Peter Naiman wrote:
>
> Charles; I've heard of Mario's work when searching for
> renovations for my bikes before they come to the U.S.
> Work in the U.K. is substantially less, but then you deal
> with shipping costs, but since I purchase most Hetchins
> from the UK, I have the work done in the U.K. My 38 Anglo
> Continental had chrome work done on the front fork, plus
> rear stays, with a two colour scheme with full boxlining
> and transfer application at a total cost of under $600.
> For the same work over here, it would have been atleast
> $1000 or more. Not sure why the difference in costs, but
> labor in the UK may be substantially less, shops may not
> have to deal with as much government regulation etc, and
> other factors.
>
> As for Mario Vaz, I've heard varying reports from
> excellent work to fair at best, but everyones
> expectations can be differ. My understanding is that his
> work is very inexpensive. Mario may work at very low
> overhead but make it up in large volume. Even though his
> prices are very low, if he owns his building or his rent
> is cheap, and other overhead is very low, he may be
> perfectly content to charge his current rates.
>
> As for rates charges in the U.S., each shops overhead
> costs differ, with location and other factors affecting
> overhead costs. In general I've found the prices in CA
> much higher than shops in the Midwest, but I'm also
> assuming that operating in CA is probably much more than
> in Ohio with rent most likely the biggest factor, but
> labor is probably higher on the Coast than most midwest
> areas.
>
Addendum to Peter's post (and confirming his experience):
USA'ians factor in ridiculous health care & education costs, plus (unwittingly) huge costs of justice & bulging prison systems, environmental protection regimes (a good thing) and the ongoing price of far-flung wars in far-off lands.
Do not kid thyselves: these things add to the price of vintage bicycle restorations. There is no free lunch.
Excellent American paint job = nearly cost of a whole frame UK-side now.
Some day soon we may all be ordering fully chromed fancy lugged butted steel custom frames from China @ $200 each, by the dozen.
Emanuel Lowi Montreal, Canada (neither USA nor UK, thank G.)
Get a sneak peak at messages with a handy reading pane with All new Yahoo! Mail: http://mrd.mail.yahoo.com/