BirdForum is the net's largest birding community dedicated to wild birds and birding, and is absolutely FREE!

Register for an account to take part in lively discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Sancho" data-source="post: 1700560" data-attributes="member: 27039"><p>Pricing of binoculars relative to the average industrial wage in most developed countries over the last forty years has probably dropped considerably (as is the case with bicycles, cars, etc. etc.). Also, dedicated hobbyists have unusual spending patterns, and spend a greater proportion of their income on the tools of their hobby....only natural. We´ve been through this before....I spend nothing at all on clothes or beer, and won´t change my 13 year-old car. I spend a lot on binoculars and bicycles.  Nothing has changed in 40 years for me....in 1969, I saved for a year to buy my first pair of binoculars, costing twelve pounds sterling. As my pocket-money at the time was one shilling a week, the maths didn´t add up so I had to do a lot of odd-jobs, grass-cutting and car-washing around the ´hood to make the twelve quid. And forego any amount of Curly-Wurlys, Spangles and Trigger Bars.....<img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite2" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=";)" />.  (I won´t tell what sacrifices I had to make to buy my first bicycle, costing 62 quid!)</p></blockquote><p></p>