Hey so I was wondering why your bracelets on your etsy are kind of expensive. No offense but I could get like the same thing for like 2 bucks somewhere else...
So...I’m going to assume that this question was asked out of genuine curiosity but in the future I would recommend against asking people why their product is “expensive”.
To anyone who doesn’t know, I make woven bracelets (they’re also called “friendship bracelets” by some but that’s not quite accurate). They come in many patterns and themes and whatnot (you can check them out here for yourself). Anyway, I’m pretty proud of these guys so I’ll just give you a list of reasons why I think they’re worth $5.
1. They’re super well-made. Most “friendship bracelets” bought at, say, a T-shirt shop, last a few months at best in my personal experience. Because of how I make mine they can last 1+ years if worn all the time every single day, including in the shower, and handled really roughly. If they’re worn occasionally, they can last for many, many years. I’ve even made anklets for people that have lasted 2+ years. Basically, these guys only break because the string (I use the highest quality I can get) with which they are made eventually wears out, and there isn’t a way to avoid that unfortunately.
2. They take some time. It’s true that some of the patterns don’t take a super long time, but most of them take several hours to make properly. I make sure each one looks nice and won’t come undone, that the weave is tight, smooth, and comfortable. Anything that takes hours of work is going to cost a little more because, as anyone who hand-makes anything can tell you, our time is just as valuable as our materials. If you think otherwise you should probably get that stick out of your ass.
3. Advice from fellow etsy-sellers, friends, and family. I spent quite a bit of time trying to come up with a fair price at which to sell my bracelets. I asked a metric ton of people and, honestly, most people actually thought that (due to reasons listed above) I should charge more like $7+ for them. My brother has a Masters Degree in Business and he does cost analysis as part of his job and he estimated that labor+time+materials these things are worth about $10+.
I hope that answered your question.
TL;DR: Don’t ask people (really anyone but especially people who make their product by hand) why their product is “so expensive” because you’re basically asking them why their time and effort should be considered valuable.
