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discounts/home sales

updated sun 28 nov 04

 

mel jacobson on wed 24 nov 04


just a quick note to this thread.

i have never, never, in 40 years of selling
pots from my home had a customer try and
get me to drop the price. it is in my own
studio, my space, and i invite them there.
what a difference. there are times that folks
ask for seconds...and i always have a pile.
runny glaze on the foot ring etc. neighbors get most of those.
ten bucks each. they are always great pots, just have a flaw.
but, they are marked. i love to give gifts of pots. wonderful
old customers, been around for thirty years, have spend a thousand
dollars in my studio over the last few years...a nice pot as a thank you.
it goes a long way.
sit on a street corner and
they will jack you around like a kid. we have heard the stories over and over.
and many of you love the experience of working the crowd. many love
it, and thrive on it. god bless you for it.

this world lives on bargains, sales, drop down prices.
do you take the first offer when you buy a car?
hell no. you whine, cry, throw yourself on the floor.
(how about a used car on the street...do you take the price?)
do you bargain on a house? lowballlowballlowball.
if i went to toni smith's chain saw store...i would
hem and haw, 485 bucks for a stihl chainsaw? are you sure?
call wayne up front, let me talk to wayne. 485 is really
high...i can get the same saw in minneapolis for 480.
i know wayne has had a heart surgery, nose bleeds, but
god, drop the price for an old friend. i will go 466.50
not a penny more. that is life. you must hold firm.
wayne says...`tell that old gray haired dork to buy in
minneapolis`. good for wayne.

just learned a new concept. ridatick negotiations...
`the one that speaks first....loses`. i do believe
it has merit. i sit quietly in those meetings...`hmmm,
yes, say that again, ahhaaa. hmmm.`
i am new at this, so i don't get out of my element very fast.
waiting is a virtue. rush in and get screwed to the wall.
we are not doing business with walmart. it is like getting
raped. if you think shopping there is a zoo, try and do business
with them.
well, anyway. if you don't like the scene, the way you sell,
if you are getting taken, get out...make a change.
try something new. get creative. it is like looking for a new
glaze. test, test, test.
then analyze. but, be true to your study. many don't want to do
that.
`hell, the only way to sell is at art fairs.` bs.
pack, unpack, drive, park, unpack, pack, drive home, unpack.
count your money...shooot. lost again. rained all weekend.
and no artist in the world can predict the weather or a crowd.
mel



From:
Minnetonka, Minnesota, U.S.A.
web site: my.pclink.com/~melpots
or try: http://www.pclink.com/melpots
new/ http://www.rid-a-tick.com

David Beumee on thu 25 nov 04


Thanks Mel,
Your thoughts on selling on the street come along about the time I am thinking about applying to the local Cherry Creek show, and then I remember what has happened to me in the past and read your notes and I breathe a sigh of relief. Thanks for saving me once again.
It's hotter than blue blazes in Denver fourth of July weekend for the Cherry Creek show. One year at Cherry Creek, about 2 p.m., when I was trying to stay seated in the shade of my awning, a volunteer came up and looked at me with a worried expression, said I was turning white, said she would look after my booth and showed me a building with air conditioning and told me to go lie down. I said "what are you talking about, and got out of my chair. The next thing I knew two guys were trying to pick me up off the sidewalk, and mind you, I had been careful to keep up on the water. Later that same day, I was talking to a guy who said he'd measured the temperature at pavement level: 129 degrees.
Thanks anyway; I'll have a summer show at the studio.
You keep me thinking straight Mel. Thankyou.

