Varlet is moving to Order Form

I've heard stories from others of horror stories from even back then.

Does anybody remember the old days when you walked into a store and looked at an item you were interested in?  You'd look at the price and maybe you'd say wow good deal and buy it right away or maybe you'd say wow, that's pricey and not worth it and walk out or maybe you'd say wow, that's pricey but I sure want that thing because its well made etc, I'm going to have to save some extra money out of my next few paycheques so I can afford this baby.  Or maybe you remember looking at the price tag and then going off on a rant to the salesperson or the shop owner giving them a lesson in business taken from your long history of no track record in business?  Yeah, I don't remember doing that either    I don't think anybody has to justify their price structure - the market will tell them if they're in line or out of line.  Thats enough.  This modern, social media driven, online commerce has its pluses but there are some minuses too.

Agree with your sentiments to a large extent...however the times you speak of had no social media for
consumers to discuss such matters.

We have this to thank...for the paltry, face saving and grudging price reduction that has been tossed on our
plates with a gentle take it or leave it admonition. But this is only due to 16 pages of pretty vocal resistance.
The threat of going back to the private sector was a good one....I didn't see that coming. LOL.

We have this to thank...for the paltry, face saving and grudging price reduction that has been tossed on our
plates with a gentle take it or leave it admonition. But this is only due to 16 pages of pretty vocal resistance.
The threat of going back to the private sector was a good one....I didn't see that coming. LOL.

The man comes on, acknowledges the pushback, and offers to drop the price from what he originally felt was fair. And you still kick him right in the teeth. I guess it's just OK to not bash artisans who aren't friendly around here? Very classy.

We have this to thank...for the paltry, face saving and grudging price reduction that has been tossed on our
plates with a gentle take it or leave it admonition. But this is only due to 16 pages of pretty vocal resistance.
The threat of going back to the private sector was a good one....I didn't see that coming. LOL.

The man comes on, acknowledges the pushback, and offers to drop the price from what he originally felt was fair. And you still kick him right in the teeth. I guess it's just OK to not bash artisans who aren't friendly around here? Very classy.

I can’t believe I’m going to say this - but I’m with you on this one.

Aldo - I appreciate you not only to listening to folks concerns, but making a concession on your end. I know it likely wasn’t an easy decision to make.

Aldo, I've not been in your price range, in the past or at present, but I repeat: Don't let the bastards get you down. It's your business, no one else's. I wish you the best. I just don't get why folks who don't like the price of a product don't just shrug and move on. If the folks on this thread are trying to give you marketing advice, that advice seems a bit ham-fisted, and better relayed through a PM.

Time is very important. In my prior career, as a lawyer in private practice, my value--and thus my income--was measured by billable hours.When I left the practice seven years ago, I billed at $550 per hour. Absurd? Yes, but that was the market. Now I work at a non-profit where I make much less than a brand new lawyer makes at my old law firm, only because I chose to become "semi-retired," and I knew I would truly enjoy the work (i.e, my utility curve moved away from money toward how I wanted to spend my time). Which I do, even seven years later.

I mention my history because Aldo's narrative about time resonates with me. If the opportunity cost of making brushes exceeds the opportunity cost of doing something else he enjoys as much, why would he make brushes anymore? I applaud your approach to your career, Aldo.

Given the ego factor involved, any concession made in this case is progress.
However, IMO the concession does not seem to reflect the feedback provided.
Seems more like doing something for the sake of appearances rather than to address
the situation properly.
If stating this somehow becomes unclassy or ungentlemanly to some of you, fine.
Stay with your opinions, I'll express mine.

Looks like Testie28 is on the naughty list.

Looks like Testie28 is on the naughty list.

I don't know if I am boss....but if you are ever starting one, I would be honoured to
take my rightful place right at the top.

Given the ego factor involved, any concession made in this case is progress.
However, IMO the concession does not seem to reflect the feedback provided.
Seems more like doing something for the sake of appearances rather than to address
the situation properly.
If stating this somehow becomes unclassy or ungentlemanly to some of you, fine.
Stay with your opinions, I'll express mine.

Keep on keepin' on.

Aldo, I plan on buying another one of your brushes as you make an exceptional product.  So, please keep going regardless of the dark elements in the community.  The Internet has a lot of turds out there.  Even idiots and fools who will personally attack you and have zero repercussions.  Just do you, Aldo.