pricing of av bags and safety equipment needs to change

[nytrocharged]

the air bags are to much 1000-1400 bucks where do they get thies prices from the back pack cant cost that much to make if that. People are dieing left right and center.there is alot of people out that cant aford the bags and every sledder should have one . courses well there still a 150 bucks who wonts to waste 150 bucks on a course they do help alot and people should have it but they shouldnt be that much ether

 

[nytrocharged]

snow west should be posting this stuff in magazines and maybe the guys making thies bags would maybe see that there pricing is retarted

 

[Ex-Member]

Agree hte price needs to go down, disagree that it's greedy pricks driving it up.

Costs a lot to get a product to market. There's R&D time, development, testing, prototyping, testing, patents, more testing, engineering, parts....

Give it time, i'm sure they will come down as they gain acceptance and similar products enter the market.

 

[DallanC]

People are dieing left right and center cuz some greedy pr*ck is chargeing them up.

People die because they dont respect the avalanche warnings and ride in places where avalanches are probable.

With your logic, you might as well blame the snowmobile manufacturers for not having an instantly deploying shield system to protect the rider complete with oxygen replenishment systems in case of burial.

 

[xrated]

price will come down. It ain't cheap to import from Euroland.

 

[Vertical_Escape]

Just as a sidenote, I ran across a device used for boating safety very similar in design to the Pulse bags. It was an automatic inflating flotaion device for a person. Used compressed air to inflate a life vest type device slightly smaller that the Pulse in volume.

This device was under $200 .......

 

[Chapman]

I agree that the prices of the ABS bag are higher than alot of people would like to see...... But you blaming the manufactuer of the bags or other saftey equpment for the death of your friends/family is wrong. Sounds like somebody needed an education in priorities. I don't understand how people are ok with spending 10 grand on a sled but they can't pony up the extra cash for saftey equipment.

 

[cobbycat]

this if a joke and starting to piss alot of people off air bag 1000-1400 bucks where do they get thies prices from the back pack cost 150 bucks to make if that. People are dieing left right and center cuz some greedy pr*ck is chargeing them up. i amso tierd of this and so are alot of people out there something needs to happen with this. iv lost 2 family members and 1 good friend last sunday up owls head and he could be alive today if prices on this equipment would go down come on guys this needs to change

Let me start out with I don't know exactly who I am talking to but I am also very sad that we lost Matt.

I totally agree with you on everything you said except for:

"courses well there still a 150 bucks who wonts to waste 150 bucks on a stupid course that may help you im thinking maybe 25 bucks would be more reasonable"

I have recently (early december) taken the course (thanks peter)and the courses are just as important as a beacon or air bag. after taking the course we all thought it was UNDER PRICED!! I credit my course with this: It saved my life on sunday alone!!!

the gear is useless without the training
the training is useless without the gear

with that being said, air bags and beacons are seriously over priced and I think we should get the sledding brotherhood together and do something about it!!! if we all spend as much time e-mailing government offices about this as we do arguing with each other about it, maybe something will change. maybe they could force manufacturers to reduce prices. but we need to bark at someone that has the power to do this instead of each other.

 

[adrenaline junkey]

There is absolutely nothing cheap about snowmobiling. That being said If you cant afford or don't have the equipment to ride in a mountain environment stay in the meadows or an area that has no chance of sliding. Any life saving equipment is going to be expensive its always been that way. Look at bullet proof vests then they first came out they were over 2 grand. You can pick up some of the very best ones now for under 800 bucks. You cant force the manufactures to sell something cheap I'm sure they would just throw there hands in the air and say its not worth it.
But how much is your life worth? lets say you get a bag beacon probe shovel and training lets say you did it for 1600. ya had to do this for 4 members in your family that's when it hurts. I cant put a price on my ability to save my life or someones elsesand if I had to I would stay home, but please don't rant about something that saves your life saying they need to lower prices. You can wheel and deal and look for bargains on lifesaving equipment But if you wont purchase it if ya need it then that's just being stupid in my book. be safe and ride within your ability to make it home. Im sorry for your loses it breaks my heart
Aj

 

[cobbycat]

There is absolutely nothing cheap about snowmobiling. That being said If you cant afford or don't have the equipment to ride in a mountain environment stay in the meadows or an area that has no chance of sliding. Any life saving equipment is going to be expensive its always been that way. Look at bullet proof vests then they first came out they were over 2 grand. You can pick up some of the very best ones now for under 800 bucks. You cant force the manufactures to sell something cheap I'm sure they would just throw there hands in the air and say its not worth it.
But how much is your life worth? lets say you get a bag beacon probe shovel and training lets say you did it for 1600. ya had to do this for 4 members in your family that's when it hurts. I cant put a price on my ability to save my life or someones elsesand if I had to I would stay home, but please don't rant about something that saves your life saying they need to lower prices. You can wheel and deal and look for bargains on lifesaving equipment But if you wont purchase it if ya need it then that's just being stupid in my book. be safe and ride within your ability to make it home. Im sorry for your loses it breaks my heart
Aj

I'm just saying that if all the people that are upset about prices on this stuff just bark at each other nothing useful will become of it! I personally have all equipment and I do have training, and yes, it was expensive. and worth every penny!!

