Cost of skins

[elbas3175]

I recently asked a furrier for a quote on a custom design full length hooded blue fox coat. He came back with 2500 euros. I was quite happy with this price and wanted to go ahead, but then I didn't hear back from him for a while.

 

A couple of weeks later, he says that the price of pelts has increased, and that the pelts alone will cost over 3500 euros.

 

Is he yanking my chain, or is it possible that pelt prices, wherever he can source them from, have increased in price like that? I reckon it's an increase of around 80-90 euros per pelt, nearly doubling in price. I know prices have been going up, but in the last 2 weeks?

[Worker 11811]

Walk.

 

The guy offered you his price. He should stand by his word.

Any businessman should be aware of his own business conditions.

 

This is like sitting down at a cafe, ordering your meal and having the waiter come back to your table two hours later and saying, "Sorry, but the prices posted on our menu just went up."

 

If you are absolutely set on the idea of having this coat made by this furrier, I suppose you could negotiate but, to be honest, I'd tell the guy to take a hike.

[elbas3175]

How can I find out what is a reasonable price for the skins? Is there a website which tells you the current cost of skins - a bit like a stockmarket?!

[Worker 11811]

Okay, so what's the cost of coffee?

 

If you go to a cafe and order espresso but the waiter comes back a half hour later and says that the cost of coffee just went up so you'll have to pay more, what would you say?

 

You'd tell him to stick his coffee where the sun doesn't shine. Wouldn't you?

 

The guy made you an offer. He should honor his word.

 

If you want to negotiate with him, that's your business but, if you do, it is YOU who is doing the favor.

 

Yes, the cost of skins is going up. The cost of EVERYTHING is going up. That is irrelevant to the discussion. When the cafe owner set his prices, he knew what his cost of goods was. If that changes, he needs to rewrite his menu boards. It is unfair (and I bet it is illegal) to advertise one price then to ask for a higher price after the deal is struck.

 

All right... meet the guy half way. Offer him €3,000. If he doesn't accept, head for the door.

 

Don't let this guy swindle you because you have a thing for fur.

[AKcoyote]

Unfortunately pelt prices are continuously rising. While I am not familiar with current market prices for blue fox pelts, or exactly how many pelts would be required, the 3500 euro quote for pelts sounds close to current market prices of quality fox pelts.

 

It had probably been a while since the furrier had priced the wholesale cost of blue fox pelts and the 2500 euro quote was based on what he remembered as being the costs. Such materials price increases have become common in the fur industry as demand is increasing while the number of fur ranches continues to decrease.

[White Fox]

The one thing that strikes me here is that he could just come back and say that he would do it for you and then make you a coat of poor quality pelts. You might contact o ur member here "Mailon" and possibly "Oliver" in Montreal and see what they would charge for a coat of good quality pelts shipped to you. Mailon in particular would be VERY trustworthy in giving you an honest price. Then you can make your decision. Do you buy local? Or do you buy from them and have the coat shipped to you. There are I would think just so many definitions of "good quality" that it would be hard to tell what you are looking at even if you SAW a list of prices somewhere on the net. That is I think something that requires a lot of experience.

 

Good luck.

 

Wish it was me. You have me jealous now.

 

W

[mailonfurs]

The best fox skins in the world are sold in Finland by SAGA and you can use their site to get an idea and followup on recent prices.

Indeed, the increase on prices on Blue Fox pelts (and other foxes as minks too in general) is huge

Here are two links on the prices of blue fox pelts (raw)

December auction

March auction (the one that changed the market prices during the last two weeks)

 

Now these prices are for raw pelts, and there is 10% surcharge (more or less) for auction fees etc. Since it is a percentage fee, it is even higher for each new highly priced skin (eg a 200 Euros skin has a 20 Euros surchage, a 150 Euros skin has a 15 Euros surcharge)

 

My opinion is that the seller is not untrustworthy but should stick to his original price, as a matter of ethics, just like the waiter example Worker gave.

