Why is crocodile so expensive?

[godofcoffee]

What's the deal with the premium that you have to pay for crocodile? Is it because cow leather can be taken from cows that are also slaughtered for eating (meaning that the cost of the cow can be spread among more consumers)? Is it more difficult to work with? Or is it that there's a less streamlined production process for working with crocodile? I'd be interested if anybody has specific experience speaking to this. It seems like access to alligators (which are regarded as a nuisance) would be simpler than access to deer, but the latter is much cheaper.

 

[Da Luis Vuitton Don]

Endangered species is Endangered, and a species -____-

 

[Mudhiker]

It might be more difficult to work with as well. Or at least, most shops and factories that are set up to use cowhide would have to retool and retrain in order to do croc, which the market does not demand very much of.

 

[Mr Herbert]

crocodile leather is the primary product instead of a byproduct.
crocodiles have expensive meat based diets.
crocodiles take a long time to reach maturity when compared to cows
crocodiles have a tendency to damage their leather.

 

[SpooPoker]

Because LabelKing has cornered the market on skins for the wallpaper in his dining room.

 

[godofcoffee]

Originally Posted by Da Luis Vuitton Don

Endangered species is Endangered, and a species -____-

lol the American alligator isn't endangered, although it was at some point in the past.

Originally Posted by adrift

Crocodiles are more difficult to hunt than deers.

I'm not sure. I feel like crocs would be easier to sight, even if they pose a bigger danger.

Originally Posted by Mr Herbert

crocodile leather is the primary product instead of a byproduct.
crocodiles have expensive meat based diets.
crocodiles take a long time to reach maturity when compared to cows
crocodiles have a tendency to damage their leather.

Woah this is mad helpful.

 

[JayJay]

Speaking of croc being expensive, Hermes has a croc jacket for $76,800.00. It looked good, too.

 

[SpooPoker]

Originally Posted by JayJay

Speaking of croc being expensive, Hermes has a croc jacket for $76,800.00. It looked good, too.

You are waiting for the 99.9% off sale too?

 

[DWFII]

Alligator and crocodile are only marginally more difficult to work with than calf. Most, but not all, of it is raised on farms and I suspect the point about feeding is close if not spot on.

The primary reason that it is expensive is that it is a beautiful leather that is far more impervious to scuffing and so forth than calf. Especially in recent years as the tannage has changed, it may even be as resistant to cracking as calf if not moreso.

And everywhere in the world...except among SF'ers...it is considered the premium and most desirable of leathers. It is in high demand around the world and that pushes the price. I suspect that if allowed, Japan alone would take all the annual production of American farms.

 

[Patek]

They are more likely to eat their handlers than cows...

Hazardous duty premium.

 

[Maccimus]

Originally Posted by DWFII

Alligator and crocodile are only marginally more difficult to work with than calf. Most, but not all, of it is raised on farms and I suspect the point about feeding is close if not spot on.

The primary reason that it is expensive is that it is a beautiful leather that is far more impervious to scuffing and so forth than calf. Especially in recent years as the tannage has changed, it may even be as resistant to cracking as calf if not moreso.

I do agree with you.

 

[KObalto]

Originally Posted by JayJay

Speaking of croc being expensive, Hermes has a croc jacket for $76,800.00. It looked good, too.

You just posted this to torment Hermes Man, didn't you?

 

[Metlin]

Originally Posted by SpooPoker

You are waiting for the 99.9% off sale too?

 

[blahman]

The untimely passing of our dear Steve Irwin did not help with prices either.

 

[SpooPoker]

Originally Posted by blahman

The untimely passing of our dear Steve Irwin did not help with prices either.

But that did wonders for the price of galuchot.