"None of them are buying luxury yachts and flying first class to their holiday destinations."

That's the bad news since it basically means volume is zero.

It really doesn't mater what all the protential costs are. people's perception of costs is based on what they can get that represents a similar value, at a similar price both within the lugs business and outside of it. I seem to recall, could be wrong, that in a discusion on the handbuilt vs overseas market, someone, I think it might have been Don Walker mentioned a basic 4130 tube set over there was 10 bucks. Obviously that isn't retail, but it does compare favourably to what I pay. And while the only model that works over here at the moment is the high end frames, that doesn't mean that we shouldn't be pushing for cheaper alternatives, though they may not actually happen.

I get irritated when my parts cost for something is more than the finished product costs, that isn't an efficient market, though it may be the best we can get. I like building sails also, and I find that sailcloth pretty much sells for the cost of a finished sail. To make maters worse, I know of some multi transat cruisers who say the asian sails are more durable. So it really costs me to make the sails myself when my "competition" is absolutely paying a fraction of my material costs. I'd buy a big bolt of cloth and part it out to people like me, but I just haven't got a contact as yet.

Shipping is a killer maybe not when we think of Manuel and his donkey hauling out the coffee beans, but just in the sense that one can't get multiple orders out there if shippping means we have to source from one place. If from the 3 places one deals with they all sell full retail products where different items are better priced at each, it's called a market, then it isn't crazy to feel that maybe the market could be more efficient. I do generally agree that hearing americans complain about shipping costs and times, or even product prices, makes the rest of us stuck on the outside looking in a little, crazy... They should try the prices I have to deal with... On the other hand, back to the real world, you are down under and all these suppliers are outsiders to you, postage is going to look different if you are on the inside of the US for some of it and have to import for the rest. Yes I wish I had that problem, product supply wise, but at least I see the point.

Nova also has lots of stuff that isn't on their website whether any of it is cheaper is anothe mater.