Cost of Glitz vs Function

[BillinTR]

I have been trying to do some research for upcoming tool purchases. In particular I am looking at stamps and swivel knives. The problem I am having is understanding why it seems that an awful lot of high priced versions of things seem  to be more about the glitz than the function. I see swivel knives costing well over $100 where it seems that a lot of the cost is because of some really wild looking glitzy handles. The same thing with some awls and other hand tools with wild looking handles made of exotic hardwoods. Why do people care about how their tools look vs how they work? If I can afford to put money into a high end tool I want it to be to make it do its job better not make it look better in the tool rack.

 

[fredk]

Its life; a lot of people like and want the looks. Some people will pay that extra to have a fancier looking whatever, just to be different, to have different. Take two of the same item; sell one with no packaging, sell the other in fancy packaging at 10 times the price; there are people who believe the higher priced item will be better.  Thus there are people who tap into this vanity and mis-belief and sell at the highest price they can get

Last year when I bought my new car the dealer tried to sell me an add on of fancy alloy wheels at £1000 more. I didn't buy. A month later I met a chap who had bought his car the same day, he bought the fancy wheels

[JLSleather]

1 hour ago, BillinTR said:

If I can afford to put money into a high end tool I want it to be to make it do its job better not make it look better in the tool rack.

Im right there with ya.  I don't mind paying premium as long as I'm getting premium.  Note that "premium" does not mean "okay-ish and comes with a pretty story".   You may/may not have seen my "tag line".. 'Custom leather without the hype.  Really.'   I'm for thinking that if a guy has to spend time to tell you that it's "great", it likely ISN"T "great".   I can tell you my oak burnishers do as well as my cocobolo burnishers, which I bought to see if there was a difference (there wasn't).

I used to have an UGLY old truck with a snow blade on it.  EVERYBODY talked about that truck, and the wife complained for quite a while for me to get rid of it. But that was perhaps the strongest pushing truck I've ever owned - just no power windows   Since I pretty much never plowed snow with the windows open, I was okay with that. So when a smart-mouth kid with a shiny truck went on about it (I let him live, I actually like his dad).. I told him go look at that parking lot, snow all cleared, and tell me which truck plowed that one tonight.  Which of course he couldn't do.  And there's the test.... IS IT REALLY better because it's more expensive?@!

 

54 minutes ago, fredk said:

there are people who believe the higher priced item will be better.  Thus there are people who tap into this vanity and mis-belief

Same here in the states, of course, which is exactly what he's referring to.  I always say you can buy a Porsche to go to the grocery store. It WILL WORK, but you're spending a lot of money for "vanity".  I have had people brag that they paid more than I did for the same item   But I don't have a very high opinion of those who "tap into"... people who don't know better.  

Edited October 9, 2018 by JLSleather

[Sheilajeanne]

One of the most amazing leather artists out there was Al Stohlman. I've heard from people who've been to the Stohlman museum that the tools he used to produce gorgeous leather artwork like what you see in his books were very basic, and some of them were home made. 

Give me the most expensive tools in the world and I am STILL not going to produce work like his!

[YinTx]

I have a set of $10 stitching irons that stitch just fine.  I have a $10 swivel knife that won't swivel or cut no matter how much I sharpen it or oil it.  I have a set of expensive stitching irons that stitch great also, and I enjoy using them because the look nice, and they have a lot more heft, and thus feel nice in the hand.  If I am using a round knife every day, I might enjoy having it in a nice tooled leather case.  No case or a plastic one would do the job.

I also sell comparatively expensive hand made leather goods, that can be substituted by a very cheap item purchased off of Amazon or Walmart.  I am grateful there are those who appreciate the skill and time and quality of materials that go into my products and purchase them from me instead.  Now, a Veblen Good it is not, but definitely more bling and cost than the plastic versions out there.  Same can be said of some of those who make nicer leather working tools.  Leather Wranglers comes to mind, as does Terry Knipschield.  They put some bling on their work, but according to all the testimony from users, a lot of quality in the craftsmanship and materials in construction.

No you probably don't need it to make great art.  But it can make your work more enjoyable.

YinTx

[chrisash]

Perceived value v fit for purpose

 

[JLSleather]

8 hours ago, YinTx said:

definitely more bling and cost than the plastic versions out there.  Same can be said of some of those who make nicer leather working tools.

That covers my "thing" right there.  I don't use a round knife. But if I did, I would want one with quality steel - with some chrome in it for hardness and corrosion resistance - that keeps an edge well.  Then I'm okay with the plastic handle.

 

[BillinTR]

10 hours ago, YinTx said:

I also sell comparatively expensive hand made leather goods, that can be substituted by a very cheap item purchased off of Amazon or Walmart.

Yes but there you are talking about the end product where the objective is quality of appearance as well as function. I am talking about tools. Yes I can understand the cost of quality steel in blades and quality construction relating to the function of the tool. Being just a hobbyist with a limited budget I just can't afford to spend well over $100 on a swivel knife. But even if I could I wouldn't spend the money for pretty handles. It is a tool.

 

[JLSleather]

12 minutes ago, BillinTR said:

But even if I could I wouldn't spend the money for pretty handles. It is a tool

Don't remember ever dusting the saw blade before cutting the board   It's the board that matters.

[YinTx]

Whats with all these customers spendin on our tooled leather?  and nice dye jobs?  and pretty stitchin?  And fancy designs?  and pretty leather? Isn't this all just bling?  When all they really need is the pocket to hold the card, holder to strap in the gun, and a belt to hold up the pants? A rubber band will hold their credit cards and ID and cash, it is just going to be in the pocket anyhow, its a _card holder_, no need for our hand tooled hand stitched custom dyed Hermann Oak leather wallets/belts/holsters/checkbook covers, rifle straps, guitar straps, etc.  We don't give folks a hard time for liking and wanting these things.  Why should we give a tool maker a hard time for wanting to put some art in his craft also?  Someone will like it well enough to buy it.  Great for the tool maker.  Hopefully the buyer is happy also.

Yes, lot of people want utility only.  I fit that mold on a lot of things I use/buy.  It's available.  If you want high quality on the blade, buy a Leather Wrangler's blade only and attach it to a stick.  For sure, it'll work fantastic.  Sometimes I also want more than white on my walls, because it can make life a bit drab.  Thats available too.  If ya like that spinnie thingy on the top to play with as you think, get the ball bearing swivel with smooth saddle yoke for the stick.  (which I want, but I don't have, cuz I also can't justify the $ yet).  As they say, variety is the spice of life.

YinTx