True story:
Early in my turning career, I was at a show in Milwaukee (State Fair Park) and one of many women told me her husband could make pens, too. I said something that apparently made her more determined, so the next day, she came back, dragging the "hubby". He was dressed in jeans that looked new, so I was curious how this would go.
She says to him, "I told this guy (referring to me) YOU could make pens like that, too!" The hubby said, "Yes, Dear, I believe I COULD!!!" Then, to my surprise, he said to ME, "You use a lathe to make those, don't you?" I said yes (I was about to become disgusted, but hadn't reached hostile, yet!) He continued, "Nice mini-lathe is about 500 bucks??" Intrigued, I said yes again. He says, "Tools, ya gotta have turning tools - 100 bucks?"
He did not wait for me to answer. "That's a nice looking pen, bet your first ones didn't look exactly like that. What, about 10 -15 kits before you really 'got it down'?"
I started to like the direction we were headed, so I said, actually, closer to 20, but I AM a slow-learner. He agreed he was, too, then said, "About $8 a "kit" close to right - $150 overall?"
Now the guy develops "Einsteinism", he whips around to his wife and announces, "$500 and 100 and 150 - so, for only 750 bucks I CAN make you a pen, my dear - IF I FIND TIME!!! Save us both the time and effort and BUY the man's PEN for THIRTY LOUSY BUCKS!!!!!"
She didn't. But, I have told this story to MANY crafters and they all would like to thank that "Hubby". Now, you can pass it on. We can't tell the customers, but it does enter my mind every time I hear, "Oh, my husband can make that!!!"