Would the members and buyers agree to a price increase?

[jsealing]

I think Bear has no choice but put the prices up. He needs to make enough to keep going and to make a profit to live on.

The toys are beautiful and high quality. I'd be happy to pay $10 or $15 more, especially for the bigger stuff. I also think he should consider the rush order idea that came up awhile ago. If someone wants to pay an extra $25 to get their order out within a week, then they should be able to do so.

Oh, and a release of the rumoured werewolf toy might provide a tsunami of cash for him.

AMEN! I hear you on that one!

[knotme]

13 votes all for the small increases I have come up with......the customers are willing to put the money into the business....so long as it stays in the business.

[Auroarah]

I'd buy stock in the business if I had the extra capitol.

[Red-Black]

We know bear is running 4 or 5 different things here at the same time, he has this, his honey, his garden, his eggs.....did I miss anything???  So with these small mark ups he could actually buy more material and actually afford postage without taking money from his other businesses.

There's also his mate's blacksmithing. Bear tinkers at smithing as well! Bear also recently planted fruit trees so an orchard may be in the works.

Did anyone ever think that maybe BB isn't in the business for total profit? Maybe he is in the business to fill that niche` which happens to be on a lot of people's minds now. I can assure you that 10+ years ago, this business would not have lasted at all because there was almost no demand for the toys. Now, animal toys, like the ones BB makes, are now 2% of the 16 Billion Dollar a year porn industry.

My thoughts, too. Yes, Bear has businesses but it's mostly a labor of love. He keeps his prices reasonable to be able to compete with other companies and be fair to all of us. He could charge more like some companies out there, but he doesn't want to because it goes against what he believes in and the point of his business: making people happy.

Pretty much everything he does it to make others happy. Why are there so many canine toys? To make people happy. Why did he switch to silicone? Because silicone is safer for the body and faster to make, both of which make people happy. Why did he hire extra staff? To improve order shipping times to make people happy. It's hard to find something Bear does with this business that doesn't have "make people happy" somewhere in there!

This is why I don't mind sticking with Bear even though I have a nagging mom wanting her toys and still have not gotten the replacement I sent for in early spring. I know this company isn't all about the money and that Bear is trying hard to make things work. I feel sad that refunds happen as often as they do and hope that it will become a thing of the past soon as I know that cash refunds aren't good as they chew up material money.  If I ever end up getting a refund I put it into gift certificates instead of cash in order to invest in the company's future and I encourage others who are seriously considering a refund to do the same if you have a good reason that you just can't wait anymore.

By the way, if anyone else "wants stock" or to "give bear money", try buying gift certificates! Not only are you giving Bear money right away, it doesn't cost Bear anything to make Gift Certificates and you are getting a gift that can be given to friends or family to encourage them to try out some different toys. When times improve you can always turn the certificates in for a discount on a present for yourself as well. You win, your friends win, Bear wins, everyone wins!

[shadowquine]

I'm all for it. I've been gnashing my teeth about the need to raise prices for some time, really.

It is said many times- and this is a common thing among small endeavors spearheaded in the furry community- that it is all only done "to make the community happy." That is well and good, everyone likes to be made happy. To be frank, nothing would make the community happier than to get the toys for free.

There comes a point when you're either making money and can keep the endeavor alive or when you're on your hands and knees begging for support constantly to keep up. In Bear's case, running a desperate sale to start filling orders again. Running the business into the ground for the benefit of the community ultimately benefits nobody. I'm hopeful that enough people would support a reasonable price increase if it meant we could keep getting Bear's toys- ESPECIALLY if it means we can get them ON TIME. This is a business with thousands of customers a year, not just another hobby. It's Bear's income. It should be treated as such.

Hell, when packs of soda jumped $1.30 in price from $3.49 to $4.79 years back.... I was initially bummed but hey I still buy it.

Yes, Bear has businesses but it's mostly a labor of love. He keeps his prices reasonable to be able to compete with other companies and be fair to all of us. He could charge more like some companies out there, but he doesn't want to because it goes against what he believes in and the point of his business: making people happy.

People acclaim the hand-crafted quality of Bear's toys, that should be competition enough if prices are set to comparable levels. What is happening right now is more.... undercutting... rather than competing. The way the backlog is, people will pay double to get a toy in a month versus paying half or quarter price and never see a toy for two YEARS if at all... in fact people are pulling the plug and demanding refunds in droves. Fat lot of good a low price is doing at "making people happy!" People are pissed!

[Tiberius]

My previous post on this topic was not ment in any way to be insinuating that Bear is only looking for a profit,  it was only stating a basic business requirement that one must have profit to keep things running properly.  I have the utmost respect for Bear's products and the effort he puts into supplying them.