Do Buyers Really Just Not Care?

[GrampaJoel]

"Drifter Wade,

I get a funny look with a response like,...."Who cares, I like new things all the time." or, "I can buy five new saddles for the price of one of yours.".......There it is"

There it is indeed.

I once watched a leather booth right next to mine sell little leather crosses. Truly nothing fancy, for the price of $8.00 each.

They had a piece of lace in the top to hang from, and sparkles on the cross. That booth sold out of about fifty of theses crosses.

I in the meantime my booth right next door, with my higher end and higher dollar, stuff, I didn't sell a thing.

There is a market for true craftsmanship, but few of us ever get there.

To sell a saddle for $30,000.00 as some of the better saddle makers can do, or to sell a set of rawhide reins/ romal for $1500.00 is something few of us will ever have the pleasure of doing.

[electrathon]

Hold on here folks. Art is in the eye of the beholder. Some people LOVE the rustic look of things. Just because we hold ourselves to a higher standard doesn't mean that gentleman's stuff is crap.

I'm personally in the process of "dragging behind the car" a nice piece of HO leather I am making a holster from. The person wanted it to look old and worn... and he's paying me to do it. I asked him 4 times if he was sure... he kept saying "Yep" so I beat it with a lava rock yesterday... scuffed it up with 80 grit sand paper... and will sand at it again when the thing is finished so it looks like it's had the hell worn out of it.

Please step down from your high horses.... and come back to earth. We each have our own idea of what looks good...

Sylvia,

This is a perfect example of what we are talking about. I am guessing he did not come to you and tell you to make twisted stitch lines, bad cuts, poor fitting edges. He wanted a nice item that was distressed to show age. Like a nice leather jacket that is distressed does not look like worn out vinyl.

[electrathon]

"There are a lot of leatherworkers that do very poopy work, on here too." Boy, that is going to make us newbies paranoid.

ChiefJason, I agree. I have some hanging in the shop that I won't ship but they are very functional . I won't sell them until I get better. I recently made a couple for some paying friends and the response was great. Makes me feel a little better.

My first ones were terrible but I didn't know how bad they were. Between Cas City and here, the bar is being established. One step at a atime.

If you see that you are not yet doing good work you will hopefully learn and do better. Choppy lines, bad cuts and such are not attractive. As you learn you will make fewer and fewer mistakes. That is different than selling bad work and thinking it is good.

Much of the stuff sold at Wal-Mart looks good, just is made poorly. This discussion was primarily about work that looks bad from day one.

[Red Cent]

A very subjective matter, judging leather work.

[Sylvia]

A very subjective matter, judging leather work.

Exactly!! Just like any art. I personally don't like abstract art... but it sells for millions. I don't like junkyard art... but it sells too.

I just think it is poor form to express ones distaste for another's work in a public forum. Opinions like assholes stink...but we all have one.

[TXAG]

Looks like some people around here do not cannot differentiate between bad design and bad technique.

Edited November 16, 2013 by TXAG

[Sylvia]

Just remember TXAG... while you are pointing fingers and passing judgment 3 of your fingers are pointing back at YOU.

[Fullmetalsam]

Looks like some people around here do not cannot differentiate between bad design and bad technique.

Oh, I think you're wrong on that - they can.

They just don't point it out unless they are asked to.

------------------

I'm with Sylvia.

We can all spot a shitty job... but everybody has to start somewhere and you guys don't know that guy's deal.

Maybe he's just selling to family and friends and they are trying to support him (and they don't care how it looks.)

[TXAG]

Maybe he's just selling to family and friends and they are trying to support him (and they don't care how it looks.)

You don't need an etsy store to do that.

Anyway, I posted a legitimate question -- I didn't understand why people are apparently drawn to poorly-made items, but thanks to most of the responses in this thread, I get it now. Too few people left in the world that appreciate well-made, finely-crafted items.

Got it.

Edited November 16, 2013 by TXAG

[TXAG]

Just remember TXAG... while you are pointing fingers and passing judgment 3 of your fingers are pointing back at YOU.

Blah, blah, blah...

