Prices going up!

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ToddMR

ToddMR

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Joined
May 3, 2010
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Location
Columbus, OH
So I about had a heart attack this morning when I looked at a gold cigar pen kit at WC and saw it was now $9.69! OUCH! Even the slim line kits are now over $5 for the gold ones. Looks like I will need to re-examine my prices. Makes ordering online even better for me. I do most of it now that way, but when I need something quick I normally stop at WC. I understand it is probably the times, but was still really shocking on that kit specifically.
 
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There is a big difference in prices locally and online. I like to support Woodwerks and Woodcraft and bought my lathe, grinder, vises, tools and many blanks from them. But for regular supplies, the internet is a less expensive option.
 
Gold is $1400+ per ounce. While I realize there is very little in the kits, it's a great excuse for the manufacturers.

TiGold is expected to go up a lot, too. At least that is what I have been told.

FWIW
 
ed4copies said:
Gold is $1400+ per ounce. While I realize there is very little in the kits, it's a great excuse for the manufacturers.

TiGold is expected to go up a lot, too. At least that is what I have been told.

FWIW
Click to expand...

Way to be the bearer of good news....:mad:
(I know I know you are just the messenger:redface: so I will hold off on the shooting:biggrin:)
 
I'm really thinking is Time to find a new hobby if prices keep going up that much....Is hard enough trying to sell a pen the way prices are right now.Is just a matter of time before all the online vendors take their prices up also.Wow.... Next will be the prices of wood going up cause the price of gas is going up.Any good old excuse will work to take prices up... Maaaannnnnnnnnnn!!!!
 
The cost of manufacturing from China are going up big time. I just found out from a good source expect prices to be as much as 35% higher or more over then next year. Give it a couple of months and 9.69 will be cheap. As Ed said gold is high and going higher. All of the precious metals are jumping in price. There is amount of gold in plating is low but it still costs $$$$. My prices are going up at least 15% higher for 2011.
 
Remember there is still a world-wide "recession". So, while material costs have risen dramatically (if you follow commodities you know this has been a record year), there is not a lot of "free cash" floating around to make purchases. So, price of materials will press prices higher, BUT demand and available discretionary spending (with 10% unemployed) will push competition to keep prices low.

"May you live in interesting times" (Chinese curse, I am told)!!
 
Ed did you see the makers of the frisbee and the hula hoop have brought manufacturing back to the US because the high cost in China.
 
I too have begun to use WC as an "emergency" stop. I love looking, but their prices have become too high for me.
 
Also keep in mind that China has for years artificially deflated the Yuan specifically to minimize profits to internal producers while promoting growth in total exports. While increases in currency value go into the pockets of of the individual producers, Growth in gross exports can easily be siphoned into the Governments bottomless pockets to finance new aircraft carrier killing cruise missile and extensive international travel by government officials. Does the phrase "Quantitative Easing" sound familiar? Anyway, after decades of the US turning a blind eye to Chinese currency manipulation, they just this year started to really press the Chinese trade authority to allow the value of the Yuan to rise, so that our government could start devaluing the dollar.

And if you think kit prices are going up, try to price a new lathe in about a year.
 
My vendor list looks something like this:
1) Arizona Silhouette
2) Smitty's Pen Works
3) (do without)
4) (still won't buy it)
5) Woodcraft

Pretty much everything they stock is overpriced when compared to other vendors.
 
Maybe have to get serious about kitless pens. Saw on another forum that beartooth woods is selling the nib couplers for one class of pen, churchill I think. Will be pointing my browser over there come payday.

By the way, a couple of our major companies are moving their business from china to vietnam. Cheaper wages.
 
Prices up

Well, I got a new price list from China and the prices for kits went up about 5%. Also Tomorrow 1/2/11 Priority Mail postage, and thus a lot of shipping costs, are going up. That says don't look for lower prices....
 
bking0217 said:
My vendor list looks something like this:
1) Arizona Silhouette
2) Smitty's Pen Works
3) (do without)
4) (still won't buy it)
5) Woodcraft

Pretty much everything they stock is overpriced when compared to other vendors.
Click to expand...

$10 bucks for a 24K Gold Cigar. You are paying too much. You can add:
http://www.woodturningz.com
to your list and you can get them for less than $5 and their average price for slims are $2, but I
think even Smitty can beat that price with same or better quality.
 
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China's getting more expensive just like Japan did in the 70's and 80's. India and Vietnam are the cheapest at the moment. A lot of Bosch manufacturing is in India.

I expect things will come full circle and the US manufacturing will be cost effective for more than frisbees soon.
 
This is a political statement and will be lambasted, but if U.S. would take China off the "Most favored nation" list and start charging duties on their products, we would see lots of U.S. manufacturing come back home... even though China was one of my bigger markets during my last 10 working years, it still irked me to see their goods arrive without duties... our goods into China did NOT go in duty free.
 
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