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Woodworking Discussion Forum
TDHofstetter
Charter Member
18750 posts |
Feb-01-08, 06:58 PM (EST) |
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2. "RE: pricing pens for sale"
In response to message #0
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I agree. Cheapest I've ever seen wooden pens going for was $12, hammered out assembly-line fashioned and left unsanded & unfinished. While I was getting acupuncture treatements, I was swapping one non-premium pen for one treatment. The fee for each treatment would have been $65. The acupuncturist was happy, I was happy, all God's chilluns was happy.  -- Tim -- Member of the
Robert "Limey" Bolton Memorial
International
Volunteer Mentorship and Assistance
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maxwell_smart007
Member since Nov-17-05
2974 posts |
Feb-02-08, 01:19 PM (EST) |
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6. "RE: pricing pens for sale"
In response to message #5
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I charged $14 for slimlines
$25 for Sierras...I think I'll charge more next time - they all sold out in about twenty minutes... Andrew ----------
quidquid latine dictum sit... "whatever is said in Latin, (sounds profound)" |
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Jim in PA
Member since Aug-30-05
422 posts |
Feb-02-08, 03:40 PM (EST) |
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8. "RE: pricing pens for sale"
In response to message #4
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Fair price = what somebody will pay. We're not talking commodities here, we're talking luxury items. Nobody's making them buy it. When you pay an expert a fortune for 5 minutes of his/her time, you're not paying for those minutes, you're paying for all the minutes that took him/her to amass that expertise. That should go for you too. You're also dealing with perceived value; don't assume you'll sell more pens at $8 than at $25. When people buy antiques, collectibles, etc., they want to know they're buying something that has value ... and price has something to do with that. When my family was in the antique business and we had a piece of furniture that wasn't moving, we'd often bump the price up ... more often than not, it would sell at the higher price. You're not trying to undercut any competition here, so you're better off *in* the ballpark than ten bucks cheaper. Having said that, keep in mind what you paid for my opinion Jim Brown
Bloomsburg, PA |
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cteaglesc
Member since Jun-25-06
168 posts |
Feb-02-08, 02:09 PM (EST) |
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7. "RE: pricing pens for sale"
In response to message #0
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>what is the specific criteria on which you guys base your
>price?
> is there an effective formula for settling on a fair price
>for both seller and consumer?
I don't make slim lines for sale because people are giving them away for $8.00.
You said $5.00 for the kit at Wood Craft, for that price I know it was not a premium plating.
Di you warn him the pen would fall apart because you didn't glue in the tubes?
You did not mention the cost of the blank.YOu got it from a tree in your back yard and it was laying on the ground as a wind fall
Are you running a wind power generator to run your lathe or do you have a treadle version?
Evidently the pen was only worth $8.00 because you didn't use any sandpaper or micro mesh.
Did you tell him the oils from his hands would give the pen a natural patina because you didn't use any finishing supplies?
Going back to the 45 minutes of work.
Let me get this straight.
You cut the blank, drilled, glued, and milled then turned sanded a quality piece of work in less than an hour and then charged $8.00 for it because that is all you thought your time and materials were worth.
For that price it would have been a nicer gesture to give him the pen.
I recently sold a blank (just the blank) for $173.00
I based my cost on a total of over 8 solid hours of hands on work.
I have 3 sports stop watches I use to time everything I Do when I make a new design or work on a pen.
Once I have a design I like and have made it a few times I time myself how log it takes to make the blank and turn the pen.A bottle of CA based on Monty's 16 ounce piece is a little over 3 dollars.
I had to buy some veneers that cost$20.00 for 3 sq ft.
I used a little over 1/3 of the veneer,cost $7.00.
I have a shop rate of $20.00 an hour.
The guy I buy my Kerosene from to heat my shop wants $3.39 a gallon.
I like to have Lights, dust collector and tools operate when I flip a switch.
The there is no reason to heat the shop if I am not in it.
$20.00 per hour is cheap but I do want more than the kid flipping burgers at Micky D's or the greeter at Wally World.
BTW are you going to declare the $8.00?
