Super Soaker Market Value (then vs now)

[marauder]

The discussion about the Lightning Storm, in combination with DX's market watch has inspired me to do this thread. We have been discussing how much a gun costs, why it sells, things like that a lot recently. I wanted to take some of the more popular guns in history and guns I can remember buying, adjust for inflation and compare the prices to current prices. Modern guns around the same price are in parenthesis for comparison. Some food for thought:

Vaporizer $4.74 = $5.69
SS 40 $5 = $6.40
Defender $10 = $11.24
XP 270 $8.99 = $11.83
Max D 5000 $10 = $12.59
SS 100 mk2 $10 = $12.81
Max D 6000 $15 = 18.90
XP 310 $14.99 = $19.73
CPS 2100 $20 = $25.19
CPS 1200 $20 = $26.32
SC 600 $19.75 = $26.87
CPS 1000 $20 = $27.81
CPS 1500/1700 $25 = $32.91
CPS 2700 $30 = $39.49
CPS 3200 $40 = $52.65

Modern price comparisons:

Marvel Heroes XP 215 $4.33 (3 for $12.99)
Hydrofurry $5 (2 for 10)
Microburst $5.99
Point Break $6.99
Bottle Blit $7.99
Scatter Blast $9.99
Thunderstorm $14.99
Scatter Blast $14.99
Tornado Strike $19.99
Shot Blast $19.99
Iron Man 2 $19.99
Lightning Storm $24.99

If you remember (can find) how much other old guns cost, you can calculate the inflation here: http://www.usinflationcalculator.com/

[isoaker]

Interesting to do these sorts of comparisons. What is missing from the equation, though, is the significant increase in the cost of manufacturing compared to before. I don't fully recall the number quoted, but it was somewhere between 20%-30% increase in wages and also a sharp increase in materials costs. One reference for cost increases. To be conservative, I would recommend adding on at least 30% to the prices of the older models since they would definitely cost a lot more to make were they made today.

[SEAL]

I find it funny how the Lightning Storm costs the same amount of money as a small CPS blaster that shoots almost twice as far, has roughly 5 times more output, and would be infinitely more useful in a war.

I don't have that much to give you, but I think my old Monster X (2002 edition) cost around $45-50, and I'm pretty sure the CPS 2000 cost $45. I think I can remember the pricing for the entire '07 Aquashock line; my Arctic Blast cost about $30 (Which, now that I think about it, seems hideously overpriced...), the Sneak Attack cost around $10-15, the Secret Strike cost $20, and the Hydroblitz, which I never brought, but wanted (It's probably good that I never found one...), cost like $40 (Or was that $50!?!).

So lessee:

1996 CPS 2000: $45
2002 Monster X: ~$47.50
2007 Aquashock Sneak Attack: ~$12.50
2007 Aquashock Secret Strike: $20
2007 Aquashock Arctic Blast: $30
2007 Aquashock Hydroblitz: ~$45

That's all I can think of right now. iSoaker, I think you should put retail prices on your review pages. Good idea?

[isoaker]

iSoaker, I think you should put retail prices on your review pages. Good idea?

I've thought about it.. and again.. and again.. and apart from having problems with getting accurate pricing on various blasters, as noted above, if the numbers don't end up factoring in inflation, increased manufacturing costs, increased costs for retail storage space, etc., things get skewed.

We'll end up starting to talk about "remember when bread only cost 5 cents?" My guess is if BBT would be able to build one, something like a CPS2000 would end up retailing for over $60. While I'm sure everyone in the community would buy one (or two or three ), that's more than 2x or 3x the general price consumers are willing to spend on a water blaster. The expensive Nerf Super Soaker Hydro Cannon does not appear to have sold well, especially considering that it's been marked down over50% on Amazon.com. Items that sell well are not typically marked down, at least not by 50%.

[thelaminator]

i can't believe h HB is only $45 after inflation and all

i have BIG plans for HB's, but first i need to obtain one