Posted by Bryan Maltais on January 13, 2010 at 7:15 PM
When somebody wants to order a single print off your website and they ask for a discount. I do not do this, and I've got plenty of reasons why, but I'm interested in how other people word it...
Posted by Ken Wyatt on January 13, 2010 at 7:42 PM
Bryan, almost everything is negotiable and I usually ask the same question, especially for electronic products. However, I believe art is a different story and that I personally believe it would be an affront to the artist to even ask. Most artists don't want to bother with working the business aspects and drudgery, such as pricing - -after all, you're an ARTIST, right?
I'd just say that the pricing was set by my business manager and that I'm unable to alter it. In my case, it's my wife, and I wouldn't be lying. My wall art prices are jointly set by myself and the gallery manager and I let him manage the transactions. Sometimes, if someone is purchasing more than one item, he discounts additional items, but no more than 10%.
By discounting prices, an artist tends to degrade their own work correspondingly and I believe we agree on that!
Ken
Posted by Jack Brauer on January 13, 2010 at 8:20 PM
You can offer them a lower price - for a smaller print size!
If someone is pinching pennies then I offer then a 10-15% discount. That makes them feel better about the purchase and really doesn't hurt the maintaining of my standard pricing. I know what it's like to be on a budget. It they drive up in their fancy sports car and ask then I usually say "no".
Posted by Brian Jackson on January 13, 2010 at 9:30 PM
If someone is pinching pennies then I offer then a 10-15% discount. That makes them feel better about the purchase and really doesn't hurt the maintaining of my standard pricing. I know what it's like to be on a budget. It they drive up in their fancy sports car and ask then I usually say "no".
I think this is wise advice. Everything is negotiable.
Posted by Don George on January 13, 2010 at 9:59 PM
I guess it depends on how hungry you are. My gallery sales were slow this summer compared to last year and the gallery owner asked if I would consider joining the rest of the store in a sale. I agreed and sales took off. I guess if you have sufficient income and you don't need the sales its another story. With the recession etc. I think it was a good idea and it payed off.
Posted by Bryan Maltais on January 14, 2010 at 11:23 AM
Good advice, especially:
"You can offer them a lower price - for a smaller print size!"
I learned many years ago that if you just flat out say no, odds are almost 100% that you will not get the sale. BUT, if you say you'll work with them, and give them ANY type of a discount, your odds of getting the sale go from about 0% to around 90-95%. It's more of a mind game thing than anything. If the customer gets ANY discount, they will think they won.
Ask yourself, is it worth losing a sale for a simple 10% discount? Yes, you can offer them a smaller print for a smaller price. But, when you run the numbers, odds are that if you give them a 10% discount on the size they originally inquired about, you'll have more money in your pocket than selling them a smaller print at full price.
Discussion
8 repliesI'd just say that the pricing was set by my business manager and that I'm unable to alter it. In my case, it's my wife, and I wouldn't be lying. My wall art prices are jointly set by myself and the gallery manager and I let him manage the transactions. Sometimes, if someone is purchasing more than one item, he discounts additional items, but no more than 10%.
By discounting prices, an artist tends to degrade their own work correspondingly and I believe we agree on that!
Ken
I think this is wise advice. Everything is negotiable.
"You can offer them a lower price - for a smaller print size!"
Ask yourself, is it worth losing a sale for a simple 10% discount? Yes, you can offer them a smaller print for a smaller price. But, when you run the numbers, odds are that if you give them a 10% discount on the size they originally inquired about, you'll have more money in your pocket than selling them a smaller print at full price.