When I price my piece, it feels too high

[fredk]

I don't like making things to order. In the past, when I did, I had far too many clients quibbling about things. I prefer to make what I want to make and offer it for sale. When I've been asked 'can you make this for me?' I say 'yes, I can but I won't', Sometimes that ends the request. Sometimes I get asked 'how much for xxx?' I tell them ' you can't afford my prices'. Usually that ends the request but occasionally that ruffles their feathers and they insist on a price so I give them some really outrageous price. On a couple of times that backfired on me and I then took on the job

When I was a photographer a few of us in one area did something that was actually illegal. We had a cartel. We fixed all our prices to be similar so that we weren't competing against each other price wise, We did offer different range of services but they were priced according to our agreement. At the time their were loads of non-fulltime photogs out there, all undercutting our prices but they could not undercut or service thus they couldn't really compete with us.

[chuck123wapati]

On 1/5/2022 at 2:39 AM, Klara said:

Yeah, well.... The way I see it, amateurs (not meant in a negative sense) should not undercut the prices of professionals. Because if they do, and if there are enough of them around (as in knitting) it becomes extremely difficult for the pros to sell their goods.

so someone with less skillset than you for example should price their goods at the same price as what you sell? So that you don't have competition? Why would they? Here's the way i see it there is about 7 or 8 billion people in the world. if you cant sell and make a living that's not someone elses fault. if your a pro then your name will sell over the cheaper stuff. That's just business. 

[Samalan]

3 hours ago, Klara said:

Wrong comparison. Jesse Owens was a sprinter annd long jumper -  quantifiable sports. If you are the best, you are, not much quibbling about it. How many black dressage riders do you know? For there the results depend on the judges' perceptions. And of course, first you need to get to competition level.. (https://www.elle.com/fashion/a34050278/black-equestrians/)

With quality and price of goods it's similar: Few absolutes, it's about what the customers see and think and feel.

Wow talk about missing the point, It's not a judge, or someone else, who determines where one stands, it's you yourself. Make it a good day Klara.

[Samalan]

26 minutes ago, Samalan said:

Wow talk about missing the point, It's not a judge, or someone else, who determines where one stands, it's you yourself. Make it a good day Klara.

" Nothing splendid has ever been achieved except by those who dared believe that something inside of them was superior to circumstance."

Bruce Barton

[chrisash]

Life is funny, take cars you can buy the basic car at xxx and the delux model with pin stripe down the side and slightly different seats for xxx +20%. In England many companies a couple of years ago sold sat nav's as extras at £1000 yet you could buy  non attached ones under £100. Car makers are expert in upselling maybe 5 or 6 upgrades to a basic car

Many leather hobby people cannot afford the price of leather so whilst they are still learning the skills try and sell their poor quality goods at professional prices and then when they don't sell bring down the price to the leather cost price or below

There is a huge market out there for professionally made and marketed leather goods, there is also a huge market for mass produced leather goods but only with cheap leather and mass production

Be happy as a hobby making goods for friends and family whilst you learn the skills to become a professional and don't rush the learning process and pretend to be offering quality items

[Klara]

4 hours ago, chuck123wapati said:

so someone with less skillset than you for example should price their goods at the same price as what you sell?

Exactly. Because with fewer skills they will work slower and thus earn less per hour, even though the finished item costs the same. That's assuming they can produce the same quality in the end, with equivalent material.

[chuck123wapati]

24 minutes ago, Klara said:

Exactly. Because with fewer skills they will work slower and thus earn less per hour, even though the finished item costs the same. That's assuming they can produce the same quality in the end, with equivalent material.

Good luck with that thought, the crux of your problem, with fewer skills they simply cant produce the same assumed quality its not all about speed is it. They know that, the consumer knows that, the consumer wont pay for theirs the same amount. They wont starve so you can flourish just that simple IMO. they would say you get faster if you want to make more.

 

 

Edited January 7, 2022 by chuck123wapati

[chuck123wapati]

32 minutes ago, chrisash said:

Life is funny, take cars you can buy the basic car at xxx and the delux model with pin stripe down the side and slightly different seats for xxx +20%. In England many companies a couple of years ago sold sat nav's as extras at £1000 yet you could buy  non attached ones under £100. Car makers are expert in upselling maybe 5 or 6 upgrades to a basic car

Many leather hobby people cannot afford the price of leather so whilst they are still learning the skills try and sell their poor quality goods at professional prices and then when they don't sell bring down the price to the leather cost price or below

There is a huge market out there for professionally made and marketed leather goods, there is also a huge market for mass produced leather goods but only with cheap leather and mass production

Be happy as a hobby making goods for friends and family whilst you learn the skills to become a professional and don't rush the learning process and pretend to be offering quality items

with almost 8 billion people on earth there is enough market to go around.

They wont starve so you can flourish just that simple IMO. and why they call it competition.

 

Edited January 7, 2022 by chuck123wapati

[Samalan]

8 hours ago, Klara said:

Wrong comparison. Jesse Owens was a sprinter annd long jumper -  quantifiable sports. If you are the best, you are, not much quibbling about it. How many black dressage riders do you know? For there the results depend on the judges' perceptions. And of course, first you need to get to competition level.. (https://www.elle.com/fashion/a34050278/black-equestrians/)

With quality and price of goods it's similar: Few absolutes, it's about what the customers see and think and feel.

You know it's funny but it sounds like you think people who make things with there hands are making junk I can assure you being a maker myself people who have bought my hand made products have almost always paid more because my products are that much better and or different but then the people that buy from me want and expect the best my customers always get all they asked for and more I never compromise on the best quality I can give them " And I get all the money to accomplish that goal"

[chuck123wapati]

2 hours ago, Samalan said:

You know it's funny but it sounds like you think people who make things with there hands are making junk I can assure you being a maker myself people who have bought my hand made products have almost always paid more because my products are that much better and or different but then the people that buy from me want and expect the best my customers always get all they asked for and more I never compromise on the best quality I can give them " And I get all the money to accomplish that goal"

I'll tell you another little story about competition. Back in the day here in Wyoming prison inmates could do hobbies. Our prison had an inmate that ran a leather shop, he had about 6 other inmates employed for him and together they sold thousands of dollars worth of leather goods. Yes if you bought leather in Jackson Hole Wyoming back in the 80s and 90s it was inmate made. I've personally seen those store owners fill up their cars with leather and other products at the pen. That guy made over 60 grand a year and sent it all home to his family. Even before that leather goods were sold at the prison, that is gone now in Wyoming but other prisons still allow hobby work and they sell it.