[chiefjason]

I'm actually an artist by education. I've got a minor in fine art. It's a minor because I got tired of all the subjective BS and putting hours upon hours into something and no one wants to pay you for it. It's a tough way to make a living. And has a lot of parallels to leatherwork I would think. One of my best pieces ever is sitting just over my computer monitor. It took me 15 minutes to finish. There is a piece on the desk somewhere that is 1/10th the size and I have too many hours to count in it and it's not even finished. May never be. Go figure.

A lot of folks are artists, just ask. Everyones brother, cousin, mom, spouse, or something can do exactly what you are doing. Put your stuff on display and they will tell you. It's a crazy world. Put tons of work into something and ask a low price, people will think it's cheap and not want it. Ask too much and you never sell it, unless you build a reputation that justifies that price. Because it's rarely the work that justifies it. Let's be honest here. An artist is only as successful as their marketing. Some of that marketing is about quality, but most of it isn't. If you can find the balance between work and what folks will pay you for something you might do OK and get to build that reputation.

But there is also always a market for cheap stuff; made, priced, and sold cheap. Then there are the lunatics that appear to be giving their time away and selling their product at cost. BTDT. Not much past that now sometimes.

I caught a great comment on another board recently from one of the best holster makers in the world. He said most holster makers have never seen the inside of another shop. They are self taught. We no longer apprentice in many industries. I know I fit that bill and judging by what I see for sale a lot of other guys fit that bill and don't pay any attention to the details. It's annoying to see that stuff sale. It's annoying to go into my local gun shop and see the mistakes on the production holsters he sells. But I just shake my head and keep doing my thing my way. I'll pass or fail on my terms. And what others are doing does not have to have much to do with that.

[Red Cent]

" Put tons of work into something and ask a low price, people will think it's cheap and not want it. Ask too much and you never sell it, unless you build a reputation that justifies that price."

Amen to what Chief said.

A retired State Police and a cowboy buddy told me that you are going to discover your friends want "their" price and will snort at a HALFWAY reasonable price. He is a handstitcher and makes his and his wife's holster.

Yup.

Been around leather for most of my life. Never set foot in a shop. Didn't realize all the work and time involved in "finishing" a rig. Love it though.

Edited November 18, 2013 by Red Cent

[Matt T]

Add another one to the list:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/20mm-Handmade-Horween-Leather-Watch-Strap-Chromexcel-/121215051146?pt=US_Watch_Bands&hash=item1c38fae58a

[Tex Shooter]

I have always heard that "One man can't count another mans money". I think that also applies to talent. My wife is in a "Nursing Home" and I see what some there make. There items might look crude until you know there disability, then you wonder how they did it. Also I recently went to a "tourist trap town" and noticed that crude things were out selling the finely made items and for a good price. Go figger! -- Tex

[AndyL1]

Add another one to the list:

http://www.ebay.com/...=item1c38fae58a

GAH! MY EYES!!!!!!!

[stanly]

^^^ I like how he relisted the band for same price and didn't even touch up the edges

At same time admire for trying to make product out of some thing found on floor/in trash bin.

there's another band too, that's well "different".

http://www.ebay.com/...7#ht_115wt_1386

On the orig post I'm undecided, it's not rustic or vintage because my G.Grandma could have done a better job sewing w/ treadle and marking w/ wooden yardstick.

I struggle with making things rough when it's reproduction or costume wear. I think I sometimes fail because can't bring myself to give it the beatings needed for the look, but rationalize that the new owner can give it the appropriate amount.

Edited November 21, 2013 by stanly

[WScott]

Mom always said if you don't have anything nice to say.....

Not good use of your energy hacking on others

[jus10]

I'm in no position to judge others work but that was crappy maybe the guy is homeless and works in the dark while on drugs.

I saw a guy on Instagram who makes nice things make a knife sheath look rustic and sloppy on purpose and didn't understand why

People may want stuff to look that way idk

[cem]

Mom always said if you don't have anything nice to say.....

Not good use of your energy hacking on others

In agreement, this place generally has a good reputation for all things leather talk but it won't stay this way if this kind of stuff keeps up there is no need to be posting links of other people work to be picked apart.