Are gps's going up in price?

It seems that the prices at my favorite retailer, Costco (love the customer service and return policy, plus they actually pay their employees a living wage, but I digress ...) have gone up over the last couple of months.

I know that the aforementioned retailers' margins are razor-thin so I thought the increase was related to the cycle for new models?

More to the point, with the US dollar sinking rapidly compared to other world currencies, imported goods now cost the 'manufacturer' more when they are made using foreign-sourced parts or in foreign factories.

What you are seeing may well simply be the result of this fluctuation.

Politicians have to learn that you can't just print huge amounts of money and let it flow out into the market without it having the effect of diluting what's already out there.

Leaders most properly should be businessmen and understand how money works, not lawyers. For lawyers know little beyond 'how to charge, 001' and resolving conflicts is itself detrimental to the lawyer's income and as such is itself a conflict of their self-interest.

I just saw some off the wall gps at compusa for 59.99

The dollar certainly seems to have fallen over the last few years compared to the Chinese yuan from 1 dollar:8 yuan to 1 dollar:6.80 yuan according to yahoo but it's been steady for two years or so. The GPS price increases I've seen are over the last few months so the exchange rate wouldn't really explain my observations.

In any event, not to get all political, but I have to note that dollar had fallen to 6.8 yuan by the Summer of 2008, during the administration of our Harvard MBA president. This would also be right around the time that it dawned on people that 30% year on year increases in home values does not an economy make. Moreover, while capitalism may be a fine economic system, it is not our system of government.

I hope you're not referring to Obama. He took office January 20, 2009.

Just asking...

Dubbya. Obama went to Harvard Law while Dubbya went to Harvard Business for his MBA.

Thanks for that. I wanted you to clarify that statement, as some tend to get stuff wrong.

I guess in this case it was you.

Well, after Dubya and the Wall Street wipeout, just what is the value of a Harvard MBA these days? And can you get a sub-prime loan using it as collateral?

The prices must have hit their bottom right after google announced their free navigation software via Android phone.

Prices look about the same here. You might also want to check the packaging, sometimes they put in a few extras and charge a little more.

I'm still thrilled at what I can get a GPS for. I remember not too many years back going to a Sam's club and all the Garmins where350 and up. I have 2 great Garmin GPS'S that each cost under 150.00 So a small bump or rise to me is pretty tolerable.

Flip

I paid about $350 plus tax for my Nuvi 350 IIRC, so todays prices aren't bad by my standards. Although the Nuvi is still going strong so I don't care at this point. The only bad thing with Google Maps on a mobile, and I have one, is the inability to set it with custom POI like RLC alerts as the Nuvi can do.

People are complaining about GPS prices now? Not even 5 years ago, old Street Pilots, like the 2700 series, were selling for $750-800+ Over $900 Best Buy. I specifically remember that at BB because I really wanted one and looked around yet declined. I remember the Nuvis being almost $1000 when they first came out.

And, stuff like that is pretty easy to do/program software-wise. I see these services definitely stepping up and equaling, if not far surpassing, Garmin in every area of personal consumer navigation. Heck, they're light years ahead in many areas...like being FREE with real-time connected maps...

I think stand alone GPS devices & prices are, or will be, in decline in the coming months. The phone GPS apps are becoming so sufficticated and with real-time traffic & maps, it doesn't make sense to invest big bucks in dedicated GPS devices.

Most cars now will have gps build-in as an option.

When the NUVI 680 first came out, I paid about $750 for it. Now, I just purchased a NUVI 1690 for $349 so I think the prices have come down a bit.

the problem with built in GPS is the cost. I looked at a car last week and the GPS was a $1700 option. And it's locked down tight to boot-no custom POI's, and updates to maps are $200. I had to pass on that particular car. It's already built in my Nuvi and cell phone.

Nobama's disapproval rating is at an all time high. Great job!!

The prices on the gps's are dropping fast.Every time you pick up the ads in the paper they have a sale on them.

I also paid close to $750 for my 680 about 3 years ago and Amazon had the 285wt for $119 and change last month. It has gone up a few dollars since last month, though. I did buy the 285wt but, it would reboot about once a trip so I returned it. The 680 seems to be working ok but, my MSN Direct is expiring next month and I need to decide what to do. Another year of MSN Direct will cost $50; it would be better to buy another Nuvi, with 9 months of MSN Direct and be able to get the service until 1/1/12 for an extra $30.

Henry