If so then you forgot to add your tax rate based on your income from your regular job.
The way I figure it you lost money with the sale.
Just giving the pen would have made you feel good and you would have "paid forward"instead you cheapened your work.
You would have been better off buying a Chinese pen off the internet with a box for $7.00 and pocketed the dollar. Founding Member of the MPG
Masterful Penmaking Guy
Founding Member of the MPG
Masterful Penmaking Guy |
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maxwell_smart007
Member since Nov-17-05
2974 posts |
Feb-03-08, 12:49 PM (EST) |
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11. "RE: pricing pens for sale"
In response to message #7
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LAST EDITED ON Feb-03-08 AT 12:50 PM (EST)
>I recently sold a blank (just the blank) for $173.00
>I based my cost on a total of over 8 solid hours of hands on
>work. Yeah, but what a blank it was! If it's the one I'm thinking of, with the black and white geometric lines? It was a knockout! And it's not just the time - it's that you're doing something that he couldn't... Andrew ----------
quidquid latine dictum sit... "whatever is said in Latin, (sounds profound)" |
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Cody Colston
Member since Apr-9-03
7910 posts |
Feb-02-08, 05:34 PM (EST) |
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9. "RE: pricing pens for sale"
In response to message #0
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Hey Eagle, do you need a nap? You were just a little hard on Christian, don't you think? But, Christian, he IS right. For that price you should have just given the pen to him. Hopefully, he or some acquaintances won't come to you expecting to buy more pens for $8. Year before last, a relative (fairly well to do) wanted me to make a Mesquite pen/pencil set for him. It was to be a Christmas gift to his boss. I made the set, Americana style and also made a Mesquite pen box to hold them. I thought it looked great and told LOML to ask $35 since he was a relative. Over a year later, Karen told me that she sold the set to him for $80 and he thought it was a bargain. Jim is right. Stuff is worth what people are willing to pay. I tend to underprice, too, but I'm beginning to re-think that. Especially since I've been in the shop all day and my feet are killing me. Cody
Tyler, TX
He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep for that which he cannot lose.
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Sawduster
Member since Sep-2-04
16681 posts |
Feb-04-08, 12:21 PM (EST) |
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14. "RE: pricing pens for sale"
In response to message #9
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Over a year later, Karen told me that she sold the set to him for $80 and he thought it was a bargain. So, the little lady (who obviously has about 10 times your business sense) is keeping little secrets, huh? Smart lady you got there. Before I ever made my first pen, a co-worker at my day job was basically mass producing slimlines from common domestic woods with only that HUT whatchacallit friction wax stuff for a finish and selling em as fast as he could make em for $20 a pop. Chopping blanks en masse, assembly line drilling, glue up etc and I bet he didn't have 20 minutes each in the pens. Buying kits in bulk he had less than $2 in each kit. Jerry 
A "Charter Member" before the crash of '04.
"If politics wasn't built on careful deception it wouldn't need its own word and techniques. It would just be called honesty, education, and leadership."
Bob "Phydeaux" Stewart one day on Woodnet Visit my woodworking website:
http://www.sawdustersplace.com
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arcticfox46
Member since Sep-1-04
10624 posts |
Feb-09-08, 10:43 AM (EST) |
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15. "RE: pricing pens for sale"
In response to message #0
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Wow - you guys are HARD. Tom Mulane was selling slimlines for $20 and glad to get it. He said most people don't want to buy slims. Yes there ARE people that do want them. He did much better with all the other pens. Personally - I can sell slims for $20 and Cigars for $40. Cigar pencils for $50. Nobody complains about those prices. I have given away lots of slims - but I don't think I have sold one for less than $20. Christian - you are getting beat up too badly here. There is nothing wrong with $8.00 or $12.00 or $20 or $30. If you are going to quit your day job and go into business in woodworking - then - you need to consider all the expenses. Other than that - there are NO rules. So - this is just "my" opinion. Leo Misha Custom Signs & Crafts
www.mishacustom.com 
Before the 04 crash;
Member since October, 2003
"Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great. - Mark Twain
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