Varlet is moving to Order Form

Like everyone else when I got the email from Varlet I rushed over to the website for the drop only to be greeted by the new order structure, which in and of itself is fine but when I saw the pricing I quickly closed the browser.

I commend him for trying to price in line with secondary, but his stated benefit to the purchaser (communication) doesn't justify the price increase. I wish him the best, but I fear he got a bit over his skis with his pricing. Its significantly higher than anything else on the market including Simpson's highest grades M&F, DG etc. etc. etc. many of which can be custom ordered.

I don’t see how it’s in line with the secondary market though. Show me an add for a varlet for over $500 that sold.

Some of them moved in private, no ad. Or they were sold after being offered as a trade. There are guys perfectly willing to buy a $300 Varlet for $500.

I've learned not to underestimate brush guys. Voracious lot.

I would love seeing the supply and demand curve for the new Varlet structure. There is no perfect answer for both the manufacturer and customer of high demand / low supply items.

Aldo seems like a really nice person. Hoping for success with his new changes. I do understand custom manufacturing has additional costs over repetitive manufacturing. Unfortunately, the price is probably outside my limits.

Another thing that struck me was that you can’t really get a “custom” brush. Instead, you’re given a relatively short list of options to somewhat mix and match.

Limiting options makes sense when you’re trying to knock out product and fulfill orders, like what Dufour did with his order form, but not when charging an ultra premium price for a semi-custom.

Might as well go for DG’s full custom for $1k ($100 of which goes to charity).

Not to be critical, but the Varlet handles are a little utilitarian looking compared to the material options you have with other handle/brush artisans.

I have a 29mm Cement K2 from a drop last year for way less than this new pricing model. I am glad I have one in my collection and it's a good performing brush, but my expectations would be far higher for the increased price.

In terms of paying for him doing better in communication with his customers is a farce. Here's an idea: make your brushes, including packed and ready to ship. Then post for sale and ship once payment is made/confirmed. Other than that, I don't need a lot of "hand holding."

I am surprised in seeing him bite off custom work, when the shipping from the drops didn't work all that smoothly.

I think there will be a lot of shavers wiling to fork out their hard-earned cash for a Varlet. After all, they have to have something to match with their Wolfman. I jest, of course....

Like everyone else when I got the email from Varlet I rushed over to the website for the drop only to be greeted by the new order structure, which in and of itself is fine but when I saw the pricing I quickly closed the browser.

I commend him for trying to price in line with secondary, but his stated benefit to the purchaser (communication) doesn't justify the price increase.  I wish him the best, but I fear he got a bit over his skis with his pricing.  Its significantly higher than anything else on the market including Simpson's highest grades M&F, DG etc. etc. etc. many of which can be custom ordered.

I don’t see how it’s in line with the secondary market though. Show me an add for a varlet for over $500 that sold.

Some of them moved in private, no ad. Or they were sold after being offered as a trade. There are guys perfectly willing to buy a $300 Varlet for $500.

I've learned not to underestimate brush guys. Voracious lot.

Agreed. Emphasis on "trying" to be in line with secondary. I think he overshot the mark a fair amount i.e., over his skis.

Well, none of y'all need worry about me competing with you for a varlet. I'm not even invited to that sort of party.

I'm surprised at the negative pricing comments in this thread. Couldn't these comments have been sent to Varlet via PM so as to leave his free market commerce uninterrupted?

Whatever...

Pig beats badger to me anyway. ...

Seriously though, while I do not think it is a good move, I liken it to Tamara Swanson's response to Leslie Knope's question of why she has so many guns..."This is America, isn't it?  Then I don't have to answer stupid questions while standing on my own property."

I'm surprised at the negative pricing comments in this thread. Couldn't these comments have been sent to Varlet via PM so as to leave his free market commerce uninterrupted?

Freedom to access information and information symmetry are essential prerequisites to a free market; thus this thread is an organic manifestation of a free market.  What you propose would result in the seller having an imbalanced market tilted in his favour based on having access to the conversations of many buyers but leave the buyers individually information impoverished.  We have come to accept in modern Western economies that free markets work best when sellers, particularly larger well financed corporations have a right to a tilted market based on information asymmetries, barriers to entry, legislative protections &c - likely why the proposal was proffered (if off subject).  

However, to the specifics of this thread, none have called for a boycott, none have proposed a fora ban, no brush manufacturers have discussed collusion to align against Varlet: the only call for anti free market activity has come from this post advocating for asymmetrical information flows that would accrue to the manufacturer's benefit to the detriment of the consumers.  Aspersions are not being cast, rather proposing the post insufficiently considered.  

In closing, it was only a matter of time before the market fundamentalists voiced their objections to this discussion: "Fully realize going to be met with pitchforks and torches by the market fundamentalist mob demanding the witch be burned to save the good people from heresy and Supply Side Jesus' wrath but there you have it.".