John Rodgers on thu 18 nov 04
I don't do but a couple of shows, but one runs every weekend during the
whole summer season. I'm always there. And there are always the
kibitzers who come by with their snide remarks. I ignore them Water on
a ducks back. But, when someone asks for discounts, I let'em have it
with both barrels ......" Sales on my pottery are my income. Are you
willing to discout your paycheck to your employer??"
Shuts them up every time!!
Regards,
John Rodgers
Chelsea, AL
John Bandurchin wrote:
>I'm always tempted to reply to that question with:
>"Sure, I'll let it go for 60% off - tomorrow!"
>Of course that would be the day after the show closes.
>Maybe some day I'll actually do that.
>
>Carole's favourite "would-be" response is
>"Do you own cottage? Have you got a boat?"
>If yes to either, NO DAMN DISCOUNT
>
>John & Carole Bandurchin
>Baltimore, Ontario Canada
>
>______________________________________________________________________________
>Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
>You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
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John Bandurchin on thu 18 nov 04
I'm always tempted to reply to that question with:
"Sure, I'll let it go for 60% off - tomorrow!"
Of course that would be the day after the show closes.
Maybe some day I'll actually do that.
Carole's favourite "would-be" response is
"Do you own cottage? Have you got a boat?"
If yes to either, NO DAMN DISCOUNT
John & Carole Bandurchin
Baltimore, Ontario Canada
Joyce LEE on fri 19 nov 04
ok
----- Original Message -----=20
From: John Rodgers=20
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG=20
Sent: Thursday, November 18, 2004 8:34 PM
Subject: Re: Will you take less for this vase?
I don't do but a couple of shows, but one runs every weekend during =
the
whole summer season. I'm always there. And there are always the
kibitzers who come by with their snide remarks. I ignore them Water =
on
a ducks back. But, when someone asks for discounts, I let'em have it
with both barrels ......" Sales on my pottery are my income. Are you
willing to discout your paycheck to your employer??"
Shuts them up every time!!
Regards,
John Rodgers
Chelsea, AL
John Bandurchin wrote:
>I'm always tempted to reply to that question with:
>"Sure, I'll let it go for 60% off - tomorrow!"
>Of course that would be the day after the show closes.
>Maybe some day I'll actually do that.
>
>Carole's favourite "would-be" response is
>"Do you own cottage? Have you got a boat?"
>If yes to either, NO DAMN DISCOUNT
>
>John & Carole Bandurchin
>Baltimore, Ontario Canada
>
=
>________________________________________________________________________=
______
>Send postings to =
clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
>You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
>settings from =
http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
>Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at =
melpots@pclink.com.
>
>
>
>
=
_________________________________________________________________________=
_____
Send postings to =
clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
settings from =
http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at =
melpots@pclink.com.
Don Kopyscinski on sat 20 nov 04
Regarding
>>I had a lady come by once who offered to pay me $5 less than my asking
price for a $25 item. She felt no qualms about her offer<<
I always ask them, "Did you stop at the gas station today and offered $1.34
for a gallon of gas?"
It's futile, but I enjoy the look on their faces as they ponder the question.
Another response is, "After careful consideration, for you... $30.00"
Regards,
Don Kopyscinski
Bear Hills Pottery
Mike Martino on sun 21 nov 04
I've been following this thread for a few days now, but didn't feel I really
had anything interesting to add. However,
something happened yesterday that was sort of neat when seen from the
perspective of this thread.
I have some of my stuff in a gallery/restaurant owned by the teacher (tea
ceremony) of a friend. So I meet my friend yesterday and she says, "You're
small vase sold the other day".
I said "Great, did the customer say anything about the piece?".
She said "Oh, she liked the color and the weight, but she kept saying how
CHEAP it was!".
When I decided to try to become a potter in Japan, I thought that it was
perhaps like carting ice to antarctica. I am continually amazed at how the
buying public here treats potters. So different. Little experiences like
this make me want to settle in for another few decades. : )
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
mike martino
in taku, japan
muchimi@potteryofjapan.com
www.potteryofjapan.com
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG]On Behalf Of Don Kopyscinski
Sent: Sunday, November 21, 2004 2:25 AM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Re: Will you take less for this vase?
Regarding
>>I had a lady come by once who offered to pay me $5 less than my asking
price for a $25 item. She felt no qualms about her offer<<
I always ask them, "Did you stop at the gas station today and offered $1.34
for a gallon of gas?"
It's futile, but I enjoy the look on their faces as they ponder the
question.
Another response is, "After careful consideration, for you... $30.00"
Regards,
Don Kopyscinski
Bear Hills Pottery
____________________________________________________________________________
__
Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
Anne Webb on mon 22 nov 04
inevitably it seems there's always someone at a show or who even comes to
see you at your studio that will say something like that. "Can you cut me a
deal?" Its pretty easy to be insulted as there is so much of ourselves in
our pots (its like we are putting ourselves up on that display) that it can
feel that when someone asks for a discount that they are undervaluing you,
the artist, as well. Kind of a knee-jerk reaction on our part. It does take
a bit to develop a thicker skin when it comes to something like this.
That customer looking from a deal isnt looking at it from an artists
perspective and has no idea how much emotion we have wrapped up in our work.
i am sure that it doesnt click in that we are not like the detached sales
people they deal with in retail on a daily basis. To them they are just
shopping. There's nothing personal about it.
I usually explain to them why i cannot offer them a discount. Either the
person will be satisfied or they will not. Sometimes my explanation will
even bolster a sale...other times people will just go on their merry way.
