Haggling on Etsy

[#1]

Have you guys ever been asked to lower your price on an item? What is this Craigslit? A Yard Sale?

Should I even respond?

[seemomster]

I don't think one can blame the US PO for late deliveries in other countries...once something has left the US it's up to the other PO to get it there. And that doesn't even bring customs into the equation...

[GardenoftheKing]

I've been tempted to ask.. but wouldn't dare ask tho! I have fallen in love with items I cld not afford, or wish it'd be just a little bit cheaper so it'd reach my budget. Oh well.. I can learn to let things go!

[Former_Member]

I have had a couple of unreasonable requests, such as a (girls) size 7 dress for the price of a 6 months dress, because the customer requested Priority vs First class shipping which I charged $2 more for. Customer basically wanted a $15 price drop to make up for the $2 extra for shipping. I would not lower the dress price, however I did upgrade the shipping for free to keep the customer.

[WilliamsGiftshop]

Don't ever let your potential customers determine YOUR prices!

Haggling is what you do with multi million dollar chain stores. Because they have a large profit margin.
Or at flea markets.
Haggling with individual artists is a big nono (and, frankly, an insult).

[HeidiDiCesareDesigns]

Every potential customer deserves a polite response. I don't get many requests in my jewelry store, but I do in my supply store. Usually it's someone looking to buy a large quantity and I usually will give a tiny discount, which works.
I did, however, recently get a request to sell a pearl bracelet with a sterling silver clasp....for $10! She said she found a larger bracelet for that price. I congratulated her on her find and politely declined her "offer". Some people just have more ba--s than brains and you just have to not take it personally! Just always be polite, no matter what. You never know if they are are a legitimate customer.

[Former_Member]

I have had them ask. I don't haggle. I am not a flea market vendor.

[seemomster]

Yup. It takes two to argue...OR to haggle.

[MyGreenButterfly]

My shop is relatively new and of course, I want to make lasting friends and repeat customers, so I want to strive provide excellent customer service. Recently, I had one lady ask me to come down in a price if she purchased multiple items of the same or similar (30) for a shower.

My item was $15.00 and I understood her situation and seriously wanted to help her make it work. I told her what I could do to reduce the price and even suggested other alternatives for shower favors.

My item was a little tin box and I told her that I could omit the inside and only decorate the outside but it would still be roughly half and I would barely make a profit. That wasn't what she wanted.

I finally agreed to tell her how to make it - cut out the pieces of design paper for all 30 boxes at $3.00 per tin and cover all the paper with Scor tape so that all she had to do was remove the tape and adhere. But to reduce it that low, I would only give her paper. I would not supply the tins and the adorable charms on the front because of the cost.

We had probably 8-10 emails back and forth including her asking me where to buy the charms, the tins, the best prices, etc. I finally had to stop providing any more information and told her that she would need to research it because in fact my price was very low and chances were very good that she was going to pay more in the long run.

Her response...not even a thank you for trying to help. So unfortunately, that episode set a precedent for me and in the future my answer will simply be no.

Sharon Coughlin

[WilliamsGiftshop]

Good for you, Sharon!
Underpricing your products is not part of good customer service.
You want to treat your customers with respect AND be treated with respect yourself.

[seemomster]

Ugh, Sharon, that's a bummer. You answered about 6 more emails than I would have. :)

[RomaMiaTradingCo]

Sharon, you have more patience than I do!

I would have asked her what she was willing to pay, and tell her that is what she gets. Anything past that will become a custom order, and I would start charging for anything past that! Plus, my old boss used to always say, "Put all the information you think the person will need in one email to eliminate any other questions and emails." I live by that statement today, including on here.

It gets to the point of drawing the line between having great customer service and letting the customer almost torture you for things.

[MyGreenButterfly]

Thank you for the advice - I am very appreciative. I certainly did strive to put everything in to one email but - I really did not expect her to ask me where I bought my materials and how much. So I will definitely know better next time.

Thank you all!

[Former_Member]

I agree with the posts above - we spend a lot of time and energy creating our treasures, or managing them for sale in the case of vintage. And we put in the effort to photograph, list, price etc. I think my items are priced fairly and quite frankly am more offended by the sellers who price their items too low to even cover materials... That's a side note however.

As far as haggling - I will offer a tiny discount to get them through the door. But that's in unless they purchase multiple items. I price shipping as fairly as I can, so don't discount shipping.

Re: custom orders - I've had a couple of situations where I've been contacted to create a custom order request that the buyer didn't get because it was the same price as my regular items. I wondered why someone thought I'd sell a custom necklace for less than my other items. Go figure.

And, Sharon - I would not go into a lot of detail about how I made an item with a prospective customer. Just my opinion on that, but my logic is if the potential customer thought they could make the item themselves, then they should learn how to do the process on their own, perfect it, purchase necessary materials and tools then create it. I hope my work speaks for itself, but regardless, I'm not selling the training, I'm selling the item...

[MyGreenButterfly]

Thanks Donna - I completely agree. This was just a case of a new grandma wanting things to be just right and I wanted to help her but I know that I went too far. Not her fault really - 100% my fault. It was mine for over extending help that I would not have offered to others. It is all a learning experience but this is one experience that I will not be repeating any time soon.

[Former_Member]

I've never been asked to lower prices on my handmade items on etsy, although I do sell a few vintage pieces and was recently asked if I could go down by 40% on one of my vintage listings. By a woman who happens to sell the same type of vintage item in her store. I was extra leery of this since I envisioned her turning around and reselling it. I politely explained to her that, no, I couldn't. That being said, I *have* had some people raise their eyebrows at me when I quote them prices on my handmade items in person at craft fairs. I then explain the quality, age, or scarcity of the materials I use and the time it takes to craft a piece. I think some people are just accustomed to paying mass-produced prices as opposed to artisan prices. When I explain why I can't go down it tends to clarify some things for potential buyers.

[BrushStrokeOrnaments]

I am sometimes asked if I will provide discounts if multiple items were to be purchased. My typical response:

Thanks for your interest in my shop. Sorry, but I do not provide discounts on my ornaments. I hope you are still find something in my shop that will work for you!

[FunandBaubles]

I will occasionally discount an item, particularly if it is vintage (not handmade) and has been sitting around in my shop for a while with little action. I also have a return customer coupon, and have been known to give that to first-time customers who have multiple items in their carts. I doubt I will ever discount my handmade items though, unless it is a sample sale for an item I am discontinuing.

[PaperBoundLove]

I've never been asked to lower my price although, I have a feeling I might be pricing them lower than I should *sighs*

So, nope, if someone asked me to lower them, I just can't do it. I do offer discount coupons and all that when possible on social media and on my blog. So I guess I would politely ask them to follow me on my social media accounts so that when I do sales, they'll know about it.

- Khin

[OneFairfaxRoad]

As a vintage seller, I get convos asking if I'll accept a lower price maybe once a week. I think people who frequent flea markets and antique stores know they sometimes will get a discount if they ask, especially if they are dealers themselves. If the item has been in the shop awhile, and I'm thinking of reducing the price, I have offered a 10% reduction on occasion. In other cases, I politely state that my pricing on this item is firm... and sometimes they purchase it anyway!

In my mind, there's no need to get offended about such a request, just politely respond to such inquiries. Good luck!

[WilliamsGiftshop]

I would not feel insulted if someone asked for a discount on a vintage piece.
I do feel 'insulted' if they ask for a discount on something that I designed and handmade.
It's a totally different ball game.
It is up to us to explain the difference to ignorant customers.