why u provide so low price?

Some people just like to try and get the best deal that they can get, I guess. I’ve had people try and negotiate very low prices with me when I’ve sold stuff in the past. I don’t mind a little, but when they want me to almost give it to them, that’s too much. They have to have some respect for the seller as well.

-- As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17)

yes, they should respect sellers . respect each other

-- Everything is possible!

I’ve heard stories like that about The Home Depot, The one I specifically recall had to do with buying rags from a company in India.

Lee

-- No piece is cut too short. It was meant for a smaller project.

I have not only experienced that, I was selling a Car for $1,200, a buyer told my Wife She HAD to take $700!
He was serious and sort of forcefull, well that’s the wrong way to talk to her, She fired back your price is $2500 now!
If selling products just ask for a cheaper quote from another supplier that they got and go from there.

-- MARK IN BOB, So. CAL

i’ve come across that. mainly because i live in the city and there are ikea’s and other discount places all over the place. its all particleboard crap that won’t last more than a couple of years. and its all screws and glue. people just in my opinion need to realize that that stuff is crap and even though it is usually half price or lower of my stuff my stuff is mostly all solid wood. all wooden joinery. no veneer unless its a really expensive exotic wood. these things will last a long time and you will pay probably twice as much buying a new entertainment center every couple of years than biting the bullet in the first place and having a beautiful piece that will last the rest of your life. sorry if i got a little off topic. these kind of things really fire me up!

It’s called the Walmart effect. They have changed the way retail is done. They state a price they are willing to pay for a product. They are such large buyers, companies live or die by their orderes. Hence most take the very low proffit margins to sell to them in bulk.

-- Ben, Living the good life in Maine now (almost, just need to retire in 2 decades time)

My take on this is that many buyers have such low self esteem that they have to “beat” the other person by somehow taking advantage of them.

Selling the benefits that the buyer wants will keep the price more reasonable because the buyer who is focused on benefits will realize that the price is worth it. By questioning the buyer about what they really want will develop rapport and focus on the benefits.

-- Rich, Seattle, WA

I have found that the people who are more concerned about how far they can drive the price down, than the benifits of a quality built product will never change there way of thinking. I would prefer that the hard to deal with customers find some where that they can get what they want for what they are willing to pay. I would rather not work for them, and save the headache that i know is waiting down the road. The price I give is the price I stick with. As soon as you start dropping your prices, is when you have to start lowering your standards, and quality.
Sometimes the best jobs are the ones you don’t get!

-- Ed Collinge- Edmonds, WA.

I agree with EdC on this matter….why undersell yourself and your product ? Let the WalMart shoppers buy from WalMart and keep your chin up !!!

-- Dusty56@comcast.net

I still think China in general, has a poor attitude with respect to quality.

There seems nothing that the Chinese manufacturer will not do to lower the quality of the majority of products exported.
I can’t be the only one that recognizes this .
I agree that we North Americans, in particular, drive a hard bargain (that’s Capitalism) but generally the bargains struck in the past were for and about goods and services that had some substantial merit.
China is not the only developing Nation and they could very well learn a difficult lesson with their consistent poor quality.

It takes a lifetime to build up a good reputation and only seconds to destroy it.

Bob

-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner

Bob#2 – man, do I agree with you. Seems like everything I buy, except food, is made in China. Usually, it’s not very good quality – but it is cheap. That’s the classic trade-off I guess.

-- -Be Blessed!, Patrick

Maybe some of you are old enough to remember, or your memory is not to shot, that once, everything that was imported from Japan was cheap junk. The Japanese did their homework buy learning how the Americans did things, now everyone wants to buy stuff from Japan, cars, cameras, tv’s, etc. I won’t be surprised if in about 10 or 15 years the quality of Chinese imports will be a lot better. I’ll bet 98% of the people on this site will find that the majority of their tools have come from China or Taiwan. America has sold itself out to the lowest bidder. Our workers, generally won’t work, unless they’re making $15 a hour or more. It’s easier to go get welfare. And we’ve got second and third generation welfare families. It’s a trait that’s passed down. That’s caused the American companies to go overseas to get their products built at a cost that will increase the bottom line. The greed in the work force and the management is the demise of American products and why the cost of living is so high. We’ve made our own bed, etc.

-- Tim -- http://tmuli.com

Then explain how to live on less than $15 HR, maybe back in them thar hills one could.
I’m old enough to remember don’t remind me, But the up side I’m old enough and DO remember.

-- MARK IN BOB, So. CAL

Too late mski. The economy was trashed long ago. http://www.WelfareProgram.info

-- Tim -- http://tmuli.com

I don’t read propoganda sties.
I know nobody on welfare,
I don’t think the economy is that bad now, a little slow but not no where near as bad as I have seen it.
It can’t go full speed ahead all the time

-- MARK IN BOB, So. CAL

The economy is a little slow but still strong in most sectors.

-- It's better to have people think you're stupid rather than open your mouth and remove all doubt.

to mski and milket , yeah , support your views. maybe economy is a little bit tough now , but it can be strong .

