Advice Needed: Do people ever question your prices?

[jenjeant]

Hi all,

I just completed my first craft fair and did fairly well although I had a situation come up that I wasn't sure how to handle. A lady seemed interested in my wine stoppers but asked why some were $25 and some were for $60. I explained that the $25 ones were a simpler design (simple dot pattern) that took less time and used less material. The ones going for $60 were elaborate flower implosions that had taken me an hour or more to create. I guess that answer didn't satisfy her because she looked annoyed and just walked away.

I understand that not everyone is familiar with the glass process so I can appreciate her question. Do any of you ever get questioned about your prices? If so, how do you handle this? I'd just like to be prepared in case this comes up again.

Thanks for any advice you'd like to share.

[susheke]

I think you handled it well. I would have explained it the same way. She may have just been annoyed that she couldn't get the really pretty one for $25 :D

[Greymatter Glass]

mark them all $60 no matter what you do to them. People will buy what they like, they don't care what it took to make it.

there are three things that I've found seem to matter:

Size, color, shape. The amount of decoration or difficulty in design only matters to collectors and other glass blowers.... people buying gifts buy strictly for aesthetics and/or price.

I'd bet if you'd marked them all $60 she'd have bought which ever one struck her and the best one to her. Then on to the next sale.

When you have things priced all over but they're the same size and color, people will think you'd just arbitrarily pricing things...which kind of you are.

that's been my take on it anyways... selling pendants, xmas ornaments, marbles, etc...

-Doug

[Dom]

I would ask her which one she likes better. Then say thats why its 60...lol

[mer]

maybe you could sign and number the more expensive ones, then you could explain that they are "limited editions".

[jenjeant]

Thanks for all the replies. I really appreciate the input.

I thought about pricing all at $60 but didn't feel right about it because the implosions took much longer to do and were larger than the simple dot patterns are. I was pricing according to how long the stoppers took to make so half of the stoppers literally took about 25 minutes and the implosions typically take me about an hour. I was thinking that having a variety of prices might be more enticing to people but I guess it just caused confusion.

I guess this is just part of the learning experience!

[somewhere]

I would separate the two styles besides your $60 dollar stoppers probably deserve there own display. I try to place my lower priced gift items all in one area of my booth that usually gives me the room I need to display my art and when customers find the bargain area they seem to appreciate it more. You can always show case you nice ones and watch if they are interested and the price scares them you can point out your other styles. I even stock the back of the booth behind the display with serious bargain pieces for those interested but don't have the money.

[jenjeant]

That's a really good idea somewhere and it makes sense. I'm going to try that next time!

I'm so glad I asked this question because I'm so new to this and am getting lots of good advice!!

[Racer X]

And it will never end! So don't let it phase you.

I get some frowny folks over what my prices are. I like when they insist that they can get what I have for less money somewhere else. I encourage them to not waste my time and go there.

Galleries do it, collectors do it... Museums just ask you to give it to them and then need the actual retail value for "insurance purposes". The best however, is when a gallery is asked for a discount by the collector. Ten percent is the standard, then that ten percent is usualy asked to be taken off the price paid to the artist.

I've been sent bills from a gallery!!! For shipping my work.

I don't envy the folks who have to deal with the public on a regular basis. I know I would probably end up loosing my mind if I had to explain the why for too long.

[NUBBLET]

give a quick simple , these all I do is lay dots and melt it in takes time and materials but they are cool . Then break out with a so detailed even over detailed version of a flower down to how precise you have to keep everything.... at some point in her head she will think you are underselling them . Just know how much detail to put on each person , this is key , as to not "bore" the person .

[Emmett's Glass]

I explain the difference between the pieces and leave it at that. If they still hassle me I ask things like do you get health insurance from your job and if they have to buy supplies and pay for the work location and talk about how expencive glass working is to do.
Some people expect a flea market at shows and often don;t even know the work at the show is supposed to be hand made by attending artists.
Some people go to the shows just to hassle artist with no intention of buying anyways.
E

[menty666]

You guys charge 25.00 for a simple stopper? Shiiiiiiit, I way underpriced this season.

