Modular economics

[featherynscale]

I actually sold a piece of jewelry today, and have a commission to make a companion piece. The piece I sold today was a peridot and pearl choker with sterling accents, and she wants an anklet to go with. So that's nice.

Apparently, though, I'm pricing too low -- today's sale continues a trend of people offering me more than I'm asking for, which is also nice. My usual heuristic is 3x materials costs, but this one went for more like 5x materials. I wonder if I can get that on a regular basis?

Comments

[saffronhare.livejournal.com]

The only down side I see to this sale is that the pearl and peridot choker cannot be mine now.

Covering your costs and profit margins are only part of pricing. Clearly, the perceived value of your work is much higher. Embrace the glorious piracy!

[featherynscale.livejournal.com]

Are you looking for something in peridot? I didn't realize you went in for that sort of thing.

[saffronhare.livejournal.com]

I don't, usually. It was just a really spectacular piece...and I adore pearls. I bet the anklet will be to die for.

[featherynscale.livejournal.com]

Should be lovely. Will use up the last of my peridots though.

I've got a similar piece with garnets and pearls that I'm almost done with, if you're interested.

[saffronhare.livejournal.com]

Oh, she tempts me so. Don't know if others in my life would advocate for more garnets, but yes -- I'd love to see it.

[fionnabhar.livejournal.com]

I don't if it's the Slytherin in me, but I absolutely adore emeralds. Damned if I can afford them, of course. And pearls. Pearls and emeralds together.

*dies from the sparkly*

[featherynscale.livejournal.com]

I wish my budget ran to emeralds... ah well.

[fionnabhar.livejournal.com]

My point exactly. At least for rubies, you can fake it with garnets. Emeralds? Pfft. You're just screwed.

pearl and peridots???

[rio-luna.livejournal.com]

oh i want one too mommmy!!

try splitting the differecen and princing at 4x, see how the market bears it.

Re: pearl and peridots???

[featherynscale.livejournal.com]

Hehe. Note to self: order in more peridots when you get a chance.

[chainwoman.livejournal.com]

I would agree that you are not charging enough... Well, at least when I bought a necklace from you at the winter bazaar two years ago (?) I felt I was getting too good of a price and questioned Barbara more than once on it...

[featherynscale.livejournal.com]

Huh. OK. My goal in pricing is generally to come up with something that covers my materials and sort of reflects what I'd pay for the piece. Maybe I'm just cheap.

[triadruid.livejournal.com]

And, if you allow yourself to be haggled down from 4-5x, you look like the good person, instead of making the customer wonder why it's "only" 3x.

Or so I hear.

[chainwoman.livejournal.com]

Don't get me wrong. I like cheap and your prices are probably what everybody else should be charging. So, more money for you???

I *might* be able to help there...

[wildnsquirrelly.livejournal.com]

Drop me an IM later. I think I can set you up with a new source for your precious/semiprecious stones that'll make things even more affordable.

Re: I *might* be able to help there...

[featherynscale.livejournal.com]

Oooh....very exciting.

I'll be on at some point this evening -- catch you then.

[matchgirl42.livejournal.com]

Major WOOTness!!!!! Congrats. :D