help with pricing on duck calls

[penmaker1967]

hi guys i hope this isin the right place if not i am sorry but i would like to know how do u price duck calls for the ones that do them . i know it depends on loc but i would like some kind of starting point i can always go down or up if need to. thanks for the help

 

[Holz Mechaniker]

kinda depends on some factors here....
are you using an insert or making all parts except the reeds of course?

If using an insert I would say $30-$40 just because you don't have a reputation yet for making calls. No offense.
If you're making all parts, trimming reeds and whatnot, then $40-$50.

Those prices may just too high, or just right.

 

[TellicoTurning]

kinda depends on some factors here....
are you using an insert or making all parts except the reeds of course?

If using an insert I would say $30-$40 just because you don't have a reputation yet for making calls. No offense.
If you're making all parts, trimming reeds and whatnot, then $40-$50.

Those prices may just too high, or just right.

I'll second this .... I don't have a "reputation" yet as a call maker, and use the inserts that come with the kits.... I've sold about 80% of all the duck calls I made at $35 each, with a lanyard.... same price for the deer grunts and elk bugles.... my turkey pots I sold at $35 to $45 with a striker.
I've also made up a bunch of varmint calls, but they haven't sold well... they're all priced at $25.

If you can figure a way to sign them, will help develop your "reputation" and collectors are more likely to be interested.... mine are not signed and a couple of buyers walked away because they were not.

 

[penmaker1967]

thanks for the info i am just starting to make these and i am using the kits dont know if i will keep doing them but i have had about 10 people from the spring shows that i have done if i make them and aboput half of them are vbendors that i have meet at the shows so i thought i might do a few and see how they go if they do well i may keep doing them for a side item to my inventory.

 

[penmaker1967]

forgot to ask another question do u put a finsh on them or just buff them out i would think you would not want a shinny finsh that could be seen very well i thought about just using a oil finsh and buff it out to a dull shine

 

[TellicoTurning]

In the beginning, I just used the Hut Wax finish on mine, but later started putting a polyurethane finish on them so they would shine....

 

[billspenfactory]

I need to find out where you fellows that are selling for $35 are getting your parts. Unless you are using scrape wood and a $5. reed? I have found reeds from $5 to $15 if you use a nice ring $6 and wood or acrylic can be from $3 or $30 so the way I do my math i have about $30 or so dollars in a good call. x 3 I getting $75 to $90 and if you compare them to the fellow on the internet at $125 I giving my customer a good deal. Don't undersell yourself or your product. Just my 2 1/2 cent worth

 

[penmaker1967]

i get my duck call kits from hutts have about 10.00 in each one

 

[billspenfactory]

Todd, thanks for the heads up on Hutt that is one I had not looked at. I like the black covers with the duck on them. Just a guess on my part but if you fellows are in the $30-40 range on sells price you don't buy their blanks. Like I said just a guess. Again thank I have covers on the way.

 

[penmaker1967]

bill i gett he kits which have the blanks and evberything u need to make the call i bought 3 sets the other day and the most expenseive one was 10.99 a maple burl kit i hope they make some nice looking calls i have not done any in years but have had some people ask for them at the spring shows so i thought i would try a few as far as prices goes i was just getting some idea of what they sell for being that i have not made any in years. i will just play around with the prices and see which does the best. you are welcome for the heads up on hutts

 

[Dan Masshardt]

I'd say make them if you like making them. Don't expect to cash in unless you really specialize.

I only make a couple for fun cause the money doesn't seem to be there compared to pens.

 

[TellicoTurning]

I need to find out where you fellows that are selling for $35 are getting your parts. Unless you are using scrape wood and a $5. reed? I have found reeds from $5 to $15 if you use a nice ring $6 and wood or acrylic can be from $3 or $30 so the way I do my math i have about $30 or so dollars in a good call. x 3 I getting $75 to $90 and if you compare them to the fellow on the internet at $125 I giving my customer a good deal. Don't undersell yourself or your product. Just my 2 1/2 cent worth

I buy the HUT call kits and generally make my own blanks... or sometimes I will buy wood from CSUSA... haven't in quite a while but they used to have really good prices on 2x2 spindle blanks that make great call blanks... Not trying to make a killing in the call business just need to re-coop costs so I can make more.... this turning thing is just for fun.

