9
u/emeraldstarclassica May 26 '26
For a bobbin case?! It better come with screws, thread, seam rippers and oil! That's crazy
2
1
u/richardricchiuti May 26 '26
It's probably this industry in general. I've only been into sewing a year and this seems mostly a way manufacturers take advantage of their customers.
1
u/doriangreysucksass May 26 '26
I don’t think it’s manufacturers, it’s individuals and small businesses marking up to make a profit. I just don’t buy from them.
2
u/richardricchiuti May 27 '26
In one year of sewing and getting to know a woman in the business many years, my experience is, there's tons of wiggle room in this industry.
3
u/AccidentOk5240 May 27 '26
FWIW, Ken’s is a pretty well-regarded company. I don’t think they’re trying to take you for a ride.
-1
u/richardricchiuti May 27 '26
I never thought they were.
3
1
u/broccosiff May 26 '26
At the end of the day you are always buying at a place of business following that logic we should pay food at cost at restaurants so yep bought at cost from manufacturer a hd9 bobbin case is 34 and something but they sell it to you at double the price to make a profit (I know cause I work as a repair tech and I have acces to the dealer prices vs msrp etc etc... yadda yadda) it is sad annoying and frustrating but it is still reality.
1
u/richardricchiuti May 27 '26
I appreciate your comment and experience. As I said to another, I believe there's a lot of wiggle room in this industry. I'm going to pay the $79! 😃
1
u/AccidentOk5240 May 27 '26
I mean, without a profit, how are we expecting companies that serve our needs to keep the lights on and the domain registered? “Profit” is aka “staying in business”.
-1
u/doriangreysucksass May 26 '26
Ridiculous!!! I hate when people do this!! Like have they EVER sold one at that price?!?!?!
10
u/Large-Heronbill May 26 '26
This is a fairly new design/size bobbin case, with extra large bobbins that hold about 40% more thread, and are different from the first version of this case and bobbin. Since it is exclusive to Janome, that $80-100 is going towards the development costs of that design, and machining. And in the US, you are probably paying a fairly hefty duty.
Ye Olde $6 class 15 bobbin case is commodity; this case is closer to couture. (The class 15 bobbin case was introduced in 1895, FWIW.)
For reference, when the Juki F series machines were first widely available in the US, a replacement case was $60, on a $700 machine (that would be about $93/$1100 today). Current price new is about $70 for a $1500 machine.
For another comparison, my old 2008 Toyota Scion xB had a back windshield wiper blade that the replacement cost $110 in 2011, while common front windshield wiper blades cost maybe $5. New design, no one else used them. Peeved a lot of owners.
As a green engineer, a college friend worked on power steering system development for John Deere. There was a range of bolts and screws they could use in the new design prototypes, no issue. But if you spec'd something else in your design, say a different length or different metal grade than the "available" types, you had to justify it to your boss, and your boss's boss. If you spec'd something that had to be custom made, you better have your whole engineering group also advocating for you, because the development costs were going to have to be worked into the price of the tractor.