Archive for the ‘Admin’ Category
Happy Joan of Arc Canonization Day!
Thursday, May 17th, 2012Happy 4th Anniversary!
Thursday, May 17th, 2012
Turns out, today is SSD’s 4th Anniversary! Thanks to our readers and advertising partners for making this such a great website! That is all…
SSD Needs a New App
Thursday, May 17th, 2012SSD Needs a New App – And You Can Help. As many of you already know, the SSD app for iPhone is no more. We need to get a new one up and running, and we’d like to expand access to the Droid users of the world. Here’s the issue. Our old app was effectively a very specific RSS feed reader that only read our feed. iTunes no longer accepts apps like this. This means we need to offer something more. If we are going to undertake the thousands of dollars required to produce this app, we’d like it to have added value for our readers. So what we’d like to know is what kinds of functionality would you like to see in an SSD app? One thing we can tell you that we are NOT going to do is sell anything through the app. Also, if anyone has special expertise in developing Multi platform apps please let us know. Finally, if any companies are interested in sponsoring the app please tell us.
We look forward to your input in the comments section of this post on SSD. Thank you!
Big Box Shoppers – They’re Everywhere
Sunday, May 13th, 2012Happy Mother’s Day
Sunday, May 13th, 2012We’d like to honor all of the moms of the world. Thanks!
Notice Anything New?
Wednesday, May 9th, 2012
We’ve added Share This to the website in order to make it easier for you to share our content with others.
Made in America Costs More
Wednesday, May 9th, 2012Not knocking companies that build overseas. Some things need to be built there for a variety of reasons that we can get into later if you guys want to, but it costs more to build things in America. It’s that simple. Unfortunately, Americans have been sucked in by the big box stores and the notion that they can buy 4 T-shirts for $3. You can’t apply that same pricing model to products made by your fellow Americans. For one thing, the workers themselves make at least minimum wage. Additionally, there are a great deal of taxes and fees associated with running a business here in the US. And, everybody wants their cut, from the federal to the state to the county and city governments.
Then, there’s an entire supply chain involved in the manufacture of that product. In very simple terms, they provide the raw materials, transportation and physical plant to facilitate the manufacture and delivery of a product. They all employ people and their pricing is driven by their costs. And, don’t forget that pesky fuel cost that plays havoc with pricing across the entire value chain.
Finally, the merchant you purchase your Made in USA! product from has to make a buck. And remember, he has to pay employees and overhead and taxes as well. It all adds up.
We haven’t even delved into the costs of R&D which also have to be recouped. Some firms choose to see a return up front and then drop the price while others attempt to amortize cost over multi-year production.
I see a lot of grousing over pricing on here. Whether made domestically or offshore, a great deal of cost has to be captured and defrayed. It’s even more expensive to make it here. So consider what goes into a product when you look at a price tag. Don’t get sticker shock. Know what goes into the products you are purchasing. Be an informed consumer.
Predator EDC is Live
Thursday, May 3rd, 2012Predator Intelligence has been working hard to get their latest store up and running with some of the best knives, tools, and flashlights in the industry. This new venture is called PredatorEDC.com. Every Day Carry has become a discipline or lifestyle for many and they will be focusing on fulfilling the requirements of those seeking high quality products and fit with their philosophy of preparedness.
They’ve featured their favorite manufacturers including Spyderco, SOG, Fenix, and Cold Steel. PredatorEDC also offers many more top of the line names that are highly regarded in the EDC community. They’ve worked to create a very customer friendly shopping experience and are providing Free shipping within CONUS for any order of $75 or more. Check them out at PredatorEDC.com.