This is why all offers, especially during these times that prices on pelts change (and get higher each day) should have an expiration date.

The seller should inform you that there is an upcoming auction in a few days that could change/alter the price and then should

1. Quote a price until the auction takes place (expires just when the auction begins) or

2. Let you know of the price right after the auction ends

[Worker 11811]

I agree with Kostas. Whenever a business quotes a price on something it is good practice to have an expiration date. At minimum, it should say, "Prices subject to change due to market conditions."

 

If you look at those prices Kostas posted, in December, the average price was €135/skin with a top price of €400/skin. Then, in March, the average price went up to €153/skin but the top price went down to €240/skin. (For the largest size.)

 

That's an average increase of 113% but, given the drop in the top price, that means that the price of skins was more consistent.

Let's just wash it out to a 25% increase across the board. All other things being the same, that would make the cost of the coat come up to €3,125.

 

I think €3,000 is a fair offer.

 

Elbas, please don't think I'm yelling at you. That's not my intent.

The thing that bothers me is that the guy offered you his price and you verbally accepted. When it came down to the time to put it in writing, the guy stalled for two weeks and came back with some lame excuse that the price of raw materials has increased so he'll have to increase his price.

 

That's just not fair.

 

If the guy was worried about cost increases he should have told you so at the beginning.

If I was the salesman I would have leveled with you. I would have said that the fur auction was coming up in two weeks and, if you wanted to guarantee the quoted price, you would need to agree by a certain date. Yes, it's a bit of a "high pressure" tactic but it is honest because the buyer is aware of the seller's demands in advance and both parties have the option to refuse the deal based on conditions stated beforehand.

 

I used to work in sales. I sold televisions and consumer electronics. I sold home furniture. I sold toys in a retail store and I just recently worked in a retail photography studio.

 

In every case, it was common to tell the customer, "These sale prices expire on Friday," or something like that.

When I issued written quotes on furniture, there was a space at the bottom of the form where we wrote the expiration date.

 

But, you know what? I often did the reverse. I sometimes told the customer that there was a price reduction coming up at the end of the week and, if they signed on the deal right now, I'd give them the sale price today.

 

It is the salesman's job to make the sale based on the best price he can offer. Quoting one price then stalling for two weeks until prices go up is not fair. Based on the jurisdiction, it might also be illegal, too.

[elbas3175]

Guys, this is all very helpful and your time and effort is much appreciated.

 

(Worker, I know you're not having a go at me. I'm not sure where you're getting your comparisons from. For December you say the average is 135 euros, rising to 153 euros in March, a 13% increase. I think that's the average for Saga Royal in December and the overall average across all qualities in March. The average for Saga Royal in March was 190 euros, a 40% increase. This ties in with what the furrier told me.)

 

Anyway, whilst the furrier ought to stick to his original offer, what position am I in to try and enforce this? He is overseas. All I can do is not have the coat made.

 

He has made a coat for me before, which I was very happy with, so there is an element of trust. Looking at those auction prices, the new price quoted doesn't seem entirely unreasonable. However, the way this has been done is unreasonable.

 

He has now told me that he had some skins at a lower price, with which he could have made the coat for the lower price, but then he sold them.... Despite me saying almost instantly that I wanted to proceed with the coat at 2500 euros. (He'd actually quoted 2800 euros a little earlier, so I was straight back in there when he went lower!)

 

It's very frustrating. I can't make him make the coat at a loss, can I?

[Worker 11811]

You're right. I was looking at the average prices listed in the bottom of the far left column. If you are talking about SAGA Royal, your prices are more accurate. For SAGA Royal, the price increase went from €135 to €190. That is about a 40% increase. You are correct. I guess I wasn't paying attention to the fact that you wanted SAGA Royal.

 

If you like your furrier, go ahead and continue with the deal. However, I would not do it without complaining loudly.

