This could all change, once the new President gets into office. Some things are gonna be priced a little more accordingly. All of the little things you mention are what takes place and we're all left holding whatever in our hands. The number of scams are getting worse and worse... and when this new President does take over, watch what happens to the Black Market.
Our consideration has always been, it's a part of doing business and if you account for it, you will be reimbursed the costs. However, charging what the market will bear and then cutting corners to save some money, which is what some do, it's not fair, either. I don't condemn someone for trying to save money, but how they go about it, then charge more, just because the rest of us are on one level, while they're on another. High Road..... Low Road kinda theory. Sh!t happens.
Luckily I'm in Canada. It'll be interesting to see how things shape up in America with trump, though!
I think so long as your not selling an inferior product, no reason not.to charge the same price.
Like my cheapo graphite blades - it cuts exactly the same. And while I'd like to support local, some things are just to good to pass up. Now if I was buying cheap Chinese substrates and charging the same as others who use 3M, I could see there being a problem. And sadly it's what most of these home. businesses do, legit printing shops get hurt to losing a customer, customer gets hurt in 6 months when his print looks like crap, and the basement printer keeps taking in new customers making a fortune.
That being said, it's like like the printers break too much. They need to charge these huge prices to stay in business... It's not like they're ripping us off. Just like we make a decent profit selling signs, they need to make one fixing machines... Otherwise they'll go belly up.
We do have a tech who comes and does all our printer work, and we buy locally whenever possible. It doesn't make.sense to delay / lose 50k worth of jobs for a month waiting for a print head to show up from Indonesia.
As you said, it's part of business. 90℅ of the stuff we don't do ourselves. But stuff like little foam swabs that cost $1.20 per swab here. We will purchase for 1/5 the price from us cutters or.direct from China. We never. Cut corners when it comes.to.the finished product though!
(On my phone, so excuse typos)
