Question:
(Research; quality; writing) Timbuk2 is a San Francisco company that makes a variety of messenger, cyclist, and laptop bags. The company's allows customers to design their own size, color, and fabric bags with specific features and accessories; then the company sews the bags to the customers' specifications.
a. Visit the company's Web site and custom-design a bag. Compare the quoted price with a bag of similar quality and features at a local store. Explain whether you think the Timbuk2 bag is a good value.
b. Why would Timbuk2 be able to produce custom-made messenger bags for almost the same cost as mass-produced ones?
c. Would you expect the quality of the custom-produced messenger bags to be higher or lower than the mass-produced ones? Discuss the rationale for your answer.
d. Why would the custom-made messenger bags show a high profit margin?