Why do beacons cost so much.

[Hemi]

Boondock, give the guy a break. He has a valid point...they shouldn't cost what they do! I have seen this same issue over and over. Suppliers of a necessary safety product take advantage of people and groups over and over, since they know people know this item is necessary.

Peeps keep saying only a 1000 a year are sold. Where did this # come from?

How many sledders who don't have a beacon because of the price???

How many skiers & boarders don't have a beacon because of price???

We have heard from everyone who has a beacon, but we won't hear from those who don't because they know everyone one on here will jump down their throat for not having one.

I have my beacons. The thing that gets me is we are all preprogramed to accept the price the industry says it is. Why, because someone put it in print so it must be true If beacons had come on the market at $49.99 or $99.99 (and work the way they do today) we would be preprogramed that is the price they are. How many more thousands or hundreds of thousands would be sold if the price was $49.99 or whatever price?????

I really believe it's about priority and awareness. The more discussion on threads like this the more peeps will stop and think and finally make the choice to purchase a beacon. And let's not forget the fact the companies that make them love this discussion because it's the best advertising money can't buy.

 

[touchofgrey]

I like Hemi's point here, it's not only us, it's the boarders and skiers as well. I've seen these "kids" go without alot of things so they can buy lift passes. The dine and dashers @ Revy, well that's a whole other thread to start. I don't own any, BUT! when I do go to the mountains I rent enough peeps, probes, shovels for the group I'm with that don't have them. I will buy some someday, apparently there is one on the market now that will change back to transmit after a certain amount of time not moving in receive. I don't want to hijack Hemi's thread here, but if anyone knows more about these send me a pm or post on here. The $ still pizzes me off, but if I can afford all the rest of the stuff, mountain riding without them whether you own or rent can be tragic.

 

[travis]

In our group of riders, if you don't have a beacon you can't ride with us. It's that simple. Even if you are in an Avy there is nothing saying you'll be found alive...But at least you WILL be found for your friends and family. A couple hunded dollars to be brought home so your family can lay you to rest peacefully. Sounds like a good idea to me. At least you wife and kids will now what happened and that you were at least found.

Beacon = found period

probe = found

shovel = needed. Ever try to dig a person out that was burried a couple feet down with bare hands??? Impossible !!!

If you don't want to be found good for you, I DO!!!!!
If I got burried and all my buddies that had beacons were looking for me and you had no beacon. You would be standing around looking like an idiot doing nothing, While I'm laying face down in 4 feet of compacted snow gasping for air as I die!!!!! If I did get out alive I'd come over and Kill you just for being so stupid.

We can all buy 10,000 dollar machines but can't spend 300 for a beacon??? Give your head a shake.It's not about you, It's about finding others if they get burried. But hey it's your money and your choice to make. I'm just glad if we were burried a couple feet apart from each other, our friends would find me first (ALIVE) and then find you much later and probably already dead!!!!

I can't make it any more clear then that my friends.Travis

 

[karnedge]

As info If you buy a new RMK it states in the owners manual the need for avy gear in the back country. The manufacturers are getting better. Also how many here have bought a new sled and received either a discount at the dealer or an accessory allowance. That's one thing right there where you could get your beacon either discounted or free.

Then there's the deal that REI had going and as to support our sport instead of the Greenies Snow Big Deal Matched the excellant price that REI was selling them at.

If you want to do the right thing by yourself or your family, friends and fellow sledders, Find a way to buy one.

i agree ..but look at it this way ..if a 20ish year old guy walking in to any new sportscar dealer, and the dealer says you can get a airbag or nice new 22inch wheels..i bet 9 outta 10 take the wheels..now how is it all cars have airbags and seatbelts and most of us use them.like it or not.. if we have choices ..someone will make the wrong one...ever here ??..IT WONT HAPPEN TO ME!. i still feel if your sled came with it..there is a damm good reson why!..so it`s time the manufactures tell us this is something you need.. lets see them sell a new sled to a dead guy that got a sled cover instead of the beacon..... just my 2 cents

 

[Protected Witness]

You live in America. With the current economy, now would be a good time for you to start a beacon company and get rich selling .25 worth of material for what you think they are worth.

