nappy99

What is going on with prices of 50 size ARF's ? They are now more than 100 ARF's, what is all this about ? Anyone know why ? The Funtana X50 has sone up $100 in just a month...ouch !

Fastsky

It might have something to do with the hurricanes, floods, earth quakes, other kinds of nasty weather affecting the factories in the countrys where the planes are made such as China. []

Don M.

My Feedback: (5)

I also heard from someone in the business that last year it cost $6,000.00 to ship a container from China, this year it costs $11,000.00. Have you seen some of the fancy stuff that their building in the oil producing countries ? That's where your money is going. All the shut downs for the Olympics in China didn't help either.

Hang on tight it's going to get a lot worse. I've lived in 7 decades, it goes up and it goes down. There is only one escape and I'm 10 - 20 years away from that. But I will look over my shoulder with a smirk on my face as I exit

ram3500-RCU

My Feedback: (221)

Add to everything else noted that the US dollar continues to slip in value. As was noted, it's going to get worse before it gets better.

Thomas B

My Feedback: (4)

Actually, in the latest trading, the Euro is down about 10% to the dollar since last April...and the Pound is down a similar amount as well, about 12% in the last month.

However, if you are meaning it buys less stuff these days, that is certainly true......

Things are pretty volatile out there.

ram3500-RCU

My Feedback: (221)

Yes, in general, that was my point.

NorfolkSouthern

As for the larger ARFs, it looks to me like they are clearing off their old inventory. Once that's done, I'm sure they'll all be priced accordingly. If you have the money and are in the market for some 100 sized planes, you better buy them NOW, before they double. Think of how much they'll sell for in a few months on EBay!

NorfolkSouthern

Yak18

My Feedback: (11)

Horizon has raised prices on nearly everything, while Tower is still having sales and rebates. In a faltering economy I don't think it's too smart to raise prices on luxury items like model airplanes.

Rube Goldberg

A buddy of mine said he's going to get a smiley face tatoo'd on the bottom of his big toe to make sure he has the last laugh!

Rube

nappy99

It makes no sense to raise prices in a weak economy, and on "hobby items", they are just looking for problems. People will sit back, let the inventory pile up, then they'll bring prices back down. The increase was so huge....just be soft about it, and no one would notice !

Don M.

My Feedback: (5)

The way I look at it is that none of us mortals have ANY clue how much Horizon's costs have risen or how fast. These people are not stupid they know how this will affect their business. So they MUST have to do this or sell at a loss - something else their not going to do.

Do what I did. I have been buying up cheap kits and stock piling them in the attic. I went up the other day and pulled this down. My total cost from now to finish should be about $100.00 and I'll have something that hasn't been seen around for years. I have over a dozen more kits upstairs

Don M.

My Feedback: (5)

Just for arguements sake I looked back at some of the items I have laying around with their original prices on them.

Bought 1n 1985 a Futaba 6 channel FM radio $450.00 equiv. today maybe $250.00

Bought in 1996 a Brison 2.4 gasser $499.00 - equiv. today maybe $250.00

Bought in 2002 a YS .63 $369.00 - today at CH $240.00

I joined a flying club in 1985 and it cost me $250.00 and my Son $100.00 ( Junior Member ) today I still belong to that club and pay $75.00 annual dues and my Son flies there when he visits free of charge.

I learned to fly in 1985 with a Thunder Tiger Skylark 40 ARF ( and it wasn't like the ARF's today ) My wife bought it for me and said she paid around $250.00

So it ain't all bad

Yak18

My Feedback: (11)

You are quite an optimist Don M. How much did housing, gasoline and groceries cost in 1985? My parents bought a new 4 bedroom house across from a nature preserve for $39K in 1985. Today that house would be 400K. When people are struggling with huge costs for essentials, a 50% increase on toys is tough to swallow. Your points are interesting though.

Don M.

My Feedback: (5)

I did get carried away a bit with my comparisions ( although they are fact ) I guess what I was trying to point out is that I don't believe Horizon Hobby is raising their costs just to make MORE money. It is costing them more somewhere down the line. What I do take issue with is our LHS raising their prices to current levels on items already in stock and bought at the old price. Now that peaves me off.

