How can this be $24?

[Cracker Red]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/abstract-metal- ... 4869120f95

Seriously....how can someone cut this out, patina it, clear coat it, and sell it on ebay using paypal (fees) for $24?

I politely emailed the guy and got a snide response about sticking to putting numbers on mailboxes and license plate frames.

Do people work for free?

[JEd]

It's pretty small so steel cost isn't very much. Say all together materials in it are $4. I don't know what paypal gets, but say he makes $15 each on them. It wouldn't be worth it to make 1 for $15 profit/my time, but if I could make 10 for $150 or better yet 20 for $300 it might not start to be too bad. It probably doesn't take that much longer to make 10 than it did to make 1 or 2.

[Cracker Red]

Gotcha!

Seriously....I have to find a niche

[CNCCAJUN]

NICHE!

The way to go . . .

Steve

[muzza]

Unfortunately this is an industry that is full of people wanting to supplement their income so we often see sweat shop pricing. I'm hearing about more and more people all the time that are happy just to make a couple of hundred dollars to top up their pension or day job out of their back yard shed. I know a guy who averages about 4-6 hours per sculpture which he sells at the market for about $40 to $50.00, he's happy as can be, says it keeps him busy and sane and pays for his beer and smokes too.

We also have a great government backed concept here in Australia called "Men's Shed" which is primarily to keep mature aged gents active and making things as well as socializing etc. which has proven to be a huge benefit to mens health and well being. The down side is that these Men's Sheds have to be run as a not for profit organisation so all the things they make are sold for very low prices which takes away from those trying to make a living. Don't get me wrong I think they are great for what they are intended but really need a bit more thought put into marketing.

As has been suggested, find a niche market, just don't tell anyone about it when you do (except me ) or it will no longer be a niche market.
Murray

[acourtjester]

He seems to loosing on the shipping end too
A medium flat rate box Priority mail is $13.

[wickedinhere]

I would be around 35.00 on a piece like that at that size.

[wickedinhere]

I use to be in the lawn business(residential) I bought expensive equipment because i wanted it to last and not break down all the time. What happens is you get some jobs and all it looking good THEN it happens customers start dropping your service.
The reason is some jack leg is cutting your price in half because he has a sears mower and has no insurance or business license. If he tears up something he just disappears and doesn't care. I still cut some grass but only commercial property because the money is better and less headache. The same applies to plasma cutting look for better paying customers.

[zachv]

He seems to loosing on the shipping end too
A medium flat rate box Priority mail is $13.

Try using Regional Rate A boxes. That piece would fit in there and shipping is ~$6-$10 depending on how far the customer is from the seller. They are a handy way to fit Medium box sized lighter pieces and ships cheaper.
Hope it helps.

[Sampson Jones]

It's not 24.00 , that's the starting bid ! It's 59.00 plus freight .

[acourtjester]

I will check into the regional rate box
thanks
Tom

[kbenz]

It's not 24.00 , that's the starting bid ! It's 59.00 plus freight .

Opening bid is $24 plus freight

[michmetalman]

He didn't sell it, so....lol
There is a guy on Ebay who sells a ton of stuff bare metal, mostly garden stakes and he sells like 100 a month at around $10 each. not bad!

[rickcnc]

Take a look at his sold items, In July he's had over 1000.00 in sales.. not bad if this is a hobby

[beefy]

Take a look at his sold items, In July he's had over 1000.00 in sales.. not bad if this is a hobby

But how much of that is clear profit, and how much time did he put into all aspects of making those sales ?

Ebay is going to take their hefty chunk out of those sales too.

Only when that is known, can you tell if he's doing OK or working for peanuts.

Keith.

[VSAW]

Much better to stick to cutting pieces that are used in manufacturing. The art side has had all the money taken out of it already by China made crap.

[Larry83301]

Much better to stick to cutting pieces that are used in manufacturing. The art side has had all the money taken out of it already by China made crap.

To each his own. As for me I had enough years of making pieces used in manufacturing, now I can make the ART pieces that I like and enjoy what I do.

Larry

[tnbndr]

To each his own. As for me I had enough years of making pieces used in manufacturing, now I can make the ART pieces that I like and enjoy what I do

I agree, there are still enough people to enjoy custom art over the Chinese crap.

[levesquea]

I tend to add a differentiatior to my metal/wood art. Yes it is more time consuming but i can ask for a higher price.
With all the free dxf's out there it doesnt take too much talent to cut and spray paint with black and sell on the internet for cheap prices. It's a numbers game at that point. I made a logging truck just out of metal.... spray painted it black and I sold it for 75$ ( 11" x 24"). Same truck with integrated wood and i got 375$. And I enjoyed doing it much better.Probably an hour more work for the wood part.
I'm just starting at this in preparation to my retirement. I will be focusing on one of. CUSTOM or unique art pieces integrating metal/wood and stained glass. People appreciate a unique piece that they wont see somewhere else and I get to enjoy making it. I am now learning airbrushing and metal die application.

Nothing wrong with plain black cutouts...but i feel you need volume to make money...around here anyways(canada).
My 2 cents

Andre