-- Everything is possible!

EDC,

perfect lecture. the high price create high quality prodcut.

-- Everything is possible!

Old sayings, You get what you pay for. Pay me now or pay me later. (“Walmart revised” pay me now or pay me every two years or so ) Quality is an endangered species , collectors item, rare find, a fond memory of yesteryear!
Don’t believe me, search a Stanley Bedrock plane on Ebay. Then see how much it cost new, and its not because it’s an antique, it’s solid!!!
And they and others are bought to USE not to display. I got 2 Type 11’s, can’t beatem.

-- MARK IN BOB, So. CAL

Miki,
What I said was not a lecture, just my personal feelings. I don’t do woodworking just to feel good about what I do, I do it to make money. I don’t expect to get rich at it. Just make a decent living, and cover my overhead. In my time of dealing with people I have noticed that people who make thier mind up based only on price at the beginning of a transaction, will not be happy unless they have made the purchase at the price they want to pay. No matter how good of a job you do they will always feel that they were “Ripped Off”. They can’t see the reason for the cost of a high quality product. I don’t feel I should have to break down the cost of everything involved in building a piece of whatever. I have had people ask for me to give them a itemized invoice of time and material. I have had people ask if they could supply the material through a supplier of thier choice, they pay the supplier, and then pay me to put it together, at a labor rate that they choose. I have built items for people out of wood that they have supplied. Often due to the wood having special meaning to them, some times only incorperating it into the project with other wood. But those projects have not been for people shopping for price.
The best clients I have are from refferals, they have a friend or family member that I have done work for in the past Most of my clients will tell you that I am not the lowest price nor the highest, but I do nice work, it’s of high quality, and I complete jobs on schedule. I am more than willing to do what it takes to make sure the cllient gets the product that they want. Something that will bring them joy, and pride of the fact that they were very involved in the design and creation. The last thing I want is a client who is not happy.
Thier are all kinds of storey’s in these forums of what I call the “Client from Hell”. I think if your around long enough you will find one of your own. If you talk to these guy’s (or gals) they will tell you that they had a bad feeling about that client at the beginning. So listen to your gut!!!!
I guess that the bottom line is, that I don’t feel that I need to do work for someone, I don’t feel comfortable with!

-- Ed Collinge- Edmonds, WA.

EDC,
u said it .
making the client get what they really wanna is more than anything . so long relationship can established then. i will treat them wth my heart . make permanent client

-- Everything is possible!

Miki,

There are a couple of things to take into consideration, one is the saying that the customer is always right, but to expand on that it should be added that just because the customer is always right does not give them the right to treat the business person like garbage. One of our friends has problems with that one and he could learn another that a little sugar and honey will win more friends and deals than vinegar will any day. Another point is that you have to learn how to tailor your conversation to your customer, some people will take stuff better if it is said directly with no beating around the bush others do better when it is sugar coated. One more idea is that what you offer should be priced at what it is worth, without discounts. If you are discounting your product then it shows the customer that you don’t fully believe in your product or yourself. If they really want what you offer they will buy it, if not then they won’t. The last point to remember is that a hand shake should be just as good as a written contract.

Two of my favorite sayings I got from my Dad who carried them around with his contracting supplies book and they are from John Ruskin the first one is: “The best is your best value. It’s unwise to pay too much, but it’s worse to pay too little. When you pay too much you lose a little money – that is all. When you pay too little you sometimes lose everything – because the thing you bought was incapable of doing the thing it was bought to do. The common law of business balance prohibits paying a little and getting a lot. It can’t be done. If you deal with the lowest bidder, it is well to add something for the risk you run. And if you do that you will probably have enough to pay for something better.” And the last one is in my signature.

What ever you do, don’t sell yourself short, that is harder to live with than shooting for the stars and believing in who you are and what you offer, and realize that the worst thing that can happen is that your customer will say no. But hold your head high knowing that you did your best.

-- “There is scarcely anything in the world that some man cannot make a little worse and sell a little cheaper … and the buyers who consider price only are this man’s lawful prey.” John Ruskin

kiverlanic, u said it. cuatomer is god. making customer be satisfy is nessary

-- Everything is possible!

The customer is only King after a price is agreed on. Before that hes just some aquaintance.

Buyers and sellers having to compete on price gets frustrating at times. Just not as frustrating as a system where that isn’t the case.

-- miles125, Alabama.."Architecture is frozen music""

Miki, don’t forget this part of the equation though: just because the customer is always right does not give them the right to treat the business person like garbage Like Miles125 said they really aren’t your customer until they agree to your price. There are a lot of other potential customers out there that won’t treat you like garbage so don’t sell yourself short.

-- “There is scarcely anything in the world that some man cannot make a little worse and sell a little cheaper … and the buyers who consider price only are this man’s lawful prey.” John Ruskin

miles and kjverlanic,

Thanks for u.

U Both let me learn a new attitude towards the business man .

Thanks for ur kind-hearted .
yes , i should’t sell myself short . we are all equal .

Thanks

-- Everything is possible!