The price of Estes engines

[LaunchPad]

I got some sticker shock today when I went to purchase Estes engines at a hobby store.
They were $10 + for a pack of 3.
Last time I bought them, which was approx. 5-7 years ago, I didn't think they cost that much. (I think they were probably 5-6 bucks a pack?)
So has the cost gone up and is there anywhere on the web to get them cheaper?
I see they cost the same on Estes website but it would be even more with the S + H charge.

[chadrog]

Most hobby shops have big mark-up's, shop around if you have options because not all do. If not, hobbylinc.com has about the best prices on the net (barring others sale prices), for all your mod-roc needs. PM me if you're going to order from them, we can both get an additional discount as well!

[paul.nortness]

And there is always Hobby Lobby....40% coupon brings their already lower price down. I picked up a pack of Estes Es for 11 bucks

[Rocketbuilder]

If you live an inconvenient distance from the nearest hobby lobby like I do, check to see if there is a Machael's craft store near by. They also have a weekly 40% off coupon, and carry engines up to C.

[T-Rex]

Also the Michael's near me usually has the Blastoff Pack in stock. Very good value with a coupon.

[cwbullet]

Blast off pack is good with discount. If not, I would go with the 3 pack from aerotech.

[LaunchPad]

As always, thank you very much for the replies.
I will take all of the suggestions into consideration and if anyone else has any other helpful advice, please share.

I'm wondering about my other question. Have the prices gone up by a few dollars?
Last time I bought engines I got several packs which I'm still using. But if they were 10 bucks each about 5-8 years ago, and knowing myself, I don't see why I would have gotten the quantity I did.

[troj]

I'm wondering about my other question. Have the prices gone up by a few dollars?
Last time I bought engines I got several packs which I'm still using. But if they were 10 bucks each about 5-8 years ago, and knowing myself, I don't see why I would have gotten the quantity I did.

The price did bump up a bit sometime in the past 5 years or so.

...though as a kid, I can remember my dad being annoyed when my grandparents got me a kit that used Ds -- "I'm not spending a dollar on a single motor!" These days, we'd all be *thrilled* to spend a buck on a D!

-Kevin

[dpower]

IIRC, there have been a couple increases in the last 2-3, including one early this year. The most recent increase affected most motors, except the C11, which is now priced the same as C6 packs. D12 packs went from $15 to $17.50 MSRP; I'd sure like bulk packs of these, if it would get cost down a bit.

[shreadvector]

The price goes up virtually every year, but you are probably remembering a discounted price from WalMart or other discount store. The sale of motors at most discount stores is over and most stores that carry them sell them at normal manufacturers reccommended retail price.

MSRP has bee high and has only gone up a few percent a year (EVERY year).

Join the NAR.

Get the Member Guidebook.

Look inside for coupons.

Use the 40% off Quest coupon and order $1000 worth of kits and motors and get $400 off.

Can't afford that? you can buy less and still get the 40% off, but then you will want more later. Buy more, launch more, save more.

As always, thank you very much for the replies.
I will take all of the suggestions into consideration and if anyone else has any other helpful advice, please share.

I'm wondering about my other question. Have the prices gone up by a few dollars?
Last time I bought engines I got several packs which I'm still using. But if they were 10 bucks each about 5-8 years ago, and knowing myself, I don't see why I would have gotten the quantity I did.

[Rocketbuilder]

That reminds me of my favorite kind of "logic": Well, they're on sale, which means that if I buy them, I save money. And the more I buy, the more I save. And, given the present state of the economy, I can't afford not to save money. Therefore, I must buy lots and save tons of money!

[Tarasdad]

Use the 40% off Quest coupon and order $1000 worth of kits and motors and get $400 off.

Can't afford that? you can buy less and still get the 40% off, but then you will want more later. Buy more, launch more, save more.

If I had $100 to spend on hobbies I'd be ecstatic, much less $1000.

[New Ocean]

The price of most rocketry parts has followed inflation, it turns out. Blame the government for this one; inflation has been steady for years now and is nearly 50% since 1998. Ideally one would be earning 50% more than they had been in 1998....

[JPVegh]

The price of rocket motors bothers me less than the price of gas or coffee.

[rockets4kids]

Well, gas anyways. You can make coffee and rocket motors at home. I spend more on gas to get to a HPR launch site than I do on propellant. I am hoping to change that, though...

And before anyone mentions biodiesel or WVO, been there, done that too. These days people are fighting to get it...

[FastCargo]

That reminds me of my favorite kind of "logic": Well, they're on sale, which means that if I buy them, I save money. And the more I buy, the more I save. And, given the present state of the economy, I can't afford not to save money. Therefore, I must buy lots and save tons of money!

I always wondered how my wife could justify that...I was always saying "Stop saving us money!"

Now I find myself in possession of SIX Saturn V kits, five of which that went on the fire sale price of $35 USD a piece. And I've cleared out 3 cities worth of HLs buying all their 'Clearance' rockets...even if a few of the kits were E2X (though I still think the two Super Neon XLs and the one Mean Machine for $30 total was a steal).

WTH happened...?

FC

[Rocketbuilder]

I always wondered how my wife could justify that...I was always saying "Stop saving us money!"

