The best part of being a consumer is the ability to just say "No!". If you think the price is too high, exercise that option. Eventually, in a free and educated market, those that charge too much will either lower their price or be eliminated from the market for lack of sales. The problem somewhat lies with the uneducated consumer that will pay whatever price a producer is willing to put on a product. Great wood is expensive. Good wood should be more moderately priced. Poor wood is just not worth the effort.
Other products come to mind on high pricing. A new vehicles. The price on one of those is getting ridiculous. I paid almost as much for my latest pickup than I did for the for the first house I purchased. But, I wanted it and chose to pay the price. My choice. I just wish that I would have gotten it much cheaper.
As a knife maker, I like the look of wood. Especially really nice wood. The best of the best redwood burl, buckeye, koa, blackwood, etc., etc., etc., tend to be more expensive than run of the mill stuff. I will pay a little more for that best selection. It gets priced accordingly. A lot of work, expense, and risk goes into cutting, shaping, sanding, marketing and shipping a little piece of wood.
I understand what Ed is saying about the market and I tend to agree. There are producers that just plain take advantage of the uneducated purchaser. I also see the point that John is making. From a producers perspective, there are unseen costs associated with providing the product that need to be considered. As a consumer, I have been looking into other ways to obtain the quality of wood that I desire at a cheaper rate. Unfortunately, there are risks associated with that alternative.
In the meantime, if I see wood that I like that is a price that I like, I am a buyer...