 

[mountainhorse]

I for one dont want a made in China/Tiawan/Malasia saftey device.

The engineering and manufacturing of these units is very expensive... not at all comparable with a backpack where the worst thing that could happen is that you loose your items while riding...

The marine inflatable life vests are no where near the volume of the AV bags... nor are they designed for the impact or climate issues either... I have quite a few of the best SOLAS inflating life jackets made... not comparable in ANY way to my ABS.

I have the ABS brand Vario bag and I'm glad I spent the money..

Most people on here will spend $1,500 on Billet accessories and graphics but not the same amount on their safety.

I run into this all the time in boat outfitting. A guy with a $7 millon dollar yacht will spend $50,000 on granite countertops or gold plated faucets ... but wont kick down the extra $10,000 for a top notch life boat and only get the minimum required by law...same with fire supression equipment.... That is until they are sinking or on fire.. then they would pay anything.

Same with side airbag options on cars/trucks when they are options.... stereos, at the same price, outsell side impact airbag options by a good margin.

What is your life worth?.... and yes, I know there is no replacement for wise decision making when riding and Avy education so that bad choices are not made.

 

[Blu Du]

stay on the trail if you don't want to spend the money. the mark up is the part i don't understand about 40%.but yet they won't deal. some dealers will deal. i'am gonna sound like a real azzhole here but the people that have passed RIP and there familys wish they would of scrapped up the grand for the abs. i made sure that my family knows we did every thing possiable that i come home from every trip out west so i picked up an escape 15. but very discourging i read one of the guys that passed was wearing an abs but was unable to deploy.

 

[skibreeze]

If the stuff is so grossly overpriced, instead of *****ing about it. You should be going into business for yourself and make a killing.

 

[SLEDIOT]

They've got us by the balls if you ask me!! Just ordered AVY bag and was $1250 plus tax Canadian. But if it will give myself and momma some more comfort about surviving its still worth it!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Even the kids want me to have it. Look at these lil sh1ts I want to see them every Saturday nite when I get home..........

 

[Uller]

the gear is useless without the training
the training is useless without the gear

cobbycat,

Respectfully, I disagree with the above statement.

Yes, the gear is useless without training but (BIG BUT), training isn't useless without the gear.

That training tought you that you shouldn't be out there based on the conditions and/or where you could safely travel considering the conditions.

The training you recieved was paramount in your safety that day and is the only thing that allowed you to help in the search.

The training/knowledge about avys is the key to survival in the BC!!!!!!!

 

[tactic]

I DO NOT want cheap safety gear. High quality gear that you can rely on is always expensive. Made by smaller manufacturers, in relatively small quantities drives up the cost but ensures that the gear will be reliable. Its well worth it for the increased peace of mind.

 

[LRD]

I think we might all be surprised by the attorney bills for a product like this plus product liability insurance.

Good Luck

 

[freejay]

If the stuff is so grossly overpriced, instead of *****ing about it. You should be going into business for yourself and make a killing.

No kidding! It kills me how some of these guys b!tch and complain about the price of SAFETY gear, yet I'm sure they would NEVER take a 40% pay cut themselves. I don't know much about the retail business but I highly doubt there is much margin on this stuff at any one level. And if there is it still ain't gonna bother me when I'm ready to buy.

Man I'm getting sick of these threads

 

[DragonFreak]

I too think it is way over priced but if that is what they need to do to stay in business then its fine. I think it is worth the extra grand if its going to save my life. I know a kid who lost his dad last year and they didnt have any equipment. This year they just went out and bought ABS packs and beacons for every person that rides. I think it is well worth it considering it will save my life. Like the others said i want one i know is quality and not cheap made from china

 

[powderpro]

I'm real sorry about anyone loosing a friend or family member in an Avy (I couldn't imagine the pain). But getting mad about the price of avy gear is pure ignorance and childish.

I've owned a number of small businesses, so I can relate to things called OVERHEAD, PROFIT MARGINS, LIABILITY INSURANCE, TAXES, WAGES, RETURN ON INVESTMENT, RETIREMENT, GOVERNMENT REG'S, etc. I'm amazed that businesses that cater to back country users can even stay in business. It's not like everbody and their dog is required to go play on an avalanche hill. There are a select few who choose to go play on the avy hills, and you have to pay to play. When a business has a limited base of customers, in order to stay in business and service what customers they do have, they must charge prices that seem "high", or "ridiculous", or "extreme", to make a profit. I don't knowingly take risks on avy prone hills, so I have chosen not to purchase an air bag. I also know that my 700 won't outclimb the 8's, 1000's, and turbos, so I don't have anything to prove by climbing a hill that could be dangerous. If you are not willing to pay the price for the extra equipment, stay off and away from the hill. I have a beacon, shovel, and probes and hope I never need them.