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 |