Very simple question about glass

[Zakalwe]

Hi
Like many, I come to framing as a ‘handy amateur’ who likes to spruce up my house without spending vast amounts of cash doing it. I absolutely love framing and am starting to branch out into more ambitious projects. But I’ve hit a brick wall with regards to glass.

How and why is it so massively expensive and how can I procure glass in bulk without selling a kidney?

I understand it may be specialist acrylite or something, but for my larger pictures (say, more than a metre in one direction), from what I’ve found so far, this could come in at close to a thousand dollars for a single pane. Literally, what the actual F?

Please keep in mind I live in Canada, so a cheap US source is likely to end up expensive due to currency rates, shipping and import duties.

Any tips or pointers would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Zakalwe

[JFeig]

I can start the discussion on the side of the picture frame shop owner with a question to you first?

What type of glazing material did you get a quote for and what is the second dimension? Some of the specialty products are very expensive, even with volume purchase arrangements.

You were probably given a quote for the "retail" price of the material for a "one of". As part of any industry, there is a profit margin to be made at each step, from manufacturer - distributor - retailer(AKA frame shop). The quantity one purchases dictates the cost to the next step in the chain.

- are you purchasing multiple truckloads per week?
↓
are you purchasing a truckload a month?
↓
are you purchasing XXX quantity per year?
↓
are you making regular purchases?
↓
are you making a one time purchase?

I hope that answers most of the basics.

[GeoSpectrum]

Very simple answer.

http://www.framingsupplies.ca/pricing.php.html

[Not your average framer]

I usually order between 20 and 30 sheets of float glass at a time, By ordering normal commercial quantities, you will get competitive prices. float glass is not only not expensive, but with careful use of your off cuts, it is possible to produce some ready made frames as well and to also create some extra sales from your moulding off cuts and backing board off cuts as well. I am careful not to create masses of off cuts which are to small to be of any worthwhile use, to enable me to make these frames. My off cuts do not represent any worthwhile level of money and are always very profitable items to make and sell. At certain times of the year, these frames can sell like crazy, while at other times sales can be slower. Deep box frames tend to sell a lot better than other frames! I make my small ready made frames in different types at different prices, this is a worthwhile thing to do as many people will happily buy something other than the cheapest frame knowing that better prices usually indicate a superior product.

I my case, I make sure that the better prices can be seen to reflect a better item and this is important. I aim to be able to demonstrate that my better priced items can be easily shown to be a better product. I like to be able to justify, why a high priced item is better. Do not exclude the lower priced items as you need something available at lower prices for customers to decide not to buy the cheapest. I dont use strut backs as it is cheaper to use deeper mouldings and enable the whole frame to be able to stand on a flat surface, without needing a strut back at all. Small frames with four equal length sides can be ready popular as they seem to be regarded as having a quite modern look. Smaller frame, will quite often sell really well as pairs instead of as single frames. This is a helpful way of getting a worthwhile minimum price per sale. Sales of single smaller frames are not very worthwhile sales in my opinion. I make every effort not to be selling ready made frames, which look anything like the usual items that you commonly see for sales elsewhere. As I need to charge more to make this work, my frames need to look really special.

I operate on a niche market principle. It is much easier to sell something which looks special at higher prices to a smaller number of customers, that to rely upon selling a larger quantity at lower prices, which require you to sell twice the number of frames at half the price. To use twice as much materials and work twice as hard, for only half as much money, makes no sense! Regular customers who are looking for a deal, who like to frame bits and pieces to sell on eBay can get quanity discounts on my cheapest frames and this is still worthwhile for me. I even have a few interior designer customers who also buy from me, but I have other items for them, do not match what I sell in my shop windows, so that I can give them some exclusivity at a price which enable both of us to make a worthwhile profit, while at the same time saving them from buying un-necessary order quantities of something just to satisfy only a small number of customers. Cash flow matters to them and this gives me a very useful edge for them to buy things from me! I don't just make ready made frames for my interior design friends, but other items as well!

Even you glass off cuts are well able to make you a useful amount of money. I even have one customer who resells my cheaper ready made frame, just as they are on ebay and these are all made out of my off cuts. It's all money for almost nothing!

[Rainbow]

this could come in at close to a thousand dollars for a single pane.

That's about £590 in English pounds Sterling, which still seems like a lot but it depends on the type of glass/acrylic you're talking about as well as the size, and does that include taxes?

If you're referring to ordinary Acrylite, which is sold as Plexiglass outside of the Americas, then 1000CAD/£590 seems like a large amount even for a full sheet.

On the other hand, if you're buying a full sheet of thicker 99% UV resistant and anti-reflective acrylic, then 1000CAD/£590 starts looking quite reasonable, particularly if that's a retail price rather than a trade price.

What sort of glass/acrylic are you looking for? It may be partly a case of "you pays your money and you takes your choice" but buying at retail prices won't help. But a dealer will only sell at trade price if you can give a good reason why they should, like buying regular quantities and/or being a genuine trader yourself rather than just buying for your own use.

[Justintime]

Best contact your Canadian picture framing wholesaler for bulk purchases.
Sounds like a great deal, it's only a kidney!

[JFeig]

Prices have gone bananas over the past year. My reference material is almost a year old as I do not have an active shop any more; however, as a reference, depending on the size of a sheet, its thickness, and optional specifications (anti-reflective and UV filtering properties) a "cut to size" lite of acrylic (Plexiglas®, Acrylite®, or Perspex®) from a stock size will cost in $US north of $6 to $100 per square ft. from a local distributor plus shipping.