Also, I'm in a market that won't pay much more for a call anyway...

 

[Frank Nemke sr]

cnc

kinda depends on some factors here....
are you using an insert or making all parts except the reeds of course?

If using an insert I would say $30-$40 just because you don't have a reputation yet for making calls. No offense.
If you're making all parts, trimming reeds and whatnot, then $40-$50.

Those prices may just too high, or just right.

I'll second this .... I don't have a "reputation" yet as a call maker, and use the inserts that come with the kits.... I've sold about 80% of all the duck calls I made at $35 each, with a lanyard.... same price for the deer grunts and elk bugles.... my turkey pots I sold at $35 to $45 with a striker.
I've also made up a bunch of varmint calls, but they haven't sold well... they're all priced at $25.

If you can figure a way to sign them, will help develop your "reputation" and collectors are more likely to be interested.... mine are not signed and a couple of buyers walked away because they were not.

Find someone whon does engraving with a cnc machine, or get a branding iron. You can find adds for them in woodworking mags

 

[Holz Mechaniker]

Here is a Video of Carl Jacobson on how he does the finish on his duck calls

 

[dogcatcher]

Here is a Video of Carl Jacobson on how he does the finish on his duck calls

He is not a real duck callmaker, he is a woodturner that thinks he makes duck calls that uses Echo inserts.

 

[dogcatcher]

I am a callmaker, and have been for almost 50 years. The kits are worth about $30 if you find someone that want to pay that much for a kit call. Personally I don't know many duck hunters that would spend that kind of money. I have found that most of those are bought as gifts and are like the socks and ties, stuck in a drawer and forgotten. Those that use Echo inserts, those are worth what anyone will pay for them, usually $30 to $40 depending on locations. That is if you have finished the barrel good enough to last a few seasons in a duck blind, if you haven't it will be in the drawer with the socks and ties. Poly and beeswax won't last the first 2 weeks in duck blind.

You don't get a reputation as a callmaker with kits and inserts, you earn that reputation by making your own inserts that are good enough to sell. A good sounding custom made call can bring up to $50 for a beginner. Once you have established a reputation, that price can go up to and over a $100. Again your location has a lot to do with how much you can charge.

 

[Holz Mechaniker]

Here is a Video of Carl Jacobson on how he does the finish on his duck calls

He is not a real duck call maker, he is a wood turner that thinks he makes duck calls that uses Echo inserts.

I wasn't showing the making of him turning so apparently you didn't watch the video. this was on how he does a Bee's wax and mineral oil bath so the entire housing for the insert gets sealed. There was a question as how one finishes and this is an example of one way.

 

[dogcatcher]

Here is a Video of Carl Jacobson on how he does the finish on his duck calls

He is not a real duck call maker, he is a wood turner that thinks he makes duck calls that uses Echo inserts.

I wasn't showing the making of him turning so apparently you didn't watch the video. this was on how he does a Bee's wax and mineral oil bath so the entire housing for the insert gets sealed. There was a question as how one finishes and this is an example of one way.

I watched the video, the beeswax finish is not a durable enough finish for duck calls. Like I said he isn't a duck callmaker, he is a woodturner that makes duck calls using Echo inserts.

Would you sell a pen that has a finish like his? A duck call or any game call is subjected to a lot more than a pen.

 

[SDB777]

I like using acrylic, after all....I know someone that makes the swirly stuff for me! My finish never fades in a duck blind!



Scott (I give mine away) B

 

[GDIS46]

In my humble opinion, if the calls had your signature (laser etched or ink signed) and were numbered like a limited edition (1 of 100), then they imply some kind of limited collect-ability feature which, I think, will help you sell them.

Again, just my opinion.

Gary in Blossom Valley, CA