messenger bag
 

hey, i originally posted this in regional discussions, but nobody every seems to read those much ^^;

issue: i need a messenger bag, a large one. I've emailed 2 people about custom bags, one out of town (c0urt) and the other (lynn) who makes transit bags hasn't responded in 2 or 3 days.

does anybody know where i can get a custom bag around here (in atlanta)?
i kinda needed one today, it's going to make my ride really awkward with the backpack i have.

I'd rather not look at the big companies, i heard timbuk2's are uncomfortable, and some others are 150 clams, which i simply don't have.

any suggestions? substitutes? people you know?

You need a custom bag in a day? They usually take a little bit to get made...

I have a Chrome Bag. The don't do custom (at least I don't think so0. Their website says that Outback Bikes at 1125 Euclid Ave NE is a dealer. I like my bag a lot.

pac designs

yea, i know they take a little bit of time to make, but i tried to get the ball rolling a week ago : ( i looked at Chrome, but the bag that works is too expensive (second from largest) checking out pac designs now

ugg, pack designs is CRAZY expensive.

why are messenger bags so overpriced? you may think they aren't and they're good bags, but 180 bucks for a bag is a BIT much O.o i could get bags on the bike for that much and not have to worry about it. i simply don't have that kind of cash

I used to think they were overpriced too, before I got one (Bailey Works Super Pro). It was worth the $150 I paid for it. I use it every day, it's comfortable while on the bike and off, tons of pockets, water/sweat proof.

i found one on craigslist, timbuk2 extra large 3000 cu inches for 45 bucks, they say it's new with tags, it's not the nicest bag they make, but for a poor college student it should do : )

Pricing -- if you figure a 100% markup (more or less necessary to fund the retailing section of the operation), that means the bag costs $75 to make.

Figure $30-40 in materials. They use good stuff and a lot of it.

Then figure $30-40 in labor costs. That's 1.5 hours of a skilled US worker's time or a day or so of an Indonesian worker's time. Which is a reasonable amount of time, when you think about all the stitching, double-stitching, etc. etc.

Basically, you're getting something which is 5x as nice as an x-mart backpack, so it costs about 5x as much.

that's true, but even jansport and oakley bags aren't that expensive. but breaking it down does make it seem much less harsh.

Check out an original DiMartini messenger bag.
I have the largest model, have used it for quite a while-
will hold a suitcase of beer. They are basic functional not
overly expensive bags.

Every now and then you can snag a Timbuk2 bag on here for like $40.

http://www.steepandcheap.com/

But it's pretty random and they go quickly.

You'll find cheaper prices with mass-produced bags. 'Custom' is a synonym for 'expensive'.

A buddy of mine just started a bike company and needed to make prototype bags, so I was able to get one of those at cost. $25 for a medium sized custom bag made of finished painter's canvas. If only I had time to paint the sucker.

100% markup is typical, but not from the factory. Typically, the factory manufactures the bag and sells it to the distributor for around 10% of the final retail cost. The distributor sells it to the retailer for 40-60% of the final retail cost. The retailer then marks it up to the final retail price. The materials - ballistic nylon, for example - are dirt cheap.