[Cosmo]

I was doing a show here in town last year, and I had some pendants marked with just a "30" on the back. I had at least three people ask me if that meant 30¢...

[jiminyrootkit]

i'm out here in the sticks with a real limited market, and i get that kinda shit a lot.
people who have no idea what they're looking at, thinking that $15 is really expensive for nickel sized dichro blinger pendants and whatnot.
it gets really old trying to balance getting paid a reasonable rate for my work with keeping prices low enough i actually get some sales.
....all while watching the bitch in the booth next to me make more money than me in the course of a day selling fucking beer can wind-chimes (not kidding, this HAS happened). :tantrum:
it's frustrating, but you just have to know what it took you to make each piece, and don't budge on your pricing. it's easier if you aren't trying to get top top dollar for EVERYTHING.....you'll sell more that way....would you rather sell one *whatever* for $65 or sell three of the same *whatever* for $55?
you should generally expect more bitching from people when you DO NOT have a captive audience.....if you're vending a concert or something where people are camping on-site, they seem to just accept whatever the sticker has on it, and either buy it or not.....less complaining about wanting it cheaper.....and they buy it more often too....wanting souvenirs and all....
-f

[gypsea]

^ what they all said.

plus, i have found that having different price ranges helps sales.

[menty666]

anyone else fed up with the printed fleece products people? I swear some of them just take a 3 foot long strip of printed fleece, cut some tassles in the end, roll it up and there ya go, 10.00 Patriots/Sponge Bob/other scarf.

[hippieandrew]

See.. I had the same situation with pendants and why certain ones are more. I explained it the same way you did pretty much. it seems to be a problem with the penny pinchers. i was thinking about doing what grey matter said in future craft shows and listing them all at one price. cause all this explaining just makes everyone confused and maybe pisses people off because they feel ripped off or something. but in all my past events, i have listed all my products for the amount of time i put in it, materials, and complicity of the piece. I think you handled it well.

[JDeMoss]

I usually just smack them up side the head. Not so hard that they are knocked out, but just hard enough that they lose focus for awhile and can't hear anything. And then I mouth a bunch of nonsense without actually making any noise. When I see that they are getting their hearing back and their eye's are no longer crossed I say, "....so you can see, that it makes complete sense why they HAVE to be priced this way!".

If that doesn't work, I just tell them that the guy in China charges me more for the flowers than the guy in India charges for the dots.

[The Glass Fish]

There is a lot of advice available here. A lot of this advice completely contradicts other advice you'll get. It is all good advice, there are just too many variables to see what will work best for you, you'll just have to try different stuff. As far as the customer you referenced, I think you did the right thing. I get customers all the time question my prices. I am full time glass. My time is money. Thereore time and money (materials) is how I set my price. Occasionally a piece will be extra nice, so raise the price a little. Occasionally one will be janky, but still sellable. Lower the price a little.

There is nothing "arbitrary" about varying your prices. If X item takes Y time to make, and Z item takes 3Y to make, price Z should = 3X. Having a set structure to your pricing, over the years of having to price thousands of objects, pays off in many ways. You can divide your work day to meet quotas you set for yourself. You can finish the day and know how much you just made. You can determine if new items will be sellable at the price you need to get for them based on time. And knowing how you work, you will be able to give accurate estimates on custom work.

Customers. Love them, Hate them, want to slap some upside the head. I take a lot of abuse along the line of "what is this supposed to be?" and "$20 for THAT!" You have to let it go over you. I have sold a lot of glass to ignorant people without manners. If your kneejerk reaction is to defend yourself verbally with a counterattack, what have you gained? Do you really feel better? Is that a good business decision? In a word, no. Always smile, be polite, answer even the stupidest questions with concise, educated answers. And stand behind your glass. "Two for one?" Hell no. "Can I get a deal?" Who are you, anyways? And if it doesn't sell at the price you want, patience. It will all sell eventually, somewhere. Good luck.

[ech]

Everyone here has given good advise. I might add that since you have some for $20 and some for $60, maybe you should put some together that you can price at $40. That way you have a happy medium too. Other than that everyone else has good advise.