N4KVE
Member
As a gun store, we pay $425 for a M&P compact, whether it be 9mm, or 40 SW. But the Shield costs us $335, either caliber. So why is it $90 less? Any ideas? GARY
Why is the Shield so cheap?
- Thread starter N4KVE
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Nitrous SSC
Member
Where can you find a Shield for that price? I'll buy it right now!
Right now finding them at any price is hard.... Those are the prices I paid for mine.
OP
N4KVE
Member
This has been discussed before. There is no Federal excise tax on LE guns. So the LE Shield cost the dealer about $250, & the Compact LE gun costs the dealer $335. But I'm wondering why the Shield costs the dealer $90 less than the Compact? GARY
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The dealer price set by S&W on the Shield was, plain and simple, to put it at the same or slightly lower price point than the Ruger LC9. They call it free market capitalism and competition.
I wish they would drop the laser and the pelican beak on the Bodyguard .380 and reduce the price to compete with the Ruger LCP.
To clarify this subject - Only guns purchased by LE departments are excise tax exempt - LE officers pay the tax. Been there and done that many times with purchase order procurements and individual purchases.
The logical reason for the shield being less that a compact is that there is less material in a shield. It's thinner. The unicorn mags are smaller, etc. That is my assumption. And they can take business from Ruger.
kozmic
Member
I think is probably a few things....I've seen S&W run $50 rebates and extra mag deals on the M&P's. I might be wrong but I don't recall similar programs on the Shields (?). That tends to make me think the that the M&P's mark-up might be greater. The M&P also comes with a hard case and the Shield in a box. Most of the R&D required for the Shield was already done on the M&P. The M&P was designed and marketed to compete directly with the similarly priced Glock. The Shield was marketed as a higher powered alternative to the .380 craze and the pocket sized 9's. So, I think the Shield price is lower because of how it is marketed.
A few bucks here and there most likely add up to the net difference in price. Just my take anyway!
A few bucks here and there most likely add up to the net difference in price. Just my take anyway!
OP
N4KVE
Member
Not true. We sell LE guns to cops. Some departments don't pay for the guns, so the cops have to buy their own. We need to make a copy of their LE ID, & send it to the mfr to prove the gun went to a cop. Many times their cop buddies will come in a few days later to buy one, but we tell them we are out of LE guns, & only have the ones for civilians. They say they will wait until more LE guns come in to save on the excise tax. Done this many times at work. GARY
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I'm gonna have to drive over to WPB then cause Shields can't be found anywhere, even on GB, not to even mention for the prices you said here. Crazy.
Smitty357
Member
Buy an XDS, keep it a week. Sell it for $200 more than u bought it for, since you can always find a sucker to buy one of those over cost. Then buy yourself a Shield and still have money sitting in your pocket for a few extra mags or ammo.
OP
N4KVE
Member
Shoot Straight always has Shields for $449. When their new Ft. Laud store opened, they had 40 for sale at $449. GARY
silentflyer
Member
Springs and plastic.
Soldiernurse
US Veteran
Folks like you are why firearm (& associated supplies) prices are over inflated.
OP
N4KVE
Member
Actually it's the buyers who pay the inflated prices who ruin it for everyone. If they didn't pay the inflated price, the sellers would have to sell them at normal prices. But, that's the free market system at work. Years ago gas was 45/50 cents a gallon for regular/super, & it stayed that way for months. Now, a refinery goes offline, & the price goes up the next day, even though the gas came from that refinery weeks ago. LOL. GARYFolks like you are why firearm (& associated supplies) prices are over inflated.
EXECUTIONER-408
Member
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ill take one if you got it pm me with info
Nlmadog
US Veteran
I paid $ 439.00 plus tax for my Shield 9mm 2 weeks ago. No elcheaper here.No Shields in stock around around here.
JNewell
Member
Back on topic for the original question, which was a good post...the difference in the actual amount of materials and their cost should be insignificant. My guess would be with the post above that says S&W priced it based on market prices for competitive products and is simply selling them at a reduced margin.
