Jeff H, I understand your view but respectfully dissagree.
You words in red and my replies in black:
"……. they aren't jumping into the fray to save us from high prices - they're doing it to take advantage of high prices...."
One doesn’t exactly “jump into that fray”, it requires an enormous capital investment; but yes – they will certainly take advantage of high profits if they can.
"……If the competition they bring starts to drive prices down, I can't see these guys staying in the race. They'll stop or slow down to moderate any downward price change....."
They [The new manufacturer] have NO CHOICE but to stay in the race once they commit that money. When the going price drops, they (the new company) will not throttle back production. Quite the contrary, they will produce primers as fast as they can while they can still take advantage of the higher profit margins. They cannot afford to miss the opportunity that the market provides. They (the new company) will be forced to strike while the iron is hot and maximize their profits while they can. They have an obligation to their investors to do so.
"...Pessimistic perspective I know, but that's from our end. From theirs, the view is very different...."
Nope, their obligations are the same as ours. They need to financially survive and they cannot do that by spending millions of dollars and then missing the opportunity to recoup that investment.
".......I honestly believe the prices today are artificially high - a result of manipulation...."
If by artificially high, you mean fueled by enormous consumer demand – then you’re right. If you're suggesting there’s some type of grand collusion or conspiracy, that’s different. Not only is that conspiracy impossible given the market, but there’s also evidence to the contrary right in this thread – Norma is selling primers for $50/K, $20 per thousand lower than the OP listed. That’s not collusion – that’s a competitor undercutting his rival and taking market share away from their rivals.
Back in the 1970’s OPEC looked united and invincible – and even with their strangle hold on middle east and Venezuelan oil – that unity fell apart in the face of competition. It’s just not possible to gain that type market control. DeBeers tried it, Apple tried it, Henry Ford tried it, Edison tried it, The Hunt brothers tried it…..in the end – THE FREE MARKET WILL PREVAIL.
Sellers set asking prices. Buyers set actual prices.
Primers will sell for $70/thousand as long as there are people lined up willing to pay $70/1000.
They sold for $100/K when there were buyers at that price.
Norma is selling SP primers for $20 less than their competitors. That’s not collusion, that’s competition.
Never underestime the power of the consumer.