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This is too expensive for me...

Athina avatar
Athina 11:26 am Jan 27, 2013 EST
Hey guys!
I have a question for those of you who are selling handmade... Has anybody ever told you that you charge too much for your items?
I had such conversations with potential customers many times before, and after some discussions here I decided not to undervalue my work... I said to myself "no huge discounts, no selling yourself short"... Pricing my items is based on the well- known formula and I try to be as reasonable as I can...
However, for the last few days I've been noticing that people do not shop from me anymore.. They ask about prices, they like what I sell, but they seem to think it;s too expensive... I asked a question about my prices at the Etsy success team and some fellow Etsians told me what I feared the most... that my prices are too high...

So I'm asking you... have you ever experienced a similar situation? What did you do? Did you lower your prices and if yes, did your sales increase?

81 Responses

Mary Richmond avatar
Mary Richmond from CutOutTheFun 11:28 am Jan 27, 2013 EST
Well, I like a lot of things I can't afford ;-) Doesn't mean I deserve them at a lower price just because I can't afford them....
Karen and Rich avatar
Karen and Rich from gringrimaceandsqueak 11:28 am Jan 27, 2013 EST
We often find the reverse :) People do raise an eyebrow at our prices sometimes but at the end of the day you have to charge for your time or it's just not sustainable. Best bit of advice I can give you is advertising outside of Etsy too to bring in customers that are right for your shop.
Caroline avatar
Caroline from peaseblossomstudio 11:29 am Jan 27, 2013 EST
If people are writing and asking for discounts, simply say "Thank you for stopping by my shop, I am sorry to say I am not running any sales or specials at this time."

I would never lower my prices just because someone asked, I have to eat too.
Birgitte Sciarretta avatar
Birgitte Sciarretta from SciarrettaFarms 11:31 am Jan 27, 2013 EST
I always make sure that my prices are fair, but like Caroline says, I have to eat too.
burnedfurniture avatar
burnedfurniture from burnedfurniture 11:32 am Jan 27, 2013 EST
Your work and your presentation/shop are absolutely lovely.
Don't be afraid to pay yourself for your time and craftsmanship-
please don't lower your prices!
Your shop is still new I think...soon folks will find your beautiful work and become return customers, and they will pass on the word about your shop as well.
Hang in there and keep making beautiful things-
adding you to my favorites right now!
CrochetKnit30 avatar
CrochetKnit30 from CrochetKnit30 11:32 am Jan 27, 2013 EST
It just means they're not your target market. Their shopping around and are just trying to see if you will lower your prices. There will always be the people that appreciate handmade for what it is and are willing to pay for the work that goes into it!
Catherine avatar
Catherine from CatherineMarissa 11:32 am Jan 27, 2013 EST
Mary RichmondfromCutOutTheFun says

Well, I like a lot of things I can't afford ;-) Doesn't mean I deserve them at a lower price just because I can't afford them....


::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

My thoughts exactly. Just because you are priced too high for some people does not mean you are priced too high for all people.
Mandy avatar
Mandy from ThePillowPeople 11:33 am Jan 27, 2013 EST
Caroline from peaseblossomstudio says
If people are writing and asking for discounts, simply say "Thank you for stopping by my shop, I am sorry to say I am not running any sales or specials at this time."

I would never lower my prices just because someone asked, I have to eat too.
==========
This. ^

What is too expensive for one is affordable for another.
Jackie Fiedler avatar
Jackie Fiedler from JaxyCrafts 11:34 am Jan 27, 2013 EST edited
I should probably raise my prices on several things because of the formula, so don't do what I do. In any event, your items are cute. If people want cheap items, there is always cheap discount retailers like Walmart in the US. By buying Walmart, you know you are helping pay someone in China or South America a penny or two an hour in a horrible working environment. (I only say that to people I know hehe)
Have you priced compared your shop to others to get an idea on what competitors are doing this for? Don't always take too much into it, as that's probably why my prices are lower.
Have you thought of ever clearancing older merchandise to make room for new? I don't know how successful that is to many shops, but stay strong on your prices. I find them to be fair. That way you can turn some hesitant people into clearance.
Good luck!

Edit- I only say clearance not as a way for you to undervalue yourself by any means...I just know after a period of time it's a great way to help clear out items not moving for a while. Like I said before, you have great items and don't give into the critics. There will always be critics but there will also be people who appreciate fine detailed work.

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