In my case the desire to build the highest quality frames came from idealism. Of course making money is required as I had to eat and pay the rent. I think competition forced quality higher also. In Portland Mark Dinucci was building Strawberries and Bruce Gordon was in Eugene. We were all friends but worked hard to outdo one another.
I tried to increase production with hired help, but it is hard to get people to have the same vision. There was never enough money to offer good pay. I did have Mark Dinucci work for me for a year or so. But a true craftsman will leave to do his own thing after awhile. I never made much money building frames. But I met many great people and learned a lot. This knowledge led to me getting a job as chief designer at Specialized. I tried to make bikes and parts that worked for real riders but offered good value.
Jim Merz Bainbridge Is. WA
_______________________________________________ Many well taken points here.As much as we all want to believe that consumers will pay the price for high quality,the reality is most people buy on price.The top end of the quality market is a very small niche & must be addressed by suppliers who sacrifice profit in the name of R/D. In hopes of making the 'advancements' more widely available at a lower cost at a later point in a mass production offering.The highest quality niche is also addressed by the small production shop/individual builder;who is seeking out the very few who can not only appreciate the differences;but is willing to pay the premium price to have it. From a purely economic sense,some one must be willing to pay the price for the highest level quality.The supplier in hopes of future profits available through assimilation into future production and possibly by association of his 'similar' product offerings.The smaller niche suppliers seeking out the very few discerning buyers willing to pay for their skill.
Nick Zatezalo
Atlanta,Ga