I'm going to say some things here that some people won't like.
The cure for high prices is......high prices.
A certain percentage of folks on this thread saw the price sticker and said "no way I won't buy for that price!" That's exactly what we need here. Prices high enough to get people to flinch and not buy. Inventory sitting on the shelf (not selling) with a high price sticker is evidence that things are starting to turn the corner. High prices curb demand.
When your retailer has to pay too much from his supplier and then has to price too high for the market and gets stuck with inventory he paid too much for, he isn't going to be any more excited about his supplier than a lot of you guys are about your retailer.
If a retailer could keep prices at prior levels given today's demand, we all know what would happen - gone in an instant - mostly bought like the guy at Sportsman's buying 4 boxes repeatedly, only to be resold at.....higher prices.
The market is not to be manipulated or negotiated with. It is what it is. Denial, anger, frustration, and complaining don't change reality.
Prices are the ultimate rationing mechanism. Pretty much nothing else works.
Here's another thing that makes me roll my eyes. If you are more than about 35 years old and are short on components let me introduce you to the individual that is responsible for your problem. He's in the mirror.
We have seen this movie before. We will see it again. When stuff is cheap and plentiful people forget and act like it will always be available. Extra money goes to dinner out and vacations, etc. Lay some stuff up people! And not just reloading components. What is your food, water, fuel, cash, medicine, etc storage? I can see a young guy making this mistake but you don't have to be around all that long to see this cycle repeat.
Finally, as a guy who used to work in manufacturing, there is this misconception that somewhere someone just needs to turn a knob or throw a switch or add another shift and more production will occur. Making these components is an intricate process, and the plants are capital intensive and they already run round the clock. Building new plants is not measured in months of leadtime. It takes years to build a new line, and then you still have the problem of reliable sourcing raw materials for that line.
But we cry: "supply manipulation/new shooters/hoarders/Democrats/government interference/regulations/imports/lack of imports/COVID/supply chain interruptions/inflation/price manipulation/raw metals prices/the Chinese/The Russians/Internet Bots/the d-bag buying too many!!!!!"
Yeah all that and more. Prices sort all that out and more over time.
