Varlet is moving to Order Form

So, Varlet cites brushes as "heirloom" products in justification for the price hikes that apparently bother this community. BST rules prevent users from posting even the original retail price for such items, e.g, Wolfmans. Here and elsewhere this leads to speculation/aftermarket flipping—little wonder why the price point of high-end brushes has risen above $400. 

Pointing out bad policies is not trolling.

edit: spelling

$700 razors and $400 brushes are insane in my opinion. I make a good living and can afford these items, hell I buy them anyway, but I do have to wonder what the max price for a razor or brush should be. Personally, I have several Wolfman razors and high end brushes. I've justified paying $700 for a razor because I knew that I could sell it on the secondary market and get back to even again. The demand is still there and I talked myself into it as I'm not gonna lose money on it, right? Well probably not. I shouldn't be spending this kind of money on any shaving item but I talk myself into it like it's some kind of an investment. Then I justify keeping it because if I sell it I'll never be able to get another one. A never ending cycle of tricking myself into spending way more than I should.

It's going to be very hard for me to purchase a brush for $700 knowing full well that I cannot sell and recoup my money on it. In pricing them so high that the demand is filled it actually removes value from them. I mean we want what we can't have right? That's the way this works. When I purchase that brush it'll be like driving a new car off the lot as the secondary market will command a price several hundred dollars less. I mean after all I can buy a new one any time I want to, it's not like there will be a huge line at those prices. The fact that people even want other peoples used brushes confuses me as well as we overlook potential sanitary issues to get the items we want. So if I could get a new one instead of a used one why bother with the used one at all unless there's a significant savings involved.

I believe that at this price the mark has been overshot by quite a bit. The mistake was made in completely filling the demand. There is no meat left on the bone so to speak. I can't justify the purchase in my head like I could before. It's like a $300 anti procrastination charge has been added to every brush. I never understood why Aldo didn't just make up a batch of brushes ahead of time, packaged up and ready for labels. This, in addition to a small price increase would have taken the stress out of it just as well. If the concern is that people can't get a brush, or the brush that they want, then a wait list could have been utilized effectively as others are doing it successfully.

So what happens next? Does Aldo sell ten brushes at this price and realize that he's way overpriced his product or do we chase the market up higher and higher with the other elite brands following suit and raising their prices as well. Personally, I've bought the higher priced stuff in the past but I can't justify $700 for a shaving brush. I won't let myself do it as I thought the brushes were priced fairly before the restructure. I mean prices could have gone up a little considering the demand but they were already priced on the higher side as a high end brush. They probably shouldn't have just about doubled in price.

There has to be a price where everyone goes, "Nope I'll pass" and I think he may have found it. Maybe this turns out well for him, who knows?

The people I've spoken to that are dedicated and own several Varlet brushes have basically stated "I'm glad that I own the ones I do as I won't be buying any more". That would be where I'm at as well right now. I'd love to own another but at $700 I'm no longer interested.

On the other hand, are Varlet brushes now Veblen goods

Mo!  Thorstein Veblen!! 

That was a lovely trip down memory lane reviving painful memories of well-intentioned professors doing their damnedest to educate a poor churlish fool whilst I fought them every step of the way (proof positive that no matter good intentions and effort, sometimes virtue insufficient to achieve results in the face of dedicated and committed willful ignorance).  As confirmation of a youth dedicated to the pursuit of ignorance, once read Theory of the Leisure Class, Higher Learning in America and Vested Interests and the Common Man without being assigned with the SOLE intent of disrupting a class arguing against his theories - how foolish is that (especially in the midst of a semester taking Molecular Bio, PolyChem, Constitutional Law and East Asian Literature during lacrosse season)?!  In honour of your prompting recollections of a wasted youth resisting those efforts by men of far better character and vastly superiour education, you are hereby awarded the Iron Stag Award with all distinction, honour and benefits thereby appertaining (it may well be an ideal logo for Grooming Dept, haha).

I should reread those works as the concluding reprise of the great economic texts undertaken last year and as penance for a life of anti-intellectualism.

don't troll.

Varlet is not on this forum, to the best of my knowledge..

that aside, we almost never stop people from discussing pricing outside of the bst forum sections.

I don't intend to troll. That is a comment on hypocrisy, but in an (objectively) humourous way. The attempted humour doesn't negate the valid, though possibly contrarian, comment.

the rules you mention are specific to the bst.  this is not the bst....

also to note: private property is the key to a functioning free market.  remember that.  feel free to start your own forum if you don't like our incredibly minimalist rules.

don't troll.