 

When I sold furniture, people used to complain and holler at me all the time. It was a favorite tactic of little, old ladies to come in and cry all over my desk. Literally! I had to keep a box of tissues! Mind you, I'm not the type of guy who relishes the thought of little, old ladies crying.

 

I had one guy come into the TV store and threaten to shoot me! I just took out my wallet and, without saying another word, laid it down on the counter, open to the holder for my concealed weapons permit.

 

I'm not a mean guy. I always try to make an honest deal and I even try to go the extra mile for the customer whenever I can.

When I write something down on the sales slip, that is the price I am obliged to keep. Even after that, on occasion, I have scribbled out the bottom line and written a LOWER price in its place if I thought it would make a sale.

 

All the story telling aside, what I'm trying to say is that negotiation is part and parcel of being a salesman. It is well within your rights to ask for a discount. I've been on the other side of that desk and I would not hesitate to tell the guy what I think.

(Politely, of course!)

 

He quoted you a price. He didn't give you an expiration date.

He stalled on the agreement then he raised the price without warning.

 

Okay... How about this?

 

You agree to his price but he has to make you a hat and a scarf to match!

 

[mailonfurs]

one more thing,

do not take into account the "top price" on such auction result price lists that I posted earlier

A 400 Euros fox pelt is usually a Top Lot: a few pelts of unique quality sold in extreme prices for advertisment reasons only (website and magazine coverage with interview and photos for the lucky winner) and does not represent by any means the current auction prices

[Worker 11811]

I get what you are saying.

 

When I considered the top price in my calculation I used it only as a measure of standard deviation in prices. In other words, if the average cost of a skin is €100 and the top price is €150 that means there could be a €50 variation in the price. Some skins might have sold less than €100 and some might have sold for more. The top price gives an indication of the spread in prices.

 

A wide spread might be a good thing because a shrewd buyer might be able to get a better deal even if the average price is high.

 

However, if you're saying that the top price is merely for show then it isn't really a good indicator of the spread.

 

Does a fur auction work like a traditional auction or is is more like the stock market?

Is there an auctioneer who announces, "Do I have €50?... Do I have €60?... Going once... Going twice... Sold!"

Or, do sellers post an offering price and buyers place orders for a particular price and there's only a sale when buyer and seller agree on price?

 

I have a hard time imagining that it would be like a livestock auction. Buyer's don't have the same opportunity to inspect the product like they would when buying cattle and horses. I imagine it would have to be more like a stock market auction. Wouldn't it?

[AKcoyote]

Worker,

 

While I have NOT attended any pelt auctions, I do think I have done enough research to have some idea how they are run.

 

Registered buyers are usually allowed to inspect the lots offered a day or two in advance of the actual auction in order to determine pelt quality and have an idea of which lots they want to bid on. I believe the actual auctions utilize an auctioneer and open competitive bidding.

[mailonfurs]

exactly

it is with auctioneers and competitive bidding.

I saw a nice video the other day on the Kopenhagenfur.com website that showed the auctioneers in action but I cannot find it.

Last auction in Denmark (that is just about to end) had 600 buyers from all over the world! No wonder the prices went at the roof once again

A few years ago we would consider half of them, 300 persons, a crowded room

[White Fox]

Kostas...

 

Hey, I don't see anyone looking like Greeks on that site. ALL Orientals!

 

This might be the video you were thinking of. It is certainly well worth a look anyhow! http://www.kopenhagenfur.com/fur-auction/auction-sales

 

W

[mailonfurs]

haha the guy at the 5th sec. with the mustach is Greek

But the rest is as you said, Orientals...

Indeed thats the video I was talking about, thanks for finding it for me

[elbas3175]

Well, I've got back in touch with the furrier. Suggested that he ought to honour the price he agreed. Oddly enough, I haven't heard back from him. It's only been a day, though.

