Larry,
I think there are a few different, albeit related, topics here. Lets break it down a little for clarity.
Kyrie, 7000 Euros is well above the price of a new AyA 4/53 or No 2 these days--and that's AFTER hefty price increases, across the board.
I dont believe thats the case, at least for the AyA No 2. John from the UK has kindly provided a current list price for that gun in England:
Current 'list' price for an AyA No 2 in the UK is GBP 5700.
A quick trip to Google Finance provides the current GBP to USD exchange rate (1.5972), so 5700 GBP is currently 9104 USD, the USD/Euro rate (same source) is 1.2511, so $9104 is at present 7277 Euro. There it is; AyA No 2 is already listing for over 7000 Euro.
I have no idea what current list is on an AyA box lock of any kind and wasnt thinking of box lock guns when I made the 7000 Euro comment. Candidly, Im a little surprised any Spanish gun maker is still offering any box lock shotgun, but box lock guns are another subject lets leave that for another day.
Assuming your estimate is realistic, that means the Spanish are no longer in the mid-range sxs market, but have moved exclusively to a higher level.
Hmmm. I suppose the AyA No 2 and 4/53 could be considered mid-range SxS guns in some overall SxS market. But looking only at Spanish SxS shotguns, those guns are bottom price point.
Indeed, if you can't afford the prices, then you can't afford the guns. On the other hand: is there enough business at the 7000 euro and up level to keep the doors open at AyA, Arrieta, Garbi, Grulla etc?
In my opinion? Maybe. The only hope any of the makers have in the near term, assuming the financial and banking world of the Euro doesnt improve dramatically, is dropping the breakeven and loss leader models and raising the prices on the mid to high price point guns. That might buy them enough time to outlast the political and financial blunder that is the EU. Its for sure that none of them will last if they keep selling guns on which they take losses.
Especially when the used market in this country will offer plenty of Spanish guns from the same makers for far less?
The USA market isnt going to make or break the Spanish gun makers. We have been the Medicaid of the Spanish shotgun market for decades; not much money, but a consistent small income. Right now, every Euro is important to the gun makers and they miss our small contribution, but were too small a market for the kinds of guns they need to sell for us to be terribly significant.
And there is this: the Spanish shotgun makers are in the business of selling custom made guns. Used guns dont threaten them, because their core customers want custom guns made to their specs. Any gun made to fit someone else just doesnt interest that core clientele.
Looks to me as if it's a problem as much for the sellers as it is for the buyers.
Im not sure to what you refer with its. If the it is refers to the price increases and/or the dropping of the bottom price point models, then its a solution for the sellers, even if it is a problem for the buyers of the guns.
I may be wrong but Im getting the sense here that you believe the USA demand for low price point guns is a significant factor in the health of the Spanish gun makers. I dont believe thats the case, and the gun makers certainly dont think so. Thats why Arrieta, Grulla, et. al. dropped the bottom price point side locks from their catalog. The makers clearly have decided they must exit the low price point markets here and in Europe to survive.