David Beumee
Earth Alchemy Pottery
Lafayette, CO






-------------- Original message ----------------------
From: mel jacobson
> just a quick note to this thread.
>
> i have never, never, in 40 years of selling
> pots from my home had a customer try and
> get me to drop the price. it is in my own
> studio, my space, and i invite them there.
> what a difference. there are times that folks
> ask for seconds...and i always have a pile.
> runny glaze on the foot ring etc. neighbors get most of those.
> ten bucks each. they are always great pots, just have a flaw.
> but, they are marked. i love to give gifts of pots. wonderful
> old customers, been around for thirty years, have spend a thousand
> dollars in my studio over the last few years...a nice pot as a thank you.
> it goes a long way.
> sit on a street corner and
> they will jack you around like a kid. we have heard the stories over and over.
> and many of you love the experience of working the crowd. many love
> it, and thrive on it. god bless you for it.
>
> this world lives on bargains, sales, drop down prices.
> do you take the first offer when you buy a car?
> hell no. you whine, cry, throw yourself on the floor.
> (how about a used car on the street...do you take the price?)
> do you bargain on a house? lowballlowballlowball.
> if i went to toni smith's chain saw store...i would
> hem and haw, 485 bucks for a stihl chainsaw? are you sure?
> call wayne up front, let me talk to wayne. 485 is really
> high...i can get the same saw in minneapolis for 480.
> i know wayne has had a heart surgery, nose bleeds, but
> god, drop the price for an old friend. i will go 466.50
> not a penny more. that is life. you must hold firm.
> wayne says...`tell that old gray haired dork to buy in
> minneapolis`. good for wayne.
>
> just learned a new concept. ridatick negotiations...
> `the one that speaks first....loses`. i do believe
> it has merit. i sit quietly in those meetings...`hmmm,
> yes, say that again, ahhaaa. hmmm.`
> i am new at this, so i don't get out of my element very fast.
> waiting is a virtue. rush in and get screwed to the wall.
> we are not doing business with walmart. it is like getting
> raped. if you think shopping there is a zoo, try and do business
> with them.
> well, anyway. if you don't like the scene, the way you sell,
> if you are getting taken, get out...make a change.
> try something new. get creative. it is like looking for a new
> glaze. test, test, test.
> then analyze. but, be true to your study. many don't want to do
> that.
> `hell, the only way to sell is at art fairs.` bs.
> pack, unpack, drive, park, unpack, pack, drive home, unpack.
> count your money...shooot. lost again. rained all weekend.
> and no artist in the world can predict the weather or a crowd.
> mel
>
>
>
> From:
> Minnetonka, Minnesota, U.S.A.
> web site: my.pclink.com/~melpots
> or try: http://www.pclink.com/melpots
> new/ http://www.rid-a-tick.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.

John Rodgers on thu 25 nov 04


mel jacobson wrote:

> just a quick note to this thread.
>
> rush in and get screwed to the wall.
> we are not doing business with walmart. it is like getting
> raped. if you think shopping there is a zoo, try and do business
> with them.

Walmart was the only company I ever dealt with that I felt obligated to
tell "Kiss my royal rusty a**"

Really hacked me off. Picked up my samples and presentation materials
and walked out. I never looked back.

They will not meet you even half way.

John Rodgers
Chelsea, AL

claybair on thu 25 nov 04


But Daaaaaviiiiid.....(whining voice sound effect)
Cherry creek is supposed to be damn near the
best show in the country (or so I am told as
I never went to or participated in it).
Last summer was a real (hot) dog for outdoor shows here in WA.
Set up tear down and show days were in the upper 90's.
It got so bad at one of them I put ice in a towel and
wore that around my neck.
I was giving sunscreen to customers who braved
the scorching weather.
My booth was blocked from any breeze.....
to add to the fun I set up and tore down myself.....
Glutton for punishment???.....guess so!
So what syndrome do I have..... I do these killer shows....
as I tear down I mentally vow never to do them again...
then forget about it and rush my application form for the
next year. It's like having a baby........ the pain and effort
dissipates and soon after the worst pain I had ever
experienced I was thinking that having another child was
a great idea!
So I will continue to do them until I cannot do it physically.
I think it appeals to the carnival in me.......from spending summers
"down the shore" in Atlantic City before it was murdered by
the casino vampires.
Everything was so out there..... barkers hawking their wares,
salt water taffy, Mr. Peanut, Pennyland, Steele Pier, the diving horse,
mysterious gypsies offering to tell your fortune.