[elbas3175]

Well, the furrier won't honour the original 2500 euros quote. If you recall, I replied to him the day he sent me that quote to accept. There's a bit of a language barrier, but I think he's saying he didn't receive that reply. I think I sent it to an old e-mail address, which could be the problem. And then he sold his cheaper batch of pelts.

 

Anyway, the best he can offer me now is 3500 euros. It's a dreamy design (to me at least) so I am tempted to just go for it, against my prudent nature - pelt prices rising, euro conversion rate unattractive. Or I could wait until later in the year.

 

Does anyone have any idea or view on whether blue fox pelt prices are likely to continue rising for the rest of the year, or whether they might fall back in the second half of the year? Is there any seasonality in the auction prices, so that there's a peak each year in a particular month?

[Worker 11811]

I don't know what the future prices for fur are likely to be and I couldn't even hazard a guess. Summer is coming up. Although there are certainly tanned furs on the market, I can't imagine the fur supply growing until at least late fall or winter.

 

Your situation is very disappointing to me.

This guy seems to be trying to give you the shaft.

 

It's not YOUR responsibility to use the right e-mail address. Any honest businessman will make sure he gives you his correct business address. You shouldn't have to hunt down his e-mail address.

 

If a business man gives you the wrong price quote it's not YOUR fault. It is his.

When I worked in retail stores, I was often tasked with updating price signs and tags on merchandise. I had to be damned sure I got the right price on the goods because, if I put the wrong price on, the company was obliged to sell that item at that price. I have seen people search for a whole stack of goods just to find the one item that has the wrong price tag.

 

The guy offered you a price on a coat. It is not fair for him to ignore your request to buy or manipulate you to get a higher price. I'm not even going to go into the legalities of it. This is a "gray area" at best.

 

If the guy doesn't know what the cost of his raw materials is, if he doesn't know what his cost of labor and overhead are, if he doesn't know his costs of doing business, he's not a very good business man.

 

I give the guy a little break because the price of furs went up. However, he should have prefaced his offer with an expiration date or he should have told you that the fur auction was coming up and, if the prices go up, so will his.

That's salesmanship. You offer your customer your best price and give them a chance to buy before you raise prices.

 

The thing is that you COULD complain or even, somehow, "force" him into honoring his original price but I'm not sure that's wise at this point. If you were able to do that, he could simply make you a cheap coat. I don't think that would be good for anybody. You won't be happy with the merchandise. He won't be happy dealing with you. It would be a bad scene.

 

See if you can negotiate him down a couple hundred clams or so.

 

There are other ways to negotiate. What about accessories? Tell him you'll accept his price if he throws in a matching hat or scarf or something like that.

 

Most Americans aren't used to negotiating on prices and we don't feel comfortable asking for discounts but, in most of the world where large chain stores like Wal-Mart don't rule the landscape, most people haggle every day. Haggling is becoming less common in some parts of Europe, now, but I think it is a valuable skill that people should learn even if only for situations like this.

 

At very minimum, it lets the guy know that you aren't happy with the way he's treating you.

 

The bottom line is that there is going to come a time when you are either going to have to pay the price or take a pass.

 

If you really, really like this coat and you can afford it, there's no reason you can't buy at his price but don't be afraid to walk if you don't feel right about the deal. Your gut feeling is often telling you the right thing to do.

 

But, seriously, if the guy's a smart business man he should be able to make you a matching scarf or something without hurting his bottom line. It would be worth twice his cost of goods just to keep you as a loyal customer, not to mention recommendations. Am I right?

[AKcoyote]

While I am NOT involved in the situation between elbas3175 and the furrier, I sincerely believe that at the time the furrier quoted the 2500 euro price he was unaware pelt costs had risen so steeply. I have seen similar situations with a local furrier I know.

 

Many furriers do NOT attend pelt auctions and instead rely on local skin brokers for the pelts they need; only buying what they need as they need them.

 

While the furrier should have refrained from providing a quote until he had determined his costs, I believe there was no intensional deception involved.

