36 replies to this topic

[kal32473]

ping34, on 27 February 2013 - 03:08 AM, said:

slide13, on 26 February 2013 - 12:25 PM, said:

I don't really find grip prices to be that high.  I mean, even at the high end of $10 each, you're talking $140 to do a full set.  If you can't afford to do that once a year golf is probably not the sport for you...it's never going to be a cheap game to play.  Compared to the way people buy golf clubs around here, dropping a little on grips seems like nothing.  And those are for some very expensive grips.  I like the VDRs myself, so at $6.5 each we're only talking $84 or so, not including a putter grip.  I put a full set of mid-size VDRs on my irons last year and they are still in great shape...don't think I'll need to replace them this year.  My woods use Winn Lite midsize and those are showing some wear so those will likely get replaced before the season starts.

I play 50 to 60 rounds during the summer season.   Affording the grips is not the problem.  It's the fact I feel they are trying to take advantage of the consumer.  The cost of making a grip has to be less than a dollar.  I had a chance to visit a company that makes grips.  they can churn out 8 grips in 15 seconds. There is not that much material or labor cost in a grip to justify how much they are charging.

No offense, but so what if it is?  If they can sell a grip to a retailer for $5 and it only cost them a $1 to make, good for them.  If the retailer takes a grip that costs them $5 and sells it for $8, then good for them as well.  I'm not sure how the consumer is being taken advantage of if they are willing to pay what the market price is for grips.  It's like that with everything, not just golf equipment. I've never understood why people want companies to make a profit, but not too much of one.   It doesn't make any sense.

[Hstead]

I used to think Iomics were too high at $17 per.  There was now way I was going to try them at that price.  Then, all of these other grips are getting up to $7 to $9 etc.  I now have a source on ebay for Iomics for $9 shipped, no tax, so it is a no brainer to go Iomic since they last longer and I like them compared to paying $7 plus tax and shipping for a GP or Lamkin from GolfWroks etc.

[JackpotScotty]

I change my once a year usually but I could not imagine changing them every month or even more frequent than that. It usually cost $100-$130 every time you change grips which is just insane. To some people that's like a new putter

[ping34]

kal32473, on 27 February 2013 - 10:27 AM, said:

ping34, on 27 February 2013 - 03:08 AM, said:

slide13, on 26 February 2013 - 12:25 PM, said:

I don't really find grip prices to be that high.  I mean, even at the high end of $10 each, you're talking $140 to do a full set.  If you can't afford to do that once a year golf is probably not the sport for you...it's never going to be a cheap game to play.  Compared to the way people buy golf clubs around here, dropping a little on grips seems like nothing.  And those are for some very expensive grips.  I like the VDRs myself, so at $6.5 each we're only talking $84 or so, not including a putter grip.  I put a full set of mid-size VDRs on my irons last year and they are still in great shape...don't think I'll need to replace them this year.  My woods use Winn Lite midsize and those are showing some wear so those will likely get replaced before the season starts.

I play 50 to 60 rounds during the summer season.   Affording the grips is not the problem.  It's the fact I feel they are trying to take advantage of the consumer.  The cost of making a grip has to be less than a dollar.  I had a chance to visit a company that makes grips.  they can churn out 8 grips in 15 seconds. There is not that much material or labor cost in a grip to justify how much they are charging.

No offense, but so what if it is?  If they can sell a grip to a retailer for $5 and it only cost them a $1 to make, good for them.  If the retailer takes a grip that costs them $5 and sells it for $8, then good for them as well.  I'm not sure how the consumer is being taken advantage of if they are willing to pay what the market price is for grips.  It's like that with everything, not just golf equipment. I've never understood why people want companies to make a profit, but not too much of one.   It doesn't make any sense.

I am not against a company making as much profit as possible.  They could make more profit if they sold the grips at a lower price but at a higher volume.  People would be more open to changing the grips more than once a season if they were more affordable.  The grips could also now be in the acceptable price range of individuals with limited or low incomes.  Golf participation is shrinking and paying over 100 dollars to re grip clubs is not helping the situation.

