I've been following this thread with interest since repainting bicycles is my day job. It has several subcategories including are prices unfairly high, the cultural differences between the US and UK of who rides lightweight bicycles, the need for through preparation to get a good job and the differences in quality between American and British paint work.
There is no doubt in my mind that if a business major studied what was needed to enter the trade, how much training and skill was required, how much equipment had to be bought, how long a job takes and the cost of materials, he would find that the compensation would be less than about any other job. Somebody in the auto body repair business, for example, will make vastly more money doing similar kind of work.
At the NAHBS, I was talking to a young British builder by the name of Robin Mather. The thing that most impressed him was how much better American paint jobs were than British ones. Of course I made it a point to show him which ones I did. He wasn't critical of the work in his home country and thought some did nice work but, in his opinion, it did not compare with what he saw at the show. He was wanting to know my opinion of why this was so. I believe that there is a very high standard of work that is expected here and most customers don't feel like they are getting screwed if the pay 5 or 6 hundred dollars for a paint job.
I don't know that it is necessary to describe in detail all the steps that lead to a beautiful job but, if some remain convinced American pricing isn't fair, it might be worth the effort.
Doug Fattic
Niles, Michigan USA