reproduction cabinets, the future, and an appology.

DPtwiz

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reproduction cabinets, the future, and an appology.

First, i want to appologize to alot of you who PM'ed me, and i was either short, or didn't reply. The cabinet making is really taking a toll on me mentally and physically.

Alot of you know i was going to be having back surgery later this year. After the consultation with the back surgeon, it isn't happening. He told me it was a risky surgery, and a 30% i'd be permenantly crippled from it, and at best 50/50 i'd see any relief. My L4/5 disc is 80% gone, totally ruptured all the way around. I also have mild to moderate arthritis in about every joint, Sleep apnea, and stomach problems (seeing a doctor soon on this one)

My day usually starts after 3 - 4 hours of sleep, work for 2 hours, then i have to go sit down for an hour, work for 2 hours, go lay in bed for 2 hours, then go back to the garage for 2 hours, and i do this from 7 am till usually midnight every day. I take between 2 - 5 vicodins a day, they don't help much.

I always manage to get in 10 - 12 hours of work a day in between all the breaks i have to take, and lifting the finished cabinets off the table even with two people, is almost day - ending. I have the wife loading the cnc for me most days, especially if it's melamine.

I've also came to the conclusion (stubbornly) that i do not charge enough for my cabinets. I've had many klovers who buy from me on a regular basis even tell me i do not charge enough. Here's how things currently work:

I take an order for cabinets, figure out what i need for material, check my stock of leg levelers, plates, glue, staples, etc. then i order in material.

I start on the order, get half way through it, and run out of money. I take more orders, then repeat the above step. I finish the first order, start on the second, run out of money again, repeat the first step.

So what happens is, i have all the materials here to complete the work, my bills get caught up, and i fall further and further behind. Nov 1st, i had all my bills paid and a back log of 40 cabinets. I've been trying not to take any more orders. This vicious cycle has to stop. I've been selling off games, trying to keep the bills paid, and buy christmas for the family.

I swore when i was done with the orders, i was done. No more arcade cabinets. I've had several people i discussed this with tell me not to quit, but adjust the prices so you can get the work done, without falling behind, and keep the bills paid. I know it may make the prices out of some people's reach, but it is what it is. I need to raise prices about 100 - 300 each depending on the cabinet. I would be more in line with OU Flight's pricing. It's a necessity that has to happen if i am to continue.

I am also branching out into pinball cabinets. There's one guy i found out there who does it, and his start at 750.00 for a bare cab. Again, i appologize to anyone that felt i ignored you, i hope this explains some of it, as to why i'm just not jumping to take your order. A few of you, (repeat customers) i promised to do a few cabs for, and i'll honor the old price.

When i am caught up, i'll spend a day and figure out what i need to charge and come up with a new price list. If business slows way down, i'd at least get a chance to try out some other things on the cnc, and offer some new stuff. Thanks, i really do appreciate everyone who ordered from me, and i hope those of you still waiting on your cabinets understand. I am trying my damndest to get every single back order out by Jan 1st. thanks, Brett
 
I can totally understand where you are coming from and you need to do what you need to do. Even with the raised prices I think your work is totally worth it and I am looking forward to ordering a few widebody pincabs in the next few months. :) Keep up the great work!
 
Oof... Best of luck with the surgery if you decide to do so or anyways I hope everything feels relief.
 
Your cabinet work is top notch. I would have paid more for mine.

Lay off and feel better man. No need to let this hobby kill you.
 
I have absolutely no problem with you raising prices. Do what you have to do. You need to not lose money at doing this.

Also, is there anyone nearby that can help you with the heavy lifting?

Sorry to head about your back. :(
 
1. everybody I've heard talk about it says your cabinets are really high quality
2. you shouldn't have to apologize for raising your prices to a point where you can make a living.
3. the fact that you are 40 cabinets behind also illustrates that you are selling them to cheap.

Good luck man, take it easy and the #1 thing YOU need to do is hire a 15 year old to help you out for 3 hours after school every day. When I was 15/16 if somebody in the neighborhood would have paid me 20-25 bucks a day for 3 hours after school building Arcade Cabinets? Are you kidding me? I'd have probably done it for free.

Let somebody with a strong back lift all that shit, work with your mind not your back. Also you'll be helping somebody have a job and earn a little money, the job market is hard out there right now, almost half of kids under 20 are unemployed. Hire 1.
 
Sorry to here the surgery is not going to help. If feel for you man. I don't know how you have been able to make the cabinets for what you charge for so long. When you got me into this I tried my best to match your prices, but there was just no way. You were basically doing them for free or pennies after your costs and time. You've been such a great asset to the community and thank you for all your help personally. I'm glad to hear you aren't getting out yet. Just charge something that is practical for the time you actually put into building each one and enjoy it instead of being a slave to it.

Feel better man
Joe
 
Your health is way more important, take some time off as best you can and keep the lifting to a bare minimum. Chronic pain is mentally taxing as well as physically, get well soon!
 
Sorry to hear about your pain.

On the bright side, sometimes raising prices actually increases the amount of business a person gets. I have seen this in a few different areas.

Good luck with the price change and new venture with the pins!
 
As someone who has jumped into this hobby very recently, I quickly found out that you do beautiful work and when I reached out to you, you not only responded but were extremely helpful and let me know the time frame that may work for you. Please keep up the good work, and make sure you are able to take care of yourself and family.

And besides everything else is going up in price in this world, why shouldnt you be able to raise prices to what you need right! The demand will still be there. people will pay for quality, and from what I seen you deliver.
 
Here is my thought...

Everyone who has bought a cab in this calendar year should send (donate) a $50 bill for each cab he built for you. Funny that everyone says you should charge more...How many offered an extra tip for his hard work?
 
Sorry to hear all your troubles. Hope you feel better. If you have such a back log, your prices must be low. Regardless if you are in this for the hobby or the business you definitely shouldn't be losing money.
 
thanks for all the support guys. Today was a long day.. got a call about 5pm about one of the guys i worked with on the RR passed away :( looks like i have a funeral to go to.
 
Glad to hear you are raising prices. Making your business viable means repro cabs will be available, driving yourself out of business does not do anyone any favors.

Sorry to hear about the funeral. Remember you have friends here.
 
Brett, you do fantastic work and have a masterful attention to detail. I could not be happier with what you have done for me.

If charging a little more is what it takes to keep you making these, I fully support it. Do what you love, and charge what you need to prosper -- there are no need for apologies!
 
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