need a hug

[Former_Member]

I need a hug and some reassurance, i have had a few custom quilt order recently and all have had raving reviews ( facebook) today i was contacted by a lady who wanted a quilt to be made using designer Tilda fabrics. I spoke to her about the design which was pretty simple and quoted her a price (£350) for a full double bed quilt. She told me she could not afford this. So politely I asked her how much her budget was and she said £60-80 i almost fell off my chair. Her fabrics alone were costing around £100!
This is really playing on my mind I am still in shock, how can a person think that a quilt will cost so little? you cannot even get a factroy quilt churned out by the hundreds for this amount!
I guess I am hurt and insulted and even a little angry that some people just dont charge the correct price for their unique items...and i making sense and a are my feeling justified? has anyone else felt this?

[SnarkFactory]

Those people aren't in your target market, so it's not your job to worry about it. On Friday, someone sent me a picture of a painting and asked if I could do it. I said, that's not my style but i'm sure I could. I quoted him a price of $250 and he said he could get it cheaper at "insert department store name" and nevermind.

UM that wouldn't even be a real painting, it would be a canvas print and the department store was asking $179. Ugh, I was so angry. A genuine painting is a much better product than a cheap mass produced print.

[Former_Member]

I wouldn't worry about it at all Frey.

Some people simply don't have any idea about the cost of the materials let alone the amount of labour that goes into making something.

What you may want to do when you quote a price is something along the lines of

The price for what you are asking for will be in the neighbourhood of $ 350.00 based on my cost of materials at $xx per yard and my time.

I get people who feel that I should be able to make them a fisherman sweater for $50 so I know exactly how you feel.

[NancyBags4U]

Don't take it personally. A lot of people have the idea that if it's "homemade" it didn't cost much to make. Those who don't use fabric have no idea that it is so costly. Just take pride in your work and know it's worth every penny!!

[Former_Member]

Many people really have no clue about pricing. She obviously didn't even know how much the cost of fabric is for you, let alone the amount of time and energy you spend in making a quilt. Don't let it bother you and don't ever think about cutting yourself short. Your time is worth the money you ask for, and if a customer wants something cheap then they'll have to go for a run of the mill product. Your quilts are beautiful!

[WilliamsGiftshop]

Don't let other people's ignorance get to you.
She is just not part of your target market.
And the best way to 'deal' with the ignorant is to educate them, in a clear and friendly way.

[Mollymoojewels]

Frey - sending you a big hug! Your shop is lovely, don't stress over people that don't have a clue about what we are all about, what it takes to create what we do and the time and energy it takes to find the supplies etc, etc. She was just not who you are aiming at. Move on honey.

[MAKINGtheNESTofIT]

I completely agree with what those before me have shared. Interestingly, it is a problem at all price points! I had someone really want specific notepads, and they would require a lot of extra work. I checked into all my options, but then had to tell them that it would cost $3 a piece. The customer said that they could never justify spending that. A few months ago it probably would've bothered me, but now I just wished them well and said that I hope that they are able to locate something that will work for them. Your work is beautiful, by the way! :) (((hugs)))

[InsideSandysShop]

You do beautiful work (((hugs)))

[SnarkFactory]

Like Bea said, these people are ignorant. The only education they have as a consumer is what they've seen in stores. And, I don't know about anywhere else, but here in Texas, there aren't ANY stores that carry handmade products. So, you've got to decide if it's worth educating them and hoping they will see the error of their ways and give you the green light, or just wish them well. I don't feel like it's my duty to educate them so I just send them on their way.

[Former_Member]

handmade is handmade! time, quality, materials... geez! customers have to understand that the work you put into the item is, if not more valuable than the things you have to purchase to make something custom! I always try my best to accommodate people with their budget but not that drastic! wow! i'm so shocked that they would expect a price to be so low! like everyone has stated being an artist you want to sell your work but not at that kind of expense! I also understand the bad feeling you have for having to turn down business but those who know your work is worth the price will pay! good luck!! just look forward to your next sale and realize that some will just never understand the price of custom quality!

