This rant was brought on because a co-worker keeps complimenting my rings I've been making. Like this one:
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and this one:
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I have other designs like squirrels, elephants, and apples and what nots. She asked me to bring all the different ones in and I thought yay to buy right? Well she looks at them, tries one on. Ask how much I tell her $8. And think she doesn't have to pay shipping and handling so it is a flat out 8 bucks. She tells me she doesn't have any cash on her. Well every day since she still compliments my rings but yet still hasn't bought one. I am assuming it's because of the price? I will assume the best in people and that maybe when she has a spare 8 bucks she might buy one from me.
But this is not the only example. I did a craft fair in November and had a drying rack full of scarves. Price ranged all the way from $8 to the highest one being $20. So many people made comments about the $20 scarf and would walk away without looking at the others. Now I think my prices on my scarves are insainly low. It takes a lot of time to knit one. I am not a machine.
Ok so I might not sell $8 scarves like walmart (oh wait, I do have some at that price) but it cost me that alone to buy the yarn! Yet I've seen the acrylic things they sell for 20 bucks or more at places like Old Navy, and Abercrombie , people don't have a problem paying that. And maybe those wooden rings might sell for 6 bucks at Wal-mart or Claires but was it handmade? Is it mass produced? I wish I could explain this to every price gawker but unfortantly you can't.
3 comments:
I completely agree with you. Often, people don't realize how much love and care and time goes into making a handmade item. I think your rings are precious and $8 is totally affordable, and you are definitely underselling yourself.
[inkihandmade.blogspot.com]
I love the rings, and I totally wouldn't make them for less than $8. I'd had similar problems... Some people just don't realize that Walmart is ripping people off terribly to make their $5 rings, and buying in huge quantities, which means everyone and their mother could have the same ring! Ahh, the advantages of buying handmade!
(http://intothewildernest.blogspot.com/)
esque and sara thanks for your compliments about the rings!
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