Varlet is not on this forum, to the best of my knowledge..

that aside, we almost never stop people from discussing pricing outside of the bst forum sections.

I don't intend to troll. That is a comment on hypocrisy, but in an (objectively) humourous way. The attempted humour doesn't negate the valid, though possibly contrarian, comment.

Your comment is the very definition of "trolling".

Do you find my comment offensive? I didn't intend for it to be offensive and I don't now understand how it could offend any reasonable person. 

Are you angry? Your response doesn't seem angry. I didn't intend to anger any reasonable readers.

My comment does not meet the definition of trolling.

$700 razors and $400 brushes are insane in my opinion.  I make a good living and can afford these items, hell I buy them anyway, but I do have to wonder what the max price for a razor or brush should be.  Personally, I have several Wolfman razors and high end brushes.  I've justified paying $700 for a razor because I knew that I could sell it on the secondary market and get back to even again.  The demand is still there and I talked myself into it as I'm not gonna lose money on it, right?  Well probably not.  I shouldn't be spending this kind of money on any shaving item but I talk myself into it like it's some kind of an investment.  Then I justify keeping it because if I sell it I'll never be able to get another one.  A never ending cycle of tricking myself into spending way more than I should.   

It's going to be very hard for me to purchase a brush for $700 knowing full well that I cannot sell and recoup my money on it.  In pricing them so high that the demand is filled it actually removes value from them.  I mean we want what we can't have right?  That's the way this works.  When I purchase that brush it'll be like driving a new car off the lot as the secondary market will command a price several hundred dollars less.  I mean after all I can buy a new one any time I want to, it's not like there will be a huge line at those prices.  The fact that people even want other peoples used brushes confuses me as well as we overlook potential sanitary issues to get the items we want.  So if I could get a new one instead of a used one why bother with the used one at all unless there's a significant savings involved. 

I believe that at this price the mark has been overshot by quite a bit.  The mistake was made in completely filling the demand.  There is no meat left on the bone so to speak.  I can't justify the purchase in my head like I could before.    It's like a $300 anti procrastination charge has been added to every brush.  I never understood why Aldo didn't just make up a batch of brushes ahead of time, packaged up and ready for labels.  This, in addition to a small price increase would have taken the stress out of it just as well.  If the concern is that people can't get a brush, or the brush that they want, then a wait list could have been utilized effectively as others are doing it successfully. 

So what happens next?  Does Aldo sell ten brushes at this price and realize that he's way overpriced his product or do we chase the market up higher and higher with the other elite brands following suit and raising their prices as well.  Personally, I've bought the higher priced stuff in the past but I can't justify $700 for a shaving brush.  I won't let myself do it as I thought the brushes were priced fairly before the restructure.  I mean prices could have gone up a little considering the demand but they were already priced on the higher side as a high end brush.  They probably shouldn't have just about doubled in price.

There has to be a price where everyone goes, "Nope I'll pass" and I think he may have found it.  Maybe this turns out well for him, who knows? 

The people I've spoken to that are dedicated and own several Varlet brushes have basically stated "I'm glad that I own the ones I do as I won't be buying any more".  That would be where I'm at as well right now.  I'd love to own another but at $700 I'm no longer interested.

This pretty much sums it up. Excellent post.

Thanks to Aldo for taking the time to write a thoughtful response.

I understand this may not fit with the brand and aesthetic that Aldo has created but perhaps he could offer a “bare bones” handle with no engraving, a simple shape that required less time on the lathe, a single color option (probably different from the current offerings), but with the same knot options as the more custom handles.

I’m not going to tell him how to price such a brush but something more in line with what other vendors are charging.

Offering a knotting service would also be something I’d be interested in.

Of course my opinion is worth as much as you’re paying for it but just some thoughts, haha.

Thanks to Aldo for taking the time to write a thoughtful response.

I understand this may not fit with the brand and aesthetic that Aldo has created but perhaps he could offer a “bare bones” handle with no engraving, a simple shape that required less time on the lathe, a single color option (probably different from the current offerings), but with the same knot options as the more custom handles.

