Even if it were made with Russian labour instead of Chinese labour they only pay workers roughly $400 per month. Chinese work for about $150 per month. Factories put out hundreds of these a day. The cost of logs is hideously cheap - something like $60 per cubic meter for Grade 2 pine. If they're putting a veneer or some sort of covering on it, they can get away with Grade 3 or 4 wood and the price might be lower.
Of course, what you're looking at probably isn't even solid wood, but actually DSP (a high-density particleboard). It's made from the shavings and chipped pieces that aren't good for anything else. The logs have already provided profit from something else, so the cost of raw materials is nominally $0. It requires even less labour than a dimension facility because it's usually highly automated to ensure precision in the pressing and gluing. While a facility like that costs about $200 million to build, anything sold is almost pure profit after recouping costs for debt service, etc.
Of course, what you're looking at probably isn't even solid wood, but actually DSP (a high-density particleboard). It's made from the shavings and chipped pieces that aren't good for anything else. The logs have already provided profit from something else, so the cost of raw materials is nominally $0. It requires even less labour than a dimension facility because it's usually highly automated to ensure precision in the pressing and gluing. While a facility like that costs about $200 million to build, anything sold is almost pure profit after recouping costs for debt service, etc.
Political correctness is the pettiest form of casuistry.
ἡ δὲ κἀκ τριῶν τρυπημάτων ἐργαζομένη ἐνεκάλει τῇ φύσει, δυσφορουμένη, ὅτι δὴ μὴ καὶ τοὺς τιτθοὺς αὐτῇ εὐρύτερον ἢ νῦν εἰσι τρυπώη, ὅπως καὶ ἄλλην ἐνταῦθα μίξιν ἐπιτεχνᾶσθαι δυνατὴ εἴη. – Procopius
Ummaka qinnassa nīk!
*MySmiley*
ἡ δὲ κἀκ τριῶν τρυπημάτων ἐργαζομένη ἐνεκάλει τῇ φύσει, δυσφορουμένη, ὅτι δὴ μὴ καὶ τοὺς τιτθοὺς αὐτῇ εὐρύτερον ἢ νῦν εἰσι τρυπώη, ὅπως καὶ ἄλλην ἐνταῦθα μίξιν ἐπιτεχνᾶσθαι δυνατὴ εἴη. – Procopius
Ummaka qinnassa nīk!
*MySmiley*
Buying bookshelves - is this too pricey?
- 04/11/2009 04:11:45 AM
958 Views
Way too pricey for what you get. *NM*
- 04/11/2009 04:21:23 AM
260 Views
Can you offer alternatives?
- 04/11/2009 04:27:20 AM
581 Views
Also, here's a sample link
- 04/11/2009 04:52:03 AM
769 Views
Re: Also, here's a sample link
- 04/11/2009 05:03:27 AM
609 Views
Most shelves are "no tools required, minimal assembly"
- 05/11/2009 07:50:45 PM
551 Views
They look nice, but there's no way I'd pay $950 for them, personally.
- 04/11/2009 04:54:50 AM
607 Views
Yes, by about a factor of 10.
- 04/11/2009 09:25:22 AM
574 Views
I don't think that cost $20 to make.
- 04/11/2009 03:55:57 PM
586 Views
You're right. It probably cost less.
- 05/11/2009 07:58:28 PM
542 Views
I like them.
- 04/11/2009 02:17:23 PM
610 Views
Re: I like them.
- 04/11/2009 03:55:22 PM
573 Views
Yeah.
- 04/11/2009 04:33:51 PM
593 Views
I'm paying attention.
- 04/11/2009 07:12:15 PM
560 Views

