The Rediculously High Price of Liturgical Furnishings?

[Beret]

Does anyone else recognize what appears to be the ridiculously high price of Christian liturgical furnishings? Have you priced a thurible, lavabo set, cruet set or even corporals and purificators today?

What’s the reason for this rip-off? No, it’s not a matter of “quality” and no, it’s not cost-based. For example you can price a cast brass or bronze thurible for say $500.00 A similar cast product in terms of quality, size and place of manufacture, but intended for use in one of the non-Chrsitian religions is $50-100.00.

Purificators are $10-20.00+ each. Far superior linen napkins are $2-3.00 each when purchased from non-religious sources. Corporals are even more expensive.

A lavabo set of pitcher and basin can easily run $1000-3000.00 or $100-300.00 if purchased from a non-religious source. Same with cruets, ablution cups, etc.

This really puzzles me. I began to think about it a bit more when a long-retired monsignor bitterly complained about the cost of religious gear.

Are there any companies out there that sell at a price that is closer to cost-based versus the maximum the market will bear?

 

[puzzleannie]

there is a clearing house for used furnishings and “utensils” can’t think of a better word, that parishes can use. we receive 10 or 12 catalogs which vary wildly in price for what appear to be similar items going by the pictures and descriptions. Our Altar Society does a good job comparison shopping, looking at samples, etc. somebody here also published a link to a place that buys up furnishings from churches that are closing for resale and reuse.

Our new church will have an art budget, which includes not only statuary etc. but the sanctuary and altar things, but not including vestments, of 1 million dollars, which is considered middle of the road.

I found very nice cut glass carafe and wine/water cruets (probably intended for vinegar and oil) for my “pretend Mass” set-up we do for sacramental classes for less than $10 in a discount store, they same things range from 50 to over 200 in the catalogs, and come in matches sets with similarly priced carafes etc.

 

[lizaanne]

Also try eBay - you may be able to find some beautiful items there.

~Liza

 

[Leopard]

There is no reason churches can not buy supplies and equipment from less expensive sources, including sources that do not typically sell to a Catholic Church customer, as long as those items are suitable for church use.

 

[Kielbasi]

These are all special order items, there just isn’t that much demand for them to manufacture them in large, economical quantities. Some of these items can last literally 100s of years.

Special orders always cost more than regular in stock items.

 

[Beret]

These are all special order items, there just isn’t that much demand for them to manufacture them in large, economical quantities. Some of these items can last literally 100s of years.

Special orders always cost more than regular in stock items.

No, that’s simply not the case. While most of the items we are talking about are stock items, it’s still possible to manufacture “special order” items in an economical way without running them in large batches (a fairly archaic and wasteful practice in itself) or incurring high start-up tooling costs. The ridiculous prices I see advertised are not based on their cost to manufacture.

It’s clear that the high prices do not come from the product design, manufacturing or distribution side. I suppose marketing costs could be huge, but I rather doubt it. My best guess (and it’s just that, a guess) is that buyers of religious furnishings do equate a higher price to high product quality (which is often not the case) and perhaps companies attempting to sell at lower prices have not found a ready market? Aside from supplier collusion (ridiculous to even mention) I’m not sure what else it could be.

I will say that the WWW and particularly eBay are finally beginning to apply some pressure in this area.

 

[Beret]

There is no reason churches can not buy supplies and equipment from less expensive sources, including sources that do not typically sell to a Catholic Church customer, as long as those items are suitable for church use.

What I asked is why are the prices so outrageous, particularly with respect to the furnishings of other religions?

 

[jfallaw]

What I asked is why are the prices so outrageous, particularly with respect to the furnishings of other religions?

Probably the reason diapers and other baby supplies are so expensive- you have to have them and the suppliers know it. It’s not fair, but it’s business. And just because a company sells church supplies, doesn’t mean that they will not seek as much profit as possible. Just my opinion though i really don’t know, and i could be wrong about the diapers, too.

 

[Leopard]

What I asked is why are the prices so outrageous, particularly with respect to the furnishings of other religions?

I don’t know, as I haven’t seen the items in question, their vendors, or their prices.

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

What I asked is why are the prices so outrageous, particularly with respect to the furnishings of other religions?

Because they can, and the majority of people don’t call them on it! Happily, this is changing, although slowly.

 

[jmdsc]

I completely agree with you…in our house we call it “The Rape of the Catholic Church”. It is absolutely disgusting. This is the base reason I started my company.

Please keep in mind that there ARE alternatives.

You will be surprised to find out how many local vendors/artisans are in your area.

Start with your diocesan conferences or something like the SWLC. Though there will be the “mass producers” (90% of whom are owned and operated by protestants) but you will always be able to find small, locally owned companies that desperately want to help out your parishes - in fact, they consider it their calling.

Try supporting these people - you will most likely get personal service AND something that is exquisit and unique to your parish without the huge pricetag!

 

[Beret]

Probably the reason diapers and other baby supplies are so expensive- you have to have them and the suppliers know it. It’s not fair, but it’s business. And just because a company sells church supplies, doesn’t mean that they will not seek as much profit as possible. Just my opinion though i really don’t know, and i could be wrong about the diapers, too.

That’s the whole point though – it is business.

The prices charged by most religious furnishings companies are so out of whack (no relation to costs) that it would seem like there is plenty of margin to play around with in order to reduce the sales price to drive volume up and greatly improve the bottom line – at the expense of your competition.

There is something more to the equation and I am guessing it’s the perceived price vs. product quality.

The good news is that the WWW and places like eBay are already clearly having an impact on the price of religious goods.

 

[Beret]

Because they can, and the majority of people don’t call them on it! Happily, this is changing, although slowly.

My question asks “why can they?” Why does the consumer allow it? Yes, it is changing via eBay and other channels.

 

[Beret]

I completely agree with you…in our house we call it “The Rape of the Catholic Church”. It is absolutely disgusting. This is the base reason I started my company.

Please keep in mind that there ARE alternatives.

You will be surprised to find out how many local vendors/artisans are in your area.

Start with your diocesan conferences or something like the SWLC. Though there will be the “mass producers” (90% of whom are owned and operated by protestants) but you will always be able to find small, locally owned companies that desperately want to help out your parishes - in fact, they consider it their calling.

Try supporting these people - you will most likely get personal service AND something that is exquisit and unique to your parish without the huge pricetag!

Sadly there aren’t always good alternatives. While one can save a good deal of money in the purchase of say communion chalices or ciboria by careful shopping, the price paid is still going to be quite high compared to the cost of a chalice if we could find a secular alternative.

One would think religious furnishings would be a good deal – even a bit lower in price than their secular similars, yet they are typically many times more expensive.

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

My question asks “why can they?” Why does the consumer allow it? Yes, it is changing via eBay and other channels.

I know in my old parish, the reason was, “Because we have always ordered from that company! Why would you want to order from some place else?!?” That was also the reason given for ordering extra copier paper, teachers’ supplies for the school (3 times the price of other places!), janitorial stuff, or anything else.

 

[Beret]

I know in my old parish, the reason was, “Because we have always ordered from that company! Why would you want to order from some place else?!?” That was also the reason given for ordering extra copier paper, teachers’ supplies for the school (3 times the price of other places!), janitorial stuff, or anything else.

Excellent point…

A lot of these “sources” got a foothold LONG before different markets were competitive…

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

Excellent point…

A lot of these “sources” got a foothold LONG before different markets were competitive…

Yep. That was one of the reasons the place is now my former parish.