STA"M Inflation

[Dan]

Mehudur Alter Rebbe ksav large mezuzos have gone from ~$150 to ~$275 over the past 5 years.
What's the justification for this?

[aygart]

Mehudur Alter Rebbe ksav large mezuzos have gone from ~$150 to ~$275 over the past 5 years.
What's the justification for this?

There can easily be a number of reasons. A large factor is the poor USD>ILS exchange rate. Then add high inflation on klaf etc. and the sofer's need for higher income and an 85% hike makes sense.

[Dan]

There can easily be a number of reasons. A large factor is the poor USD>ILS exchange rate. Then add high inflation on klaf etc. and the sofer's need for higher income and an 85% hike makes sense.

Many A"R ksav mezuzos, including the ones I bought 5 years ago, are from US/Canada.
Have to replace 2 of them and was very surprised by the price increase, but confirmed it with a couple of stores in CH.

[Lurker]

Mehudur Alter Rebbe ksav large mezuzos have gone from ~$150 to ~$275 over the past 5 years.
What's the justification for this?

IINM, there are a few factors. Cost of materials has gone up, cost of living for sofrim has gone up, and there aren't as many sofrim writing top quality mezuzos. I was told many soferim prefer to write the cheaper mezuzos because the volume makes them more money.

[yitzgar]

I have heard that there is a major increase in demand for sifrei torah and therefore a shortage of mezuzos

[Yehuda57]

I didn't read the article, just glanced at a couple of lines, but based on a couple of conversations I had - STA"M prices were rising pre-Covid. There are fewer Israelis becoming sofrim due to government subsidies and efforts to get Chareidm into the regular workforce, and so there are more lucrative opportunities outside of "frum" markets such as STA"M. The remaining sofrim are taking better-paying jobs like Sifrei Torah and upscale Tefillin and Mezuzos, lowering the supply of cheap options.

[Lurker]

Lol, so the opposite of what I heard. Good stuff. Who knows?

[Dan]

Lol, so the opposite of what I heard. Good stuff. Who knows?

[herb]

I have heard that there is a major increase in demand for sifrei torah and therefore a shortage of mezuzos

+1

[Yehuda57]

Lol, so the opposite of what I heard. Good stuff. Who knows?

We probably heard it from the same guy, just the temperature of the mikvah changed on the days we spoke to him

[Baruch]

I have heard that there is a major increase in demand for sifrei torah and therefore a shortage of mezuzos

A big Safrus dealer told me the same. Sifrei Torah are practically part of the burial process the past couple of years....

[aygart]

Many A"R ksav mezuzos, including the ones I bought 5 years ago, are from US/Canada.
Have to replace 2 of them and was very surprised by the price increase, but confirmed it with a couple of stores in CH.

Where does the klaf etc. come from?

[Dan]

Where does the klaf etc. come from?

What percent of the cost of a $280 mezuza is the klaf?

[ExGingi]

The main reason is the increased cost of labor (and that might have various contributing factors).

But while you are talking about inflation, forget about apples becoming food for millionaires, going to the mikvah for a daily dip became an activity for millionaires. Far outpacing the STA"M inflation IINM.

[EliJelly]

The main reason is the increased cost of labor (and that might have various contributing factors).

But while you are talking about inflation, forget about apples becoming food for millionaires, going to the mikvah for a daily dip became an activity for millionaires. Far outpacing the STA"M inflation IINM.

How do they charge you per month?

[ExGingi]

Mehudur Alter Rebbe ksav large mezuzos have gone from ~$150 to ~$275 over the past 5 years.
What's the justification for this?

If you would say they went from $180 to $280 I would just say that they got their multiples right. 10x יחי rather than 10x חי. Or if you choose to be a denier you can say 20x חב"ד, or for the upcoming year 2x הקהל.

[ExGingi]

How do they charge you per month?

I have an annual subscription at one of the most reasonable mikvah in Crown Heights (including a key for almost 24 hour access). But for Shabbos/YT I go to mikvah Meir (due to proximity) where they charge $5 per dip (I usually prepay that for the year, last year was $3 per dip IINM, and before that was $2 per dip). Monthly subscription there is $130 IINM!

[EliJelly]

Monthly subscription there is $130 IINM!

Are you for real? is it a 5 star spa or what?

Eta, the photos actually looks very nice. Do they have a sauna too? I might subscribe then too.

[Yehuda57]

so is it that the price of materials went up, the price of labor went up, or is it just stam inflation?

[jj1000]

Is it a 5 star spa or what?

The only difference between Mikvah Meir and a 5 star spa is at a spa you don't have bumper to bumper traffic.