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I have to take a moment here and complain.
Yes, shocking, I know.
Why on heaven’s green earth is custom framing so wickedly expensive? I have had exactly one thing custom framed in my whole life, a print from the Reina Sofía museum in Madrid. That was back in Boston when I was poor-ish, and I nearly choked on the cost. It was worth it in the end, but it was an economic sacrifice.
Yesterday I spelunked into an Aaron Brothers under the impression that their 1¢ sale might apply to custom framing. Ha ha! Ha ha ha ha ha!
Not entirely surprised that I’d have to pay full price, I dove in and swallowed the bullet and bit my pride and, nearly $500 later, got my The Iron Giant poster and Red Herring Delivery graphic framed, along with three pre-fab poster-sized frames for my X-Files teasers. I got three other frames for the legendary 1¢.
I have ceased to become sticker-shocked the last few months, what with the apartment re-do and A/V equipment upgrades, but, I’m sorry, $500 for FRAMES? The furniture is functional and I will use it every day. The A/V equipment is a tax write-off for me. But the frames? I understand they add style and beauty to my cherished wall crap, but I think there needs to be a price adjustment. If Apple can make a Mac for $499, I think framing places can gimme four planks of metal and a sheet of glass for less than $225. Maybe the EU can force us to lower the cost of our frames just like they want us to test the chemicals we use in our products.
I will enjoy my newly-framed masterpieces without fail. They really will make my place look nicer. However, I think this marks the beginning of another 10-year hiatus from the world of frames.
John Expounded Thusly:
Frames ARE expensive, no doubt about it. Primary reason: Custom framing is just that, and it’s all done by hand.
Regardless, don’t ever go to Aaron Brothers or another mass-market retailer for framing! Seriously. In addition to the regular cost of getting something framed (and no doubt they got you to agree to special glass, special protection, etc., etc.), they have a bigger mark-up because they’ve got to cover all of their corporate overhead.
The place I like is worth the drive. It’s Framex in Studio City. The guy there (at least as of two years ago) is Mark, and he’s a nice guy who wants to do a good job. A typical poster job would cost me about $200-$300 there, depending on whether I’d take “non-glare” or “UV-protected” plastic “glass” or just regular old, honest-to-goodness glass. (I don’t recommend doing the latter, per se, as one little bump and … crack!)
I’d give them a try next time. You may end up getting more framed! And they can do real custom jobs, too — like the acrylic case I got for my original SW action-figure collection. SIGH. That was the very last thing I ever did at my little house on Camellia — put my figures in the case. Then I walked out the door and left L.A. and my life there. Dammit — now I’m gonna cry.
Thanks, Steve. Thanks for making me cry.
Sorry, I ain't takin' no comments on this page. Deal, y'hear?