Well, lets look at this-
https://www.amazon.ca/OrangeA-Lathe...9Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=
8 inch 3 jaw for 180 plus tax with free shipping. Known low quality.
So free shipping is actually paid - and Amazon needs its CUT. So subtract 35
Seller should also have some income from this - so take 15
Occasional person wants actual accurate chuck and returns this item - account 10 for such strange people
Chucks are not known to fly - it needs to get here and then in bulk to amazon warehouse - at least 30
So it should be no more then at the very most 90 in China - probably less then that.
Well, it is not made of air but low quality steel - but still this costs $ even in China. Also there is some waste. Say 30 just for steel and waste.
It does use some cutting tools and through they are worn out and crap they still cost money - say 10
Chinese contrary to popular opinion do not work for free - they want their low salary - say 10
There is also other costs for the chuck such as energy to melt crap steel and poor it into a "form". Also admin costs and finally profit of the factory, packaging etc.
As you see actual costs of the Chinese worker are low as percentage of the item - I would be shocked to see more then say 10%.
Now for a quality made chuck in China worker costs are still 10% but from a larger # as more hours are worked. Workers for example actually grind the chuck so there is little run-out, they de-burr it etc. Then they use better material and this forces more expensive cutting tools that are not used till they are as dull as butter-knife.
One can easily see doubling in price.
Now add to it evil marketing department and its costs (you have a brand now) and you have 3x the costs. Now move your production from say China to Poland (more expensive work for and everything else) and you have quadrupled your cost. And this is why Bison 8" 3 jaw basic version costs around 800.