How to answer the question "How much is it?"

[Leatherinspire]

Handmade is expensive, so should we give the price right away?

If you are selling your works, you have surely done this more than once:

Reveal the price and the customer runs away....

Handcraft should cost its money, the hours we spend, knowledge and experience that can be seen in the selection of leathers/hardware and finishing details is a valuable value.

So you can't sell works at chain store prices.

The price must stay high - it's a premium product, not for everyone.

When someone asks "How much for that?" - we should give the price right away?

Since most sellers delay responding to the price question, you’ll immediately differentiate yourself by giving the direct response the buyer is requesting.

It also suggests you are unashamed of your prices.

Give the price - but in context.

"It costs X $" - it is not enough.

In addition to the price, you need to interest the customer, encourage him to continue the conversation and, in a way, distract his thoughts from the price itself.

So that he does not consider whether it is worth it or not - he will do it at the end of the conversation.

Here are the 5 simplest techniques for giving a price with a distraction:

1. Price + Benefit: "The preliminary price is $____ with the little story
behind. When someone asks "What's that?" - you will start the story, about joint design, about an idea, about a craftsman. How important is this benefit to you?"
2. Price + Question: "The preliminary price is $____ and that includes choice of leather. Please tell me what criteria, other than price, are most important to make your final decision?"
3. Price + Personalization: "The preliminary price is $____ and we will add something special for you like a guitarist dice pocket. I’m thinking this is the cool additional for you because you play guitar. Let me ask you some additional questions to confirm that I’m on the right track."
4. Price + Budget Check: "The preliminary price is $_____. Tell me how this sounds in terms of your budget and the prices you’ve heard from others."
5. Price + Anchoring Price: "I would compare the ____ I make to premium brand like LV, Fendi, Channel etc. that cost a couple of times more. I use much more expensive veg-tan leather and traditional craftsmanship - yet I have lower prices. Our price is $ _____.

Of course, this will not make literally everyone suddenly buy an expensive handmade product.

But it will make you able to have a longer dialogue with him and present the advantages, benefits and show that it is something more.

If you are struggling with the sale of your work, below you will find 9 ready-made sales texts which show the benefits of leatherworks and convince sales (I study marketing).
And a Card Holder pattern (it's free).
Enjoy it.
https://leatherinspire.subscribemenow.com

P.S. Admin, if this content is not appropriate for this group, please do not add a post and a little feedback 

 

[chuck123wapati]

If thats a pic of your card holder lets see you cut out your pattern with a clicker press just like the one at the chain store. You then sew it on a machine just like the one at the chain store. Then you add some BS story so people will think you did something extra special to sell it for more than its worth? That's not marketing.

Both your last two threads are about BSing the customer. That is unethical business IMO sorry.

[Dwight]

3 hours ago, Leatherinspire said:

Handmade is expensive, so should we give the price right away?



 

 

Go back to Etsy . . .  these are crafters here . . .  not puddle monkeys.

May God bless,

Dwight

[bladegrinder]

Puddle monkey?  Ha, Ha....what the heck is that?

[LeatherLegion]

Welcome to the board . Interesting and helpful read

[GrampaJoel]

On 9/4/2023 at 12:58 PM, chuck123wapati said:

If thats a pic of your card holder lets see you cut out your pattern with a clicker press just like the one at the chain store. You then sew it on a machine just like the one at the chain store. Then you add some BS story so people will think you did something extra special to sell it for more than its worth? That's not marketing.

Both your last two threads are about BSing the customer. That is unethical business IMO sorry.

I believe you are spot on with this poster.
And I agree with you chuck.
The posted posts seem sleazy to me.

Joel

[Doc Reaper]

I give em the answer without blowing smoke to convince em to buy my product. If the customer likes it the first words will be to ask the cost. If it's a belt I'll tell them the price and the type of leather it is and it's expected life expectancy . The used car sales method is not a way to sell quality handmade goods. If you have to force the sale nobody is happy later on!

Edited September 5, 2023 by Doc Reaper

[fredk]

I string the customer along;

How much is it?

Not sure, I really don't sell those

If you did, how much would it be?

Dunno. I'll have to work it out. (pause), mmmm, probably about £xy . You can buy real cheap versions made in China for much less. But mine are quality leather. Hand made

Proper leather? Will you make me one?

Yeah, I reckon I could. It'll take me a while though. I'm a slow worker

Can you have it ready for (choose a month)?

What?! THIS year! mmmm. . . .  I think I can

and so on. . . . .

[Littlef]

I'm only a hobbist, and I'm not selling what I make.  However if I, as a consumer, find something I would like to buy and I ask, How much is it?.... If I don't get a straight answer, with a price, I'm done.  No one likes to be jerked around.  I don't see a problem with adding context of what work went in to making the good, but there needs to be a direct answer with the real price.    --One guys opinion.

[Gezzer]

See this is why I will never make a business man .  I will not justify    MY    price for something    I    made to anyone !   Price = take it or leave it ............. seems so simple   Chances are good that if they know leatherwork  price will make their mind up , if they don't know then  anything I say will fall on  X-Mart ears .