How bad will plug prices be at RISSA this year?

[Finaddict]

Originally Posted by NIGHT STRIKES

My feelings also, its a great opportunity to get a chance to see and talk to the everyone involved in our sport.. And in alot of cases meeting some for the first time that we come to know and do business with on these internet message boards over the years..
Been doing it at the Jersey shows for years and last year headed up to RI for the first time and looking forward to making it a annual trip
now..

To the question on this thread about how much for plugs, well I look at it this way these builders put alot of time and effort in creating these lures for us surfcaster's and I don't think there is a ton of profit after factoring in the cost of materials and hours spent on each lure so I am happy to spend what they charge for each..Bottom line if I don't think its not worth it I don't have to buy it. But what I have found is that they do not try to get over on anybody and try their best to keep them affordable for all...

I agree whole heartedly ... while I would prefer that plug prices be lower, these guys all work hard and can you honestly ask them to do their work for cheaper? How fair is that to them - I have a lot of plugs, will buy a few more, but what I pay for them is worth it to me - the effort put into it by these guys and the benefits I get from using them is worth the price to me. And after you catch a fish or two on one, it has already paid for itself.

The mass produced lures could be less expensive -- those you find at all the 'Marts, etc., but for the custom wood - worth every penny.

Granted I bought an old Atoms swimmer in an auction when I felt I paid too much for it, used it a lot, caught a ton of fish on it and then one day launched it out to the universe when my line caught on the rod in some freaky manner and that was the end of it. Just out of reach of my back up rod and saw it float away ... hope someone found it and is able to use it. And I feel it got more than my money's worth for it.

[lurch]

Originally Posted by Finaddict

can you honestly ask them to do their work for cheaper?

Plug prices will adjust to what the people want to pay for them. When the prices get too high people will not buy them anymore and you will see prices drop. I am done buying expensive plugs.

IMO the sudden increase of plug prices are caused by a few JAs buy up every up every plug on e-bay no matter the price which is causing a feeding frenzy...eventually these JAs will lose the desire to fish and sell them at 50% of what they paid.

[BigFish]

Its cash and carry at BigFish Larry's! Plastic is no good if you want BigFish wood!

In all seriousness......I am struggling to keep prices down as the cost of wood has spiked, and hardware is up....everything has gone up! Some of my prices have remained the same and prices on a few plugs have had to go up just a bit!

Hope to see you all at the show!

[tattoobob]

I will be buying a few plugs at the show, I don't want to spend more than 20 a pop but I may go to 25 if I really want it. but I have all the plugs I regularly fish so I don't really need more

[lurch]

I may not be able to go to the show. For me to go I need to get this project I am working on by Thursday...I doubt it will happen

[afterhours]

jim-i heard they're starting at about $85 ea......

[Dad 818]

Originally Posted by BigFish

Its cash and carry at BigFish Larry's! Plastic is no good if you want BigFish wood!

Hope to see you all at the show!

Hint taken. See ya Larry.

[MarshCappa]

I wasn't an economics major but it seems to me it is a simple matter of supply vs. demand. The number of quality hand made plugs vs the number of us who want them is in favor of the builder. It should be as far as I am concerned. I load up with the WalMart specials and then pick and choose my custom plugs. Probably why i don't catch large often but it is my own economics at work that dictates what I can spend my leisure money on. I say get what you can get for your plugs builders. Quality aint cheap in anything we buy.

[keeperreaper]

A plug is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it.

Some builders make excellent stuff for a fair price.

[Rockport24]

I agree with the people that said that the prices are worth it and it's a supply/demand thing. I dont' think any of our favorite plug makers are getting rich on making plugs and I'd venture to say I don't think any of them do it as a full time job (I could be putting my foot in my mouth, but I would be very surprised if any of them did). It's a labor of love and if these guys break even they're lucky. On the flip side, if any of them did get rich more power to them. I mean, think of the market for this stuff, it's very niche, not only is surfcating in general very nich, but the market for $20-30 plugs has got to me even more niche.