A fair Price

[shirleyz]

Okay,

Just made the POW bracelet for a customer, who knew the price I was charging before hand. When I showed him the bracelet he gave me the "we are veterans on fixed incomes line". He wanted to know if I could make them cheaper and dangled the fact that he has lots of buddies, like the proverbial carrot. Below is the reply I sent to him. I would like your opinions on this. Am I wrong?

"To be perfectly honest Dane, These bracelets are not really cost efficient for me to do. I spend roughly eights hours making one, and put about $12 worth of supplies into it. If I charge $55 for it I"m getting a little more than $5 per hour labor. They're not really worth the time spent. My husband thinks I should just take them off my web space, and I'm inclined to agree with him. I'm sorry if the price is too high, I can't make them for less. They take time from other projects. I admire anyone who serves in the armed forces, we are all indebted to them. I think my prices are fair.

I don't make one until it's ordered, that way I can make it to fit your wrist, totally custom. Let me know if you're interested, and if so, your wrist size."

Shirley

[rdb]

What a shame.

We all run into this stuff, and it seems more often nowadays.

Leatherworkers in general have not been all that respected by a great many people. Sure the big names can command that respect and the monies that go with it, but there really is a lack of understanding out there as to just how much work goes into even the simplest of projects. "A laced wallet is how much? I can get one at the local Dept store for $12."

Now, these are the same people who wouldn't even consider trying to talk the Plumber, or the Electrician, or the Mechanic down from their prices, but when it comes to a Craftsman, there is some kind of mentality that we aren't tradesman, that we are some kind of home hobbyist out to screw the public.

And then the very next customer wants to give you a little extra, cause you did such a nice job for them. SO it evens out over time. Don't be too upset at your customer. sometimes it takes a little time for people to learn. The good part is that they will...

Whatever you do, don't back down on the price you have set for yourself. If one person doesn't get it, the next one will.

It's tough out here for a pimp...I mean craftsman...lol

[Michael Sheldon]

Yup, folks just don't understand that there's not much economy of scale in the crafts business. It pretty much takes the same amount of time whether I make 1 or 100. I run into it pretty frequently. A few years ago I even had someone want quantities approaching 1000. He was rather disappointed when I told him the best I could offer him was 10% off. He was sure that by offering that kind of quantity he could get them at 10% of list.

[Johanna]

Shirley- I think you explained yourself well, and probably more graciously than some of us would have. If we don't charge a fair price for our work, we'll be out of business and getting a day job. Keep that thought in mind when you run into people like this.

Johanna

[abn]

Shirley,

I think your message is a good one, and you're wise to let others read it before sending.

With that said, I wonder if you could satisfy this customer by creating something different (i.e., much cheaper and easier to make). Instead of all that braiding, could you get away with simply attaching the POW pin to a plain black strap? Maybe do a little simple stamping for decoration?

I fully agree that the original wristband is worth every penny you're charging, but if he wants something that costs less, maybe you could give him a lesser product?

Just a thought. I'm just a hobbyist, so thank goodness I don't have to grapple with these issues myself!

Best, -Alex

[GampasShop]

I have showed people some of my projects as I get them finished. Some (very few) have done leather tooling in the past, either as a Boy Scout or in 4-H. Others think you have a big stamp that you hit one time and poof there is the design. If you are lucky you will be able to find a single imprint of say a A104 background tool, so they can get some idea of how many taps with the maul it takes to do what we do. It really opens their eyes then when you walk them thru the different steps it takes to do a carving/tooling. After you tell them what it takes from the blank piece of leather to the finished product, they will usually look at it really close and start asking questions.

This has been my experience of late anyway. Ya, maybe you can buy a "Leather" billfold at Folly World for $12. When people ask me why I would spent hours on tooling a billfold, I have the last one that I made/used sitting here on my desk. I say well this one has lasted me 18 years of carrying in my pocket every day. I could still be using it if I would just relace it, but there are a couple of holes at the fold that are gone/wore away.

[pete]

perhaps start with a figure that pays what you feel is fair to you. Say $8-9.00/hr? then add in the cost of the material and add on after that. I charge more for really good calf and kangaroo lace than cheap lace, etc.

just a thought.

pete

[abn]

If you are lucky you will be able to find a single imprint of say a A104 background tool, so they can get some idea of how many taps with the maul it takes to do what we do.

That reminds me of a friend who was recently admiring a handbag I finished up. It had some stamped decoration running down each side, and I showed her that each row involved five different stamps struck a total of 22 times. Adding it all up, the small amount of decoration I did involved over 2,000 strikes of the mallet! She was shocked. Like G.S. mentioned, I think she imagined me feeding the leather into one side of a machine, and it coming out decorated on the other...

[Art]

Hi Shirley,

I think you gave him way more info than he warranted. I've heard many a sob story, and if the cause is good, then I can give, but not labor or product, and the "cause" has to meet my scrutiny. The answer is "No, I can't do that", no explanation is needed. There used to be a joke in retail, "I'm taking a loss on that, but I'll make it up in volume!".

Art

Okay,

Just made the POW bracelet for a customer, who knew the price I was charging before hand. When I showed him the bracelet he gave me the "we are veterans on fixed incomes line". He wanted to know if I could make them cheaper and dangled the fact that he has lots of buddies, like the proverbial carrot. Below is the reply I sent to him. I would like your opinions on this. Am I wrong?

"To be perfectly honest Dane, These bracelets are not really cost efficient for me to do. I spend roughly eights hours making one, and put about $12 worth of supplies into it. If I charge $55 for it I"m getting a little more than $5 per hour labor. They're not really worth the time spent. My husband thinks I should just take them off my web space, and I'm inclined to agree with him. I'm sorry if the price is too high, I can't make them for less. They take time from other projects. I admire anyone who serves in the armed forces, we are all indebted to them. I think my prices are fair.

I don't make one until it's ordered, that way I can make it to fit your wrist, totally custom. Let me know if you're interested, and if so, your wrist size."

Shirley

[BradB]

That reminds me of a friend who was recently admiring a handbag I finished up. It had some stamped decoration running down each side, and I showed her that each row involved five different stamps struck a total of 22 times. Adding it all up, the small amount of decoration I did involved over 2,000 strikes of the mallet! She was shocked. Like G.S. mentioned, I think she imagined me feeding the leather into one side of a machine, and it coming out decorated on the other...

Where do I get this machine you speak of!!!!! I want one!!