I know it depends on qulaity, because normally handmade is better quality. However quality and handmade are two different things so I wanted to seperate the effect of purely handmade.

BMW cars for example are great quality and are not handmade. Thats why I had to say both products are almost identical. I know it makes it a little difficult to visualise so I apologise!

The answers are starting to come in and there are some patterns emerging, I wonder if it will remain like this.....

Quality is subjective; I've manufactured over 100,000 pcs of furniture in my lifetime so far, and if it's not engineered correctly it will be comprised. With the latest software available today it's possible to get much closer to perfection; even being mass produced.

rgalardo, agreed, handmade does not equal quality and mass produced does not equal inferior quality.

As in the car example, mass produced engines are far better quality than handmade ones. Even the handmade brands like rolls royce still use mass produced engines because it is simply very difficult to build a good engine by hand.

In the world of home decoration and furniture it is slightly different and the quality is dependent on the artist. If the artist is bad, mass produced would be better.

However for purposes of the question I did not want to confuse multiple variables and was attempting to isolate just the handmade variable and thus assumed quality like other traits was identical.

Its a hard question to ask rationally largely because purchasing decorations for our home is more about taste and preference than boring logic. Rarely do people furnish a home based purely on analysing the functional capabilities, longevity and price.

As a fine artist, I went with the most because I know from experience the artist or craftsman rarely recoups anywhere near the time & energy put into hand crafting a product. If you buy from an artist or craftsman, rest assured the are doing it for the love of their craft because there is rarely that much money coming in.

Thanks artwench! you make a valid point but is there not a difference between what we think we should pay and what we would pay in reality?

We may have some insight here...Bartels provides high quality German manufactured doors -- like high-end cars, much of the manufacturing is done with machines designed to make cuts and drill at precise locations, yet there are still procedures that are left to human hands. This balance is what sets high-end products like Bartels doors apart, each door is guaranteed to fit perfectly.

Now -- to the price, this is derived from materials and components which are readily available (i.e. wood, hinges, handles, screws, glue), however the assembly will never be as precise, the years of manufacturing has perfected the process.

Really interesting feedback thank you. Handmade or mass produced isnt a pure indicator of quality either can be good or bad.

Does bartels produce custom doors? Or are the doors all made the same along product lines.

What is USP of Bartels in your opinion?

Also do you produce to stock (MTS) , make to order (MTO) or assemble to order (ATO)?

Would you consider bartels doors mass produced?

@schoolprojecthelp: To a certain extent. For instance, what I can afford factors greatly into the equation. What can the market bear? Since, my particular area is still reeling from recession, though the furniture is worth more, it will sell for less.

I guess everyone got their answers in! Thanks for your help.

Perhaps the question should have read, "With all other things being equal (Quality & materials) would you pay extra for the handmade product? If so how much more?

Good luck with your project. What subject is this survey for?

I know its a hard question. Logic versus sentiment. Since if all things are equal its the same. Which doesnt reflect a real world situation. I couldnt get a perfect question on this so I just tried this one.

If you begin with the premise that 2 things are "nearly identical", the reality is that people will choose the one that costs less. The value of a handmade item is almost always based on its uniqueness or what sets it apart from the mass produced item; one could argue that that's the whole point.

Its kinda a paradox. I suppose there is no logical mathmatical answer, its about tastes. Tastes are not based on science.

It is well known you will pay more for handmade products since it takes a lot of work and care and usually handmade items are in a specialized area or the skill used in making any given handmade product is rare.

The handmade products stalls I have been to are very expensive since they were heritage products and made by people using traditional skills, so if I go to buy something handmade, it would have to be something I really, really like or want or something I can't find elsewhere else.