the movie theater

 

[Tamara]

Use to figure out the 40%-50% mark up on most retail, but have given up.

On guns?

!?!?

H...ha..hahahahahaa!

The day we can price at greater than 15% over our cost on a new gun will be the day I finally get a raise. Thank the lord that $1.95 cleaning brushes have a 50%-60% markup, or we'd go out of business and your gun choices would be limited to whatever WallyWorld stocks...