IAMKAOS

a fella flyer i know works part time in a local hobby shop. he told me their sales in rc airplanes and supplies had dropped badly due to rapid price increases and the economy. and in the state its in does not help either. their biggest sellers were rc nitro cars and trucks and that has come to a standstill. also i've noticed less people are showing up at our flying site.because of florida's high forclosure rate, people here in florida are losing their homes(except for the goverment assisted immigrants).sorry, but it's true.i live here. there are several immigrant family's that live on my street and they own nice homes, new cars,...forget it!, i don't wont to talk about that..... lets not get on that subject........ it seems nitromodels is selling their arfs at reasonable prices. they had .50 size pattern plane for $79.00. but i don't know about the quality.

Don M.

My Feedback: (5)

After 43 years of working I retired in March / 08. I thought the time was right - it wasn't - I'm looking for a part time job [] As I already stated I'm starting to use the stuff I have accumulated over the years. The ARF's can go to H - - - !

NM2K

My Feedback: (14)

Something that other folks are not factoring in is the fading health of many baby boomers, thus preventing them from participating in our hobby in an active manner.

I have lost many friends over the last decade and I'm only 62. Yeah, I know. If you are 30, 62 seems like a very old man, but I'm still seeing folks walking around that are in their 70's and 80's. Not many, albeit, but there are a few. There is hope for a lucky few.

I expect the ARF market to collapse if the economy (US) gets much worse. Credit Card companies will begin using stricter issueing policies and some might even call in their loans. That happened to me with a Visa card in the eighties. No, not because of missed payments. They called in many, many peoples' loans because they were panicked at the economic situation.

Anyhoo, no credit cards = no ARFs for many folks. The very thing that caused the birth of so many industries (ARFs, PC's, Home Theater, etc.) will also be the cause of their demise. Just think of how much profit you could make if you had a double garage full of popular ARF kits after the ARF companies collapsed. <G>


Ed Cregger

Don M.

My Feedback: (5)

One good thing in all this is that some people ( me included ) are getting back into kit building. I know a lot don't have the time but 20 years ago I was holding down 4 jobs to make ends meet ( just like some now ) and found time to raise a family and be active in the Hobby. It can be done and will give you some character in the long run

NM2K

My Feedback: (14)

Believe it or not, me too, Don. I have collected many Bridi kits and many of my old favorite models by many other manufacturers. I even obtained a Sterling PT-17 (large size). I didn't think I would ever find one of those. Lots and lots of parts to glue together - I'll be very happy.


Ed Cregger

sevans16

ok I got my showtime 4D 90 that I didn't really need for 180.00 at my LHS!! May pick up the 40size Twist just cause? I can't believe that it went up so much! I paid around 99.00 for one 6 months ago and now it is 179.00? :-O

AJF--2

My Feedback: (119)

What about Seagull models. Horizon sells them also. Have they gone up or is it just the H9?

cosmo64

Shipping costs are the main reason for the price increases, Yes for the most part any Horizon Hobby product has gone up some more some less. I agree with pretty much everything Don M has postedyou are right on the mark! Even with the higher prices of the Arf's there is no way 90% of the people could build a kit and do the same quality job for the same price....Matbe they are pricing them at what they should be.

tailskid

My Feedback: (34)

Hey Ed, I just picked up a Pica T-28 1/5 scale NIB!!! No that should take a month of sundays to build

nitro wing

My Feedback: (1)

Wow,at first I had no clue what everyone was concerned about,in fact prices have dropped here in the last year or so,and all of a sudden a 200 plane is 275 overnight??
An H9 Extra went from 999 to 1300??
Now that most of the good kits are off the market,we dont have much choice but to pay ,if we want one.Most are still a good buy,but wow,I thought things went up 10% or so,I guess its a bit more,ouch.

NM2K

My Feedback: (14)

Good for you, Jerry. Just make sure that the fuel tank can't rotate and disconnect the fuel lines. I saw some folks scratching their heads over a cure for that one. Otherwise, it was a beautiful model.

Hope all is well your way. Good to see you in print again.


Ed Cregger