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General Upholstery Questions and Comments => General Discussion => Topic started by: Mike on March 02, 2012, 02:20:55 pm

Title: Umbrella inquiry
Post by: Mike on March 02, 2012, 02:20:55 pm
A few month ago I got a email asking if I could recover a 8' umbrella  a d they would be down later in the year.
I forgo all about it then this morning I have a e mail that they will be down this weekend a d may e. e could look at it.  I replied yes they could bring it to me to look but. It to wayste time I said ( they had the  material) that the labor would probably  at least $400. I got a reply that the umbrella. Ew was only &200 and it would. E cheaper to buy a new one and donate the fabric.
Tell me somtjing I don't know ;)
Title: Re: Umbrella inquiry
Post by: JuneC on March 02, 2012, 03:56:06 pm
People don't think.  Commodities are always cheaper than custom made.  I've told numerous people that my own BBQ cover came from Home Depot because it was cheaper than making one out of Sunbrella for myself.  However, I did make one for a customer out of Captain Navy just because he wanted it.  Charged him $160 for it.  I can't compete with Indonesians and I'm not going to try. 

June
Title: Re: Umbrella inquiry
Post by: bobbin on March 02, 2012, 04:41:11 pm
New backs and seat slings for "director's chairs"... every season I get at least 4 requests for them!  I tell them to go to a place like Crate and Barrel, Christmas Tree Shop, etc..  Can I make them? unquestionably.  Do I want to make them! yeah, sure.  Is it "worth it" for the customer? UNLIKELY. 

I'm with you, June. 
Title: Re: Umbrella inquiry
Post by: Peppy on March 03, 2012, 01:23:08 pm
I actually built this umbrella from scratch for a guy.

(https://forum.upholster.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1020.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faf328%2Fpeppypower%2Fnot%2520boats%2Fth_GetAttachment-4aspx.jpg&hash=0fab9e2fd8c8b5d4586f9d145c1ead05) (http://s1020.photobucket.com/albums/af328/peppypower/not%20boats/?action=view&current=GetAttachment-4aspx.jpg)

One of the goofier projects. I've recovered 2 or 3 patio umbrellas for people. They were very nice teak frames and they wanted specific patterns to match their houses. And some people get sick of buying chinese crap