Full Version: Perceived value #1?
From: Pete (AWARDMASTERS) [#12]
27 Jul 2005
To: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#11] 27 Jul 2005
David,
There must be something wrong with the logo at the top of my page. It looks good :)
From: laserman (MIKEMAC) [#13]
27 Jul 2005
To: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#11] 27 Jul 2005
The fact of my sample is that it is lasered onto engraving plastic. Total cost of materials+labor is about 17.00 and most was laser time. The point I was trying to make here is you don't have to spend a lot to make a lot.
Now the big question is would someone pay 30, 40.00 or more for something like this. We did not do this to sell just to use as a sample of how the laser works.
I still get the NO WAY WAS THAT LASER ENGRAVED I have to actually take it out of the frame to prove that is was laser engraved.
perceived value is what people think it is worth if you can get a perceived value from something that does not cost anything to produce then that equates to more money in the pocket.
Keep in mind that we are not a retail shop. But if I can show you what a laser can do with minimal expense then I have done my job to open your eyes to the possibilities.
EDITED: 27 Jul 2005 by MIKEMAC
From: Cody (BOBTNAILER) [#14]
27 Jul 2005
To: laserman (MIKEMAC) [#4] 27 Jul 2005
(I'm typing this as my wife tells me what to say)
With this type of photograph, a wooden frame takes away from the meaning/feeling of the picture. The picture is "delicate", but the frame is almost harsh...it diminishes the special moment that the photo tries to portray.
To properly display the photograph/image, one would need a silver or gold frame. It could even be glass or crystal...anything that looks "delicate".
Perceived value? Not very high with that frame.
However, with a silver or gold frame, one could easily get $50 (depending upon the material). Of course, that depends on the material being used for the engraving.
(Wife has now left the room)
I would have NEVER noticed the frame / picture clash that she pointed out. Then again, she notices a lot of "feely" things that I simply do not.
From: laserman (MIKEMAC) [#15]
27 Jul 2005
To: Cody (BOBTNAILER) [#14] 27 Jul 2005
Cody,
Your wife is probably correct I am a cheap person and this frame was purchased at the 99 cent store. The reason for the frame was to take ones eyes away from the material it was engraved on.
For my showroom samples I am not going to invest lots of money just for displaying purposes.
Again the point being you don't realize that the material is plastic when it is framed and with a nicer frame more perceived value.
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#16]
27 Jul 2005
To: laserman (MIKEMAC) [#13] 27 Jul 2005
We're probably not the right audience to judge perceived value, because we (generally) know the processes used, the time involved and the wholesale costs of materials.
To get a true measure of perceived value, we'd have to approach people with none of that knowledge.
Another part of the equation is what equipment people personally have at their disposal.
Many people in the general public have desktop printing capability, which might have them saying, "Why should I pay for something I could make myself?"
If the selling point is the fact the image is laser engraved, people may attach more value to the item.
Not too many people, in the general public, with laser engraving machines at their disposal. :-)
Thank you for posting the example.
EDITED: 27 Jul 2005 by DGL
From: logojohn [#17]
28 Jul 2005
To: laserman (MIKEMAC) [#4] 30 Jul 2005
Metal has a much higher perceived value than plastic.
I put some of the new red alder JDS frames on display a few months ago and haven't sold one. We sell pressboard plaques for twice as much all day long.
Maybe you could get the photo to come out good on some type of metal.
A black brass plate with the lasered gold photo would differentiate it from just being a paper picture also. It might even sell for more mounted in a frame without the glass.
You have to "invert" (like a negative) the image if lasered on a dark background.
Gold with black would also look rich.
It will vary by your clientelle. Here we have a lot of business people. I could sell the plaque with a metal plate for 3 to 4 times what I could get for anything in a frame with the same amount of work and material cost. For regular consumers just wanting a picture of their relatives, it wouln't likely sell well though.
From: UncleSteve [#18]
28 Jul 2005
To: Cody (BOBTNAILER) [#14] 28 Jul 2005
Cody, I started this "game" and have been sitting back waiting for someone, in this case your astute wife, to strike the pointed object with the heavy weapon of choice....
PERCEIVED VALUE WILL DIFFER CONSIDERABLY BASED UPON PRESENTATION!!!!
Even knowing the material costs and labor/time required still brought out nice margins pending changing the frame in this case!!!!
Hang it on the wall in a corner vs. placed prominently on a shelf in a highly visible and illuminated place in your display/shop/window.
Also, the subject matter on the display piece is very important.
NEVER get into the habit of using "mistakes" for display items.... especially if there are misspellings or errors in alignment on the sample.
From: Cody (BOBTNAILER) [#19]
28 Jul 2005
To: UncleSteve [#18] 29 Jul 2005
However, I have a few items that have misspellings that no one will ever notice (odd names).
I also have a couple of photos on acrylic that aren't quite centered. However, you either have to have a good eye for centering (as I do), or a ruler to tell that it's not perfect. I've invited a couple of folks to tell me what they could find wrong, and no one has been able to tell (the errors really are small, though).
Presentation plays a huge part in perceived value. If you don't value the item enough to give it a prominent spot in your showroom, why should a customer give it more value?
From: UncleSteve [#20]
29 Jul 2005
To: Cody (BOBTNAILER) [#19] 30 Jul 2005
Cody, I agree that there are mistakes and there are misteaks..... :O
It is the "misteaks" that must be avoided. And what's with these parents that give a child a name that the parent can't even spell?
