Had someone want me to give an estimate on a quilt
12-14-2010, 10:47 AM
#31
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Nevada
Posts: 650
I think there is also the "you're just sitting around at home eating bon bons " factor. They think the money they are paying you is a windfall to you. Seriously. I have run into that attitude more times then I can count. Not with quilts but with other sewing. When I was younger I sewed for people to make some extra money. I did new things from patterns, not alterations, although many had body types that needed altered before making the garment, though. And I was cheap. I had a friend that was a real professional seamtress and she stressed to me that I needed to value my time more. I was shocked when she told me she would not thread her machine for less then 7 bucks. And this was back in the 70's.
It is hard to get true value for your time. Especially with crafts or any of that sort of thing. People do not seem to have a problem paying other people a good hourly wage, whether professional or not. My SIL was just telling me the other day that they know a young lady, around 15, that charges 20 bucks an hour to babysit. I guess she is really good and reliable, but 20 bucks an hour is crazy.
So, my point is that since I am home doing nothing but watching tv and munching on bon bons, my time is only worth 50 cents an hour and I should be happy to get that. Of course we all know that is not the case.
It is hard to get true value for your time. Especially with crafts or any of that sort of thing. People do not seem to have a problem paying other people a good hourly wage, whether professional or not. My SIL was just telling me the other day that they know a young lady, around 15, that charges 20 bucks an hour to babysit. I guess she is really good and reliable, but 20 bucks an hour is crazy.
So, my point is that since I am home doing nothing but watching tv and munching on bon bons, my time is only worth 50 cents an hour and I should be happy to get that. Of course we all know that is not the case.
12-14-2010, 10:55 AM
#32
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Fayetteville, GA
Posts: 2,879
Originally Posted by Katia
I think there is also the "you're just sitting around at home eating bon bons " factor. They think the money they are paying you is a windfall to you. Seriously. I have run into that attitude more times then I can count. Not with quilts but with other sewing. When I was younger I sewed for people to make some extra money. I did new things from patterns, not alterations, although many had body types that needed altered before making the garment, though. And I was cheap. I had a friend that was a real professional seamtress and she stressed to me that I needed to value my time more. I was shocked when she told me she would not thread her machine for less then 7 bucks. And this was back in the 70's.
It is hard to get true value for your time. Especially with crafts or any of that sort of thing. People do not seem to have a problem paying other people a good hourly wage, whether professional or not. My SIL was just telling me the other day that they know a young lady, around 15, that charges 20 bucks an hour to babysit. I guess she is really good and reliable, but 20 bucks an hour is crazy.
So, my point is that since I am home doing nothing but watching tv and munching on bon bons, my time is only worth 50 cents an hour and I should be happy to get that. Of course we all know that is not the case.
It is hard to get true value for your time. Especially with crafts or any of that sort of thing. People do not seem to have a problem paying other people a good hourly wage, whether professional or not. My SIL was just telling me the other day that they know a young lady, around 15, that charges 20 bucks an hour to babysit. I guess she is really good and reliable, but 20 bucks an hour is crazy.
So, my point is that since I am home doing nothing but watching tv and munching on bon bons, my time is only worth 50 cents an hour and I should be happy to get that. Of course we all know that is not the case.
12-14-2010, 11:00 AM
#33
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: London, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 1,326
Originally Posted by raptureready
It's because what YOU do isn't as important as what HE does.
Since he's a hunter tell him you'd like to have a real bear skin rug. Would he please go to Canada, get a permit, kill one, have the meat processed, the head and skin made into a rug and give you a price for that. He'll start listing the costs of everything including his time off from work. Then tell him that you just want a small bear and couldn't he do it for $200?
Since he's a hunter tell him you'd like to have a real bear skin rug. Would he please go to Canada, get a permit, kill one, have the meat processed, the head and skin made into a rug and give you a price for that. He'll start listing the costs of everything including his time off from work. Then tell him that you just want a small bear and couldn't he do it for $200?
Yes it is true, non-quilters just have no clue what is involved in making a quilt. It doesn't help that mass produced products are available for the price of a comforter.
If your "customer" doesn't want to pay for quality, refer him to your local Walmart and walk away.
What you create is valuable.
12-14-2010, 11:48 AM
#35
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 462
Originally Posted by raptureready
It's because what YOU do isn't as important as what HE does.
Since he's a hunter tell him you'd like to have a real bear skin rug. Would he please go to Canada, get a permit, kill one, have the meat processed, the head and skin made into a rug and give you a price for that. He'll start listing the costs of everything including his time off from work. Then tell him that you just want a small bear and couldn't he do it for $200?
Since he's a hunter tell him you'd like to have a real bear skin rug. Would he please go to Canada, get a permit, kill one, have the meat processed, the head and skin made into a rug and give you a price for that. He'll start listing the costs of everything including his time off from work. Then tell him that you just want a small bear and couldn't he do it for $200?
12-14-2010, 11:53 AM
#36
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Odessa, Washington
Posts: 1,872
Ouch, you really under-bid that! A king-size takes about 14 yards of material...at today's prices that's at least $140 for that, then the batting - another $30+ - then the thread, and YOUR TIME and TALENT! I won't make a king-size for less then $1,000, and I machine quilt...the price for hand-quilting would be at least double, maybe triple, that! He is cheap and clueless! Certainly wish we could educate these fools who compare hand-crafted quilts with the crap they sell in Wal~Mart!
12-14-2010, 03:14 PM
#38
Super Member
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Merced, CA
Posts: 4,188
[quote=Farm Quilter]Ouch, you really under-bid that! A king-size takes about 14 yards of material...at today's prices that's at least $140 for that, then the batting - another $30+ - then the thread, and YOUR TIME and TALENT! \
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Was the backing included in this thrifty price? Seems to me that you are letting this...well, person..get away easily. Too bad he didn't ask you in front of other quilters, he'd have been hooted out of the room.
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Was the backing included in this thrifty price? Seems to me that you are letting this...well, person..get away easily. Too bad he didn't ask you in front of other quilters, he'd have been hooted out of the room.
12-14-2010, 03:45 PM
#40
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Arizona
Posts: 7,850
I have been a Vendor at shows for 6 yrs now. The shows keep going up in price and the sales keep going down because of economy. No one wants to pay for your talent. Let them go to walmart or pennys and get on made in china. Don't let anyone do this to you. Amen
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