I never said they were greedy. They are in business to make money just like any profit driven corporation.
I never said they were ripping anyone off.
I am just trying to say they are a major corporation that has to answer to the stockholders.
Even though they are a private company, they still have a stockholders, aka the owners.
That pedantic issue aside, the real eye opener is the fact Estes's revenue has been on a downward trajectory for the past 5+ years, dropping to ~$11.3M in 2017. The entire company was sold to the new owners for a paltry $7M in 2018.
And that, folks, is as big of a (shrinking) dominant player as rocketry hobby can support these days!
I just would like it if they would stop promoting the D12 engines.
Please say you are kidding - D12 is one of my favorite motors!
A lot of people, customers, have been hurt by their lack of proper response. This is a corporate decision based on profit and loss.
I couldn't disagree more.
Estes's customer support, especially after the recent change of ownership, has been exceptional.
I don't know issues you may be experiencing, but the allegation that "a lot of people, customers, have been hurt" is, at best, an unsubstantiated exaggeration.
And I wish their prices on engines were more reasonable. Their kits are very cheap but their engines... not so much.
I think the Estes motors are pretty cheap, especially, since you can pick them up at 40% off MSRP either online, or at Hobby Lobby.
I don't know how much cheaper you want them to be, really.
If you think they are too expensive, give your business to a competitor (Aerotech, Cesaroni, etc).
Full disclosure - you will not find the competitors any less expensive. Their products do have other benefits, but discount pricing vs. Estes isn't one of them!
Frankly, I could easily endorse a +10% price hike on Estes motors if it were to secure Estes's long-term financial viability. Loosing an entry-level rocketry supplier, like Estes, would have extremely detrimental long-term effect on this hobby accessibility and appeal.
IMHO,
a