[Jewelry making - Article 00413] - Re: [Orchid] Bench jewellers working for the trade

[Veronica Kubat]

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    In the legal field, court reporting agencies, as a standard rule,
    charge more per page to transcribe medical testimony or a technical
    expert than they do a simple witness deposition. The theory is that
    it takes more time and is more technically difficult. While that is a
    fact, and that makes perfect sense, you also have a variation between
    skill levels of reporters and their personal experience reporting.
    Some will have a very difficult time and take much more time and
    effort to produce the technical/medical transcript accurately because
    of not having heard the topic before (i.e., brain surgery). While
    some who have been reporting for 25+ years will have no more
    difficulty and can whip out the transcript in the same time as the
    testimony of a witness to a slip-and-fall incident (very easy
    stuff). 

    So the question becomes which theory makes sense to you. I would
    have a hard time charging a third more for a transcript of an expert
    on asbestosis and lung cancer than I would Joe Schmoe who saw the
    little old lady fall on the sidewalk. But that's because the goal is
    the same to me (they both have to be accurate as to what was said)
    and I've been doing this for 25 years. They are both very easy work. 

    With this topic, comparing the risk of wrecking a $60,000 stone
    versus a $50 ring, how much should skill enter into the pricing of a
    repair? Understanding the different levels of difficulty with the
    various metals involved, aren't the precautions that should be taken
    the same with any item? Protect the stone and setting and be careful
    during the repair? And be sure you have the skill to complete the
    task. 

    But then again, the skill level that makes the task easier should be
    compensated for by charging more for the repair. Or should it? In
    court reporting the charges are based not on the skill of the person
    doing the job, but on what the market will bear. Competetive pricing
    between agencies determines who gets the job, not the skill level of
    the person sent out to do the job (a very sore spot with me - called
    contracting). 

    Also, consider the following: 

    Another point that I think someone brought up already: The value to
    the customer of the item comes into play as far as what they can
    expect to pay for a repair or alteration. I would expect to pay more
    for a repair or sizing of my $20,000 ring than I would my $50
    bracelet. But does that mean you should charge proportionately more
    for the repair to the more expensive item or can you minimize the
    risk sufficiently to charge a more comparative price? 

    I would like to say it comes down to what the market will bear. But
    it also comes down to what a particular customer will pay. It also
    comes down to what a jeweler feels he/she wants to work for. It comes
    down to a lot of things. And all those things become part of the
    standard in the industry. But there are always exceptions to the
    standard. 

    So many questions and so many options. I don't have any idea what
    the solution is. I'm just out here in the desert all by my lonies
    with WAAAAAAAY too much time on my hands this morning. 

    Veronica (I know, I know - more information than you needed. Like I
    said, waaaaay too much time - and too much coffeeeeeee.) :-}
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