Lois Ruben Aronow on sat 8 feb 03
I don't know if it's legal or not, but I don't do it. When I do a
show it's a professional show, not a garage sale. In my opinion, the
price is the price, take it or leave it. I do offer prices a tad
lower (maybe 5%) at my open studio sales, as I don't have the overhead
of a booth fee. But I won't haggle at that sale either. I don't
think it's too much for the customer to respect the price the artist
sets.
=46unny thing is, in my limited experience, no one has ever tried to
haggle with me. And I have never ever asked another artist for a
better price. In my mind, it's disrespectful.
I'd be very interested in hearing from others as to why they would
haggle.
--------------------------------------------
=46ine Craft Porcelain - New and Updated for 2003!!
http://www.loisaronow.com=20
J. B. Clauson on sun 9 feb 03
Some people just need to dicker. My mother never felt she had shopped
successfully unless she got a little knocked off the price, whether it was
at a fair booth or Macy's. She was from a rural background and the people
she grew up with never bought without haggling. Also, in some cultures, the
wife is responsible for getting the best for her family's money and haggling
is a way of life.
Try not to get angry with these people. They really mean no harm. Put up a
sign "All Prices as Marked" or something like that. It won't keep them all
off your back, but it's worth a try.
I usually say something like, I'm sorry but that's the price. If they tell
me they can get it cheaper at *************, then I tell them that's where
they should shop. The items may look similar, but the feel and the quality
of the piece probably won't measure up unless the price is comparable.
Peace to All,
Jan C.
dalecochoy on mon 10 feb 03
----- Original Message -----
From: "J. B. Clauson"
Subject: Re: Haggling (was Credit Card Sales)
If they tell
> me they can get it cheaper at *************, then I tell them that's
where
> they should shop
> Jan C.
Jan,
This reminds me of an old family friend who used to manage a grocery store
( one of a large chain) for many years. One of his gripes was the lady who
would bring some item over to him and ask "Why is this so much? It's
cheaper over at such-n-such".
He'd answer with "Well, why didn't you get it while you were over there
shopping?"
They would say" They were out of them"...
He would reply " Well, when we are out of them ours are even cheaper than
theirs!"
He did this time after time! People....aren't we strange?
Regards,
Dale
Janet Kaiser on wed 12 feb 03
Here! Here! Good for you, Lois. Respect for one's self and one's work is
mirrored in the way one reacts to the very concept of "haggling". The
die-hard haggler would not dream of practicing their addiction in
Woolworth's, Macy's or Harrod's so why they think it is appropriate
behaviour when dealing directly with an artist/the producer or a gallery
beats me every time it happens. And this particular species of person will
not thank you for dropping the price... At best they just think you are a
push-over and at worst it devalues art/work to a mere product more like a
sack of potatoes than a special item to value and cherish... even if only a
humble mug or chip-n-dip combo. The idea that the item was "over-priced" to
start with is also reinforced in their pea-sized brains. The concept that
"value for money" equates everything should/can be sourced cheaper
somewhere or other whilst retaining the quality, is a big-business ploy and
capitalist invention which has even brought McDonald's to its knees... Yet
another slippery slope for small producers to avoid like the plague.
BTW some good news for everyone who accepts credit cards in the UK today:
the practice of each bank taking a percentage of each and every transaction
has been challenged. For example: the card company (e.g. MasterCard or
Visa), their bankers (usually a UK bank) and the recipient's bank each take
a minimum 1% handling charge and sometimes a standing charge on top... i.e.
35 pence for each swipe in the case of debit cards.
Handling charges on a cheque costs 60p , so it depends on the amount
concerned when it comes to what we prefer when a customer offers us a
choice (which many do). One advantage of being in a rural area, is that
many retail outlets, restaurants and hotels will not accept "plastic" so
most of our clients have cards AND cheques at the ready. Some even go to a
"hole in the wall" to withdraw cash because they neither carry a cheque
book nor do they want to use their cards. Yes, there is a deep distrust of
cards (particularly among the elderly) mostly thanks to well publicised
horror stories.
Bank charges account for a whopping10% of our overheads, which is pretty
breathtaking in this electronic age when there is little or no "costly"
human activity involved. It remains a thorn in the side of all small
businesses, because we do not have the necessary financial clout to haggle
with the banks. I believe that only becomes possible once annual turnover
exceeds =A31,000,000 sterling! And with very few banks in the UK anyway,
they closed ranks on this issue years ago... Price fixing is illegal, so I
am sure there is some other plausible legal explanation for them all having
the same charges.
Of course American Express is the real doosie deal for all retailers,
whether great or small... You won't see many of their green signs anywhere
in the UK except those really large multi-nationals or chain stores which
count their turnover in billions and not millions.
The other downside to credit and debit card transactions, is the time-lapse
between the sale and the date it is finally transferred and credited to the
retailer's account. Instantly debited from customers' accounts, the banks
sit on millions of other people's money for days on end... It can be over a
month and then in one big block of transactions and charges so it needs an
accountant to check it for their mistakes, which are far from rare.
Sincerely
Janet Kaiser
*********** REPLY SEPARATOR ***********
Subject: Haggling (was Credit Card Sales)
From: Lois Ruben Aronow
>>When I do a show it's a professional show, not a garage sale. In my
opinion, the price is the price, take it or leave it. I do offer prices a
tadlower (maybe 5%) at my open studio sales, as I don't have the overhead
of a booth fee. But I won't haggle at that sale either. I don't think
it's too much for the customer to respect the price the artist sets.<<
******************* FROM ********************
The Chapel of Art / Capel Celfyddyd
8 Marine Crescent, Criccieth LL52 0EA, Wales, UK
Tel: ++44 (01766) 523570 URL: http://www.the-coa.org.uk
Janet Kaiser on wed 12 feb 03
"Never knowingly undersold" is the slogan on a John Lewis hat box sitting
on top of my wardrobe. It must be at least 20-30 years old, so the retail
industry have been using this as a marketing ploy for quite some time. Even
so, it is sad that it is considered normal behaviour right across the
board... No matter whether a consumer buying from a multi-national or
buying directly from a maker/artist or some other small business.
Sincerely
Janet Kaiser - finally finished reading through the 800+ Clayart mails...
Sorry for being so voluble. Promise to but out again for the immediate
future. "Visions of Eden" opening Friday, so a lot to do...
*********** REPLY SEPARATOR ***********
>> If they tell me they can get it cheaper at ***, then I tell them that's
where they should shop<<
******************* FROM ********************
The Chapel of Art / Capel Celfyddyd
8 Marine Crescent, Criccieth LL52 0EA, Wales, UK
Tel: ++44 (01766) 523570 URL: http://www.the-coa.org.uk
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