A fair Price

[TroyS]

Ok, if this post offends anyone, please forgive me in advance!

For those people that dangle the proverbial "I've got friends" carrot, Tell your friends to give you some money or help you pay for it. Stop jerking my chain. If you have friends that want some work done, as soon as they pay me, I'll reward you! Until then, you pay full price. I'm not hiring you as my agent nor do I want charity work from you.

Can you imagine calling your electric company and telling them, " look, I really need this electricity, and if you give me a break, I know lots of other people who need electricity! I'll send them over..."

Stick to your guns Shirley! You do amazing work! And that "vet-run" should be honored to wear an item that a true american craftswoman hand-made for them!

That same veteran that's on a fixed income probably drove their Cadillac CTX to the shop ....

Come on, I'm a veteran too, but I don't think the world owes me anything! I did what Idid for the love of my country and freedom! Not so i could get discounts on cool stuff!

Again, If I offended anyone, I am sorry... And if it hurts your feelings, you're guilty too ....

[cem]

I think a link to this cartoon may be in order although directed at the non payers the last panel is fairly fitting http://freelanceswitch.com/page/5/, (Freelance Freedom No 60 scroll down a bit)I've come across this sort of thing with my graphic design work and I have to say you handled the guy perfectly Shirley, you do great work and should be payed accordingly.

Edited August 22, 2008 by cem

[Michael Sheldon]

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

Seriously, if you're only charging $8-$9 an hour, you are seriously ripping yourself off, and may even be losing money. As was said earlier, even fast food joints pay more than that, and it costs them twice that for an employee. As a self-employed business, you have your overhead (property cost, electricity, phone, internet etc), your tools, tax and licenses, health costs, etc to cover.

Also keep in mind the time it takes when you're not actually pounding leather. The time talking/writing to the customer, the time packing it up and shipping it out, The time keeping your books, the time you spend ordering supplies, the time spent cleaning up your shop, the time spent learning new skills/keeping up with your trade, etc. When you actually add it up, you'll find it's a lot more time than you think.

I won't do a non custom job for anything less than $35 an hour. Custom work starts at $50, and includes all of the time it takes me to conceptualize, design and lay it out.

You have to stop thinking of it as your pay as an employee, and start thinking of it as the cost of a business owner *paying* an employee.

[TwinOaks]

Shirley, I haven't seen the bracelet in question, but I'll add this. If the guy asks again about making it cheaper, tell him "YES!"

Then proceed to explain why you made it the way you did, sparing no detail of the amount of work, or the quality of materials. Then say yes, you CAN make it more cheaply by using inferior materials and a simplified, less attractive way of assembly. But you WON'T because of "[ insert your feelings about POW/MIA Soldiers]" and they deserve the best. Let him try to argue the price after that.

Troy, I really like the way you expressed your thoughts on this.

[BradB]

Shirley,

I don't think you are wrong one bit!! If you did cut him a break on the price he would run off to "all of his buddies" and tell them that you gave him a break and they would then all want it and they would tell people and so and so.... Stick to your price, matter of fact you should bump up the price for him because he has wasted your time haggling about a known price and made you wonder if you are wrong and had you worrying about it!!!

With that said I would also like to say not all Veterans are like that, I am a veteran and I don't want anything from anyone, except maybe a thank you for defending our country if someone feels like saying it! Like Troy and every other veteran that I know, I did it for the love of my country and freedom. So please do not think all veteran's feel that something is owed them.

Brad

[shirleyz]

With that said I would also like to say not all Veterans are like that, I am a veteran and I don't want anything from anyone, except maybe a thank you for defending our country if someone feels like saying it! Like Troy and every other veteran that I know, I did it for the love of my country and freedom. So please do not think all veteran's feel that something is owed them.

Brad

I certainly don't think that!! I have the utmost respect and admiration for anyone with the courage to serve. I eagerly donate goods and time whenever I can. But I reserve the right to choose when that will be.

So don't ask for discounts...lol

Shirley

[BradB]

I certainly don't think that!! I have the utmost respect and admiration for anyone with the courage to serve. I eagerly donate goods and time whenever I can. But I reserve the right to choose when that will be.

So don't ask for discounts...lol

Shirley

Well then disregard that PM about the seat.....

Just joking!