In this Discussion
- cementsteam8 November 2007
- DJRose December 2007
- dollarflame6 November 2007
- ezorvera December 2007
- firexpert6 November 2007
- hail9fat December 2007
- maple66hand December 2007
- markpull6 November 2007
- mayonaise November 2007
- painwall69 December 2007
- target35ghost November 2007
A Fine Tooth
A Fine Tooth is at it again. They are selling OK Go ties and some buttons. They aren't on E-Bay either so you get a good deal on them and don't have to fight over them lol. I just bought one for my Daughter for Christmas. James also has some cool pants and other stuff if you know anyone that wants a unique style of clothing.
A Fine Tooth Band Merchendise
A Fine Tooth Band Merchendise
Comments
Should I buy one and wear it at the next OK Go gig!!
I know! As much as I love OK Go, I still kind of regret paying thirty dollars for a button. I don't regret the tie though. I love my tie.
Yes, at least people will SEE the tie!
Not to mention we have no idea how much compensation the guys receive from this.
This is James from A FINE TOOTH. I'm happy to have a chance to reply to some of the questions raised here about the ties and buttons on our site. I'm also happy to answer questions through email at james@afinetooth.com.
First, pricing...
Believe me, I know what it's like to be cash-strapped. The last thing we want to do is outprice OK Go's fans. That would be pointless. Here's how we arrived at pricing for the current series of ties:
Last year, SERIES-A Ties & Buttons were listed on ebay around the holidays. There was quite a run on them and no less than ten went for over $100, the highest selling for $187.50. So this year, our idea was to offer another limited-edition series of ties, SERIES-B, but to offer them for flat prices, so that fans who didn't get a chance to buy a tie last year--because of limited availability and because of price, frankly--could have a chance this year. The price of $34.95 for the ties is the auction starting price for last year's ties. In other words, it is the lowest price that anyone paid for a tie last year.
There is one difference between SERIES-A and SERIES-B that is reflected in the price, and that is the packaging. Whereas SERIES-A came in box packaging with a backing board specifically designed for the series, SERIES-B comes in our standard tie box. That said, since each of the ties is still a part of a limited series, it is packaged with its serial number--lending it whatever future value it may have as a collector's item. No guarantees on what that future value may be, but let's hope that one day it rewards the band's fans for their patronage back when the band was starting out.
Now, the BUTTONS are a different matter. The TWO (2) buttons you see on our site right now are actually SERIES-A buttons from last year that were won at auction but not paid for. They come in the original SERIES-A packaging and are the exact same buttons listed from last year at auction, only offered here now at a flat price of $44.95. We chose not to make buttons this year, and may not do so again, so if you consider this, maybe it goes some way toward explaining the higher price for these two buttons. They are the end of SERIES-A, are the only buttons still available and are in even shorter supply than ties.
Now, I would like to hear your responses to these explanations. I'm not opposed to lowering the price--but these two (2) particular items, because of their limited supply may have a higher value for some fans.
Second, the band's share in this...
This year, as last year, the official merchandise we are offering is a partnership between OK Go and A FINE TOOTH. That is to say that profits on the sale of the merchandise are split 50/50 between A FINE TOOTH and the band. This is easily verified if any moderators of the forum wish to check with management. I will stop short of providing contact information--I'm not sure they would appreciate that.
In any case, having worked with the guys before, and understanding their high standards, the genesis of the idea for this merchandise was a pitch I made to them last year in which I would personally select a group of vintage ties from our collection and embroider them with the band's official logo. Express in the agreement was the band's approval of each item and our equal share of the profits from all sales. This is unusual in the industry. Typically, a retailer licenses a band's logo or image and pays the band a small percentage of proposed sales up front. Futhermore, after licensing, the band usually has little say in the use of their image, in terms of the quality of t-shirt, or button, etc, where it is placed. In this case, A FINE TOOTH and OK Go are acting as true partners--each contributing their input to the project and not sharing in profits until sales are made.
So I hope this answers some of the questions and gives you an idea of what we're about. But do let me hear from you if we can do a better job! We want to sell these items for ourselves, for the band and for you. And we want everyone involved to be happy.
Finally, a plug: Have you seen the guys in this VIDEO for our Men's Fitted Trousers?
Best,
James
www.afinetooth.com
Well I think they are priced quite reasonably....
I think I'll get a tie
By the way how much do you charge for shipping to UK?
Nahko - I've already ordered a tie, and the shipping price is really reasonable - only a couple of dollars. Besides which the $34 tie is only £17! I love this exchange rate
Which one did you get??
I think I'll get a red one...the 0150-49 one!
I should say that we've had an error in our system, which is not correctly calculating international shipping. That issue should be fixed now, so those of you who buy internationally will see the correct price--which is definitely higher, sorry
It costs us a starting rate $19.00 to ship to you guys in the UK. Here's how it goes for international shipping, with UK as the example:
1-2 ties: $19 USD
3-4 ties: $26 USD
5 or more ties: $33 USD
We think it's expensive too. Anybody think the international shipping companies are taking advantage of that exchange rate? We do!
And for the record, Domestic (US) shipping prices are:
1-2 ties: $4.60 USD
3-4 ties: $8.95 USD
5 or more: $13.60 USD
Also pricey. But that's the world we live in.
James
It's bad no matter who you use, too! I've been spending around $20-30 (depending on weight, of course) everytime I've sent a package to the UK recently, and I'm just using the US Postal Service's cheapest options.
James I have one of the ties from last year and I love it. Great work! Oh, and yeah, we've all seen those videos. We love them.
PS: I love your avatar!
Thanks again, James! And thanks for the emails regarding my order (I'm Alice, as in alice_electra@hotmail.com, by the way). My paypal receipt says that I paid $36 (or thereabouts), does this mean that the additional cost of postage is going to be added on somehow...?
Oh Rachel, I'm so sorry! Don't send me anything more, I didn't realise it was that expensive!! I think it's roughly the same for me in pounds, but it seems like less over here....
Feh. It's fun. How else will you get milano cookies?
I can't bear to go to the Fine Tooth website anymore. It makes me sad that I'm not a boy.