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Doing A Replacement Job...fee?


guitarmonky55

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imo way too many guitar businesses these days in all their various facets and service: repairs, selling products, etc...overcharge.

Its a shame seeing kids walking in with the little money they got saved up and buying overmarked high priced items--they dont need. (In these so called 'sales' of the century that pop up every 2 months.)

Yes maybe repairs is tedious and wiring is a precise job to get it done right, but cmon. Some guitar techs and repair guys charge like they are surgeons.  :D

My prices per hour are cheaper than a plumber (who needs less tools, and no "shop"), a carpenter (who needs less tools, and no "shop"), a cabinet maker (who has less blow ins off the street to waste your time), a hairdresser (who has what, $200 worth of scissors?), a computer tech (who has $000 is tools? and no shop), an electrician (see above), and pool tech (see above), a landscape gardener (see above), etc etc bla bla. Ive completed apprenticeships in at least two of those trades, and worked extensively with all of them (i have a builders ticket), and i can state right now, luthiery is more intensive training, requires more concentration, more specialist tools, etc etc.

Im a proficient "tradesman" who has paid his dues, done the research, same as any other "trade" so why shouldnt i be able to charge like that?? YOU have the choice to go somewhere else, so do it, and stop complaining. There is a reason people wait 16 months for my guitars, 3 months for refinishes, and up to a month for a refret. Its because i know what im doing, do it perfectly, and i stand behind my name proudly.

But yeah, maybe i should drop my prices even though that would possibly bring in more work for me.... oh wait, i'm already doing 70 hours a week...

My business loan for the premises is more than $1000 a month, insurance, taxes, book-keeping fees, accounting fees, elctricity, water, tool replacement, advertising (virtually nil, but hey), web hosting, sponsorship of gigs, endorsements, etc etc etc etc all add up, which are probably things you havent even cosidered before you started your little rant...

Ask Kevan how much he has sunk into his Tremel-no. Ask Jeremy how much he invested before he even had one Leviathan finished. These are all costs that have to come from somewhere.

Whooaaa Perry, I didn't know you were a hairdresser! :D

Seriously though, the man makes a good point... it may take forever and a day to get my guitar, but I can always justify it to myself (and others who dont know crap and ask me *** my camo is) because everything bit of progress I have seen has been -perfect-, and I know that when I eventually get it (and please god please let it not be 16 months lol) it will be nothing less.

- Dan

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noviceluthier,

Have you build a guitar yet? Is your guitar know world wide for it's quality? Even known that you haven't advertized it openly!

Yes you pay only $10 for a haircut, but how many cuts that person does in an hour? Were I go the lady that cuts my hair get's 50% of what she makes, and she don't pay rent or electricity, or water or anything related to a business, and she can cut 12 guys in an hr, thats $60 not counting tips, with no expenses paid.

Now set yourself a shop, to be a little modest, say you rent a small place in a garage, set that at about $500 monthly, then add 3 phase electricity to run your planner, pin router, band saw, and other (cheap) equipment you might have at the shop, which can run into another $500 a month, then add the price of water, replacement of tools, especific tools you will need for luthier work, paints, and paint equipment, now go out and charge$200 for a custom guitar or $10 for a pup replacement and let me know how you are going to keep up with the expenses you will incur in your job.

The last guitar I build, the one at the GOTM last month run into $500 with cheap parts to keep the cost down, if I would have used the ones that I wanted it would had jumped to $670. Now just go and sell it for $700 because you think that it is rediculous to over price a guitar.

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