Just my observations here and by no means am I trying to "snorkel" any vendors for a "good deal."
Seriously, I don't see how vendors in this community of interest can manage to make a living out of it. This is not the banking or oil industries that we often associate with high profits and market manipulation. This is an off-road community - a lot of these businesses would rather be on the trail than behind a PC. Many of these outfits do what they do because they love it, do it well, and selling parts helps to finance their mania. And I certainly appreciate their innovation, imagination, and entrepreneurship... which also has a cost.
Weigh all the other costs of owning a business, plus the huge cost of human capitol... we aren't looking at a bunch of "overlanding barons." Is there money to be made? Sure, but I don't think it is in the volume that some consumers think in this industry.
When I see consumers angry because they aren't being given a product at less than cost, I'd like to remind them of the sales person on the phone or the other end of the computer, the tech in the shop, or any number of folks in the supply chain who have to pay the mortgage/rent, feed their family, and maybe have enough money for a few of the pleasures we often take for granted.
I don't just throw my money around; I have a responsibility to search for the best product, price, and vendor. But fair is fair - vendors have the expectation to meet commitments not just to us, the consumer, but to a whole team of folks responsible for those products. Think "big-picture."
Well, except Christo maybe - he suffers from chronic-currency-wazoo-arrhea.
