Buzz
All i saying and being a advocate of James Laver work but not the prices in the past the more you look into it the more you start thinking
All i saying and this is not aimed at Tom but how come bat a cost so much yet bat b cost 100 pound cheaper yet is made by the same grade of wood from the same Timber yard.
I understand overheads and other out going ie players fee and such as overheads
As Buzz says, it's basic accounting...
I suspect the best comparison you can make is M&H and Laver. Both considered top quality in their countries, and priced accordingly in their local currency. To us here, the M&H is cheaper because of the exchange rate, but the actual value of the currency in the producer's pocket is approximately the same in its buying power locally.
Equally, as described, if you pay KP, Bell and a.n.other to play with your kit then your marketing budget and other people cost is huge... but that's already been covered.
You could also ask why the top grade willow bats cost more than the lower grade willow bats. The batmaking costs are the same, but is there really (taking the GN Oblivion as an example) £100 difference between a grade 2 and top grade willow? No, but people will pay more for the perceived rarity of the higher quality goods. Supply and demand at work.