 

[cobbycat]

bottom line?............ if you ride in the mountains, you NEED one. I was at the avy in sicamous/enderby.
one thing I noticed was that many guys sitting out because they did not have one were clad in klim gear head to toe.
that has to be a $1000 snowsuit, along with $400 in boots and gloves.
are you telling me that these guys couldn't AFFORD a beacon?

 

[Chubby]

Bottom Line Is If ya dont have a becon You are DUMB! I have 3. But I bet the same guy that dosent have a becon has a new pipe and can on his sled. HAHAHAHAHAH FOOLS!

 

[XC700116]

i agree ..but look at it this way ..if a 20ish year old guy walking in to any new sportscar dealer, and the dealer says you can get a airbag or nice new 22inch wheels..i bet 9 outta 10 take the wheels..now how is it all cars have airbags and seatbelts and most of us use them.like it or not.. if we have choices ..someone will make the wrong one...ever here ??..IT WONT HAPPEN TO ME!. i still feel if your sled came with it..there is a damm good reson why!..so it`s time the manufactures tell us this is something you need.. lets see them sell a new sled to a dead guy that got a sled cover instead of the beacon..... just my 2 cents

Ya it would be nice but why is it the snowmobile manufacturers responsability to make sure you buy a beacon and fix your stupidity (not you directly of course unless your one with thousands into your sled and riding gear and no beacon). It's sad to say but people have their priorities and for the people that aren't willing to just buy it and are buying a new sled then do you think that same person is going to be responsable enough to practice with it and maybe attend a class. I doubt it. Or should the dealers and manufacturers force them to go to a class too.

ITS YOUR CHOICE TO BUY, PRACTICE, AND WEAR A BEACON!!!!! and it is up to you to deal with the consaquences of your choice. If you choose not to you don't ride with me. PERIOD.

As for the price, that's just business, it's what the market will bear and no matter what label you put on it that is how it works. They could try to sell them for $5K too but it would keep a lot of people off the mountain and not buying them. They will sell them for the absolute most they can and still move the volume they need. They have to make a profit or there wouldn't be any beacons for us to buy and B!tch about.

 

[cobbycat]

what next? are you guys with no beacons going to want the mountain to buy them for you?


IF YOU WANT TO RIDE THE MOUNTAINS, GET A BEACON, PROBE AND SHOVEL. GET EDUCATED ON HOW TO USE THEM. USE YOUR BRAIN TO KEEP YOU SAFE!!!

 

[Jeff C]

If beacons had come on the market at $49.99 or $99.99 (and work the way they do today) we would be preprogramed that is the price they are. How many more thousands or hundreds of thousands would be sold if the price was $49.99 or whatever price?????

.

Point is that there are NONE that are at these low prices. The bean counters at these different companies have no doubt done this analysis and come away with a price point that will allow them to make a living.

If a company tought they could make $X more by dropping the price way down, they would have done it already.

 

[Zachcreek]

You live in America. With the current economy, now would be a good time for you to start a beacon company and get rich selling .25 worth of material for what you think they are worth.

If you actually think that is all that is in a beacon is .25 worth of plastic, you need to go into manufacturing.

Engineering, R&D, Wal-Mart sells all of the molds and circuit boards so no problem there. When the product is developed, Testing and certification from the FCC. I think the FCC does certification of free also. Now with all of this adding up to practically nothing. Sales and marketing comes into play. Note: For the most part, this is all these company's do. Avalanche equipment.

If you want to look at it as a piece of plastic, great. Stick to sledding in Nebraska.

 

[Wyoming T/A]

Because they are WORTH it.

It has been posted many times, why is .25 cents worth of plastic and electronic to the manufacturer worth $250. to $499. to us the end consumer.

The answer I always get is "it's classified as recreational" Well change it's classification to "safety equipment" and sell it for $49.99

Rant over.

ask a friend from Powell about the cost--He was buried 7 feet down and 3 friends dug for 20-30 minutes to get to him and amazingly were able to revive him with about 10 minutes of cpr---he probably would tell you they are worth there weight in GOLD--and i agree--

 

[NoSecondChances]

Why, because someone put it in print so it must be true If beacons had come on the market at $49.99 or $99.99 (and work the way they do today) we would be preprogramed that is the price they are. How many more thousands or hundreds of thousands would be sold if the price was $49.99 or whatever price?????

