Re: Bradington-Young recliner mechanism, made in China
Ever since I can remember I have bought high-quality products. I think it goes back to the days when I was a teenager and we would ride our dirt bikes into the deep woods in the Ozarks of southern Missouri. When we all got our first bikes we rode the pot-metal Yamaha and Suzuki bikes of the day, and more than a few times found ourselves stuck 40 miles deep in the woods with broken bikes. We learned quickly and moved into European bikes such as Husqvarna, Penton, and Bultacos. Tougher bikes that cost more, but they brought you home.
I find quality costs less over the useful service life of a purchase. Yes, you pay more on the front end, but you may get 2x or more use out of it than a something that was 20 % less in price.
I've brought that same attitude into my store. The sales reps know that I won't tolerate the junk that makes up 80% of their presentation catalogs and is sold to mainstream stores. And I make no excuses for the prices - if its outside someone's budget well - sorry - there's ten stores down the road that carry product to meet a price point. I don't sell junk because first of all I don't believe in it, and secondly I loathe getting those phone calls a few years after a purchase from customers that tell me they are very displeased with a purchase.
So the real trick is to find that balance between very good quality and balancing it with affordability. Hence the whole purpose of a forum such as this, to help show (and discuss) what makes a good piece ..... a good piece!
Example: I may have a 6-drawer Huntboard I want to carry in the store The junk one will sell for $ 1,000. The mediocre one that is just OK will sell for $ 2,000. The finely made one is $ 3,000. Then there is the 'artistic' one with lots of sizzle and smoke that sells for $ 6,000 (that may be only 10 % better overall than the $ 3K one). My target piece? The $ 3K one. That's quality without breaking the bank.
Duane Collie
Straight answers from thirty-six years in the business.
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