[Former_Member]

I saw someone in a custom requests team ask for a dress American Apparel or some other shop was selling for $48... to fit her budget of $20-25. I really don't know what these people are smoking that they'd come to handmade sellers for these things.

[PAPERFLORISTS]

((((hug)))) Don't take it personally. People just don't realize how much time goes into making things. Never mind the cost of materials.

[MiZenDesigns]

Hi Frey,
You have such a wonderful shop!
That person was clearly not in your target market. Some people try to get things for much less than they know it is worth just because it is handmade. The fact that she picked designer fabric is interesting...

[Former_Member]

I'm sending you a big hug!

Our shops are our galleries. If someone walks in and doesn't want to pay the price we're asking for, they're not the kind of customers we want.

I can understand how upsetting it must be to have your hopes raised and then to be let down like that. One day, someone will come along and will be quite happy to pay the correct amount of money for a quality, handmade quilt from your store.

[Former_Member]

That's crazy! You're right, you can't get a cheap factory made run of the mill "quilt" for that price.

I was just in a big box store and happened to see a bed cover that was on clearance for $120! You were most certainly right! I can't stand when ppl undervalue thier products!

Cute shop!

[Former_Member]

(((Bighug)))
I had a friend pull that on me. She wanted me to make a baby afghan for her grandson & I quoted her what I thought was a fair price and she respond unfavorably :( She ended up buying it but I wont offer to make her anything else.
On the other hand a friend contacted me today and then purchased the item she wanted no questions asked about the price. :)

[Former_Member]

Here's another hug. I know what you mean, people have know idea how much expense and time goes into handmade items.

I have set my prices to pay for materials and 75 cents per thousand stitches. If they can find an item like mine cheaper with the same embroidery, I'd say go for it. The thing is that I know that my items are unique, some one of a kind. So my prices will stand as is. Yes you can buy a $10 book cover, but my covers are more for gifts.

I like to add that your items are adorable and price modestly.
I used to make baby quilts for a retail shop and got $150 for them, they sold them for $300. That was 25 years ago.

[Former_Member]

Thank you all for the wonderful comments and support I am reading them as i sip my breakfast tea, and its making me feel a whole lot better. I have seen her on other quilters pages so im sure she will go and ask someone else. I only hope that my fellow quilters respect their work and price accordingly

[Former_Member]

I havnt sold any quilts on etsy but I've had people buy commission quilts priced from $800 to $2000. These people have been very happy with their purchase.

I've also had people turn up their noses for the same reason 'Too expensive'. One lady I did a lot of running around for said no thanks but I will pay u for the time you spent running around and promptly gave me $10. At first I was insulted but then I realised I had something she wanted but wasnt prepared to pay for. That's not an insult its a complement!

Moral of the story-you can't please everybody and you obviously produce something beautiful or they wouldn't have asked u in the firt place!

Hold your head high girlfriend you make great stuff!

[LeNidDeFleurs]

I wouldn't give it more than two seconds thought.

[ShapelyWood]

I could also use a hug

[LaLindaArtStudio]

Big Hugs for you. When I first started on Etsy I listed some of my custom made Baby quilts in the $325 range to fill my Shop up. Thank God I never sold any, I would have been working for slave wages at that price.

[Former_Member]

Prices are so hard with handmade things ... I think you have to find the right audience. I wouldn't let that person bother you at all. I came home a little deflated after my first craft fair on Saturday -- not one person had bought anything (except my friend who drove 25 miles with her 2 kids just to see me), and I am sure it was bc of my prices. But I had the wrong audience entirely and if I had known that, I wouldn't have wasted my time but it was a learning experience.

I was even going to bump some of my prices down this week on my smaller items and now after this post ... I may not!! My time is precious and I work hard to design unique things!!

[Former_Member]

Have a (((hug)))

Don't worry about the person who asked you to accept such a ridiculous amount of money....some people don't realise the costs and time involved - which is their fault not yours.

Carry on making your lovely items and stick to your guns about how you price them :)