Sometimes it feels like athletic gear pricing is driven more by ego/vanity than natural demand. That might not be the right word I'm searching for, but it's like this:


For the golf guys, obviously better clubs are going to make me a better golfer, and if I spend several thousand on a set of clubs then I'm obviously going to have an advantage over the other guys out there.


Anybody out there really believe that manufacturing costs suddenly justified a $4-600 price tag for bats, or were the clientele simply caught thinking they could spend more money and get a leg up and the MFGs were more than happy to take advantage?


Yes, these are basic economic principles of supply and demand at play here, but it's certainly being unnaturally driven by our competitive desire to get an advantage over the competition.


People are now spending $400+ on athletic shoes. Shoes that are made in grass huts in southeast Asia. It certainly isn't because the mfg costs now justify the price.