Gayle Bair - walking down memory lane after a peaceful Thanksgiving meal.
Must be the tryptophan....... speaking of which I'd better trip back into
the studio
and get some glazing done.
Bainbridge Island, WA
http://claybair.com

-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG]On Behalf Of David Beumee
Sent: Wednesday, November 24, 2004 9:04 PM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Re: discounts/home sales


Thanks Mel,
Your thoughts on selling on the street come along about the time I am
thinking about applying to the local Cherry Creek show, and then I remember
what has happened to me in the past and read your notes and I breathe a sigh
of relief. Thanks for saving me once again.
It's hotter than blue blazes in Denver fourth of July weekend for the
Cherry Creek show. One year at Cherry Creek, about 2 p.m., when I was trying
to stay seated in the shade of my awning, a volunteer came up and looked at
me with a worried expression, said I was turning white, said she would look
after my booth and showed me a building with air conditioning and told me to
go lie down. I said "what are you talking about, and got out of my chair.
The next thing I knew two guys were trying to pick me up off the sidewalk,
and mind you, I had been careful to keep up on the water. Later that same
day, I was talking to a guy who said he'd measured the temperature at
pavement level: 129 degrees.
Thanks anyway; I'll have a summer show at the studio.
You keep me thinking straight Mel. Thankyou.

David Beumee
Earth Alchemy Pottery
Lafayette, CO






-------------- Original message ----------------------
From: mel jacobson
> just a quick note to this thread.
>
> i have never, never, in 40 years of selling
> pots from my home had a customer try and
> get me to drop the price. it is in my own
> studio, my space, and i invite them there.
> what a difference. there are times that folks
> ask for seconds...and i always have a pile.
> runny glaze on the foot ring etc. neighbors get most of those.
> ten bucks each. they are always great pots, just have a flaw.
> but, they are marked. i love to give gifts of pots. wonderful
> old customers, been around for thirty years, have spend a thousand
> dollars in my studio over the last few years...a nice pot as a thank you.
> it goes a long way.
> sit on a street corner and
> they will jack you around like a kid. we have heard the stories over and
over.
> and many of you love the experience of working the crowd. many love
> it, and thrive on it. god bless you for it.
>
> this world lives on bargains, sales, drop down prices.
> do you take the first offer when you buy a car?
> hell no. you whine, cry, throw yourself on the floor.
> (how about a used car on the street...do you take the price?)
> do you bargain on a house? lowballlowballlowball.
> if i went to toni smith's chain saw store...i would
> hem and haw, 485 bucks for a stihl chainsaw? are you sure?
> call wayne up front, let me talk to wayne. 485 is really
> high...i can get the same saw in minneapolis for 480.
> i know wayne has had a heart surgery, nose bleeds, but
> god, drop the price for an old friend. i will go 466.50
> not a penny more. that is life. you must hold firm.
> wayne says...`tell that old gray haired dork to buy in
> minneapolis`. good for wayne.
>
> just learned a new concept. ridatick negotiations...
> `the one that speaks first....loses`. i do believe
> it has merit. i sit quietly in those meetings...`hmmm,
> yes, say that again, ahhaaa. hmmm.`
> i am new at this, so i don't get out of my element very fast.
> waiting is a virtue. rush in and get screwed to the wall.
> we are not doing business with walmart. it is like getting
> raped. if you think shopping there is a zoo, try and do business
> with them.
> well, anyway. if you don't like the scene, the way you sell,
> if you are getting taken, get out...make a change.
> try something new. get creative. it is like looking for a new
> glaze. test, test, test.
> then analyze. but, be true to your study. many don't want to do
> that.
> `hell, the only way to sell is at art fairs.` bs.
> pack, unpack, drive, park, unpack, pack, drive home, unpack.
> count your money...shooot. lost again. rained all weekend.
> and no artist in the world can predict the weather or a crowd.
> mel
>
>
>
> From:
> Minnetonka, Minnesota, U.S.A.
> web site: my.pclink.com/~melpots
> or try: http://www.pclink.com/melpots
> new/ http://www.rid-a-tick.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.

____________________________________________________________________________
__
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.

Simona Drentea on sat 27 nov 04


Cherry creek is supposed to be damn near the
best show in the country (or so I am told as
I never went to or participated in it).
Doesn't hold a candle to the Uptown Art Fair in Mpls, IMO. But I've only
attended both as
a buyer.

Simona in Colorado, formerly of Mpls