Buy vs Build
Buy vs Build
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Buy vs Build Analysis Introduction
Buy vs Build Analysis Introduction
For those wondering what it would cost to "just build 1 monitor stand" -- or even to "just to build 5" -- this should help out. It also helps introduce the decisions you need to make decide on the options you might want in a monitor stand -- as well as the idea of "economies of scale" to those not familiar.
As can be extrapolated from below, a break even on the Buy vs Build is likely around 10-15 stands if you don't have tools needed already and probably 7-10 if you have tools and some mechanical aptitude -- but even then you'd likely want to buy monitor mounting plates from us.
As a rule of thumb, you can figure our costs are about half of the list price as we use marque pricing on most items based on a medium bulk purchase price -- and then add a little for labor and overhead.
For the individuals out there who like the idea of having these in your life, but don't have the tools yet to build them, if you can find others in your community that will commit to buying one or a few from you, those sales could help you pay for the tools and inventory needed to build theirs and your own for no cost to you, and possibly even a profit.
In addition to introducing a Utilitarian Product Idea to the masses to help increase work efficiencies and lower costs for various applications -- this website and this project is intended to be an educational tool to show people how to put value on the time and the tools required to make a product too.
"Can you tell me what it would cost me to try to build one or five monitor stands so I can compare that to what it would cost to buy them from you?"
"Can you tell me what it would cost me to try to build one or five monitor stands so I can compare that to what it would cost to buy them from you?"
Yes, but first you need to create the specs for your stand...
Yes, but first you need to create the specs for your stand...
Do you want it to telescope or not ?
Do you want it for one monitor or two ?
Do you want the ability to tilt the monitor up and down or is parallel to the post enough?
These all make a difference in cost --and it's more significant for 1 or 5 than it would be for more than that , as the component costs would come down with higher purchasing volume.
What you will find below is the initial cost to do one or even five bare bones units for a non-telescoping , single monitor stand with no tilt up and down may be 2 to 4 times more than buying a telescoping unit for 2 monitors with up down tilt from us!
Eventually there is a break even point but it's well beyond one or two units. It's probably closer to 10 to 15 units for most -- and if you are going to do that many -- it makes sense to buy our "Fabrication and Assembly Bench" documents to dramatically speed up that process.
Let's do Bare Bones First - Non telescoping - One Monitor - No Tilt...
Let's do Bare Bones First - Non telescoping - One Monitor - No Tilt...
We sell that for about $27 plus $10 shipping so that is your base for comparison.
These costs below assume you are buying the minimum quantities required to build a single bare bones monitor stand...
Material
Qty 1 - 3/4 pipe Flange (optional) - $5-10
Qty 1 - 3/4" EMT end connector - $1
Qty 1 - 3/4" EMT Tubing - 10' Long - $11 (they may sell 5' pieces too but unsure)
Qty 1 - #0 EMT Hanger Bracket - $1
Qty 1 - Monitor Mounting plate - $4-15 (buy metal and make yourself or order from us for $8 plus shipping)
Qty 1 - Monitor mounting plate hardware and other hardware for Hange bracket modification - $3
Subtotal - $20 on low end and with no mounting flange and homemade monitor mounting plate and $41 on high end with mounting flange and professional mounting plate
Time
One trip to Home Depot, Lowes or comparable (and hopefully all items in stock) - `1 hour min - could be 2 or more
About 10 to 20 minutes to fabricate depending on tools and experience.
Tools - $20 to $100+
To Cut EMT - 1) grinder with metal blade ($50+) or 2) EMT Cut tool ($15+) or 3) Hacksaw ($10+)
To Debur EMT - 1) Razor knife ($5) or 2) Deburring tool ($10-15) or 3) Industrial Deburring Tool ($45)
Hand Tools - Plyers and screw drivers ($10+)
Drill and Drill bit - If making your own monitor mounting plate - ($40+)
Summary
Time - At a minimum you will have 1.1 hours in it and possibly 2 or more
Tools - At a minimum you will need $20 in tools and possibly $100 or more
Material - At a minimum you will have $20 in material, and possible up to $41
If you valued your time at $30/hour and you had to buy all the tools, your total cost would range from $70 to $200+ for one bare bones, non-telescoping assembly with a monitor mounting plate and no tilt up/tilt down adjustment. (but you do get a spin adjustment)
What if we wanted 5 the same way?
What if we wanted 5 the same way?
Your trip time and tool cost is the same and you benefit by not needing to buy more EMT. Your assembly time would go from 10 to 30 minutes to 1 hour max.
Material
Qty 5 - Pipe Flange (optional) - $1 each if you order 10 online and can get free shipping with Amazon Prime)
Qty 5 - EMT Connectors - $.60 each if you buy a pack of 5 (round up to $1 for easy math)
Qty 1 - EMT Tubing 10' Long - $11
Qty 5 - #0 EMT Hanger Bracket - $0.75 if you buy a pack of 5 or so (round up to $1 for easy math)
Qty 5 - Monitor Mounting plate - $4x5 ($20) or $8x5+7 ($47)
Subtotal - $41 on the low end and 73 on the high end
Time
1 to 2 hours to home depot
1 hour to fabricate
Tools
Same as above
Summary
Time - At a minimum you will have 2 hours in it and possibly 3 or more
Tools - At a minimum you will need $20 in tools and possibly 100 or more
Material - At a minimum you will have $41 on low end and $73 on the high end (but that is total for 5 units)
If you valued your time at $30/hour and you had to buy all the tools, your total cost would range from $121 to $263+ BUT that is for 5 assemblies. Thus, your cost per assembly would be $25 to $50 now, vs the $70 to 200+.
Again that just for bare bones, non-telescoping assemblies and no tilt up/tilt down adjustment. (but you do get a spin adjustment).
As you built more, that cost would keep coming down with the more you built as you amortized the tools over each assembly -- and as you can see -- the more you purchase with each trip to the store - the costs come down as well. You will also get faster at assembling them and that time may drop to under 5 minutes each.
For more information, we have a document that details our costs vs retail price for some of our components to look at this another way and in greater depth into the product costs.
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