People Aren't Buying Guns

[underpants]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by Sissyk (a host of the General Discussion forum).

http://mobile.businessweek.com/articles/2014-08-27/gun-sales-are-down

Coming off a year of record sales, the gun market is cooling off. And overeager gunmakers are still struggling to dial down their expectations.
In the recent quarter, Smith & Wesson sales dropped 23 percent, to $131.9 million, and profit plunged 45 percent, to $14.6 million, according to a report late yesterday. Long guns and “modern sporting rifles,” in particular, lost favor among shooters, but handguns cooled off as well. Smith & Wesson shares slumped almost 15 percent on the news.

The problem, according to both companies, is too many guns. Executives are grousing about “high inventory,” stubborn retail partners, and a glut of guns in such stores as Cabela’s. They are less eager to acknowledge that high inventory in any business comes from only two places: low demand and/or too much supply.

What the industry really needs is a few lawmakers advocating a gun-control bill. That’s what pushed the gun business to record highs last year in the wake of the Sandy Hook school shootings. Those fears, however, have largely abated, and gun sales have gone with them. Even reports of ammunition shortages are dying off.

[upaloopa]

1. Well maybe Obama can give some more gun control

speaches so gun stores can unload that excess inventory.

[Sparhawk60]

2. Guns are a Durable Good

Guns are a durable good. All politics aside, most households only need/want a curtain number of guns, once you reach that level of market saturation, you just don’t have the demand for any additional purchases.

Maybe Obama can spur the American manufacturing sector by giving a few speeches about the need to grab guns.

[underpants]

8. From other stories I've read it was the same people buying all the guns and ammo

Eventually they have to realize that they have enough.

This article states that fear of regulations spurred sales but their is a lot of "Hey! Everyone is doing it!" marketing pitches on the news. We Americans love showing our individuality by doing what everyone else is doing (e.g. Tattoos and "Friends" haircuts)

[Tommy_Carcetti]

3. Apparently, we need another mass shooting.

Yeah, I know, a pretty sick joke. But you know what was even sicker? Seeing lines and lines of people at gun shows just days after Sandy Hook because they just needed another AR-15.

[rock]

5. Not as sick as reality

Nine-year-olds killing their safety instructor with an Uzi and missing out on hand-grenade practice. (OK that's a sick joke).

[samsingh]

4. for a meazly 14.6 million profit these manufacturers of death

lobby for stupid pro gun laws.

they could find a more profitable and nobler way to make money.

gun manufacturing AND lobbying is not it.

[VScott]

6. S&W should come out with their own AK47 variant.

That should boost their sales again.

AK prices have gotten insane ever since Obama halted shipments of them from Russia.

They also refused to cave in on CA's microstamping law (good for them... bad for CA gun owners).

Not that S&W is the first thing that comes to mind when shopping for a semi-automatic handgun,
but they still must feel some impact on their wallet.

[NYC_SKP]

7. Could be we have enough! 97 guns per 100 residents....

It's not like they wear out fast or anything.

:/

[aikoaiko]

9. Its a pretty awesome time to buy AR firearms right now.

COLT 6920s are under $900
AR Pmags are under $15 with windows, under $10 without
AR D&H aluminum are under $8.
Spikes stripped receivers are under $90.
PSA complete lowers are under $150.

Cheaper 5.56 ammo is around $0.30/round.

Buy now or be sorry later.

I buy lowers and throw 'em in a box for later.

[Sissyk]

10. Locking.

Please review the SOP for General Discussion and consider reposting this in one of the gun groups.

Thank you!