[ping34]

Graymulligan, on 27 February 2013 - 10:12 AM, said:

ping34, on 27 February 2013 - 03:08 AM, said:

I play 50 to 60 rounds during the summer season.   Affording the grips is not the problem.  It's the fact I feel they are trying to take advantage of the consumer.  The cost of making a grip has to be less than a dollar.  I had a chance to visit a company that makes grips.  they can churn out 8 grips in 15 seconds. There is not that much material or labor cost in a grip to justify how much they are charging.

Less than a dollar might be stretching it, but let's say you're right.  Each grip takes a dollar to manufacture.  
They then need to be packaged.  (15 cents)
They then need to be shipped to the retailer (with fuel prices, etc, let's assume 50 cents)
The manufacturer needs to make a profit, and it has to be enough to justify bothering to make them.  (buck and a half)
The retailer needs to make a profit beyond what they pay for it from the manufacturer (2 bucks, which gives them the ability to run sales/clearance)

total pricing?  $4.75.  Yes, my numbers are of the quick and dirty variety, but they aren't crazy by any means.  In addition, my guess is with rubber pricing where it is that companies aren't making these for a buck.

With a 50 gram grip there is about 15 cents worth of rubber based on today's price per kilogram of rubber.  Shipping cost can't be that much since they are not a fragile merchandise.  In other words no special care needed to ship them.  I have spent a lot of time in manufacturing plants and have a pretty good idea on what it costs to ship and make everything from electronics to rubber products.

[kal32473]

ping34, on 01 March 2013 - 01:26 AM, said:

kal32473, on 27 February 2013 - 10:27 AM, said:

ping34, on 27 February 2013 - 03:08 AM, said:

slide13, on 26 February 2013 - 12:25 PM, said:

I don't really find grip prices to be that high.  I mean, even at the high end of $10 each, you're talking $140 to do a full set.  If you can't afford to do that once a year golf is probably not the sport for you...it's never going to be a cheap game to play.  Compared to the way people buy golf clubs around here, dropping a little on grips seems like nothing.  And those are for some very expensive grips.  I like the VDRs myself, so at $6.5 each we're only talking $84 or so, not including a putter grip.  I put a full set of mid-size VDRs on my irons last year and they are still in great shape...don't think I'll need to replace them this year.  My woods use Winn Lite midsize and those are showing some wear so those will likely get replaced before the season starts.

I play 50 to 60 rounds during the summer season.   Affording the grips is not the problem.  It's the fact I feel they are trying to take advantage of the consumer.  The cost of making a grip has to be less than a dollar.  I had a chance to visit a company that makes grips.  they can churn out 8 grips in 15 seconds. There is not that much material or labor cost in a grip to justify how much they are charging.

No offense, but so what if it is?  If they can sell a grip to a retailer for $5 and it only cost them a $1 to make, good for them.  If the retailer takes a grip that costs them $5 and sells it for $8, then good for them as well.  I'm not sure how the consumer is being taken advantage of if they are willing to pay what the market price is for grips.  It's like that with everything, not just golf equipment. I've never understood why people want companies to make a profit, but not too much of one.   It doesn't make any sense.

I am not against a company making as much profit as possible.  They could make more profit if they sold the grips at a lower price but at a higher volume.  People would be more open to changing the grips more than once a season if they were more affordable.  The grips could also now be in the acceptable price range of individuals with limited or low incomes.  Golf participation is shrinking and paying over 100 dollars to re grip clubs is not helping the situation.

I highly doubt that the reason why the number of people playing golf is decreasing is because of the price of grips.  In fact, I bet if you ask the average hacker why they don't play as much as they used to, grip prices won't even be in the top 10 reasons.  Outside of the equipment geeks, the average guy probably changes his grips once every few years from what I've seen.  And there are grip choices out there for people with low incomes.  Just because you can't get the grips you prefer on the cheap doesn't mean you can't get cheap grips.  There's already been plenty of posts from guys who have gotten decent grips for virtually nothing.  Unfortunately, if you like a popular style, you're going to have to pay a premium.  It's like that with anything, not just golf grips.

[geauxWRX]

I really like the feel of Iomic grips but the price is crazy. Even worse I found out what the wholesale price is and almost passed out.