[Jewelry making - Article 00092] - Re: [Orchid] Hagglers at your jewelry booth

[Allan Mason]

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>     If you ever ask for a better price from a supplier, then the
>     customer who does ask if you can do better is acting like you 

    Richard, you made many good and thoughtful points in your post. But
    the above statement suggests a distinction that needs to be made
    between haggling for a commodity or service from a supplier with
    many competitors, and haggling with an artist face-to-face for
    unique "Art" at a show booth. 

    It takes way more balls to look an artist in the eye and ask for a
    discount from the value the artist has placed upon a piece, and what
    the artist needs to keep making art. At a store or a gallery, there
    is generally a perceived distance between the piece in question and
    the artist who made it, so that asking for a discount isn't quite so
    offensive. But I still wonder if it's appropriate. If you love and
    purchase art in any form, don't you want those who make it to keep
    eating- and creating? I sometimes tell customers that they'll enjoy
    a piece so much that, a year from now, they won't remember or care
    what the price was. 

    I generally don't discount, but it's situational. For instance, if
    it's something that's easy to replace or something I'd like to get
    rid of, I might be more inclined to consider it. But usually I tend
    to think that if the haggler doesn't value a piece(or me!) as I do,
    perhaps the piece could find a better home with someone else who
    does appreciate it, and I'm content and able to wait. I like to
    think that I'm maintaining my self respect, even if I do have to go
    home without the $ the sale might have meant. There's always another
    show coming up, and it's one less piece I have to replace! 

Allan Mason
Hermosa Beach, CA
www.silvermason.com
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