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Fretsaw project gallery: 'Vamp' added
Zebidee:
That is all true.
If I compare the time it takes me to assemble/build a GreenAntz unit to the price I sell them for (less materials costs), I'm selling my labour very cheaply indeed. On the other hand I learn a lot, it helps many people and I get a few dollars back into my hobby account.
So far I've been able to avoid the platforms, ebay etc., but even Paypal takes a small chunk.
danny_galaga:
--- Quote from: Zebidee on December 15, 2022, 02:04:36 am ---Where I am, the standard wage is around $1 to $1.50 per hour, so it still sounds competitive.
--- End quote ---
😲
Where are you? Botswana?
Zebidee:
Thailand.
Basic daily wage of 300 baht (~US$9) is often quoted and paid here, though if they do decent work and you want them to hang around, better to pay around 400 baht (~US$12) or more.
However, all these comparisons with hourly rates in traditional labour markets are of limited usefulness, unless you are choosing between making dioramas and going to a paying job. If you are producing these things in your spare time anyway, and selling for more than the inputs costs, in a way it is money for nothing.
At the moment you are making the artworks then storing them away... which kinda means you are working for no reward whatsoever beyond the "joy" you get inherently in what you are doing. So, if you can sell some, then you are definitely better off.
I also imagine that, after producing 100 Peanut Star-Wars dioramas your marginal "joy", from producing another one, will be wearing pretty thin. It will interfere with the rest of your worklife and leisure time more, effectively increasing your labour input costs.
On the other hand, you might find ways to reduce your input costs (cheaper materials), improve your skills and/or manufacturing time (more efficient production techniques).
What this boils down to is that it would probably be fun and worthwhile to make a few for sale, when you have the time. Probably not worth setting up a factory, unless you want a career change :D
Another big plus from selling them is some cashflow into your hobby account, which you can use to get some better tools or to diversify what you produce, or whatever. Some people like this because then they don't have to justify hobby spending to their spouses!
Sorry for long post already. I'm an economist and we love to waffle on about this stuff.
danny_galaga:
Ah! Thailand.You at least have great internet there, way better than Australia! I've been fascinated with economics for a while, but haven't investigated further. I always imagined you should be great at maths, but then that guy from the Freakonomics duo says he is lousy at maths and hates it. That gives me hope 😄
Zebidee:
Though my math skills would be rated above "average" generally, I'm no maths genius, and it was a weakness when studying. I often struggled to follow the maths twists and turns in economics lectures (and economic statistics, a separate year-long essential unit for the degree). Lots of differential calculus, economists love their curves and tangents. Mostly just learned how to do the math by rote, good enough to pass exams.
Instead of relying on maths, I focussed on understanding the principles and dynamics at work. All those equations can be charted out, and once I could see how the models work, as the numbers and assumptions change, the intuitive understanding would usually follow. Then the maths is really just punching numbers into equations, and you don't need maths to understand the fundamentals and forces at work, or to understand what Alan Kohler is saying on the ABC news.
The best part about being an economist is the ability to engage with other economists and like-minded people. It gives you new "language" and shortcuts, ways of understanding things. When I was in the public service there was a popular course "Economics For Non-Economists" specifically designed to help with that.
Interesting that you raise the internet in Australia. Remember the NBN dream?
Sorry, derailing yamatetsu's thread! Will shut up now