Is there a "bow bubble"?

The insane prices were a big reason why I got out of compound bows. The last one I bought was a factory reconditioned Martin that I got at half price and I had gift cards. That cheap bow killed a lot of deer over the years.

We used to have a couple of small archery shops around, but when BassPro came to town, the small shops couldn't compete and went out of business.

I think the same thing will eventually happen with many of the smaller gun shops too.

I don't think that archery is down...if they are basing their judgement on purchases??  Maybe they should really get to heart of the matter??

My Dad had a archery shop for 20 years back in the 1980s' through the late 1990's he ran out of our barn. He was a PSE, XI, High Country dealer for many years. I can remember when every year these companies would come out with a new model. The most I can remember a new bow he was selling cost was around 300-400 dollars. I thought at the time that was outrageous and people would not buy them, but he sold a lot at that price. People would trade a last years model in and he would give them the best deal he could, but he usually was stuck with these bows for a long time the used bow market back then was not good. His best money marker was bow maintenance and arrow sales. He made strings and cables and tuned bows. There was little profit in selling a new bow. I remember helping him out the weeks before bow season spending many late nights sitting in front a six fletching jigs, fletching XX75 Easton shafts trying to get caught up on arrow orders. He still has several old XI and PSE bow parts in his shop stored away. He would do some work for close friends after he closed shop, but no longer. He would be amazed at today's bows and the cost they are.
I'm still using as my vertical bow an old Mathews Switchback that I bought used for 500$ 8 years ago. It kills as good as any 1500$ modern bow.

The crossbows prices today are just as bad if not worse than the vertical bow market. There is a company that has turned some heads and has sold 1000's of their bows at a good price and the quality is top notch. The Centerpoint Sniper 370 is a 299.00 dollar crossbow that is built and performs like many 800 dollar crossbows proving it can be done without having to take out a the second mortgage. If I was in the market for a new one it would be this one.

Those $1500 dollar bows don't shoot any better than a $300 martin off the rack.

Its the archer, not the bow,gimmick,gadget or trinket that makes the shot. But there's plenty of folks that get their ego stroked carrying around the latest overpriced gimmicks

That's the exact reason I got into traditional archery. I can buy 2 or 3 handmade Hungarian Horsebows, imported from Hungary, for the cost of one cheap compound bow. And I get to have it custom made to my specs from draw weight to color scheme to materials used. 

For me, if compounds were $100 tomorrow, I'd still keep my horsebow. I don't think I'll ever go back.