[Worker 11811]

If I made it sound like I was saying the guy was intentionally deceiving I was wrong. That's not what I meant to imply.

 

However, once he discovered that he under priced himself, he could have handled it in a more forthright manner. He could have given an expiration date or he could make some other accommodation.

[elbas3175]

The old and new e-mail addresses are very similar. So similar that when he sent me the new address, I didn't realise it was different! It seems unlikely to me that they'd stopped using the old one altogether all of a sudden, but what can one do?

 

I thought Americans were all about haggling over prices! I am uncomfortable with haggling, but you obviously make valid suggestions, particularly on the returning customer point and the fact that I can pass on recommendations. Couple hundred clams? I love that expression! Why clams?

 

I will see what he says.

[Worker 11811]

I'm not totally sure why "clams" is slang for "money." I have always assumed it was because early American Indians used clam shells for money. (AKA: "Wampum.")

 

Many people will haggle at garage sales and flea markets, etc., but most retail stores post prices for their goods and will not usually bargain for price. Most Americans simply go to the store, pick the merchandise off the shelf and pay whatever price is marked. Many do not even think twice.

 

When I worked in the TV store, we had no latitude in price negotiation at all. I wasn't even allowed to let customers know if there was going to be a sale or price reduction in the future. When I sold furniture, it was common to inform the customer about upcoming sales and discounts. I often gave the discounts a few days early if it meant making a sale. The rationale was that the customer would likely come back at the end of the week anyway. The accommodation was seen as a convenience of time not as a price break. Otherwise, the customer would have to make two trips to the store to buy the same merchandise.

 

Other than that, I have never worked at a retail store that negotiated for price on any goods. The posted price was "Take it or leave it."

 

When I traveled in Europe, things were virtually opposite. There were very few large chain stores. Mostly proprietorships. In almost any case, the posted asking price was considered as merely a suggestion. It was common for locals to automatically get price breaks if they were regular customers. Most people typically asked, "How much if I buy two?" Pricing was up to the shop owner or salesperson. He/she knew the bottom line and knew how much he needed to get for the goods.

 

It's been over 25 years since I traveled. I'm sure things have changed. But, still, it doesn't hurt to ask for a break.

 

Not asking is best way to make sure you won't get something you want.

[ROBINFUR]

Hi all,

 

I would like to put my two cents in on this thread. It's now June 4, 2011 and I can attest to the fact that prime blue fox pelts are still at very exepensive to say the least, and most likely will stay that way at least through this year. And maybe even longer.

 

For the sake of interest, I personally wanted my own custom made fox coat to be manufactured for me. I have bought a number of fox coats both new and used from a couple of different Italian furriers, whom I believe offer some of the nicest, quality made fur coats I have seen as of late and for reasonable prices to boot.

 

Up until the end of last year, three different furriers that I keep track of were selling their new furs for what I consider to be dead give aways in the fur world. At least in respect to most local U.S. furriers that want about 2-3 times as much for new fur coats of the same style and quality. These three furriers have been mentioned on this website and others before over time and all have proven track records for offering quality furs at reasonable prices. All three furriers are also sellers on eBay and do quite a lot of business.

 

I decided to check with one of the furriers, to see if I could have a super plush fox coat made for me in the style and dimensions that I personally wanted. I ran into much of the same problems of pelt availability and high prices. Please realize that most of the best pelts that go to auction, are sold anywhere between late spring and early summer to satisfy the fur industries needs for the year. Fox ranchers don't harvest their pelts until right before the end of the cold season. And of course, the reason is because the coat on a fox is most plush and dense right before the end of winter and that is when they are harvested for auction.

 

I think we can all agree that demand is flying through the roof worldwide for new fox pelts, and since the Euro is very strong against the almighty US greenback (..I guess it's not so green anymore..), then we are all going to be paying more for new fur coats. It seems that while the world economy was recovering from a downturn throughtout the last couple of years, good prices could be had on pelts and new coats in general. Furriers needed the business and were also willing to give better deals to keep their businesses thriving.

