gocco destash

Woah, no posts for so long, then 2 in one day, maybe more...wait and see. I've decided to unload a few of my Gocco printers and some supplies. I'm doing some spring cleaning around the house and trying to destash. I bought these printers to be able to hold classes on Gocco, but the cost of supplies is too cost prohibitive for classes so they're up for grabs with more to be added soon.

Loaded Question: Is it Worth It?

I came across a loaded question as a comment to this post. I'm sorry, I usually answer questions right away but unfortunately, this one was way too heavy for a quick response. I've got some time this morning so here goes:

Question:

Hello!
I've just recently discovered Goccos, and obviously am lusting after one. I was thinking of purchasing a used one somewhere, or having a friend in Japan search one out, but now I'm worried... what is the future of supplies? Will I just get addicted only to find myself unable to obtain screens and bulbs before too long, and I regret spending money on ebay or on the cost of shipping from Japan? In short, given the cost of these machines at this point, is this a bad investment?
Thanks! -Anon.

Answer:

Dear Anon-

I think it depends on your definition of the word "investment." For one person, paying a couple-hundred dollars for art supplies is part of a business. They might stamp out 100 prints in their first go and sell each one for $50. Investment recouped. Even if it's simply for the sake of learning or a creative hobby, there is inherent value in that. How much is too much can only be answered by you. A few years ago, my husband spent several hundred dollars on bicycle repair parts and lessons. In the end it would have been much cheaper to simply "pay the pros" to fix his 10-year-old bike, but he found enjoyment in that learning process, rolling up his sleeves and getting his hands dirty, literally. If you are someone who tends to buy gadgets that aren't ever used, then no, buying a Gocco is surely not a good investment for you, BUT it's people like that (in my opinion) who will keep Gocco alive for quite some time. I'm guessing that supplies will long be available on sites like Ebay and Craig's list because of those gadget-getters, people who decide to jump in on a whim, never to open that box for reasons of fear or time-constraints or maybe pure laziness. Who knows? I'm not sure how many households currently have shelved Gocco supplies but judging from the masses of Japanese families who used Gocco over the past 30 years, I'd venture to guess that supplies will be around for a while.

So, as you can tell, there is no real answer to your question I can hand to you. You have to decide for yourself. If you take the plunge, and regret your decision, there's always Ebay :)

Fondly,

-Katie

Sizes and Types of Gocco Printers

If you're in the market for a used Gocco, Jamie Pulley has put together the best comparison list I've seen for what each model does, and the differences between them.  Jamie also put together a little resources guide at the bottom of the article for people to reference when (in his words) "getting their Gocco-action on."  Thanks, Jamie. 

Price Per Gocco Print, Broken Down

I ordered supplies a few weeks ago and kicked myself the next day when I realized I had not gotten the best deal out there.  With so many different package sizes and shipping fees, it can be a headache figuring out how much it costs to actually make one print.  Here is a break down of each supplier and their cost per print.  I included the sold-out shops for good measure.  

For the SMALL size Gocco printers:

Dick Blick- currently out of Gocco supplies.

Ebay- prices vary but seem to be hovering around $25 for either a package of 5 screens or 10 bulbs plus shipping.  Very general cost per print would be $11.60 or so.  

Northwoods Studios- only does 2 packs of screens and 4 packs of bulbs (2 prints).  With 2 packs of each in my cart (4 prints) the shipping came to $8.50.   Price per print came to $17.02. 

Marlene Watson- screens and bulbs are currently out of stock.

Nehoc- It is my understanding that Nehoc is not able to ship Gocco to the U.S. 

Print Addict- the prices listed include shipping to every country except Africa and South America.  Products come in "packs" and choices are somewhat confusing because the descriptions are not quite consistent but as I read it, each pack of 5 screens/10 bulbs inclusive of shipping is $46.50, so $9.30 per print.

Print Addict Japan on Etsy- packages of 4 screens and 8 bulbs are $50 plus $12.50 shipping.  That is $15.62 per print.   

Thinkink-website is currently disabled.  Rumor has it they are all sold out of supplies. 

Welsh Products- $24.75 is the price for 5 screens.  It is also the price for 10 bulbs.  Shipping is extra.  Price per print excluding shipping is $9.90.  Orders can't be placed online.  

Wet Paint- screens and bulbs are out of stock.

For the LARGE size Gocco printers:

Letters & Print currently has 5 screens for $31 and 10 bulbs for $15.  You can only buy the bulbs if you are also buying the screens.  Shipping for the set is around $13.00.  That comes to $14.80 per print considering that 4 bulbs are needed for each large print.

Paper Source currently has 5 screens available for $38.00  They are out of stock in the bulb department.  Shipping for just the screens would be $8.00.  Price per print  is $9.20 plus bulbs.

So, there you have it folks.  If you have a small Gocco, Print Addict is currently the least expensive.  If you have a large Gocco, Letters & Print is probably the best way to go.  If you see any misinformation here or have any suppliers to add, please leave a comment.  Happy shopping!