What are Sidewinders so insanely expensive?

[slamfire1]

This weekend a bud of mine sold his RCBS Sidewinder tumbler and then looked up Ebay prices after agreeing to $200.00 for his tumbler. Bud thought he was getting a great deal as he paid $190 for the thing twenty years ago, but prices on Ebay for the things are $587 new, Midway will sell you one, new for $409 http://www.midwayusa.com/product/102...mbler-110-volt

I looked at his Sidewinder and the barrel is cheap plastic, the base sheet metal. Decent looking motor, but nothing there worth $500.

I have been using a Thumler's thumbler for a number of decades now, best price I saw was at Cabelas http://www.cabelas.com/product/Thuml...3317100&rid=20 and that was $169. The Thumler's barrel is solid sheet metal lined with rubber. Must weigh 15 pounds. The sheet metal on the base is about the same as the Sidewinder, the motor about as good looking.

So, considering the alternatives, why are Sidewinders so much?

[noylj]

"The quiet motor is connected to a timer switch for automatic shut-off. Each drum comes with an extra perforated lid that quickly separates liquid or dry cleaning media from cleaned cases."
I have no idea. It's RCBS. It's Green. It has a fun name. It looks "cool."
I would guess capacity, but I'm not sure how 300 .38 caliber cases compares to a 15 lb capacity.
I wouldn't pay extra for either feature mentioned above.
I really like my Thumler Model B and would not waste my money on a more expensive, but not better, tumbler. I already think the Model B is too expensive. The only thing I would like on Thumler's would be a timer like the SideWinder--but I wouldn't be willing to pay extra for the feature.
Remember, prices consist of what the traffic will bear and if the traffic wants to spend $400 for a SideWinder, they have every right to do so. At the least, it give RCBS money to invest in improvements to it and other products.

[stilly]

I only came here thinking I was going to learn to reload my missles for less.

Maybe OP had a good load where I could mix up some scrap metals to save on having to locate some depleted uranium and high explosives. (I really hate dealing with the Russians over those parts. They are so intimidating and always have shinier guns then me. It is hard to compete.)

Maybe some special thermite loads could be cool. Alas I was wrong...

FAIL.





But all wet process tumblers are expensive no matter what part of the stage of life they are in. Most can be renewed with a minor parts kit. I rebuilt my Thumler years ago and now it is all gray and shiny glittery black but yeah anyways...

[TMB 1]

I don't know why the price is so high, but the Sidewinder will run forever. Just replace drum when drum finally wears out.

[Cheep]

I finally had to replace the drum...
For you who mod everything.

I added longer axles, some sprockets and a chain on the back side and no more slipping, the drum will turn easily.