Now I find myself in possession of SIX Saturn V kits, five of which that went on the fire sale price of $35 USD a piece. And I've cleared out 3 cities worth of HLs buying all their 'Clearance' rockets...even if a few of the kits were E2X (though I still think the two Super Neon XLs and the one Mean Machine for $30 total was a steal).

WTH happened...?

FC

Where the heck did you find a Saturn V for $35?!
Sadly, the HL in Orlando did not have any clearance rockets when I was there. I did, however, find a 99 cent mini sombrero that I bought to make into a saucer.
Oh, and don't feel like you have an excess of rockets; I'm currently working on 10 builds, and I have parts/templates for at least 5 more!
I don't know WTH happened either...

[JStarStar]

Saturn V's were on sale just before (or maybe just after) Christmas from one of the online retailers for $35.

I snapped one up so I could bang it together into a "flight rated" version I can go out and fly without having a mental meltdown over possible damage (as opposed to my 1969-model Centuri Sat V which I plan to fly about once more, on July 16, 2019).

[mn-rocketry]

The current MSRP on Estes engines is:
$10.29 - 1/4A, 1/2A, A
$10.79 - B4, B6
$11.79 - C6, C11
$17.49 - D12
$23.99 - E9, E12

I've been the "rocket guy" for a retail hobby store for 17 years now. Traditionally, Estes has always had an across-the-board price increase in January of every year. In 2011, they had a price increase in January, and then another one in July. However, there has been no price increase in 2012 (so far).

For comparison, the current MSRP on Quest engines is:
$9.69 - A
$9.99 - B
$10.99 - C

[raohara]

The July 2011 price increase was pretty steep, too. A shade under 15% IIRC.

[Zeus-cat]

The price of motors and other rocketry items still surprises me sometimes, but in the end I have to say it is a heck of a value considering the enjoyment I get out of it.

[pick1e]

The price of motors and other rocketry items still surprises me sometimes, but in the end I have to say it is a heck of a value considering the enjoyment I get out of it.

That's how I think about it.

I couldn't afford the hobby if I didn't get things on sale though. HL is nice. Believe it or not I found a small town hobby shop that has Estes motors at Hobbylinc prices- to the penny... Score! I always stop in when I'm in the area. Smart owner if you ask me.

[nraymondb]

Just my two cents....Just be happy that we all can still launch rockets. I know with recent issues here that we all can't afford the HPR style motors. but even if i couldn't, id still be happy just launching whatever i could get my hands on. As, Bs Cs ect or even a scratch built rocket out of toilet paper tubes. If there is a will there is a way. I hope i didn't offend, but a hobby is a hobby no matter how big or small.

[Tarasdad]

The increase in consumer prices is directly linked to the cost of fuel. It costs more to transport the raw materials to make items, and also to transport finished goods to distributors and fo distributors to retailers. The consumer is the one who has to pay for these cost increases.

If you want to complain about price increases look no further than the produce aisle of your local grocer.

[New Ocean]

Actually adjusted for inflation, gas prices are not that high either... Complain about inflation.

[CO11WRX]

Most hobby shops have big mark-up's, shop around if you have options because not all do. If not, hobbylinc.com has about the best prices on the net (barring others sale prices), for all your mod-roc needs. PM me if you're going to order from them, we can both get an additional discount as well!

Agreed! My local hobby shop has extremely high markups on pretty much everything they sell. For example, a pack of Aerotech F20-4W runs $40 at my local shop. Hobbylinc sells them for just under $27. I actually just purchased my first set of motors from hobbylinc. I know these are not Estes motors, but I assume you will get the same results as I did when looking for the best price on motors.

[Tarasdad]

There are some things I don't hesitate to get at my LHS such as CA, small hardware items, other small ticket stuff. The high-dollar items I have to look elsewhere for since I save not just the 20%-30% average markup but sales tax as well. For someone with a limited income like myself that's not an insignificant concern.

[Rocketbuilder]

Just my two cents....Just be happy that we all can still launch rockets. I know with recent issues here that we all can't afford the HPR style motors. but even if i couldn't, id still be happy just launching whatever i could get my hands on. As, Bs Cs ect or even a scratch built rocket out of toilet paper tubes. If there is a will there is a way. I hope i didn't offend, but a hobby is a hobby no matter how big or small.

I agree. Being my age, I can't exactly afford to buy very large motors, but I thoroughly enjoy LPR, and now some small MPR rockets, since that's what agrees with my budget. Toilet paper tubes? Been there done that. I practice what I call "extreme budget rocketry." I build pretty much exclusively scratchers, and using things like $1 poster boards with formers and an internal BT, I can build a 3" diameter 40" tall rocket for under $4! True, it would be nice if motors were cheeper, but between Michael's, Hobby Lobby, and Hobby Linc, it's possible to get some pretty good deals.
As nraymondb says, whatever size rocket you fly, it's a great hobby.

[BABAR]

That reminds me of my favorite kind of "logic": Well, they're on sale, which means that if I buy them, I save money. And the more I buy, the more I save. And, given the present state of the economy, I can't afford not to save money. Therefore, I must buy lots and save tons of money!

The reason I DON'T belong to Sam's or Costco! Not because they don't have good deals, but because it is hard to have the discipline to just get what you NEED, and not what you don't need but is such a good deal.

[CarVac]

That's why I make shopping lists, for both rocketry components and groceries.