The cost of toys!!?!?!?!?!?!?

[TooLover]

Since I am now on a "budget" - which I am having hard time adjusting to - I have been buying supplies to make my own toys. I am in awe of the prices most of the stores get for their toys We pay big bucks for the LABOR for them to put these pieces together and make a "toy".
If I get good at this, think of the possibilities!

[babyb&g]

Originally Posted by elwoodblue

Since I am now on a "budget" - which I am having hard time adjusting to - I have been buying supplies to make my own toys. I am in awe of the prices most of the stores get for their toys We pay big bucks for the LABOR for them to put these pieces together and make a "toy".
If I get good at this, think of the possibilities!

I think the prices are outragous!!!! hey if you do let me know!!!!!!

[TooLover]

I sure will - I have someone in mind to help me out - will bring in extra money for both of us................. e-bay here we come! LOL

[The Outlaw]

Laurie:

You THINK you will make a bunch of money. The fact is, once you factor in dyeing the wood, the wood, the rope, chain, leather, beads, etc, you'll quickly discover that your overhead is higher than you think. I know cause I've been doing it for quite some time. The pear links, o rings, etc. will get ya. The problem with trying to hawk stuff on Ebay is that shipping often discourages buyers. If you make a big toy, the weight and box size starts really effecting the cost. That's why you see great looking toys for $20 bucks. Add the $7 bucks to send it and that customer usually doesn't come back. Its a hard balancing act.

Ideally, you find local pet stores to stock your stuff. That way, you avoid the shipping and quickly get to know your price points and what toys are in demand. Of course, the BAD thing is the liability. If you somehow make a toy that later turns out to be unsafe, you're screwed.

[Skyebirdsmom]

Have you considered buying toy supplies off ebay? Sometimes(usually), you can get bags of parts(big bags!) very reasonable!
Good luck, with Skye, his favorite toys are textural, especially my wrist braces...he adores chewing on the velcro. He also loves pieces of bark on trees(safe of course). Paper towels(white only), shoe laces(white again) and never hang them where a bird can get it wrapped around it's little neck :o*( But anyway, he appreciates junk to play with....does it every time. Like the story of buying a kid a toy and they play with the wrapper instead.
Linda & Skye~

[Samm]

I buy all my toy making supplies from the thrift stores/dollar stores. I don't sell them, its all I can do to keep Sapphire in toys.....that girl has a beak like a meat grinder. A good plastic/wood/rawhide toy lasts her a week or so, after that its unrecognizable.

[TooLover]

true, true, and true!
I have been pricing toy parts on e-bay which has lead me to beileve that these people make a killing. Pine wood isn't really that expensive, and add a few pieces and you have a toy that costs you $4.00 to make - you ask a little mroe than that and you have a profit.
Hubby and I have talked at length about this tonight; my dream has been to open a store, which isn't going to happen in Mayberry Milton FL, so why not try it on the internet and see what we can do?

[Dayna]

Originally Posted by elwoodblue

true, true, and true!
I have been pricing toy parts on e-bay which has lead me to beileve that these people make a killing. Pine wood isn't really that expensive, and add a few pieces and you have a toy that costs you $4.00 to make - you ask a little mroe than that and you have a profit.
Hubby and I have talked at length about this tonight; my dream has been to open a store, which isn't going to happen in Mayberry Milton FL, so why not try it on the internet and see what we can do?

Hey Laurie, if I get to open mine, you can ship bulk shipments to me and I can sell your toys. That goes for most everyone if the toys will sell, I will sell them.

[TooLover]

Originally Posted by Dayna

Hey Laurie, if I get to open mine, you can ship bulk shipments to me and I can sell your toys. That goes for most everyone if the toys will sell, I will sell them.

Sounds great to me! I really think there is money in this!

[TooLover]

Before jumping in with both feet, we are going to start keeping track of what the toy parts are costing us, and go from there.
Another option is the flea markets; we have a big one here, and I may get rid of some of the stuff in the garage at the same time!