Er, wait. What was I talking about?
Oh. Money. There's an ongoing debate in the framebuilding world about how much money one should charge. On one side are the crusty veterans (well, not all of them, but many) who probably feel a bit threatened by the youngsters who are willing to work for just enough to pay the beef jerky and pinto beans bill. These folks say we all need to charge $2000 or more, that every lug should be polished for at least 5 hours, and that anyone who makes more than 5 frames a year is a hack.
On the other side are the always-changing crop of semi-amateurs, newbies, and the occasional suffering fool who thinks he's a framebuilding monk. These folks charge $500 for a frame, make less than minimum wage, and can't understand why anyone would charge more. Their roommates who work at Orange Julius have to help cover their rent every month, but they keep it real by putting a lot of cool spoke cards on their stable of fixies.
Clearly, I'm exaggerating. But it's a real debate amongst framebuilders. As you'd expect, more experienced builders charge more than less experienced ones, and lug builders generally charge more than TIG, etc, etc.
My feeling is that you need to charge enough to live a decent life. Handbuilding bicycle frames is an old-school (anachronistic, even) way of building what is, for most folks, a luxury item. We're like the Amish of 2-wheeled recreation!
So for $1100 or so (and yes, that'll creep up as materials get more expensive and such) I can work a reasonable schedule, pay for my food and housing, go on vacation every once in a while, and save a few bucks. Folks who hang out a shingle and *don't* really intend to make a profit (or haven't done their homework to figure out what price will allow them to make one) are really hurting the folks who do this for a living to some extent, and when their businesses go under, they make us all look bad.
So bottom line, if you're going to be a framebuilder, sit down and do your homework before you start. If you're not capable of figuring out what your materials and overhead will cost, and how much time you'll need to spend on a frame, you're not ready to make bikes for money. Being a pro framebuilder is at least as much about being a savvy businessman as being a good welder.
5 comments:
Not to give you an ego, but I think your frames are underpriced.
And I'm saying this after all I've been through with my frame/order-the uh, one in the slightly crushed box...
And if your customers actually paid you money instead of pissing off to foreign countries, you'd have more money to buy Advil, Multi-Vits and other such items it sounds like you're in need of...
Hope feeling well soon and back pedaling.
Over the past couple of years, I've noticed that your prices seem to go up a bit when the waitlist gets much over 6 months, and the increase usually knocks the waitlist back to 4 months or so. Not sure if that's your system or just coincidence. But it does seem like a good way to keep supply and demand in balance.
what about escalades in a hummer? way better!
Frame wise, the price is right, although I would like an explanation for the jump between rigid and FS? Is the Ventana rear that expensive? It seems like there is less frame for you to build in the FS model.
Pretty simple, really - the Ventana rear end and hardware cost $700, and the Fox shock (which I include) costs another $200. Plus the front end of the Ventana bikes is a LOT more work than the front end of a hardtail.
So it works out about the same, in terms of profits/costs.
-Walt
Post a Comment