Reply by americanwoodworker

@montecristo

I think you nailed it perfectly. There are so many people I know who build outstanding furniture but cannot sell them because of cost. Cost of materials, utilities, rent, food, taxes, labor and on. We have to make so much anymore just to stay above poverty that pricing goods becomes difficult. They have people who look at it and tell them it costs to much.

Not long ago a buddy of mine posted some of his items on facebook. He got alot of local people really interested in what he was making but he could not sell any. He had a lady ask him to come over and bid on some custom cabinetry for her bathroom. He lost the job to some illegal immigrants who way underbid him.

In a college class I took last year we were told to read a book by Tom Peters called Re-Imagine. In the book he talked about how our economy was changing from a product economy to a service economy. It is way cheaper to build products over-seas than here. So now businesses here are turning into a service based business. One example he gives is UPS. How they are not only delivering packages but are also giving customers solutions such as packaging. Hence the term “What can brown do for you?” It has been awhile since I read the book but thats the basic premise of it. Not an easy read I might add. But if you can make it through it you will understand alot of what challenges the U.S. faces in the global market. I personally do not feel we can make it like that. But that is another discussion.

I always thought of using a selling point of you can spend $2000 on the entertainment center that will last generations or go to walmart and spend $200 for one that will last 3 years. Problem with that is people move to much. The average person lives in a house for no more than 3 to 5 years before they move or buy a new one. That creates a challenge because when we move we want new. We want new furniture, and it has to match. We want new paint, and the furniture has to match.

We don’t buy things to last, because we get bored easily and there is too much funny money out there. Credit Cards, loans etc.. Credit for us has also turned into a throw away item because we can get it so easily. Our grandparents worked and saved for along time to buy things and they took care of it. They bought quality because they new it was to expensive to replace. They handed it down as an heirloom. Not us, we get bored with it and get something else. Thus we go to Wal-Mart, use our credit card, and get cheap.

There are alot of challenges for us. Not only as individuals who wish to turn our dream into a reality. But as a country. I will admit I do the same thing when I purchase stuff. I have bought low end tools because of price. Then it breaks and I buy again. Finally Grandpa’s voice will pop in to my head and I will save up and get better quality. Then I forget again, thinking I can outsave my stupidity.

-- Your freedom to be you, includes my freedom to be free from you.