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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Oklahoma city
Posts: 490
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Re: Why is seat foam so expensive
So i am in the navy, one of my cheif friends' wife owns an apoulstery shop up here near seattle. I asked him the question about why the foam is so expensive. The answer that i got was: Since hurricane catrina foam prices have increased 600 percent due to the fact that the majority of the foam producing companies in america were heavily affected. Due to a fewer number of producers now and the same volume of customer the supply and demand has shifted in favor of the vendors allowing them to raise prices for the same goods that you would have gotten a few years ago on the cheap. So i guess blame Katrina!
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#2 | |
Moderator
![]() Join Date: May 2007
Location: Southern Cal
Posts: 20,005
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Re: Why is seat foam so expensive
Quote:
Last edited by leddzepp; 05-13-2009 at 12:48 PM. |
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#3 |
Between Trucks...
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Los Angeles, CA.
Posts: 3,830
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Re: Why is seat foam so expensive
I just had my seat redone. When I got it back I had the same issue, foam did settle down though.
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Beat it to fit, Paint it to match... ![]() |
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#4 |
Special Order
![]() ![]() Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Mt Airy, MD
Posts: 85,859
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Re: Why is seat foam so expensive
You pay more for deli meat than you do for a roast you cook and slice yourself.The seat foams are made to fit,not just so many square inches of type-X foam.They are moulded which requires a huge upfront expense for equipment.Then,made only for a particular seat.An upholstery guy can buy a chunk of foam for a fraction of the cost.A talented stitch will match the foam qualities and properly shape a nice well fitted cushion within a minimal time frame and save you money.Do you know of one?I`d use that shop and save money.Watch out,though.Because thier labor cost could ofset the savings in materials.But,anything pre-made is going to cost more initially because it`s "prepared" and also has passed through some hands as well as shipping around.Blank foam is shipped by the truckload.Custom molded foam is sometimes shipped individually and always in lesser quantity.
I do believe you can shoot your foot pricing something too high.The market has reacted and the maker isn`t responding.I sure feel it`s crazy what doing a seat right costs.And,I`ve spent alot of crazy money of vehicle stuff.If you can sell 25% more at a 5% lower profit margin...you`re making more money.And,best of all,you don`t sit on your stock(money),giving you better cash flow.
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"BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~ Last edited by special-K; 03-21-2009 at 10:02 AM. |
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#5 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Central PA
Posts: 12,201
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Re: Why is seat foam so expensive
go to a fabric store and look at good foam, it's expensive too. I was going to restuff my dogs pillow bed and it was going to be over $50 alone... that's a 3x3 at 4" or so...
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The Garage: 1968 K-10 SWB - "Project Money Pit" 1996 Z-71 - "huntin rig" 1969 C-10 LWB (SOLD) "Project flip that truck or else" 1993 Passport, F@rd 1-ton (SOLD)"Project Cousin Eddie" My Garage Build "The 1,000 footer" |
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#6 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: New Madison, Ohio
Posts: 21,365
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Re: Why is seat foam so expensive
I look at it this way...supply and demand effects price...you get what you pay for...quality isn't cheap...and try and make these quality foam seats from scratch and see what you get. I am finding out that certain parts for our trucks and my resto on the Circuit Rider is expensive but I want a safe and good riding truck. My truck will be a nice DD and that doesn't come cheap. I decided to spend the $$$ on the Circuit Rider verses purchasing a newer truck. Besides...if we paid what we think a parts should sell for than most of our Vendors would be out of business. JMHO
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A husband can be right...or...A husband can be happy. ![]() 67-72 Chevy and GMC Trucks...The Classic Truck for the Classic Folk. ![]() 1970 CST Two tone green, 402BB, 400 Automatic, Tach, Buckets, AC, AM-FM, Tilt, GM CB, GM 8 Tract, LWB, etc ![]() ![]() JOHN 17:3...The better side of "LIFE" Remember: Everyday is a good day...Some are just gooder! |
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#7 | |
Hand Crafted C-10
![]() Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Burien, WA
Posts: 5,180
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Re: Why is seat foam so expensive
Quote:
![]() I bought my foams from Frank a couple years back and feel they were a good investment...very well made. Plans are to have covers sewn from leather (I have a bunch of it) and I wouldn't dream of wrapping them around 40 yo foam. IMHO, it would be like bolting a new body to a rusted out truck frame. Last edited by ETsC10; 03-21-2009 at 02:09 PM. |
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#8 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Oklahoma city
Posts: 490
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Re: Why is seat foam so expensive
so utility bucket foam?
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#9 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2005
Location: PA
Posts: 2,696
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Re: Why is seat foam so expensive
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#10 |
Moderator
![]() Join Date: May 2007
Location: Southern Cal
Posts: 20,005
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Re: Why is seat foam so expensive
I like the feel of the original seat foam far better than the feel of the newer foam. As Brad stated, it also sits you up too high in the seat. There is a board member on here that re-builds these buckets by building up the original foam. That takes skills, and I think that is the best route to go. You can buy the new covers, which are also expensive (but more justified IMO) and have a local shop re-build the existing foam if it is not all torn apart for a fraction of the cost. But if you got big bucks and a big butt, get the new foams
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#11 |
Hand Crafted C-10
![]() Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Burien, WA
Posts: 5,180
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Re: Why is seat foam so expensive
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