Porsche offers just such options costing approximately twice what their fully loaded vehicles cost

So, Varlet cites brushes as "heirloom" products in justification for the price hikes that apparently bother this community. BST rules prevent users from posting even the original retail price for such items, e.g, Wolfmans. Here and elsewhere this leads to speculation/aftermarket flipping—little wonder why the price point of high-end brushes has risen above $400. 

Pointing out bad policies is not trolling.

edit: spelling

- Varlet in his post listed several reasons for the price increase. I somehow missed "heirloom" product as one cost factor.
- BST rules allow the seller to list the original price or price paid. FYI - I normally include including a recent Wolfman.
- BST rules allow the buyer to review current prices on web sites, look at eBay, look at previous sales, etc
- BST does not allow personal opinions or best guesses on cost
FYI - personal opinion is some BST items are overpriced (and not talking about Wolfman or Varlet)

Best of luck to Aldo and Varlet. Hope his still enjoys his trade and income pays the house payment

I'll preface this by saying that this has nothing to do with flippers, flipping, etc. It probably does have to do with overpaying. I'm not condoning or condemning any of it. It's just how it is. I don't really care to get into why it is this way, who's responsible, etc. Also, it's Aldo's business and he's free to charge whatever he feels his work is worth. As a self-employed person without any set rates, I totally get wanting to work less for more money when it's possible to do so.

For those willing to pay for a premium brush, I think the $400 point is where many people start to get uneasy and reevaluate. Take retail prices out of the equation for the time being. What does a Wiborg White Badger sell/raffle for now? I'd say $550-650. Black Eagle HT1 25mm, $400-$500, 28mm $450-$600; Dec B1 or B2 Jeffo, say $400-$500, B5/B6, $300-$400; Varlet low light $400-500. Any of these could be more or less on any given day. And some can be way more, but these are ballpark figures, maybe a bit on the high side overall.

And I think these numbers have to do more with scarcity than quality. I don't think I will ever have the chance to buy a Wiborg direct. Most people probably feel the same way. Black Eagle...We assume more will be available, but who knows when and how many will be sold publicly in 2020? Probably not many, but certainly more than Wiborg. Until recently, I thought I'd get 2-3 more Varlets this year in drops. DG is a different animal due to how the batch of hair sort of dictates how desirable a brush is, so DG resale prices can be all over the map.

I think a 29mm Low Light Ranger from the recent drop could sell for around $450, give or take. I remember multiples of another shape (privately) sold for $500, but I don't think the buyer made his money back on them. So I think that $400-$450 range is probably what a secondary market buyer might expect to pay for a 27 or 29 mm Varlet brush in a normal color. Most people in this game begin to wince around $400 . I'm talking about people who are willing to buy a $310 Varlet from a drop. Second hand, I think $400 is the number where they get uneasy. $450....you lose most of the people in the game. $500...all but the high rollers are out, unless it's a raffle.

A base model 27mm Gaslamp now retails for $495, so let's just call it $500. There goes almost everyone...primary market, secondary market, etc. To the high roller, it doesn't matter. I'd be willing to bet at least one person has an order in for one custom Varlet in every shape already. I wouldn't be surprised if three people have already ordered 6 brushes each already. But to the guy who was in the game for $300-$400, and conflicted around $450, Varlets are no longer an option. Maybe they still are on the table for folks who don't already own one. I have four, so I am holding off for now. As much as I would like one in each shape, I'm willing to wait to see what happens, or just forget about that plan for now.

I could shell out $500+ for a brush, but there's no guarantee I will love it. I think Varlets are constructed as well as any brush I've used, but I like some of mine more than others. And, if I don't love it, I'd be worried about taking a hit, especially if I spent $680 on a 29mm XD beehive with all the bells and whistles. So I count myself as someone who has been scared off by this new price structure, which is sad, because my Varlets are my favorite brushes.

Thanks to Aldo for taking the time to write a thoughtful response.

I understand this may not fit with the brand and aesthetic that Aldo has created but perhaps he could offer a “bare bones” handle with no engraving, a simple shape that required less time on the lathe, a single color option (probably different from the current offerings), but with the same knot options as the more custom handles.

Porsche offers just such options costing approximately twice what their fully loaded vehicles cost

Haha, I understand what you’re saying and I could be wrong but aren’t those ostensibly just “de-tuned” race cars? You’re paying for limited edition, full caged, street legal, higher horsepower, etc, versions of what their using to compete that year.

I’ll gladly pay more for a racing stripes and a carbon fiber wing on my brush though