Pearl Neckaces sold on Ebay

On Fri, 24 Sep 2004 21:50:10 -0700, in 0õ (Abe M.)
wrote:

You should be pleased that the
public is so stupid, for how else would you be able to sell this:

http://www.abrasha.com/slideshow/nec.../necklaces.htm

Actually, you sell that to a consumer who's intellegent and smart enough to
recognize that there is something worth buying when it's not just like what
everyone else is wearing, and is observant enough to recognize an exceptional
piece of supurb craftmanship. Most buyers out there are not well enough attuned
to really fine hand craftsmanship to recognize it when they see it, as something
more than just glittery bright polished metal in the showcase.

There's a useful saying out there, the exact words to which i don't recall, nor
it's original source, but it suggests that you can always sell a cheaper poorer
version of a thing to those looking for a bargain, and those folks thus paying
less get exactly what they pay for. Less. A piece such as Abrasha's necklace
you illustrate, while perhaps more money than something in a commercial showcase,
is likely a better value in terms of it's uniqueness, quality of manufacture,
artistic merit, reputation of it's maker, and perhaps even it's resale value down
the line. Plus, buy it from his site, where you found it, or otherwise directly
from him, and you're getting it direct from it's maker. Even if Abrasha is
charging what he feels is a full retail price, this still amounts, most likely,
to much more of the price reflecting the actual value of the work, rather than
markups applied by retailers and commissions added by sales clerks, all of which
reflect nothing about a work other than it's higher price in that marketing
arrangement.

Is it stupid to pay more for a better item that's worth a lot closer to the price
paid than the cheaper, lower quality, mass market, higher markup piece?

Your choice.

Peter

"Abe M." wrote:

Abrasha wrote:

It's so nice to know where to an experts, who "knows" how to save a thousand
dollars on the purchase of a pearl necklace.

"Snob name"? Cute.


Experts don't overpay. The average consumer does. If there were more
experts, nothing would be bought. You should be pleased that the
public is so stupid, for how else would you be able to sell this:

http://www.abrasha.com/slideshow/nec.../necklaces.htm

Your timing is perfect. I sold that necklace just a couple of weeks ago to
client who flew in from Singapore to get it. She is one of the smartest people
you'll ever meet. Stupid is not the way I would characterize her. How much she
paid for the necklace is between her and me. All I can let you know is, that it
was five figures. And she got another four pendants too boot. She'll be back
for more in November.

Abrasha
http://www.abrasha.com

On Sat, 25 Sep 2004 04:50:15 GMT, (Abe
M.) wrote:

Experts don't overpay. The average consumer does. If there were more
experts, nothing would be bought. You should be pleased that the
public is so stupid, for how else would you be able to sell this:

http://www.abrasha.com/slideshow/nec.../necklaces.htm

I like that. I'd rather it was all stainless steel (I'm funny about
mixing metals), but I like it. It's an interesting idea, well-made,
and it would be fun to have a necklace with rubies going back and
forth.

--
Marilee J. Layman

G.W. Bush says "results count!"
That's why I'm voting for Kerry

Peter W.. Rowe, wrote:
On Fri, 24 Sep 2004 21:50:10 -0700, in 0õ (Abe M.)
wrote:


You should be pleased that the
public is so stupid, for how else would you be able to sell this:

http://www.abrasha.com/slideshow/nec.../necklaces.htm


Actually, you sell that to a consumer who's intellegent and smart enough to
recognize that there is something worth buying when it's not just like what
everyone else is wearing, and is observant enough to recognize an exceptional
piece of supurb craftmanship. Most buyers out there are not well enough attuned
to really fine hand craftsmanship to recognize it when they see it, as something
more than just glittery bright polished metal in the showcase.

There's a useful saying out there, the exact words to which i don't recall, nor
it's original source, but it suggests that you can always sell a cheaper poorer
version of a thing to those looking for a bargain, and those folks thus paying
less get exactly what they pay for. Less. A piece such as Abrasha's necklace
you illustrate, while perhaps more money than something in a commercial showcase,
is likely a better value in terms of it's uniqueness, quality of manufacture,
artistic merit, reputation of it's maker, and perhaps even it's resale value down
the line. Plus, buy it from his site, where you found it, or otherwise directly
from him, and you're getting it direct from it's maker. Even if Abrasha is
charging what he feels is a full retail price, this still amounts, most likely,
to much more of the price reflecting the actual value of the work, rather than
markups applied by retailers and commissions added by sales clerks, all of which
reflect nothing about a work other than it's higher price in that marketing
arrangement.

Is it stupid to pay more for a better item that's worth a lot closer to the price
paid than the cheaper, lower quality, mass market, higher markup piece?

Your choice.

Peter


There is nothing in the world that some man cannot make a little worse
and sell a little cheaper, and he who considers price only is that man's
lawful prey.
[info][mail]
John Ruskin (1819 - 1900)

one my favorite quotes.

Carl
1 Lucky Texan


--
to reply, change ( .not) to ( .net)

"Marilee J. Layman" wrote:

On Sat, 25 Sep 2004 04:50:15 GMT, (Abe
M.) wrote:

Experts don't overpay. The average consumer does. If there were more
experts, nothing would be bought. You should be pleased that the
public is so stupid, for how else would you be able to sell this:

http://www.abrasha.com/slideshow/nec.../necklaces.htm

I like that. I'd rather it was all stainless steel (I'm funny about
mixing metals), but I like it.


Actually, the model, that I made before I made the actual piece is completely in
stainless steel. It is just two links with the connecting "bar bell", and with
two stainless steel balls. I usually make a model for my one-of-a-kind pieces,
to work out the kinks and to make sure that I get the proportions right.

Do note however, that most, if not all of my work, is usually a combination of 2
or 3 materials. I often combine stainless steel or platinum, with gold or other
materials.

Here is a somewhat crummy photo of that stainless model. Note, that the rods
are not parallel in the link on the right. I fixed that in the finished piece.

http://www.abrasha.com/misc/Stainless%20model.htm

I also like the idea of an all stainless steel necklace of this design.
TBecause that piece would be a great deal more difficult and time consuming to
make, than the gold one, it would not be any less expensive. Because of the
fact that it would only be in stainless steel and no gold and/or synthetic ruby,
(so no perceived intrinsic value of the materials used), it might be a more
difficult to sell. But then again, maybe not.

Abrasha
http://www.abrasha.com

As a pearl importer, I can assure you that you will not get anything
more than what you pay for at Ebay or any retailer. Bu a retailer is
close to home if you have a problem.