 

Now that economic recovery is forthcoming, and the demand for pelts for fur coats is rising due to more people out there having a greater amount of disposable income to spend, then pelt prices are going up as a result. You also have to figure in some inflation, because there is no such thing as a free lunch after a big recession. It's all about supply side economics. Either more fur ranchers will eventually be needed to handle the increased demand, or we all are going to be paying more for new fur. This also means that used fur prices will climb as well. All it takes is a bit of surfing around eBay and it won't take long to realize this is already starting to happen. Sellers are now asking for more on quality based used furs, and there just isn't as many good deals to be had on the lesser quality furs that are left over like there was in the last couple of years. I had bought a lot of furs since the year 2000, and can attest to that.

 

Getting back to the first furrier, I received a polite e-mail in return stating that they would make me a coat, but that they didn't have any pelts on hand to make me one just then. And they said that they weren't going to have any pelts until perhaps sometime in the early part of summer. This was an indication that things didn't look good. I wanted a coat made then rather than later (it was late April), and didn't want to wait. So I tried e-mailing the second furrier around mid-May to see if they could accomodate me. Again, I was told they had no new prime blue fox pelts to spare and most likely wouldn't for sometime later in summer. Boy, it was becoming a real bummer just to get a custom coat made, and I wanted to save some money if I could. I trusted these guys to do the job because of the quality I had seen in the past and their good track record for coming through. I had enough money if I needed to spend more, but neither one of the first two furriers was all that interested at the time because of the lack of pelts (which had me totally convinced that pelt prices were skyrocketing).

 

As it stands right now, I decided two weeks ago to try the third reputable furrier to see what could be done. So I contacted elsafur-2008 in Italy and should probably have done it sooner. She is a defintiely good person and has a caring attitude. I had written to Maria before, and said she could make me a coat. I was ready to see if something could be done, all the while knowing that prices for fox pelts were going up. When she did send me a quote, had to inform me that the asking price was 200 Euros each for prime fox pelts and the coat I wanted her to make was going to be quite expensive. She was up front about it all, and respected that coming from her. It was the clear that the coat I wanted was not going to come cheap and so we came to terms to have it made.

 

She had listed very briefly at auction on eBay a coat of shorter length that appealed to me, almost two weeks ago now. Just by chance I saw it and knew I had to have that one coat. It was a gorgeous dyed red fox coat that was listed. Almost burgundy red in color, it was a color I liked very much and since I already had a number of coats that were of the natural blue fox coloration I loved the idea of owning that coat. I had been one of two other people who placed an offer on that coat to purchase it (and should have just bought it outright). When I saw the coat, irregardless of whether I was going to have one made like it or not, I was determined to have the coat to add to my ever growing fur collection.

 

As it is, for some reason Maria had stopped the auction and the coat was no longer up for sale. I think she realized how much she was selling the coat for, which had to literally be under cost to make it. When I contacted her to have one made like it, I asked if it could be done only if it could be made in a complete full-length version with super wide collar and with long, generous open spiral-style sleeves. I wanted this coat to be freakin' huge too; almost insanely devoid of anything wimpy in its size, style or volume of fur!

 

It had to be massive with fox fur to the gills, and with large upper chest and armpit area roominess to move about. It also had to be wide across the shoulders at 22" from shoulder seam to shoulder seam, and if this coat required more pelts than normal to make then so be it. The collar should be at least 10" across and flow downward on the front of the coat with true authority. The coat is to be 54" long with full fox fur pelting. I want to be smothered in this coat with fur running from the top of my head to my toes. The coat is to be more of a master piece if you will; a testament to a fur lovers desire for utter excess rather than just a functional garment for everyday or sometime use. Whether I wear this coat out or not does not matter to me in the least, what matters most is the thrill of just lugging around all that delcious and massive fur on my back just for the shear pleasure of it all. And to relish in its

ability to deliver all of that lovely softness for many years of fur pleasure.

