[MR] linen shirt pricing

[Lord Lyon Filshenri]

Frederich Von Teufel  wrote:

--Quote from original ---
It's strange, I've met so many new craftsmen who are so afraid of
"cheating" their customers, that they cheat themselves. I've written a
couple of articles on the science of how to price your work, but
continually meet those who discount the good sense it provides, because
it's "easier" to choose an arbitrary price that has little logic behind
it.

 <snip>

 There _are_ skilled workers who charge appropriate prices for their
skilled labor, and there _are_ customers who appreciate the work and buy
from them. I've noticed that those businesses are usually the ones that
stay around for more than a few months. You can draw your own
conclusions.

-- End quote ---
 
I have to agree. I have paid $60 to $80 for well-made, well-researched
period shirts and under tunics. I have paid much more for good dress
tunics (with matching coifs, no less). If something is well-made of good
materials it will outlast three such cheaper articles, and becomes worth
the investment.

Here is the way I think of it: I can make anywhere from $60 to $85 an
hour doing freelance development work. It would take me many hours to
make such a shirt or so nice a tunic (insert unsolicited plugs here for
Black Swan, Gipsy Peddler, and, always, Angevin Treasures), so if
someone else will do it for what I can make in an hour or two, I come
out ahead. This argument is why I buy rather than make armor, too, and
don't mind paying for quality.

Yes, it is a lot of money. But if your product is good, it is not TOO
MUCH money.

Submitted for your consideration, 

Lord Lyon Filshenri, Marlin
Squire to Syr Otto von Schwartzkatz
Barony of Marinus, Kingdom of Atlantia
lordlyon at lairhaven.com

aka 

Lisa Morgan