Thread: What's a model car worth?

Lili B,
Nobody who does hand work as a hobby gets a fair price for their time, skill and labour.
If the models are for friends (Who should have known better than to ask) do as you say---charge for materials and a little bit extra, but if they are for commercial purposes, find a professional model maker and get a quote from him.You'll get a shock!!
I have heard so many times "Oh, I didn't know what to charge, and anyway, I enjoyed doing ity.It's my hobby" BULLSH*T, it is a skill acquired over many years!!,and it deserves to be adequately rewarded.
Good luck

Hey Lilli,

I have been through the process of making things for people and a rule of thumb that I was told was cost of materials and consumables times three is a good starting point, looking at the Wool Truck that you just did I would be looking at 4 (Four ) times cost, some of the Arty Farty people that make stuff for touristy places go as far as 7 or 8 times their costs .

Good Luck and keep up the good work

HazzaB

Just about Knew all the Answers and now the Questions are Different

I have faced similar issues. A person will say "I love that will you make me one?"

When it comes to "HOW MUCH" they often think you are charging too much when you just ask for the material cost (eg a clock)

A good approach is to say "How much an hour would you work for?" and then tell them how many hours go into it.

While I can, I limit myself to gifts as I feel happier about it instead of being insulted by someone offering me $10 for something that has taken several days to make and has $30 0r $40 of material in it. I have got that way with some people that when they ask me, I simply say "You could not afford to pay me what it would cost to make... this (one) was made as a gift for someone special to me"

Why not ask them how much THEY are prepared to pay and then YOU decide whether you are prepared to do it for that amount

Good luck and I love your work!

Chipman

Sometimes I find it easier for them to set the price and then work backwards from that.

If their budget is high then they will get better quality timber, better joinery and more time on details and finishes.

If their budget is medium then they may get a lower quality timber and perhaps less complicated joinery, perhaps not sanded to such a high grit.

If their budget is too low you tell them that there is nothing you can do for them.

I have found this works well .... it gives the client a clear understanding of what they are going to get and also means that the amount of effort that you put in is adequately rewarded.

The problem with it is if you are like me you want to do the best job possible and not cut corners ..... this results in the rewards of a medium budget job with the effort of a high!

Hi Everyone
There seems to be a consensus that the hobbyist isn't going to get what his or her work is worth, and that's just the reality of the old saying, 'something is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it'.

Sir S (I can't bring myself to type the rest - couldn't you find yourself a kinder pseudonym?) I agree with what you say, both about the price setting idea you have, but also that we wouldn't be inclined to live with middle grade or lower grade work. The only thing that could be done in that situation, is to make a less complex, and less time consuming product.

This is possible in model making, however, not necessarily in other fields of wood working. Dave's scroll sawn boxes, for example, would always be of the best material we had, and finished to the highest standard I could reach (being the family finisher), so there wouldn't be too many opportunities for 'cheapies' in that area.

We wouldn't want to use pine or MDF to make things, nor would we sell failures or jobs that weren't up to the highest standard we could attain. Poor Dave has been subject to my beady eye for more than 30 years, and if it has a fault, I'll find it!!!

I'm looking forward to what others have to say, because I'm obviously not the only one who has experienced this problem.

Cheers
LiliB

G'Day LilliB,
I used to make model cars and trucks for a shop , bugger all profit in it !!
At the last wood Show down here in Tassie there were 2 Truck Models for sale, The first was a Mack Tipper with Pig trailer about 800mm long all up. The second was a Kenworth Log truck about the same length, both were built to scale and verrry complete and made from Tas specialty timbers. Mostly Blackwood and Huon Pine, I don't know if they sold but asking price was $1800 each.
One shop I supply with boxes and clocks sell model cars and trucks similar to what David makes for $350 each.
Working on the same mark up that she puts on the stuff she buys from me she pays about $100 to $120 for them.
That said a private commission will give you about 20% on top as you are not selling through an outlet.
Cya
Andrew

Hi Andrew

Thanks so much for your input. Let me begin by saying, that Dave is a beginner at this game, and isn't up to your high standard of craftsmanship. However, that being said, the prices you have quoted, sit easier on me than some others I have heard. I do think it's outrageous to think that the retailer makes 200% profit on someone's labour, but that is the way of the world. If I had my way, artists and craftspeople would form co-ops to market their goods, run a retail outlet etc, that being the only way I can see to get a return that reflects skill and artistry.

I think around the $100 - $150 mark should make a product saleable, especially if it is in some way unique. We haven't yet used the real specialty timbers, because we have plenty of red gum available, and in some areas, red gum is a bit of a novelty. We also have some steel-hard jarrah, that we can use, as well as some lovely bits of Tassie wood, when the project and workmanship is worth using really good stuff.

I think at this stage, Dave is still coming to terms with some of the technical issues involved in producing really top notch stuff, so at the moment, we're keeping the timbers simple.

The truck he is setting out to build is really complex, and I think asking $500 or so would make it an attractive prospect, since the freight company is fairly small. But the other customer, I think is just testing the water to see if he can perhaps squeeze a freebie or near freebie out of us. I don't think he's particularly fair dinkum.

Cheers
Lili

I was up at the Melaney do a couple of years back And a fellow there was selling beautifully detailed wooden cars for up to $50. I was staggered by the price and got into a dicussion on the subject with Robert Dunlop. His opinion was the same as mine. The items were worth at least $5oo a piece but reality had the man set his price to suit the market.