 

And if for some reason I choose to turn it inside out and wear it a time or two with all that fur on the inside to tingle me to the bone, I can do it because of the proportions and size of the coat that I want it to be. Maria had no problem taking into account my measurements and requirements for such a large size. Taking into account the size of the coat and all that fur, she quoted me at 3650 Euros to make this big red furry devil. At first I almost had a heart attack, but I do realize that it will probably take at least 14 full size prime pelts to make the thing. That comes to 2800 Euros from the quote just for the fur!

 

Somehow in all the previous discussions on the subject of high pelt prices and over the top quotations, I believe there was a failure to take into account that other people have to eat too. Furriers are just like everyone else, they are in business to make a decent profit and deservedly. To assume someone is being a cad when a changing their prices and should eat it so we can have our fur fun on the cheap, is not taking into account that these people also have bills to pay and families to feed just like the rest of us. Am I not correct? So its stands to reason that all that cutting, sewing and hands on work to make such a coat takes much time and effort to complete a masterpiece to be enjoyed by the someone else. And Maria even told be she could do it all and have it ready in 25 days (on top of everyting ele she does day to day with the many auctions she must oversee), and then have it shipped to me in three days right to my doorstep. The price also includes the $125 plus cost to insure and ship this monster fur to me!

 

So as I see it, here is a nice lady who is going to go of her way to chase down for me a large number of perfect dyed red fox pelts, put them all together with stedfast determination to resemble something that will look like the equivalent of a Ferrari with super lush softness added to it, will definitely make my heart stop when I see it and put it on, and she'll make a few bucks through it all knowing she made another customer happy. While it is easy to lay blame on rising pelt prices or a furriers coat quotation as being problematic to having something nice like a fur coat made, it really is about having the diligence to go after what you want and of course you'll need some 'bread, clams, or greeenbacks' to get the job done. Everybody knows that it takes money to have nice things and everything is getting more expensive. You know, like gas, food, or the government raising taxes on everything around us like were a botomless money pit in which to siphon from, etc. That's just the way it is.

 

I know I am going to love that coat when it comes, but if you want a nice coat, jacket, stole or furry whatever to add to your closet or collection, then unfortunately the time is now to chase after it if you can come up with the money. Unless things change and we see lower fur prices again in the future, then higher prices is going to become the normal cost of doing business. Yes, the coat I settled for is expensive, but what the hell, you only go around once in life. Do you know what my banker once said to me when I happened to sigh a wee bit as I was signing the 30 year mortgage papers on my new house back in 1986? He said, "Rob, it's only money"! Well, it's true!! To this day, I still want to smack him for saying that and also shake his hand. With the house almost paid off with just a couple of years left to go, I realize why this is so. It hurts to hear something like what he said initially. Because you know your going to work so hard for so long to pay for something nice like a good home, yet in the end it is all worth it because it makes it all the more worthwhile for the purchase.

 

With that in mind, I can just imagine and dream right now what all that luscious fur is going to feel like caressing me all over. And to think I'll look pretty darn good wearing it too (..at least I will think so anyway). After all, like the man said, its 'only money'.

 

Fur on everyone, -R

[Guest]

Rob:

 

First, I am ENVIOUS that you are getting that deep maroon THICK fox coat! As soon as I saw it, I think my heart rate went up. Second your banker is right...my dad used to say the same thing to me: "Ah Jack it's only money." Usually after paying for something needed or something wanted. Did I say I was envious about that coat?? Perhaps you'll send a picture or five once you get your new acquisition??

 

At any rate, I know you'll enjoy the coat to its fullest. It is GORGEOUS!

 

All the best!

 

JA

 

PS A coat of that magnitude might not cost me so much as I am only 5'7" and about 130 pounds...(many women's medium to large coats fit me well)

 

PPSS (sorry) The coat as advertized would fit me allmost perfectly...