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Show HN: Handcrafted standing desks from reclaimed materials

woodwardsalvage.com

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Re: Show HN: Handcrafted standing desks from reclaimed materials

#31

Post by riggins »

fitztrev wrote: post #19

I appreciate the comments. As I said, I'm just getting started with this. I posted it here just to get some initial feedback. I understand there are other options for standing desks that are both less expensive and more functional. The value proposition isn’t a "better" standing desk, or a "cheaper" standing desk, it is a standing desk that is built by hand from reclaimed, quality materials, sourced from the communit…

1. I really like the look of the desk 2. Motorization is key 3. Price. Just look at how successful www.standdesk.co has been with their $399.

I'd be tempted by a motorized version of this for around $1,000.

Re: Show HN: Handcrafted standing desks from reclaimed materials

#32

Post by mathgeek »

snide wrote: post #25

If you missed it, there's a pretty rad standing desk on Kickstarter right now that has some nifty, discreet power controls. $399. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2036834894/the-most-aff...

I really like this one, specifically. I didn't back it because with young ones in the house, I see the automatic raise/lower as a dangerous thing. Little fingers will hit it and watch the "magic."

Re: Show HN: Handcrafted standing desks from reclaimed materials

#33

Post by bryan11 »

fitztrev wrote: post #2

OP here. I've been a developer for 10 years and have used a standing desk for the last 2. When I started, I just used whatever materials I could to prop my computer up higher. Once I was sold on the idea and benefits of standing, I started looking for a more permanent solution. I wasn't really happy with the options. I wanted something very high quality and unique. So I decided to start building my own using reclaime…

> What's important to you in a standing desk?

Excellent ergonomics first, affordable price second. Table height, monitor stand height, and distance from keyboard to monitor all needs to be adjustable.

Keyboard and monitor stands that sit on an existing desk could be an affordable option. A monitor stand that has a drawer for keyboard and mouse would be nice as well. Push in the keyboard drawer and you have more available desk surface. An extra shelf in the monitor stand could hold books, chargers, and other items.

Re: Show HN: Handcrafted standing desks from reclaimed materials

#35

Post by chaostheory »

Your website needs work. The title talks about a story yet there's not much of one. This story needs to be on the front page. I didn't really feel like clicking to read it. It also needs pictures to help convey your words. I need to know why this desk is worth $1495. Why I should buy this instead of something cheaper / more functional but sterile?

1. You need to show off more pieces (how do we know each is unique when all we see is one desk?). It will show character that will compete against the more functional boxed desks which are the same for everyone.

2. You need to show the people working on this. Knowing about an individual (or small group of people) working hard on something 'good' versus thinking of a nameless, unidentifiable huge group of people working in a factory for a big corporation is huge

3. You need to convey the quality somehow. (Show the process or the material?)

4. You need to show Detroit.

5. You need to show what happens when we don't reclaim stuff.

6. Going back to points 4 and 5. You need to show that you're making something good out of the bad.

I'm not a designer, but I know enough to tell you that you need a really good one badly.

Re: Show HN: Handcrafted standing desks from reclaimed materials

#36

Post by mhurron »

sasvari wrote: post #10
vog wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> What's important to you in a standing desk? Being affordable. That is, having a price tag comparable with normal furniture. Who will pay $ 1495 for a desk?!

Who will pay $ 1495 for a desk?! I don't completely get the concept of it has to be dirt cheap no matter what . People are paying $500+ for a TV which is next to worthless after a couple of years, but don't want to pay more than a couple of bucks for a solid table which will most probably outlife them.

> it has to be dirt cheap no matter what

Some people have constrained budgets

> a TV which is next to worthless after a couple of years

Oh, wait, you won't get it, you expect to throw away perfectly working devices frequently.

The desk looks like there is maybe $50 worth of materials and maybe 2 hours worth of work there (I'm taking for granted they know what they're doing and can do a lot of it pretty efficiently). So that's what, between $100-$200 material and labor. Where is the other $1300 of value coming from?

Re: Show HN: Handcrafted standing desks from reclaimed materials

#38

Post by welly »

sasvari wrote: post #10
vog wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> What's important to you in a standing desk? Being affordable. That is, having a price tag comparable with normal furniture. Who will pay $ 1495 for a desk?!

Who will pay $ 1495 for a desk?! I don't completely get the concept of it has to be dirt cheap no matter what . People are paying $500+ for a TV which is next to worthless after a couple of years, but don't want to pay more than a couple of bucks for a solid table which will most probably outlife them.

I wouldn't need to spend $1500 on a desk that would outlive me but if I did, it would need to look far better than the one in this post.

Re: Show HN: Handcrafted standing desks from reclaimed materials

#39

Post by mathetic »

tmuir wrote: post #18

"Handcrafted" has become a red flag for me, in the same way "vintage" and "cozy" are for apartment listings. Almost anything that isnt produced on a large scale is handmade. Its an empty marketing phrase that tells me you have nothing better to showcase. There is no detail of this desk that makes you say "wow this was built by a master craftsman."

Well, may be you should think of the difference in production of a Aston Martin vs a Ford.

Re: Show HN: Handcrafted standing desks from reclaimed materials

#40

Post by yaddayadda »

gk1 wrote: post #26
yaddayadda wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know if the following were on the front page when you visited or if fitztrev has added them based on comments, but the front page now addresses height and shipping costs (which probably bring the cost more into the range that you're used to). There are also small cubes of the different finishes. I agree that it would be nice if the photos indicated which finishes were shown. - "To ensure the proper height, we…

I don't know if they were there before. In any case, those things should be front and center , especially the free shipping. Those are great selling points.

I agree, these are absolutely awesome selling points. When I'm having to write up things I frequently find that people want more things front and center than can reasonably be front and center. For the angle that he is taking it sounds like "reclaimed" and "hand-crafted" are the front and center points from the sellers perspective.

I think the 'story' behind the furniture needs to be more prominent (i.e., why are "reclaimed" and "hand-crafted" the selling points), and then organizing the site so that the custom height and free shipping are easily found (e.g., specific answers on a FAQ page, or simply bullet points below the front-page 'story') would go a very long way.

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