[TheForge] pricing

[Grover.Richardson at gtri.gatech.edu]

I love to quote Dan<G>.  If you want to know how to make something, take
an order for 100.  Then by the time you have done 80 you will know how
to do it<G>.

Yes, in this business it is difficult to project costs because we have
never done it exactly like that way before.  In my normal work I am
plagued by this syndrome.  It's exactly like the one before, except make
these changes.  Oh, by the way, the documentation is wrong.  Arg.

Skill, thinking before heating the metal, will usually work for you.
There are some things that I still suck at, and some things that people
drool over.  I try to stay in the realm of things I can do relatively
simply, with simple tools, that I know (with a reasonable amount of
confidence) that I can make look good.  Otherwise I try to aim them at
other blacksmiths. 

-----Original Message-----
From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of GRAF
Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2008 11:22 AM
To: Sponsored by ABANA
Subject: Re: [TheForge] pricing

One system that works for me even if it is a new process.
Make it, then ask; "Now that I know how to do it how long would it take 
me to make the third one?"
That gives me one more for practice.
Then I charge for the time on the theoretical third one and count the 
extra time/cost as tuition.

Mike Graf

dan tull wrote:
> As a beginner, if you are slow(tenative), lack tools(power hammer),and

> lack education(experience), it will take you longer to make a widget. 
> So, at $50/hr, you will have to charge more for it than I would. That 
> doesn't seem right( but if it does sell,you will make gas money), so 
> just give widgets away 'til you get fast and good.
> Pricing- always figure what it is worth, then double it, then multiply

> by"what the market will bear" factor.
> Neiman-Marcus not K-mart customers.
>
>
> I try to bill $50 an hour.
> I have heard Dan say many times (seeing if I quote him right), either
> charge enough for it or give it as a gift.
>
>
> I still have problems knowing what to charge for what I make.  I want
> to be fair to myself and to the person buying it. Also in my case I
> feel like I have some responsibility to other blacksmiths. If they are
> selling it for $30 and I am selling for $10 then that is not fair to
> the rest of you.   So I am still trying to learn what is the right
> price.  Get really bad at it if it is art work.
>
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