LWCG Ambush Platform

[Dylan9862003]

All hunting stuff is priced ridiculously. About 10 years ago I would never imagine a bare bow would cost $1,200! Or a single climbing stick $90....insanity!!!

As long as consumers will continue to pay these prices manufactures will continue to push that envelope....

That's right it is self inflicted for sure and gadget/gear heads like myself don't help. That reminds me I need to purge out some of my gear after season is over anyway.

 

[iamcorey]

Bet if this sale takes off there will be a predator XL version.

They should probably concentrate on bringing those ship times down on the standard predator first.



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[NW_Arkansas22]

...aaannnndddd that is why they will remain $300.

Do you think all of this scarce supply related to the saddle market is real or manufactured? I'm no industry expert, but casting/cutting metal seems to be a somewhat old manufacturing process. Why does it take so long to manufacture and build up adequate stock? Why so expensive? Sewing saddles seems a little more involved in terms of manufacturing especially depending on the size of your sweatshop (kidding). Assuming human hands are sewing and not robots.

The business aspect of the saddle companies amazes me.

Reduce the output to manipulate prices......price fixing 101.

 

[kyler1945]

Reduce the output to manipulate prices......price fixing 101.

Are you saying that competitors in this space are colluding by agreeing to keep production down in order to drive prices up? That’s a pretty bold statement to make with what appears to be zero first hand knowledge of the situation...

 

[deerfly]

Reduce the output to manipulate prices......price fixing 101.

Price fixing only works when you're the only game in town or illegally collude with another manufacturer of a similar product. I don't for a second believe this little cottage industry is doing that. At $300 lwcg isn't exactly a compelling price to thwart sales of other mfr's platforms that are roughly half the cost either. I said it before, I think it has a lot more to do with limited capital to fund a limited market product. The fact that people buy this stuff under these circumstances makes it less risky for the mfr's, but I guarantee no one is getting rich on the margins here.

 

[NW_Arkansas22]

Are you saying that competitors in this space are colluding by agreeing to keep production down in order to drive prices up? That’s a pretty bold statement to make with what appears to be zero first hand knowledge of the situation...

Not saying anybody is guilty of that at all. Lol.

It was more sarcasm than anything.......definitely don't think there is any collusion going on.

 

[Islandshooter]

When I'm buying a piece of machined metal for a lot of money, be it sticks or platforms, I remind myself that there is hunting clothing that cost more. Plenty of Sitka clothing is $400+ plus for one piece. Literally, sewn fabric that will wear over time cost more than machined aluminum that will last your entire hunting career. No one sheds a tear, when some poor soul purchases $1000 in Sitka wear.

I'm one of those poor souls that dropped some coin on Sitka, mainly because I've tried all the rest and Sitka works best for me (leo 45% discount). But if the quality control on the metal is that poor, then how can you trust the parts to hold up? Inferior bolts, standoffs that bend, whatever. Just my opinion though. Let me go out and prep my Fanatic jacket/bibs for the 8° sit!! Lol

 

[kyler1945]

Not saying anybody is guilty of that at all. Lol.

It was more sarcasm than anything.......definitely don't think there is any collusion going on.

Haha ok good - I thought we ended up in a place where small businesses practicing sound business strategy was suddenly illegal!

 

[Art_Vandelay]

Everybody’s definition of what’s ‘too expensive’ is different... as it should be. So quit arguing about it.

But am I the only one that thinks it’s just too damn big?! I think they shoulda made the platform a 1/3 the size. The size of a perch but cam like a predator... that’s what I’m looking for.

 

[barlow96]

My feet fit good on my predator platform. But I want a little more room for the directly behind me shot. When I am just standing on my platform with no real weight on my tether or saddle. Also it will be a little more comfortable for a all day 10 hour plus sit.

I have. The mini sticks as well. There good looking sticks and work well with the stand. Will see how they pair with the platform.

Also in cold weather my predator has began to squeak and pop. Makes a lot of noise. It’s a gen 1.

 

[DanielB89]

My feet fit good on my predator platform. But I want a little more room for the directly behind me shot. When I am just standing on my platform with no real weight on my tether or saddle. Also it will be a little more comfortable for a all day 10 hour plus sit.

