A Tad Over Priced?

[cheechako]

This wing and tail I finished are wood and worth way over $1,000,000.00 US, so is it over priced?

[Seayfam]

Cheechako,
Nice work on the wing and tail bud!!! Is the tail teak? It sure looks like the teak in my bus. Im not sure if many people have priced exotic hard woods, but it gets pricey really fast. The teak alone in my bus cost more than most people think the bus is worth. Would I buy that camper for that price? Absolutely not! But I do think it is a stellar job and the right person might buy it. Afterall, people buy stick and staples junk for that price and that will last way longer.

Sent from my GT-I9100

[chev49]

looketh like the AK bus is parked on the spit...

[Tikvah]

I may have been a bit too critical in my assessment.  Or at least too sarcastic.  I wan't in the right frame of mind 

It is obvious that the woodwork is beyond excellent.  However, even if that much money was invested, although I can't imagine, we rarely get out investment money from out projects.

This conversion is a project of love by someone.  Without a doubt countless hours were spent perfecting the interior.  But, unless there is something there beyond the awesome workmanship his price is incredibly inflated.

One thought - it is possible that he works for the government.  That would explain the unreasonable perspective on the dollar.

[dukegrad98]

One thought - it is possible that he works for the government.  That would explain the unreasonable perspective on the dollar.

The flipside is that if he works for the government, he may have realized that the dollar is currently nearly worthless.   

Cheers, John

[Ed Hackenbruch]

The dollar may be "currently nearly worthless", but i will take all that you will send to me!!

[belfert]

The woodworking in the interior is nice, but I still think the exterior looks ugly. 

There are many things (bus conversions included.) that simply can't be sold for what the sell has put into it financially.

[FloridaCliff]

It really amazes me how everyone gets so critical about the asking price of something as nice as this. Go buy the materials and the truck and pay a craftsman to build this and see if you come in under 165k, I think not. Granted some may not like the layout but this looks to be very well built. Personally I like it. I build wood airplanes for a living and I know good work when I see it.

Great work who ever you are!

Hey Cheechako,

We are just having a little fun here!  

There is no doubt, this builder has a love and passion for wood work, and the time and effort required to do a job like that must be incredible!

I do think its "COOL"..

My personal thoughts are that just because you have custom woods, and spend countless hours making something,  doesn't make it worth $165,000.00 .  As a piece of art or museum restoration it well maybe, just not to me!

This whole conversation also applies to our coaches.  Some will spend a small fortune and end up with a coach worth only half or less what they have in materials.  It comes down to "What you want" and then "Whats it really worth".  Its OK to go either way, just don't be surprised when you try to sell it.

I wish you lived close by, I would really enjoy seeing how you do some of your woodwork.

Cliff

[Seayfam]

looketh like the AK bus is parked on the spit...

Sent from my GT-I9100

[HB of CJ]

Yep....a $whole lot$ above my pay grade.  I wonder however if they are serious about the price?  HB of CJ (old coot)

[Lin]

Getting near two years ago I saw an Eagle conversion near St. George, Utah.  Clifford knew the guy that had owned it.  It was completely rebuilt from the ground up.  I am told he put over 600k into it.  Last year, I saw the same bus at a campground.  I spoke to the new owner.  He paid 45k for it.  165K is a lot of money for that.  I'm sorry to say that the workmanship may be irrelevent unless he can find someone to whom money really means nothing.


A friend of mine used to buy old airplanes.  He would tear them down and rebuild them piece by piece until they were perfect.  He would use it a bit and then sell it.  He said that if he counted the hours put into it, he was making about $3./hour.  If you are doing something for a hobby, you probably should not count hours and should forget about payback. 

[Brassman]

Nothing wrong asking a high price, even if it is unrealistic. That's what the market place economy is all about. Wouldn't work well for mass produced goods, but for a one-off job you just might just get lucky and hook a fat fish. In the past you'd park the rig with a forsale sign on it by a busy highway and wait. Seems like a buy high/sell low guy would eventually come around.

[cheechako]

Cheechako,
Nice work on the wing and tail bud!!! Is the tail teak? It sure looks like the teak in my bus. Im not sure if many people have priced exotic hard woods, but it gets pricey really fast. The teak alone in my bus cost more than most people think the bus is worth. Would I buy that camper for that price? Absolutely not! But I do think it is a stellar job and the right person might buy it. Afterall, people buy stick and staples junk for that price and that will last way longer.

Sent from my GT-I9100

I guess things are only worth what people will pay and I know you guys are only poking fun. The wood I built this bird from is a stitka spruce frame with mohagony plywood cover. What makes it worth so much is that it is the only surviving Lookheed DL1 (metal fuse)Vega left. And when finished it will be the only flying Vega in the world. This is what Amelia flew across the Atlantic solo in.

[pipopak]

[quote}
I guess things are only worth what people will pay and I know you guys are only poking fun. The wood I built this bird from is a Stitka spruce frame with mahogany plywood cover. What makes it worth so much is that it is the only surviving Lockheed DL1 (metal fuse)Vega left. And when finished it will be the only flying Vega in the world. This is what Amelia flew across the Atlantic solo in.
[/quote]
... and anything that flies or is flying-related will cause it's price to go up several times over.