STA"M Inflation

[met]

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

minute

[~King Lake~]

Monthly subscription there is $130 IINM!

Not sure where you go, I pay $30 a month

[Dan]

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

Was waiting to see who was going to post that when I made the title

[ari3]

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

Many people were unfortunately niftar during covid and at meron and there were many many sifrei torah written in their memories. Many sofrim stopped writing mezuzos (and tefilln to a lesser extent) and that put significant upward pressure on pricing.

Those factors should subside but considering that the sofrim are facing the same runaway inflation we all are I doubt prices are going to drop significantly.

[jj1000]

Many people were unfortunately niftar during covid and at meron and there were many many sifrei torah written in their memories. Many sofrim stopped writing mezuzos (and tefilln to a lesser extent) and that put significant upward pressure on pricing.

Those factors should subside but considering that the sofrim are facing the same runaway inflation we all are I doubt prices are going to drop significantly.

Prices dropping on mezuzah's after demand for sifrei torah goes down it a joke IMO.

No sofer is selling less mezuzahs because of the current pricing.

[~King Lake~]

Prices dropping on mezuzah's after demand for sifrei torah goes down it a joke IMO.

No sofer is selling less mezuzahs because of the current pricing.

It's not that they are selling less Mezuzos, They just put the same percent mark-up they would've made on a Sefer Torah on the mezuzos

[ari3]

Prices dropping on mezuzah's after demand for sifrei torah goes down it a joke IMO.

No sofer is selling less mezuzahs because of the current pricing.

no one is eating less food but when there is a shortage prices go up. More people aren't living on the streets yet rents go up when there is a shortage.

[jj1000]

no one is eating less food but when there is a shortage prices go up. More people aren't living on the streets yet rents go up when there is a shortage.

False and false. Try again.

People eat other food and people move.

[ExGingi]

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.

No Sauna. TBH the only feature I really like about that mikvah is the temperature and humidity control in the dressing area. I go there on Shabbos and YT due to proximity.

[ExGingi]

Not sure where you go, I pay $30 a month

This is the pricelist sent by the mikvah I go to daily:


But I guess you need to add to that the cost of the drive (or else an 8-10 minute walk each way).

[~King Lake~]

This is the pricelist sent by the mikvah I go to daily:


But I guess you need to add to that the cost of the drive (or else an 8-10 minute walk each way).

So you where talking yearly and I was talking Monthly

[jj1000]

So you where talking yearly and I was talking Monthly

No. He doesn't go to Mikvah Meir daily...

[ExGingi]

So you where talking yearly and I was talking Monthly

No. It's $130 Monthly at the mikvah I go to on Shabbos and YT. $5 per dip to be paid before Shabbos/YT for non-members. https://www.mikvah.info/

[yfr bachur]

@Dan @jj1000 What would you say is an appropriate yearly income for a sofer? Do you think that your response may have changed in the past couple of years? Was there acceptable room for a price increase before the current round of inflation?

BTW even at $275 if the sofer could write 5 mehudar mezuzos a week (most can't) was making all the money (he's not) and had no expenses (he does) it would provide a yearly income of under $70000

[ExGingi]

BTW even at $275 if the sofer could write 5 mehudar mezuzos a week (most can't)

Large mezuzos? I would presume those are a little easier than small ones.

But definitely, Mezuzos are probably extremely challenging, and I can imagine why sofrim would rather write Sifrei Torah or Megillos.

Top of the line A"R tefillin are probably around $2,500 per pair (just for the parshios. A friend told me he recently ordered DIRECTLY from one of the most sought after sofrim).

[yfr bachur]

Large mezuzos? I would presume those are a little easier than small ones.

But definitely, Mezuzos are probably extremely challenging, and I can imagine why sofrim would rather write Sifrei Torah or Megillos.

depends on what you call large. There's a sweet spot between LARGE and tiny which is easier to write kosher/mehudar.
It's a rare thing problem that'll have a Sofer place a yeriya of a ST or Navi or Megillah in shaimos... hours of work down the drain.

Top of the line A"R tefillin are probably around $2,500 per pair (just for the parshios. A friend told me he recently ordered DIRECTLY from one of the most sought after sofrim).

Not Familiar with why AR may be priced higher or lower than other ari or bais yosef ksiva, but that sounds about right. My BY parshiyos cost close to that about a decade ago.

[dm123]

No. It's $130 Monthly at the mikvah I go to on Shabbos and YT. $5 per dip to be paid before Shabbos/YT for non-members. https://www.mikvah.info/

Are a lot of sofrim going to Mikva Meir? Maybe that's affecting the pricing... 

[jj1000]

@Dan @jj1000 What would you say is an appropriate yearly income for a sofer? Do you think that your response may have changed in the past couple of years? Was there acceptable room for a price increase before the current round of inflation?

BTW even at $275 if the sofer could write 5 mehudar mezuzos a week (most can't) was making all the money (he's not) and had no expenses (he does) it would provide a yearly income of under $70000

Question, how were these sofrim living on $38,000 salaries 5 years ago? Or more likely $20,000 based on how you presented it.

And FTR, I don't think Dan and I know I didn't, say sofrim don't deserve a good salary. Dan just asked a question about what justifies the price increase, seems reasonable to ask...

[yfr bachur]

And FTR, I don't think Dan and I know I didn't, say sofrim don't deserve a good salary. Dan just asked a question about what justifies the price increase, seems reasonable to ask...

Question, how were these sofrim living on $38,000 salaries 5 years ago? Or more likely $20,000 based on how you presented it.

now you get it?

[dm123]

BTW even at $275 if the sofer could write 5 mehudar mezuzos a week (most can't)

I have no idea what the facts on the ground are - is this website unreliable? Seems a sofer should be able to get out 2 mehudar mezuzos a day.
https://www.thesofercenter.com/what-you-should-know.html

A nice Mehudar Mezuzah takes a Sofer approximately 3 and a half to 4 hours to write