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pricing, value, semantics

updated sun 14 dec 97

 

The Shelfords on sat 13 dec 97

I THINK I'm about to state the obvious, in the interests of a nicely
rounded thread with everything on record. But I guess I MIGHT be putting
another apple on my head for all the Williams Tells out there...

I am assuming that "price" is a workable construct of costs, pay-for-time,
and what-I-would-like-to-get.
"Value" is often used to mean both price-I-think-it-ought-to-get, and an
impossible to define but real aesthetic and spiritual essence; for clarity
I'd rather have value mean the latter.

So here's where I stick the apple on my head and hope you're all good shots
- I don't think the two have anything to do with each other. (duck.
cringe.) I think we like to think that the two will march together most of
the time (some of the time? once in a blue moon?), although value tends to
be such a personal concept that others may or may not agree with our
assessment. It's sorta like sex and love - ideal if they come together,
but you're in trouble if you think they're the same thing.

- Veronica


>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Although formulas for pricing make us all feel more "comfortable" I must
>remind you that a formula is a LEFT brained approach to pricing... on the
>other hand the real world evaluates an item on more subtle aesthetic terms
>and every artist must consider the more RIGHT brained approach to
>pricing... WHAT THE MARKET WILL BARE !!! Both approaches are "right" and
>useful and each serve their own purpose. The left brained approach keeps
>you thinking of time, efficiency and cost... and the market approach keeps
>you looking for new ways to add VALUE without adding alot more expense. The
>really creative task is how to add value without adding effort!
>
>Wendy :)
>
>
>>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>>Oriental carpets are priced by the sq. inch and by the number of knots
per sq.
>>inch. Makes sense to me. When my students ask how to price, I tell them the
>>$2/pound method (I read this ages ago) and $0.50/ handle, knob spout,
>>whatever. Problem is. . the better (lighter) they get, the less the pot is
>>priced. So then we have to discuss the quality of a piece, how well it is
>>made, can one made another as good or better (hopefully yes). Pricing is a
>>very subjective experience and I still have difficulty with it. Obviously we
>>all do.
>>Marcia in Montana
>>(5 days and we are on vacation!!!!)
>>
>>Dannon Rhudy wrote:
>>>
>>> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>>> ........ How does one sell oil paintings by the inch?.......
>>>
>>> Oh, Marshall, I hate to tell you this, but many, many painters
>>> price their work by the square inch; they believe it is the
>>> only logical and reasonable and EASY thing to do. Indeed, in
>>> college painting courses, the instructors TOLD their students
>>> (my experience) that that was the way to do it.
>>>
>>> When their work/reputations indicate, they raise the cost/inch.
>>>
>>> Dannon Rhudy
>>> potter@koyote.com
>>>
>>> Who has nothing whatsoever else to say on this subject
>
>
>
>*******************************************
>Wendy Rosen
>The Rosen Group
>Niche & AmericanStyle Magazines
> http://americanstyle.com
>
>3000 Chestnut Ave #304 Baltimore, MD 21211
>Voice: 410/889-3093 Fax: 410/243-7089
>*******************************************
>
>
__________________________________________________________________
Veronica Shelford
e-mail: shelford@island.net
s-mail: P.O. Box 6-15
Thetis Island, B.C. V0R 2Y0
Canada
___________________________________________________________________