From: Laura (ELLEMD628) [#21]
29 Jul 2005
To: UncleSteve [#20] 29 Jul 2005
From: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#22]
29 Jul 2005
To: Laura (ELLEMD628) [#21] 29 Jul 2005
Laura,
From your comments, a thought just came to mind for a cute holiday TV commercial. You could tape a customer coming into your store requesting personalized items for their friends with unique names like Shaniqua, Abdallah, Tapaun, Aaliyah, etc. You or an employee could return with all of the items with the respective names engraved. Finish the commercial off with a catchy tag line related to unique names and your personalization serices.
From: bluepaw [#23]
29 Jul 2005
To: ALL
Although I have been in the engraving business a very short time, I have been in business for a loooooooooooooog time, and most types of business are simular in regards to perceived value.
One thing that I think many people miss is that their customer is buying an item not a process. Most customers could not care less about how it was done, they base what they will pay on the final product.
I understand that there is a lot more to perceived value than the item itself, such as the quality image your shop creates (or doesn't create) but for the most part the end product is what they are buying.
When you buy a hamburger at a fast food place you are concerned only with how it tastes, not what kind of equipment was used to prepare it.
You will pay a lot more for the same amount of popcorn at the theatre than at Wal-Mart.
I sort of changed subjects in midstream but the bottom line is, don't get so hungup on the process that you forget about the product.
If you have to explain to your customer why your item is worth more because of how it was accomplished then it probably isn't.
Bill
From: Laura (ELLEMD628) [#24]
29 Jul 2005
To: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#22] 29 Jul 2005
From: Shaddy [#25]
29 Jul 2005
To: bluepaw [#23] 29 Jul 2005
Not to be argumentative, but I disagree.
I'll just give an example. The ornaments I do for Christmas are originally for scrollsawing. I would pay more for the exact same scrollsawn ornament versus a laser cut one. Mine would look better, but the other one would have more value to me because I know how much works goes into it. Not to mention skill and patience.
But, the scrollsaw-er would pay more for mine, because it being Laser Cut would be like Star Wars stuff for him, something new and so much more accurate. I ran into a guy at my home town fair that had a booth with scrollsaw stuff and had this talk with him. With his experience and streamlined technique it's nothing to him anymore, he just gets into the Zone and whips one out (actually does about 5 at a time stuck together). And for me, I buy prefinished wood, I mask then click "go".
So the "perceived" value for us differs a great deal only because of the process.
I think the general public would fall between the two extremes, all over the spectrum. Some would value one more than the other based on how much they know about the process involved. And it also depends on the person. I know just enough about scrollsawing with my 2 or 3 attempts to know it would be way too hard for me so I value it more. But someone that had a good experience with it might think it's easy and value it less.
Anyway... I think that carries over to everything. Someone that knows the cost of the laser and the precision involved might value it more... but that same person might think "all they do is click Go", so would value it less. I had one lady telling me my little acrylic box (that probably cost a couple dollars, all things considered) that I was selling for $10, that I should be asking $40 to $50 dollars. It was that new and fascinating to her. (but she still didn't buy it, dang it)
Shaddy
From: scroller (JEFF) [#26]
29 Jul 2005
To: Shaddy [#25] 29 Jul 2005
From: Ken D. (KDEVORY) [#27]
29 Jul 2005
To: Shaddy [#25] 29 Jul 2005
Can you market them as "whole sale, direct from the manufacturer. Only $15 instead of $45 retail."
From: Shaddy [#28]
29 Jul 2005
To: scroller (JEFF) [#26] 29 Jul 2005
Point taken. I don't have much experience, I've only done 3 shows ever (c:
I do sell little things quite a bit, like bookmarks and tiny cheaper ornaments, because people want to take soemthing away that's been "lasered", they just never intended on buying something big. I need to just invest (and write off) and make a bunch of wooden business cards. I just haven't made the plunge yet.
Did you laser your clocks? I'd LOVE to make one for my other-job boss (he's an avid clock collector). The plans I bought for a different one came on paper, and I had to scan in and vectorise. i got overwhelmed and couldn't complete doing it.
What laser/wattage do you use? Do you vector cut 1/4 Oak well? I haven't had much luck with 1/4" oak. a lot of charring. Did you vectorize your own stuff or get a PDF from somewhere?
You have some great stuff on your site. Also, where'd you get the puppy plaque plans?
And Ken, that's a good idea to put a "Retail" sticker price somewhere. I might experiment with something like that just to see where it leads. It kinda feels weird, like almost being dishonest. But when it comes down to it, I'm going to decide a price, and they're either going to pay it or not. They have a choice on whether they want to buy it or not. This whole thing is still pretty new to me, I've never sold things before (as anyone who's read all my posts have probably guessed).
Shaddy
From: scroller (JEFF) [#29]
29 Jul 2005
To: Shaddy [#28] 29 Jul 2005
Shaddy,
I still scroll saw anything 1/2" or thicker which includes all the clocks however I have been experimenting with a few by lasering part of the design and scroll sawing the other part. I do that now with my helicopter clocks and the balloon clock but have'nt updated my website with new pics yet. I really like the way they turn out done half & half and hope to do more in the future if I can ever find the time. Most of my 1/4" oak products are done with the laser now. I don't get much charring however the inside edges have a dark carmel look. The outside edges I either do with my scroll saw or on the simpler items like the dog signs I use an Onsrud inverted pin router. That way the natural look of the oak still shows on the outside edge where the customer can more easily see it. After lasering I sand all the signs with a Performax drum sander to take off any smoke or burn marks and then apply Danish Oil and 2 coats of lacquer. I have an Epilog 75W Legend 24EX and I vectorize all my own images by using the bezier tool in Corel. With the dog signs I started with 20 patterns from a Judy Gale Roberts scroll saw book and the other 60 I have traced off of photos myself (very time consuming). I sell quite a few of the dog signs so it makes the time investment worth it. Hope this helps, Jeff.
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