I have a Bunya Pine able here that everyone admires. I've often been asked "Would you make me one?" My reply is the same Give me $X and I will oblige. Haven't had any takers yet!!

Hi Artme

A good deal of what constitutes a reasonable price must be the market in which you sell. It seems to me that if Dave and I are unrealistic as to what our products are worth, I will end up with the biggest fleet of wooden cars/trucks, and more boxes than I know what to do with. That's why this thread is so worthwhile to me. It's helping me to learn from the experience of others, and get my ideas clear.

It comes down to being a realist. I paint, for example, and know that most people won't spend $500-$1500 for an original painting when they can get a print that looks as flashy, but is only $125-$150. So there's no point in my churning out pictures by the dozen, if I can't sell them. I have to judge my market, as well as a reasonable price to sell my pictures, and it will be the same with Dave's woodwork.

I looked at a website with wooden models for sale, priced from $50-$70, however, they were substantially simpler and less detailed than what Dave likes to make. But, as he said, purchases like buying a wooden model are spur of the moment decisions, and the higher the price, the longer people will think it over. They will often have no appreciation of what it took to make the object, just an emotional reaction to it. (Oh I love it, how much is it!!?)

In the country, in particular, people have limited disposable incomes, and things like Dave makes are really a luxury. So our market is limited from the start, which is why we've got to get our thinking right when it comes to prices.

Cheers
Lili

All too true LilliB. Just as well we love what we do.

As many of you already know , our club is lucky enough to have a place our members can sell what they make.
We take turns "working" in there and have the opportunity to listen to what customers think of prices, quality etc.

Often we hear that our prices are low, we have even heard they are way too low. We have repeat customers who will come and tell us they love the idea it's all made locally, local timber, made by hand, no laser cutting and nothing made in China. They will gladly pay a little more.
Then there are the others, they wander in , look around and wander back out... all you get from them is a raised eyebrow if they do take the time to look at a price tag.

We do have a couple of toy makers... one churns them out by the hundreds, all very brightly painted in primary colours, all extremly reasonably priced starting from simple small cars for just $6..... they go like hotcakes. His bigger models like simple helicopters, trains and tractors are between $20 and $70 and they all do pretty well.
They all come with a guarantee too.... he will fix them for free if they breake.... even if it's the kids fault for throwing it at his little brother and hitting the wall instead!
Honestly.... I don't see how he's making any profit.

We've been told we could get much more for things if we were located in say Sydney or Melbourne, but since we're not we have to take into consideration that most people just come to take the dog /kids for a walk and happen to see us. They aren't prepared to dish out big money.... but they're happy to buy a little treat for the kids for under $10.... those little items sell well no matter what they are. Big ticket items usually sit on the shelf for a long time, eventual there's a well off buyer, but you can't count on regular sales.

Guess it all keeps coming down to how much you love your hobby, if you want to churn out a lot ( and get bored) or if you enjoy putting in the detail and not worry about getting paid well for the work.

Juvy

Hi Juvy

Your club is the right concept to make marketing a sensible prospect, and to avoid people working for next to nothing so that the retailer can make the profits.

The models Dave and Aussie make are really not so much toys as collectibles, so the pricing will be higher than many simple objects aimed at children. With David's attitude to finish, along with my evil eye for quality control, our productions will be time consuming to make, and will be of the best quality we can get, given our limited skills, so for us selling at $20-$70 wouldn't be a prospect. We'd be losing money, considering the base cost of plans and materials, without even taking time spent into account.

But David has found something he really loves, and will go on making these models, and if we can recoup some money, then all the better. This forum has really helped me to get a feel of what people are doing, and getting for their work. I guess we're ultimately aiming at the high quality jobs which Powerfinger and Aussie have shown, so specialty woods will have to be acquired, and this will determine cost.

In time to come, David has some other small woodworking projects that will probably be the regular money spinners when he has more time to devote to his hobby. The models are a labour of love, as are the scrolled boxes etc. But there will also be little ride on toys and simple models for kids to play with (trains and cars) that can be made simply and painted up brightly, as well as little occasional furniture pieces. I think versatility is the key to continuing to enjoy your hobby and what you make. It will overcome boredom.

Cheers
Lili

I couldnt agree more with Juvy, I make basic toys and sell them cheap and you can see people are happy to pay under $20 for something for the kids, when it comes to the complex ( expensive ) models I dont take them to the markets as people dont take wads of money there. I put them on ebay and sell them through word of mouth. I find when im setting up to make a model/toy, I make enough parts to make a few. This saves on set up time and ( I dont know why ) but it seems to be more fun and quicker when you have a little production line going. For example when I make the tractors I make five at a time, so setting up jigs etc is more worthwhile as you're using that set up five times instead of just once. Even if you make all the parts and put them aside , finish one then start on the next youll be amazed at the time saving of not having to go through all your machine set ups again and again. My goal is to be able to make the quality stuff we see here on the forum and get a web site going to sell them, long way from that at the moment but hey, dreams are free.
Back to the sawdust factory for me, cheers, billy

Lilli, it is an age old problem and one that there is no satisfactory answer to. I make jewellery boxes for the retail trade and if I am honest I probably get around $15 per hour for my efforts. When I was building the rates were $35 to $50 per hour. I am a little long in the tooth to be back on the job and I just make do with what I can make in the basement. There are fewer expenses in working at home, mainly revolving around travelling costs however the fact remains that it is almost impossible to recoup your costs on a commercial basis.

Rhys