Random thought about pricing.

[Failsafe77]

I stopped into my local army/navy surplus store today where I buy MREs from time to time. Picked up a few more from case B (2014) at $9 each. Then I saw he had some TOTMs for sale both loose and by the case. He told me the TOTMs were the same price as the MREs, $9. Keep in mind they also sell first strike rations for $13. Here's my gripe: if a FSR is $13, and an MRE $9, wouldnt you think the TOTM would be less than $9? Seeing as how it has the fewest items/least calories? I mean why pay $9 for a TOTM when you could buy an MRE for the same price? Just food for thought. What do you guys think and how much do you pay for rations?

[housil]

$13 for a FSR is cheap (as dirt?). (Over here, up to €20 ($23) )
$9 for a MRE is "ok".
Same $9 for a TOMs is way to expansive as you mentioned compared to the MRE price.

[MakingPeopleCrazy]

I wish we had the same prices here in Eu. My basement would problay have been full with cases of MRE's now

[RockyRaab]

I've noticed price creep at my local military base, too. A year ago, a current-issue MRE was $7.45 and a TOTM was $4.53. A couple of months back, they both went up 35 cents. Last week, an MRE was $8.36 and a TOTM had gone to $4.97. The somewhat odd numbers are because they simply divide the case price by 12 to sell individual meals.

I consider them to still be worth the price. A TOTM is till less than the price of a fast-food meal and an MRE is less than a casual restaurant meal by a good stretch. And the last time I checked, the local pizza place won't deliver to my kayak, LOL!

[housil]

I wish we had the same prices here in Eu. My basement would problay have been full with cases of MRE's now

MREs could be cheaper (at ebay.de) over here.
A MRE for $9 = $108 per case. A case at ebay.de is between €70 up to +€90, depends to the age and the season. Now in winter, almost nobody needs MRE. When hiking season starts, prices will go up into the sky again...

[MakingPeopleCrazy]

I'm just glad that I was introduced too Ebay.de. Much cheaper then buying MRE´s in sweden.
A case of MRE´S here costs 126 Euro + Shipping, the american ones that is. This the the cheapest ones you can buy and only one guy sells em. Normally they go for even more here.

[Fusilier]

Shiiiiiiit that's expencive! Here in Lithuania normal price for a single MRE is 4.5eu...

[MakingPeopleCrazy]

I guess its Time to move to central europe.

[rationtin440]

This may sound paranoid, but I wonder if alot of the price fluctuations may have something to do with economic, social, and political unrest or severe weather issues, and people suddenly realizing that they may well be on their own when tshtf. In the days leading up to and even during the severe winter weather we've had here in new england, many store shelves were stripped of canned goods and Walmart sold out of their Mountain House pouched entrees very quickly. I'm not sure that Campbell's or many other manufacturers would be affected, but as things in the world get more "interesting" this may affect the availability of MREs, TOTMs, FSRs, and other field rations: if the surplus dealers are paying more, they may well have to transfer the cost to the consumer. It would be interesting to know if anyone here in the boards has noticed price increases on military rations during or after any recent major news about economic, social, or political unrest that could have bad consequences.

[elandil]

I think it has more to do with the growing push by both the private sector and Government entities pushing the prepper mindset. Watching things grow, both net-wise, and being able to observe all the local gun shows over the last half decade, there is a definate swing in that area. A lot of tables are filling out with Wise and Thrive foods, more firestarting ways than you can shake a burning stick at, and the army surplus guys have been moving away from the usual junk and more towards bags, packs, gas masks, and the like.

In georgia, it's not unusual to see the eggs, bread, and milk dissapear at the first mention of the S word, but they have not been raiding the long term goods, at least not yet.