Good idea or bad idea? a "price justification" sheet.

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SoftJock Rick said:
No -- I price myself below the competition ;)


Works well for me -- how about you...?
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In my area, for weddings that would put me at under $200.00 if I count the Craigslisters as competition... (Fortunately, I don't...)

It would also put me below $500.00 if a couple of the local multi-ops are thrown into the equation... (Those are the ones who really hurt...)
 
Papa Deuce : You're trying another backdoor method of client education. Hasn't it been shown thoroughly enough by now that clients do not want to be educated, they want to be served.

If price is their only concern, unless you're the rock bottom number, say bye bye to them.

Do not waste any of valuable street side word of mouth reputation points with any sort of public justification for your personal expenses when someone lesser priced can say they do the same thing but are smarter enough to reduce costs. You're providing in-hand off-sell material to competitors. Not good.

You cannot educate stupid people, however ignorant ones know what to ask. Then use your list in direct response.
 
A "price justification" is just a plea for class recognition. It implies that people should accept your standard of living compared to their own.

Do I need to pay more for a service so that you can have a bigger house, longer grocery list, more kids, and a nicer car? That's the question your sheet is really trying to answer.

There is no such thing as a "price shopper" - there are just people with varying levels of need and priority.

Instead of justifying your price - qualify your customers. That means justifying to yourself the time you devote to soliciting any given prospect.

Walk away from needs and priorities that don't present a potential for profit. "Education" doesn't change barbecuess into debutante balls and cheap prices are not enough to attract people with tangible needs and specific goals. Don't aim at targets that have low scores.
 
Papa Deuce said:
Have you never been asked why you - or DJ's in general - are so "expensive"?
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Nobody, to my face at least has come right our and said I'm expensive or DJs in general are expensive. Now I have heard "that's alot" or "it's not in our budget." But that is different then just coming out and saying your EXPENSIVE.... as compared to what? ... is what I would be thinking

I have... many times. I have had people tell me that I make more per hour than a plumber, more than a lawyer. But see, they only think about the $100 they pay for a plumber to fix a dishwasher or open a clogged drain.
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Papa... the only time I have EVER heard the DJ/Lawyer or DJ/Plumber comparison is on a chat board between DJs

Like I said, it is a sheet. If I do it, they can choose to read it or not.
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Instead of talking about ME, ME, and ME.. tell them about how it is about THEM THEM THEM.

Cap Capello said:
Papa Deuce : You're trying another backdoor method of client education. Hasn't it been shown thoroughly enough by now that clients do not want to be educated, they want to be served.

You cannot educate stupid people, however ignorant ones know what to ask. Then use your list in direct response.
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Cap, couldn't have said it any better. People in general know what they want. I don't think anyone now a days goes into any phone call totally clueless with the Internet around.

Jamie
 
Maybe not as much about your costs as your time... And only if they are questioning the cost... Just go on to tell them that you will be spending 2 to 3 times the contracted time on their event along...
And one other thing... 10% equipment rental... WOW... If I was doing that, I could replace my rig every 10 Gigs, thats a crazy thought...
 
Jamie Simpson said:
Papa... the only time I have EVER heard the DJ/Lawyer or DJ/Plumber comparison is on a chat board between DJs


Jamie
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Well, I posted it her before. I actually have. But what exactly was said is that "You charge more than my husband per hour, and he's a professional".....

Professional what, I am not sure, but I think she was meaning at least some profession that gets paid well.

In any case I am glad I asked. Isee good points and bad points but Wayde has helped me make my choice not to do this.

Thanks, all.
 
jkcomputers said:
Maybe not as much about your costs as your time... And only if they are questioning the cost... Just go on to tell them that you will be spending 2 to 3 times the contracted time on their event along...
And one other thing... 10% equipment rental... WOW... If I was doing that, I could replace my rig every 10 Gigs, thats a crazy thought...
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It's absolutely true. I used to be the in house AV manager for The Valley Forge Convention center. I worked for a company called VISUAL SOUND. Our office was in the convention center. Yep, almost every rental was 10% of the cost of a new one for each of the 1st 2 days rented, and 5% for every day after that.
 
Papa : Excellent. Wade's advice is sage indeed.

Now you know who to go to in the future for advice and spare us our valuable time we've wasted in response. :sqconfused:

(At least that's how it reads to me.)
 
Cap Capello said:
Papa : Excellent. Wade's advice is sage indeed.

Now you know who to go to in the future for advice and spare us our valuable time we've wasted in response. :sqconfused:

(At least that's how it reads to me.)
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Cap, I don't know if you are pissed off or not from your post. hard to tell. In any case, I read all responses, so ALL were appreciated and needed to help guide me in my choice, but Wayde's post is the one that hit home the most.

At least, I probably made the right choice, eh?
 
Papa, I believe we live in a very "selfish" society where most people only care about themselves. Even if you're doing this for the benefit of your client, they won't care.
 
Papa Deuce said:
Cap, I don't know if you are pissed off or not from your post. hard to tell. In any case, I read all responses, so ALL were appreciated and needed to help guide me in my choice, but Wayde's post is the one that hit home the most.

At least, I probably made the right choice, eh?
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Son, Cap hasn't been happy since he quit smoking ;)


Same with me, when I quit drinking a couple months ago.


I went back to drinking -- seems to be the only thing that keeps me happy :sqbiggrin:
 
I have to agree with many of you.
a plumber charges by the hour and for parts needed.
and that is stated in advance.
he doesn't present a list of the expensive tools he bought
because the client is only concerned with the final cost.
if your competition is smart
they'll turn your idea on you
and makes claims that...
"we don't charge you extra for equipment we already own".
also, if I were the client...
I wouldn't want to know that I was helping to pay for advertising
so you can get other jobs.
 
Ausumm said:
...
I wouldn't want to know that I was helping to pay for advertising
so you can get other jobs.
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But of course every customer who uses an advertised business does... and if they don't know that well, they aren't too smart.

Regardless, no need to keep this going, as I have decided against it.
 
Cap Capello said:
Papa : Excellent. Wade's advice is sage indeed.

Now you know who to go to in the future for advice and spare us our valuable time we've wasted in response. :sqconfused:

(At least that's how it reads to me.)
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Great...just great...now I'm the "know it all." :sqembarrassed:
And Cap's probably not speaking to me.

Can I go back to just being the class clown?
I'll stay up for 20+ hours again and hijack a bunch of threads with useless dribble, like that night last month.
 
OK, it may cause armageddon, but Rick and I agree here. Nobody cares about your cost of doing business. They care about what services you have to offer, and the cost.

When you go into a bar, do you worry about their employee insurance, electricity, heat, mortgage, inventory costs, cleaning fees, etc...? No. It's x number of dollars for a drink. You pay it or you don't. You may wonder if there is entertainment or someone attractive to keep you there ( luckily, I'm both..:sqlaugh:), but that's about it.

If you start to explain the workings and costs of your business, it will probably come off as a lack of confidence in your services and their worth.

I'd let it be....:sqcool:
 
Papa Deuce said:
Regardless, no need to keep this going, as I have decided against it.
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I am going to assume you want this closed Chuck if I am wrong let me know I'll reopen it
 
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