Can anybody tell me why Lowrance or any other depth finders are so expensive? You can buy a I pad, a laptop a flat screen TV for a less. What makes them soooo expensive?

who wants a 100.00 unit on a 50,000.00 boat...

Because the market will bear what the buying is willing to spend.

Because of the technology, supply and demand. Every American owns a TV only a small handfull own a depth finder

Just like everything else, there is little competition so the price can be set by the two companies. As long as people buy them at those prices there is no reason to lower the price. Example Dallas Cowboys tickets!!!!!!

I am in the it field and translating data from an echo is way different than translating a tv/internet signal where both sides know what the data is supposed to be. A thousand bucks really seems cheap for you to be able to send a signal into the ground/water and the machine gets that signal after it bounces back and 3d renders it into a layout for you as well as showing you the density of each object. I think the only reason we can afford it is because the military and oil companies spend so much on the technology.

Good example, now you just about have to take out a loan to go to the game. Cost of the ticket $$$$ parking $$$ food and drinks $$$. Go to several games in a year and before you know it you could have upgraded your electronics instead of going to the games in person.

Why would you want to goto a cowgirls game?

Cowboys tickets are only for the rich and famous........dang this thread got turned sideways. Sorry, but yes, ridiculous prices on electronics. Also, I hate it that they put something new out just after you buy a $3,000 unit.

^^^^this...I work in the offshore survey business and we use similar technology to survey the seabed.

I think 10 years ago the price might have been cheap for such technology. Look at what computers cost 20 years ago but now the technology has evolved so much more and you can buy one dirt cheap. I believe now it is just a matter of supply and demand. As long as just a few companies make the product and they can convince people that they need a new one every year when the new model comes out, the prices will always be high. Look at boat prices. There is no way that a bass boat should cost over 50k but unless a company comes out that cuts the price or people refuse to pay it, they'll gladly take the high margins on the product. I'd do it too.

I'll just stay a year behind everyone and buy the used ones when the prices drop.

It cost money to look cool! Now days everybody wants to be the guy with the newest bad a$$ toys. These companies know that and charge accordingly. Smart thing is wait till said guy sees the newest thing next year and buy his barely used one for cheap. He didn't know how to use it correctly anyway.

Huge R&D expense for a small market.

Research, development, "marine industry", and just because!