JMOFO:
I'm all for "free enterprise", the laws of "supply and demand" and all that. Having said that, I also believe in supporting the local businessman.
My local ffl dealer found me a new P99c/AS for $585.00 out the door. Several months later I was so pleased with my P99c/AS I had him order me a new P99/AS. The price of the second P99 was still around $585.00..
I have a total of roughly $1170.00 in my two P99's, and I bought them thru my local dealer and he was quite happy with the profit he made.
Would he have preferred to sell each one for $850.00? No doubt, but he knows that had he demanded that much profit he wouldn't have sold me a gun, much less two, much less how every many more I buy in the future. He is trying to find me a black PPS now, and I'll bet you when he does it will be several hundred dollars less than the one with the less obvious import marks that a firearm purchased from Earl has on it.
Reasonable profit is just that, reasonable. My dealer made whatever profit he needed off my P99's and anytime both the buyer and the seller are happy a good deal has been made.
I'm sure Mr.Earl would be pleased with selling a $585.00 pistol for $800.00, but I wouldn't have been happy as the buyer..
Finally, as to customer service/warranty repair. I've had S&W guns for decades, and in my experience S&W Customer Service and Warranty repair are 2nd to none. In fact I believe Earl charges $10.00+ for fingertip extensions, and S&W sent me THREE, free...
I don't begrudge Earl making all the profit he can... His business, his prices. But for poor folks like myself he is too proud of his "special" Walthers and I can't afford them.. Even if I could afford them I would still prefer to support my local dealer first.
Personal opinion/YMMV
J. Pomeroy