egnald
Member
Greetings all, Have you ever heard of "Stuck Song Syndrome"? Well, I have something similar going on. Yesterday I ran across something and I just can't seem to get it out of my head, so I thought if I post it here maybe my brain will quit trying to answer the unknown question.
Whenever I start contemplating setting up a Nebraska business to sell some of my pens I do a little Google and eBay research on what they are being sold for. I ran across an eBay store and associated auctions from a seller in Colorado with mostly Southwest, Cigar, Vertex, and some slim style pens. What got stuck for me are the prices.
For example, the seller has Southwest twist pens, segmented (albeit the woods are relatively common, padauk, maple, walnut, etc.) being sold for $32 (or best offer) including shipping. That particular kit is $20. The segmented blank must surely have a couple of dollars worth of wood. The supplies used to build the kit, glue, sandpaper, finish, etc. are probably another dollar or so. I would assume that the shipping is simply a padded First-Class envelope that goes for $0.51 postage plus another $0.20 or so for the padded envelope. Considering selling on eBay with store costs, listing fees, and commissions, my estimated cost is somewhere around $26 give or take. For the pens that sold for the full listing price. that only leaves $6 for all of the work and effort that went into making it. (I note the full listing price because many of the sales went for less than the listing price as "best offer" sales).
It makes me feel narcissistic because I value the pens I turn much more highly than simply the direct cost of the materials. There is no way I could muster any motivation to build a product, manage a catalog, and deal with sales and shipping for something that only marginally covers the direct costs. Does this make sense or am I just being conceited by placing too much value on my craftsmanship and chariness?
Regards,
Dave
Whenever I start contemplating setting up a Nebraska business to sell some of my pens I do a little Google and eBay research on what they are being sold for. I ran across an eBay store and associated auctions from a seller in Colorado with mostly Southwest, Cigar, Vertex, and some slim style pens. What got stuck for me are the prices.
For example, the seller has Southwest twist pens, segmented (albeit the woods are relatively common, padauk, maple, walnut, etc.) being sold for $32 (or best offer) including shipping. That particular kit is $20. The segmented blank must surely have a couple of dollars worth of wood. The supplies used to build the kit, glue, sandpaper, finish, etc. are probably another dollar or so. I would assume that the shipping is simply a padded First-Class envelope that goes for $0.51 postage plus another $0.20 or so for the padded envelope. Considering selling on eBay with store costs, listing fees, and commissions, my estimated cost is somewhere around $26 give or take. For the pens that sold for the full listing price. that only leaves $6 for all of the work and effort that went into making it. (I note the full listing price because many of the sales went for less than the listing price as "best offer" sales).
It makes me feel narcissistic because I value the pens I turn much more highly than simply the direct cost of the materials. There is no way I could muster any motivation to build a product, manage a catalog, and deal with sales and shipping for something that only marginally covers the direct costs. Does this make sense or am I just being conceited by placing too much value on my craftsmanship and chariness?
Regards,
Dave