I really believe it's about priority and awareness. The more discussion on threads like this the more peeps will stop and think and finally make the choice to purchase a beacon. And let's not forget the fact the companies that make them love this discussion because it's the best advertising money can't buy.

??? If the price was $49.95, you guys would be b-i-t-c-h-i-n-g that they could make them for $1 and that should be the price.

No extra beacons would be sold due to price alone, even at $49.95. If you priced them at $25 each, the people that don't have them still wouldn't buy them. They didn't buy one due to their attitude towards safety or they ride in Nebraska, not because of the cost.

If you bought one becuz someone said to or you think that they are not worth the $250 you paid, then you have the same attitude, whether you admit it to yourself or not. Its easily worth five times that if it can save your life or save someone else's.

Its part of the game, you have to pay to play and that's the cost. Like it or leave it.

 

[karnedge]

what next? are you guys with no beacons going to want the mountain to buy them for you?


IF YOU WANT TO RIDE THE MOUNTAINS, GET A BEACON, PROBE AND SHOVEL. GET EDUCATED ON HOW TO USE THEM. USE YOUR BRAIN TO KEEP YOU SAFE!!!

nice!im sure people will go running out to buy one..cuz you said to..you must be some kinda god or something..(sorry had to be done) it`s not buying anything for anyone! it`s promoting saftey! my point here is.. who is going to listen to some guy running his mouth on the computer(yes ..this is you and me) if a dealer said you need one ..guys will believe them. if ski doo or cat or polaris say we include this with the sled. people will know they need it! it`s only the rider that makes the choice but sometimes people need to be pionted in direction.

 

[Hemi]

???
No extra beacons would be sold due to price alone, even at $49.95. If you priced them at $25 each, the people that don't have them still wouldn't buy them. They didn't buy one due to their attitude towards safety or they ride in Nebraska, not because of the cost.

If you bought one becuz someone said to or you think that they are not worth the $250 you paid, then you have the same attitude, whether you admit it to yourself or not.

No2nd chance: You are wrong on the point that price would not influence a person buying a beacon. Anyone who has been in buisness long enough will know that. I don't agree that people don't buy because of attitude towards safety. There can be many reasons, eg: there may be one person paying for a riding party of 4 or 5 and they may just no be able to afford it. Or maybe they only go to the mountians and ride the meadows and not climb thinking they are safe, or what ever reason. I'm not saying they shouldn't have them, they should!! It comes down to cost.

You have no right to pass judgement on me or say why I would or would not by a beacon because of attitude, you don't know me. Any one who knows me would tell you how wrong you are.

 

[Red-eye]

I just bought a new S1 for 505 dollars. I wanted to keep up with the times. I have three used ones in a drawer that still are good. Turned down two used ones today for 50 bucks. I think if someone wanted a used one , they are out there and then money isn't an issue. Just excuses.

 

[Hemi]

I just bought a new S1 for 505 dollars. I wanted to keep up with the times. I have three used ones in a drawer that still are good. Turned down two used ones today for 50 bucks. I think if someone wanted a used one , they are out there and then money isn't an issue. Just excuses.

I agree.

 

[skibreeze]

I just bought a new S1 for 505 dollars. I wanted to keep up with the times. I have three used ones in a drawer that still are good. Turned down two used ones today for 50 bucks. I think if someone wanted a used one , they are out there and then money isn't an issue. Just excuses.

If I'm buying a beacon, it isn't going to be a used one, I get your point though.

 

[ArticDoo]

its kinda like saying why isnt a new sled 5000 insted of 10-12k. why isnt a new diesel truck 20,000 insted of 50+

it sucks i know, but its one of those thing you can not go without

 

[bluebear]

I ride with cheapskates. If beacons were cheaper we would all have one. If beacons were cheaper I would have 2 or 3 extra's for friends. Because they are so expensive one group I ride with is completely without beacons. Is that a risk? Maybe, but that same group is also aware enough to avoid avalanche terrain.

I hate reading the posts where people talk about how everyone needs a beacon because the backcountry is so dangerous right now. If its so dangerous do the idiot-proof avalanche prevention and just stay out of that terrain until it gets better.

If they can make computers 1/4 of the cost they were 3 years ago why can't they make beacons that cost less than years ago?

Chris.