Fletch
I'll Lock Up
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Never mind easy - I'm arguing it's not even possible.
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Replicas of WWII wool hats used by the British Army.Agreed Fletch, it is probably not possible at all.
Foster, can I ask what types of repliacs you make?
In other news, the resale value of existing Goodwear jackets probably just increased as well!
Wow
I think you are right.
I am sure they will always have buyers but at some point you price the majority of folks out contention. I am one of them (priced out that is)
I second that.
I had a GW in target... will be without me... even I am sure the increase is certainly a reflect of leather price increase... (same applies for BK new HH leather models).
Still I think we all agree that GW is the n°1 about quality/accuracy and I would definitely prefer to pay that price for a GW than paying same or more for a Ralph Lauren (ot other fashion brand) non accurate fashion flight jacket!
just too high for me. [huh]
All he's doing is keeping standards. And narrowing his market, and inviting competition.
Repros could be copied closely. It's just that there usually isn't enough incentive to do it. A 40% price hike could be someone else's incentive.
If I were to charge that much, I'd broaden out my selection because he has a very narrow market to begin with. Add some civilian styles. But I've said that to him for a while.
Speaking as one who has made replicas of other items (not jackets), I suspect a similar dynamic may be at play here. I began making replicas out of personal interest and positive customer enthusiasm. Over time, the income from making these replicas didn't offset for the time involved and my personal motivation decreased (how many of one style item can one make before becoming somewhat bored with it?). That combined with increased raw material expenses naturally resulted in price increases. Others entered the same niche market, but seem to have dropped out after a few years. It is different with leather jackets, entirely different clientele, and more competition already. Add in the messy business of the subjectivity of desired fit and appearance, and there becomes a lot of potential headache in making something!
I've encountered the handmade mentality as just the opposite. If you work with your hands and are good at it, that means you love the product or craft more than automated machines or humans cutting and pasting on an assembly line.
John has priced himself according to what what he thinks the market will bear and how hard he wants to work.
My impression is the market will bear the price increase and he is working his bu*t off as it is.
My other hobby is acoustic guitars.
My favorite builder, last I checked, has an 8 year waiting list and is charging a base price of $12,000.00 for a flat top guitar.
His policy is that your deposit saves you a place in his build que. 8 years from now, when your slot comes up, he contacts you, tells you what he is charging for his guitars at THAT point in time, and asks if you want to go ahead with the build.
He came up with this pricing system because his wait time was being outstripped by the market for his "used" guitars. He would send out a new guitar only to see it selling on eBay a week later for more than what he had just received for it from the original customer.
Now...is a $12,000.00 + guitar "worth more" than a $700.00 guitar made in China?
Moot point.
There is obviously a market for those $12,000.00 guitars, and the luthier makes guitars for a living. Raising his prices over the years and going with his current pricing policy don't seem to have hurt his business.
I'd do the same were I as talented as these folks.
Interesting model. Does he return the deposit if they say no?
Very interesting!Replicas of WWII wool hats used by the British Army.
Again this is not getting at anyone, but.... I do find a wry amusement in the way the A2 has evolved from being a basic jacket that was churned out by the thousand by US Army contractors, mass producing to fill a need to a very niche product with a high unit cost and so much more emphasis on the detailing. Of course, reproducing something is always a harder thing to do than making it originally: any A2, any contract, of the originals is a real A2 and no-one questions the number of stitches, shape of the pocket flap etc (other than to identify it as belonging to a particular contract, of course - I'm thinking more here in terms of it being an "authentic" A2). A Repro, on the other hand.... much trickier.
Interesting model. Does he return the deposit if they say no?
There is an amusing factor in taking objects out of context and trying to recreate them in another! As we have seen craftsmen like John at Goodwear do an admirable job while other companies churn out mall quality A2s. The market will support both types.
I have a lot of respect for individuals who focus on a specific item and recreate it.
...and the interest?
"Payment terms and purchase prices: A $500, non-refundable and non-transferable deposit is due to confirm your order. This deposit secures your position on the wait list, without a locked in price. A price is locked prior to starting your guitar and 30% of that price is due before I commence building your guitar. The remainder of the price is due before shipping."
I gues this Heron Jacket on eBay last week was a steal...Even at the ending price.
http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com/viewitem?itemId=181064897831&index=7&nav=WATCHING&nid=37886514961
"Payment terms and purchase prices: A $500, non-refundable and non-transferable deposit is due to confirm your order. This deposit secures your position on the wait list, without a locked in price. A price is locked prior to starting your guitar and 30% of that price is due before I commence building your guitar. The remainder of the price is due before shipping."