I've had plenty of people ask for a discount who ended up buying a pot
anyways.
Grumbling after someone leaves your booth is one thing.. even making
comments to the list here can be pretty amusing, but intentionally going out
of your way to make snippy comments in an attempt to embarass people
because they "had the gaul" to ask for a discount.... please.... how
immature, shortsighted and unprofessional.
..anne
_________________________________________________________________
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Diane Palmquist on mon 22 nov 04
My two cents..... I do lots of shows and some of them I do get asked
that question. Will you take ... for this piece? I always say no politely.
Sometimes the person will buy the pot anyway. Other times not. If not I
usually feel that I really don't want that person to have that piece anyway.
They obviously don't appreciate it. If anyone comes back and asks again or
doesn't take no for an answer I just say that I am not willing to take a cut
in pay. At my age my salary is supposed to be going up!!! Now how to deal
with all the artists who do "haggle" with the customers..........that is
where this all starts!
Diane
----- Original Message -----
From: "Anne Webb"
To:
Sent: Monday, November 22, 2004 1:43 AM
Subject: Re: Will you take less for this vase?
> inevitably it seems there's always someone at a show or who even comes to
> see you at your studio that will say something like that. "Can you cut me
a
> deal?"
Cindy on mon 22 nov 04
People are people
When they come face to face with another real person who has something to
sell, their natural tendency is to try and get the item for a little bit
less. It's not, generally, that they think your gorgeous vase is worth less.
They just feel they have to give it a shot.
Craft show attendees do not subscribe to clayart. They don't know potters
feel obligated to be insulted by the suggestion we should accept less for
our hard work. They do not consider whether they themselves would give their
bosses or customers a deal on whatever service or product they provide. They
just see a show that resembles a flea market set-up and the "haggle" light
goes on in their brains. If you want to give them a deal, increase the price
beforehand. If not, just smile and say, "All prices are firm. Sorry."
Of course, if they're pushy, no need to be polite. Do as you like.
Best wishes,
Cindy in SD
Terri Kennedy on tue 23 nov 04
Your right, at almost every show I get one or two people asking for a "deal"
of somekind. I am always hearing that I should say "no" and it seems that
I am getting better at it, but not great. Until recently. I was at a show
and a woman came up to me and asked if I would take almost 35 dollars less
than the price I had marked on a piece. Well, I held my ground and said "no"
and then preceeded to inform her that if I didn't sell it at this show, then
I would sell it at another one. That it takes me lots of hours and days to
make any piece and I would be selling myself short if I took less." Well,
she said "thanks anyway" and left the booth. After she left, I kicked
myself for not taking the price she offered because it was still a good bit.
I really was wondering if I did the right thing when, approx., 15 mins later
she comes back and say's she just HAS to have that piece and she handed me
her Visa. It was a game with her, to ask for a lower price. Come to find
out she owned a chain of restaurants and could easily afford that piece and
probably every piece at the show. So I felt better about my "Sticking to my
guns"..and realized that it was just a normal thing with her, to bicker with
the price of things.
Thanks,
Terri Kennedy
http://www.potterristudio.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Anne Webb"
To:
Sent: Monday, November 22, 2004 12:43 AM
Subject: Re: Will you take less for this vase?
> inevitably it seems there's always someone at a show or who even comes to
> see you at your studio that will say something like that. "Can you cut me
a
> deal?" Its pretty easy to be insulted as there is so much of ourselves in
> our pots (its like we are putting ourselves up on that display) that it
can
> feel that when someone asks for a discount that they are undervaluing you,
> the artist, as well. Kind of a knee-jerk reaction on our part. It does
take
> a bit to develop a thicker skin when it comes to something like this.
>
> That customer looking from a deal isnt looking at it from an artists
> perspective and has no idea how much emotion we have wrapped up in our
work.
> i am sure that it doesnt click in that we are not like the detached sales
> people they deal with in retail on a daily basis. To them they are just
> shopping. There's nothing personal about it.
> I usually explain to them why i cannot offer them a discount. Either the
> person will be satisfied or they will not. Sometimes my explanation will
> even bolster a sale...other times people will just go on their merry way.
> I've had plenty of people ask for a discount who ended up buying a pot
> anyways.
>
> Grumbling after someone leaves your booth is one thing.. even making
> comments to the list here can be pretty amusing, but intentionally going
out
> of your way to make snippy comments in an attempt to embarass people
> because they "had the gaul" to ask for a discount.... please.... how
> immature, shortsighted and unprofessional.
>
> ..anne
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! Download today - it's FREE!
> http://messenger.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200471ave/direct/01/
>
>
____________________________________________________________________________
__
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
>
Anne Wellings on tue 23 nov 04
Many times people will ask if I can give a discount if they buy several of
something, such as soup bowls. I say that they are already priced with that
in mind. I don't think my soup bowls are priced high, yet people usually
buy them in ones or twos. This depletes my stock and makes it less likely
that there will be a stack of matching ones for someone who wants to buy
four or six. So I have to work extra hard to have a supply for the rare
person who actually buys that many at a time. So that person needs to pay
for the fact that they can get the set they want before it's been depleted
by the nickle and dimers. Since I make a lot of other things besides soup
bowls and have a limited amount of studio time in which to make them, I do
not always have a full supply of everything. So the law of supply and demand
is not compatible with discounts.
Anne Wellings
Sunrise Beach Pottery
Olympia, Washington
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