Price question by clients

[Gina777777]

Hi Everyone.
I hope you are all well.
i have a question.
as a starting of business, I often uncomfortable to talking about prices to clients.
I do materials X2 + labour+ etc.

Then i get questions from clients, how much is to stone? or how much did you spend for the chain....
I feel a but uncomfortable to breaking down costing for them... as i do materials X2. As i know someone does X3.
How would you answer these questions?
What can be the best way to answer this questions without being rude or hiding something?

it would be great if you share your experience.

Also if you buy very pricy stones like £2000, do you still do X2 for the stones? or you would ask the client to bring her own stones?

All take care.
thanks
Gina

[ps_bond]

The price you are charging is for the entire piece. What you paid for the chain is between you & your supplier and if you buy 1000 of them, you'll be looking at a very different price to 1 or 2.
There's no point breaking down the price for clients - either they're happy with the price or they're not.

[pearlescence]

Don't allow such questions. The first time you take money for anything you are a professional, so stop being defensive and apologetic. You charge what you want. they are free to go elsewhere.

[pearlescence]

Would they go into H Samuel and ask where they got their chain? Of course not.

[Dennis]

Also if you buy very pricey stones like £2000, do you still do X2 for the stones? or you would ask the client to bring her own stones? All take care. thanks
Gina
This is an interesting part of Gina's question, folks. Any Ideas?

People who ask for a break down of prices, are looking for a cheap source. It's inappropriate in this context, but common when dealing with builders. Dennis.

[china]

I understand the frustration, it is a really good question, although as Dennis said it is inappropriate, just how to tell them to get lost without offending them or loosing custom is a interesting question
I don't have the answer, I will have to put some thought into this one.

[Gina777777]

The price you are charging is for the entire piece. What you paid for the chain is between you & your supplier and if you buy 1000 of them, you'll be looking at a very different price to 1 or 2.
There's no point breaking down the price for clients - either they're happy with the price or they're not.

yes.. I tried to avoid it and gave the retail price of materials. coz I got trade price. but still, they can have look the price of chain in Cooksons. SO I try to be honest and telling them labour cost more...um...

[Gina777777]

ha. yes, exactly

[Gina777777]

This is an interesting part of Gina's question, folks. Any Ideas?

People who ask for a break down of prices, are looking for a cheap source. It's inappropriate in this context, but common when dealing with builders. Dennis.

Yes. exactly. thought about it this way too.

[Gina777777]

I understand the frustration, it is a really good question, although as Dennis said it is inappropriate, just how to tell them to get lost without offending them or loosing custom is a interesting question
I don't have the answer, I will have to put some thought into this one.

exactly. also she said she just want to know coz she is curious of all and she wanted to pay more if I am loosing money.
I gave her retail prices of materials very vaguely. but still feel bad to talk about this although It was after huge discount.
It is still sensitive question that I have to know how to deal with it in a smart way.

[CJ57]

Your post came up twice and I’d go with Wendy’s answer on the other one. They are paying for your design process and everything else that goes into making a piece not just the materials. You can’t put a price on that plus all the invisible costs they wouldn’t even have thought of. If people want a complete breakdown then they are looking for cheap and they can go to some of the more questionable pages on Etsy. The price is as it is

[josef1]

Its like going to a posh restaurant and asking how much they pay for beans or asking the cashier at Tesco what they pay for bread. Its irrelevant its the finished item they are buying your hard work, contacts ,knowledge and skill. I wouldn't feel bad and I'm sure if your customer was selling you jewellery they had made they wouldn't answer the question. I had a customer tell me a silver ring I made bespoke for them, wasn't worth a fiver at a pawn shop after they had paid £90 for it. I had to explain it was bespoke and built to there requirements they still thought they had been ripped off but what can you do. the truth was for the messing about I did on the ring I should of charged a lot more. Life's funny sometimes.

[pearlescence]

When I had a lot of work done on my house I sourced a lot of it myself from websites, eBay etc. Builder amazed. Said my retail was loads cheaper than his trade prices and I ended up teaching him how to! Tell them that you are happy to work with any materials they source (with a bonus that they can't bitch about quality or colour etc)

[pearlescence]

Just don't talk about it. It's like those customers who ask how your business is doing? I mean, what business is it of theirs whether I am rolling in money or about to go bankrupt. But again they wouldn't summon the manager of the local Tesco and ask how his business was going!
You need to make clear this is you being a professional, not a friend