an estimated cost

[Randy Cornelius]

Okay, I think we have all had this one but I wanted to know how everyone else deals with it. I had a person email me about making a wallet for her husband for Christmas. She wanted one just like he had. I figured this sould not be too bad. Met with her and she has this thing that looks like a ladies wallet, one of those things that has 2 ziper pockets, and lots of those small pockets for all kinds of cards and 3 different slots for money ect. and folds in half and has a snap keeper thing. Something like you see at Wally world. I tell her that I just cannot make something like that as it would take hours to make the patterns for all the little pockets and the only zippers availabel that small are plastic and they would wear out before the leather even thought about it. She just kept at me about not being able to find one and wanted me to make it. So I told her what I thought it would cost to reproduce it and she thought I was crazy. I priced in in the 100.00 range She just could not understand the hours it would take to reproduce something with all those parts. Well it did not end well and to say the least I did not even attempt to make it. Was just wondering how everyone else deals with this sort of thing.

Randy

[Art]

Hi Randy,

That happens more than you think. Usually one of the wife's friends or one of my friend's wives that want something that no guy is ever going to use unless maybe they are from "Weird Eye for the Straight Guy" or something. Almost all are women and are very well intentioned, however I won't make anything like that as I just know the guy is going to hate it. I usually send them to the leather shop in the mall who imports tons of that stuff (they have to so they can make the rent each month) and not surprisingly, they can pretty much find what they need (or want). I have never had anyone pull out something like that and say look at the great wallet my wife got me for Christmas. I have a friend in Gatlinburg that deals in wallets and purses and he can find that kind of thing as he is the import walletmeister, but he doesn't make it either, it all comes from offshore.

Art

  Randy Cornelius said:

Okay, I think we have all had this one but I wanted to know how everyone else deals with it. I had a person email me about making a wallet for her husband for Christmas. She wanted one just like he had. I figured this sould not be too bad. Met with her and she has this thing that looks like a ladies wallet, one of those things that has 2 ziper pockets, and lots of those small pockets for all kinds of cards and 3 different slots for money ect. and folds in half and has a snap keeper thing. Something like you see at Wally world. I tell her that I just cannot make something like that as it would take hours to make the patterns for all the little pockets and the only zippers availabel that small are plastic and they would wear out before the leather even thought about it. She just kept at me about not being able to find one and wanted me to make it. So I told her what I thought it would cost to reproduce it and she thought I was crazy. I priced in in the 100.00 range She just could not understand the hours it would take to reproduce something with all those parts. Well it did not end well and to say the least I did not even attempt to make it. Was just wondering how everyone else deals with this sort of thing.

Randy

[steveb]

I have gotten pretty good at reacting to the "what are you kidding " looks after I give someone an estimated cost for producing something. Invariably, as soon as i sniff a haggle coming on, I advise them that they would be better served going somewhere else - (yeah right, good luck finding someone) and that I dont think they'd be happy working with me.

If they press me, I give them a 12 week turnaround.

People who want a deal, usually want it really quickly also...ha

Always price high, because in a negotation - price only travels in one direction - and it aint in your favor.

my .02

steveb

[wolvenstien]

I had a lady contact me via my site, and she wanted me to make her identical collars in different colors. I priced them to her and she was happy with the price... They were plain with spikes, a D ring in the front and the rear and a buckle.

she got them and was happy with them. happy enough to send me a blurry pic of her wearing one. Also happy enough to tell a friend of hers in another state about me. He contacts me and wants me to make an elaborate collar for him with carvings and 3inch spikes, and lacing, and this and that... i price it for him and it was over $200 just in materials and time. He about sh*t himself and I asked him how much he was expecting to pay for a custom piece such as he was wanting. his answer made me about sh*t: $35 including shipping. I tried to explain that the cost of the materials he wanted and the time to do everything and the carvings and what not thee was absolutely no way I could make one for him for $35 shipping included. Havent heard back from him since.....