american made frames cost about $250 to get made– if you are getting more than say– 50 they go down to about $200
it’s not till you are getting like 100 plus frames before they are $150 to get made– so for a small time, start up company, that is trying to keep work inside the US. they have to sell for $349.
lets not forget that prototypes are not cheap as well. most companies will have at least three prototypes made– at about $300 each. if everything is correct, then they can get production frames made– but nost times they are in for another 3 prototypes to get the bugs worked out.
don’t hate the frame companies for selling american made frames for so much…. hate the frame builders that force them to do so
dave