Prices On Original Work?

[dkbutcher]

It looks to me like everyone in this discussion is arriving at the same place by different routes.

Dave

[keplerts]

Ok..... yesterday I made a hunting knife sheath for a customer. I had almost four hours of time in it. (yes I hand stitched it). Charged him $15 because I myself wouldn't want to spend much more on a sheath. To my suprise he gave me $25! Said it was way to nice to sell for $15 and wouldn't let me give him even $5 back. I guess I need to up my price.

Tom K.

[lightningad]

i suppose you gotta ask yourself if that was making your living...would you be happy with $30 a day? Even without seeing the sheath, i'd say four hours plus materials is worth way more than $15.

[keplerts]

I agree, the sheath was worth way more than $15. With time and materials I would think $50+. And, no, I would not be happy making $30 a day. I'm still learning the craft and find my self having to go slow and think about what I need to do next in the conctruction process. As I gain more experience I know I can cut my time down. Buying a sewing machine would help. How much should one charge for a knife sheath?? I really wish there was a definitive answer to these questions.

Tom

[Cyberthrasher]

How much should one charge for a knife sheath?? I really wish there was a definitive answer to these questions.

Tom

Depends on the sheath. A basic folded leather sheath could be between $30 and $60 depending on how it's constructed and what was done to it with tooling or coloring. I've seen others go for double or triple that because they're a lot fancier and the construction is more in depth. The other problem you run into with a sheath is that they're pretty specific to the knife going in them, so you have to think about the value of the knife as well. People aren't going to want to spend $100+ on a sheath that will only work to hold their $20 knife.

[Fullmetalsam]

I'm with Cybertrasher and Lightning Lad... hourly rate + material + fees incured (when selling online for example and taking payment through paypal and such) is my formula to price an item.

While I understand JLSleather point, I don't agree with it.

My time - regardless on what task it is spent, while working on an order - is worth something... so that's the reason why it's factored in my price. I don't see the point in working for nothing - if that's the case, then I should be doing something else. I think the point here is find something that won't take you too much time to do and you'll be able to sell at a price that works for you and the customer.

The example for the hand sewn item is a really good one actually... if it's hand sewn compared to machine sewn by people who know what they are doing... it will take less time on the machine for the same quality. I don't have a leather sewing machine - so I try to stay away from items that will require a lot of sewing (cause I know it's going to take more time, end up costing more and people just won't buy at the price I'm willing to sell at)... however, if a client is inquiring about such an item - I don't lower my price just because it could be done faster with tools I don't have.

That's how I do it, that's how long it takes me to do it, that's how much it cost.

You don't like it - go buy somewhere else... I'll spend my time working on items I know I "can make a profit on"

[Cyberthrasher]

That's how I do it, that's how long it takes me to do it, that's how much it cost.

You don't like it - go buy somewhere else... I'll spend my time working on items I know I "can make a profit on"

Yep, that's my thought. I have people lining up for my guitar straps at the price I charge for my work. The stitched strap in question was specifically ordered like that - hand sewn single color with lining. The price, well the customer was happy about the price because he KNOWS I provide quality straps and that I know what a good strap should be because I'm a lifelong player. It's not just someone slapping together two pieces of leather hoping to make a dime off of musicians. There's lots of that crap available on the rack. My prices are right in line with the going rate for quality CRAFTED products. I always tell my customers that they can go ahead and trust their $2000 + guitar to that cheap POS that's made in China for $40. When the strap fails them and the guitar breaks, they're more than welcome to get a hold of me and I'll fix the guitar, as well as get them the last strap they'll ever need.

[JLSleather]

Ohhhhh... well, that explains it. I didn't realize that there was a "ACTUAL guitar strap - I was just using a "what if" scenario. Yikes, that explains the claws out reaction.

[keableleather]

There is a lot to consider when pricing your items & unfortunately knowledge is not equal, we are different and all look on things differently! A happy medium would be nice and a set of guidelines, but I see it a lot in the younger generation, China is degrading peoples minds to the true value of the Handcrafter, especially the leather trade.

I definitely disagree with "if it looks the same, does the same thing then it should cost the same"....there are some amazing belts and bags coming out of China that sell for less than i can acquire just the material for......but i see a lot of these coming in my door because they are a persons FAVORITE & after only 6mths the stitching has gone, the leather coating is cracked, the strap broken etc etc. But they looked terrific at $30 at a market stall....I tell them I won't fix it and that to replace it with a quality hand made replica will cost them 10 times the amount they paid....now that usually ends the conversation pretty quick.....

As soon as a person looks at my work and mentions a Chinese import product comparison, my craft is closed to them, i don't want to sell to them & i won't, my time and skill is a craft and the result is something i am prepared to sell to an appreciative person, i don't try to justify my price against a cheaper option, I immediately know where their level of knowledge & appreciation "is and is not" and "what is important to them (price) and what is not (crafted quality & longevity)". The amount of leather products made from the scrapings of leather offcuts from tanneries and pulped & pressed together with adhesives and by regulation allowed to be marked "Genuine Leather" because it has a content exceeding 60% real leather is a disgrace and another reason why people's minds are being programmed to expect a leather product to be cheap.

Here is a link to Blog Post i created after a trip to a local mall where a guy was selling imported phone cases.

"Misinformed"

[JLSleather]

Yep, didn't think about that one. I suppose I assumed that we all knew the difference between full grain leather and bonded leather. Point taken.

When I said "looks the same" I perhaps should have said IS the same. All things equal, 2 pieces of leather cut from the SAME hide, tooled and / or colored the same (looks same), should cost the same - regardless of how it was sewn (IF it was done properly).

What I dont care for is all the 'hype-ing'. You know, my stuff sucks but I'm on 3 or 5 or 6 "social networking" sites going on and on about it, so you should buy it anyway. Or the one about "doing leather for 10 years" (or 20, or ...). Here's a tip.. if you've been 'doing leather' for 10 years and your stuff sucks, then you sucked for 10 years (duh). But, I'm grown. If you want to sell it, and you can, then do that.

We all know people have paid good money for crap, and it won't be the last time. The "pet rock" made MILLIONS. It ws a rock. In a box. With air holes.People bought them for YEARS. Did the fact that people spent their money make them "better"?

Personally, I don't honestly care what someone charges or why. That's what "mine" means - if you own it you can do whatever you want with it. Even if you suck. Or if you're Chinese. Or if you're not.

BUT, sometimes posts take a turn. The gal originally asked about pricing her own belt DESIGN.

Edited October 25, 2013 by JLSleather