Are We In A Recession?

[🪦 stainboy ●]

You're missing the obvious economic perspective, here.Our economy runs on one main economic law: supply/demand.The recession defines the fact that we've been spending more (as a economy) than we've been creating in revenues. This fact doesn't necessarily change the demand for high-priced masks, but simply reflects when collectors will choose to purchase them. (As we all know, we certainly still want to buy masks - regardless that we aren't earning as much money anymore)Bottomline is that if no one was willing to pay $250 for a latex mask, no maskmaker would be able to charge it. I know it might sound silly to those who don't understand economics, but it is not the maskmaker who determines the general price of a mask; it's really the BUYERS in the hobby which determine the general price.If everyone stopped buying $250.00 masks in this hobby, the maskmakers would be forced to lower the price of their product (assuming their profit margin had the ability to be reduced). This goes for everything in society. Pro Athletes wouldn't be able to sign 168 million dollar contracts if we, as the sports fans, stopped buying $75 tickets to a football game.

[🪦 scabboy ●]

Regarding tattoos- we have not lowered our prices. We still have an isnane amount of overhead and good tattoo pigments are about $35 a bottle and good needles are at least $2 each. That does not even cover the price of adequate universal precautions. I reckon we can use crappy StarBrite pigments crap and crappy 50 cent needles and cut corners on infection control. :/ It's hard to tattoo someone for 3 hours when you know that you're only getting half of what you normally would-- which means you will have to work twice as long to make that check. Trust me the recession has not effected our industry that much. We actually had a 4% rise the third quarter this year from last year.When I called a roofer to fox my house I did not expect a cheaper price because of the recession, nor do I expect any specialized technician to offer low prices due to the recession. Realistically, you pay half price you are liable to (and most likely will) get half-price workmanship.

[🪦 ThePhantomKiller ●]

I don't buy the excuse of the recession for any of it. Most collectors who buy masks/resin kits/action figures whatever...many have that disposable income. The buyers do not determine the general price, either. How many tattoo artists out there have reduced the prices of their tattoos to be more recession friendly? Maybe a few could say they have, but for the vast majority it's still gonna be the same price tag according to the amount of work they put into a piece. The same goes for any mask or fx artist who is trying to make a living. I have a hard time believing these so called 'mask pricing trends' even exist, if a collector wants a piece badly enough they're going to pay the full asking price, initially. The re sale issue is quite another question entirely. One exception would be eBay, though. I've seen many price drops on masks simply because the seller chose the avenue of eBay for a quick sale. But look at guys like Casey Love's prices and Jordu's, all the higher end stuff still wouldn't budge. To be fair, someone like Jeremy Bohr's stuff is incredibly fair priced, for the most part, given the quality.

[🪦 PREMATURE INKER ●]

Hmmmm...Good points all...Thx!J

[🪦 Ruste Dowg ●]

As far as re-sales go j i have come across more than a few people in the situation where the only reason they are selling their masks are because they have got into money difficulties due to over spending on masks! They sell at high end prices to claw back as much cash as they can to get them selves out of the rut, not saying that goes for all sellers but i have come across more than a few people trying to sell a $100 mask for $200, i guess it's down to them, if people don't buy at that price they will be forced to lower or head off to ebay, the re-sale price will convince the new buyer that's what the mask is worth and when they come to re-sale they put extra on as it's collectable blah blah blah and before you know it a $100 mask is commanding a $250 price tag! Not sure if i blame them as you can understand if they need to get as much as they can as long as it's not in a dishonest way.Someone should start up a buyers guide on masks with realistic prices!

[🪦 PREMATURE INKER ●]

You know dowg..I was thinking the same thing!!!..It would be awesome if we could get a MASK PRICE GUIDE!!!!!..I think it needs to be done and can be updated yearly because so much product comes out in a yrs' time.hmmmmm...I will have to see about this one.J

[🪦 adee ●]

Surely it's irrelevant. It's whatever people are willing to pay. for example, no money in the world could persuade me to buy the Casey Love fred sculpt as I can't stand it, yet he is one of the best sculpters around. If the buyer likes a piece, then the price paid is between them and the seller. Not really anyone elses business. So long as the buyer is happy that he paid a fair price. And if he's not, he can always say no.BTW Casey - if you read this - nothing personal. I love some of your other work!

[🪦 carter1010 ●]

As someone who has built gloves and has made masks. Neither are easy and are usually worth every bit the artist charges for them. If I had to call one being easier, I would build a glove over make a mold any day, but I hate mold making so that could be personal. I figured mask making would be easy until I did it, and now I am proud to shell out the money that someone asks for a piece I want because I know how hard it is and how much work goes into it not to mention the insane amount of expenses. The fact that we are in a recession doesn't seem to be affecting other art. My movie tickets are still 10 bucks and cds, mp3's, movie rentals, action figures, DVD's, non of that has gone down and there is an artist or multiple involved in each. We live in a niche world of horror, and frankly if someone shows me something that is cool enough, recession or no, I will buy that sh!t.

[🪦 PREMATURE INKER ●]

Well regardless if the topic is irrelevent or not I think its been worth discussing.

[🪦 psychosocial91 ●]

<!--quoteo(post=341689:date=Dec 8 2009, 06:55 PM:name=adee)<div class=\'quotetop\'>QUOTE (adee @ Dec 8 2009, 06:55 PM) <a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=341689\"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class=\'quotemain\'><!--quotecSurely it's irrelevant. It's whatever people are willing to pay. for example, no money in the world could persuade me to buy the Casey Love fred sculpt as I can't stand it, yet he is one of the best sculpters around. If the buyer likes a piece, then the price paid is between them and the seller. Not really anyone elses business. So long as the buyer is happy that he paid a fair price. And if he's not, he can always say no.BTW Casey - if you read this - nothing personal. I love some of your other work!<!--QuoteEnd</div><!--QuoteEEndThis goes right back to the whole "supply and demand" thing. If someone wants something badly they will buy it no matter the price, and if someone doesn't like it they can simply just pass it up.