[bangerblueed]

Speaking as a man of business( I do run my own small business) you cannot blame it on higher costs it mostly comes down to competition for example SWD are now selling their sound chips at £89.50 because howes and bachman are now in direct competition with them so if for example NCE brought out a chip with a spec almost identical to the lenz gold at say £20 the lenz golds drop to £19

Businesses charge what the market will stand margins as such are NOT the only criteria if your margins are insufficient you downsize your costs such as find cheaper premises etc etc