first time poster please deleate if not allowed.

[PuzzledOne]

I have been selling wedding Unity Puzzles for over five years now.  I was the only one who sold the type that was in a frame.  this is inportant because each person has there own piece of puzzle and one the puzzle is complete and the frame is full it symbolizes the newly formed family.  These are an alternative to the unity candle and each puzzle is custom designed JUST FOR THAT FAMILY or couple.  So here I was selling these like crazy I had a patent pending and I had to go in the hospital unexpectedly for a month.  Unfortunately I had no one to cover me while I was gone and had to refund $8000 of sales because I could not complete them in time.  It was my whole savings it wiped me out.  

Then I get out of the hospital and was doing my regular search and discovered that one of my customers that I refunded had gone to another puzzle maker and now this puzzle maker was selling the same type of puzzle except she did it bigger, faster, and cheaper by $100. because she had a laser engraver / cutter.  and I still do mine completely by hand on a scroll saw piece by piece.  Not only that but she started in august and by the end of august she had sold over 40 puzzles I never did that except in January.  So I reached out to her and explained that she could be asking $100 more for her puzzles and still have them sell like hotcakes but then it would at least be fair to me. well I said it much nicer then that but that was the jist. You see I pay 50$ in fees per puzzle over 50$ in shipping per puzzle, and well over $50 to make the puzzle.  so I'm out 150$ just off the top not including all the other costs and she is selling her puzzles at $130  How can I compete.  Apparently I cant.  I just kept saying this is the slow season wait til January things always pick up dramatically in January.  But it is now the end of Februaury and she sold 40 more puzzles to my 7.  My question to you out there is should I just pack up and slink away or is there something I can do to compete with her?

[PuzzledOne]

A little more info... she uses pine and plywood to make her puzzles I use 100% hardwoods

her pieces are 1/4" thick and mine are 3/4" thick

her pieces will warp in time in tropical environments mine never will

mine are custom designed  her's are usually chosen from a few designs

hers are 15" -18" in diameter and mine can only be 10.5" in diameter because of the width of wood available

hers are laser cut and mine are hand cut on a scroll saw.

hers can be more intricate because of the laser mine are as intricate as I can make on a scroll saw.

Hers cost $130 mine cost 225 but are on sale for 190 

I offer free shipping she does not hers cost 25 something to ship

I'm sure theres more to compare with but I cant think of them right now

[ASHOKAJEWELRY]

https://www.etsy.com/in-en/listing/1193383951

[ASHOKAJEWELRY]

https://www.etsy.com/in-en/listing/1206593076
https://www.etsy.com/in-en/listing/1220535803
https://www.etsy.com/in-en/listing/1206579432
https://www.etsy.com/in-en/listing/1203598468
https://www.etsy.com/in-en/listing/1212325433