I have. The mini sticks as well. There good looking sticks and work well with the stand. Will see how they pair with the platform.

Also in cold weather my predator has began to squeak and pop. Makes a lot of noise. It’s a gen 1.

wax the bolt..

 

[DanielB89]

Everybody’s definition of what’s ‘too expensive’ is different... as it should be. So quit arguing about it.

But am I the only one that thinks it’s just too damn big?! I think they shoulda made the platform a 1/3 the size. The size of a perch but cam like a predator... that’s what I’m looking for.

Why would you want them to recreate a platform that is already created? I only bought it because it was larger. As soon as the predator was created there was a decent amount of interest in a predator xl. LWCG just remade their old cast platform with water jetted aluminum, which cut weight. I think they hit the market and size right on the head. Now we have options for everything. ROS, minimalist platforms (Perch, Pred), and now a larger option, Ambush. I can't wait to get mine.

 

[kyler1945]

Food for thought.

 

[huntin_addict]

Everybody’s definition of what’s ‘too expensive’ is different... as it should be. So quit arguing about it.

But am I the only one that thinks it’s just too damn big?! I think they shoulda made the platform a 1/3 the size. The size of a perch but cam like a predator... that’s what I’m looking for.

Perhaps a Ridge Runner is for you?

 

[mattsteg]

View attachment 19988

Food for thought.

Obviously a bit cheaper at scale, but i think the waterjet price estimators I punched the dimensions into came up with like 220-230 as a first estimate.

 

[kyler1945]

I built aluminum boats for a couple years(all of these saddle companies would be in big trouble if I had still been working there when I discovered saddle hunting and the need for aluminum specialty products).

The behind the scenes prices of this stuff in bulk is obviously much lower, in most cases half or less. But still, that plate is 50-100.00 depending on how much you’re buying. Add an hour of machine time, an hour of assembly, packaging, testing if any, you can see how quickly the dolla bills add up.

I suspect the margin is close to the same as it is on everything else in this space.

Kind of like real estate - you’re not going to pay the bills with rent houses charging 200.00 a month rent unless you have a hundred of them. But one or two large pieces of commercial property leasing at 20k a month that you get a 5-6% return on does nicely...

 

[Vtbow]

I

I built aluminum boats for a couple years(all of these saddle companies would be in big trouble if I had still been working there when I discovered saddle hunting and the need for aluminum specialty products).

The behind the scenes prices of this stuff in bulk is obviously much lower, in most cases half or less. But still, that plate is 50-100.00 depending on how much you’re buying. Add an hour of machine time, an hour of assembly, packaging, testing if any, you can see how quickly the dolla bills add up.

I suspect the margin is close to the same as it is on everything else in this space.

Kind of like real estate - you’re not going to pay the bills with rent houses charging 200.00 a month rent unless you have a hundred of them. But one or two large pieces of commercial property leasing at 20k a month that you get a 5-6% return on does nicely...

Off topic, who were you building boats for?

 

[barlow96]

wax the bolt..

Like bow string wax. On the adjustment bolt.

 

[mattsteg]

I built aluminum boats for a couple years(all of these saddle companies would be in big trouble if I had still been working there when I discovered saddle hunting and the need for aluminum specialty products).

The behind the scenes prices of this stuff in bulk is obviously much lower, in most cases half or less. But still, that plate is 50-100.00 depending on how much you’re buying. Add an hour of machine time, an hour of assembly, packaging, testing if any, you can see how quickly the dolla bills add up.

I suspect the margin is close to the same as it is on everything else in this space.

Kind of like real estate - you’re not going to pay the bills with rent houses charging 200.00 a month rent unless you have a hundred of them. But one or two large pieces of commercial property leasing at 20k a month that you get a 5-6% return on does nicely...

Yeah - the math clearly adds up to "these products are available at this price" because the market is hot enough to bear the price. And available is the key term much more than "price". It there wasn't a market, they'd likely make something else rather than lower the price.

 

[DanielB89]

Like bow string wax. On the adjustment bolt.

yes sir!