For once I stood my ground

[Evelyn Billington (Superpig)]

I finally told a customer that I am not giving a discount just because he knows of a few more hunters who would bring me their stuff if I cut THEM a good deal. A good deal? I think my prices are already a good deal, considering the quality and turn a round time. If people don't want to bring me their trophies because they think $395 is too high for a WT deer, I will send them to the cheap guy down the road from now on. Tired of being treated like the bargain basement. Going rate in our area is over $400 a deer head to begin with. I need to go up not down.

I may have lost five mounts in the end (not sure yet, they are debating it right now ), but at least I kept my dignity and respect. Feels kinda good.

[Jon S]

Good for you! I really need to do the same.

[Pirate]

I have customers that want discounts because they have come to me several times.  I also get what your stating where a group comes in.  I normally just tell them that it takes the same time for me to do five deer that are dropped off by one person as it takes to do five deer dropped off by different people.  Then it comes back to quality of work.  If you are the one they want to do the mount you get it anyway.  Everyone tries to get a discount, you can't blame the people for trying.  I'm glad you stood your ground, most of us don't charge high enough to start with.  I should be charging more also.

[Gina]

Have any of you ever had someones check come back bad???  I am sure you have, that just happened to me with my first client, I made him pay all the fees as well as handing me cash for all my trouble, he ended up paying over half of what I already charged him of 550.  So I got about 550 + 290  I know he will come back cause he is a friend, but I wont take a check from him anymore!!

[Kerby Ross]

Good for taking a stand!

Keep raising your prices.



Kerby...

[Wayne R]

The only person that gets a "break" from me is a friend at a local sports store who gives me a break on everything I buy there. He also sends people my way who don't question what I charge or how long it will take and seem happy that I'm willing to do work for them. With all the good advice Evelyn has given over the years it seems to me anyone in her area would be lucky to have her do their work for them. I think a raise is in order.

[Jim B]

Evelyn,good for you.It's important to do that every time.We aren't selling items,we are doing labor and need to get paid in full for each project.If I were selling guns and the guy wanted to buy 5 at once,it would make sense to knock a little off.Your labor is not reduced by getting 5 heads.I've been doing this for 40 years and i can tell you that in most cases,when they "dangle the carrot",you don't get the carrot.Giving discounts is like a cancer.Once it starts and word gets around,it's hard to get it stopped.Customers talk just like taxidermists do and word gets around.We all know how dumb we feel when we pay for something and then find out that our buddy got the same thing for less.This will really tick off a good customer.I always felt that if I gave a discount that it would send up a red flag that my price really wasn't my price and like a used car salesman,I should be bartered with.Once you hold your ground every time,people will start taking you seriously and treating you like a professional.They can't barter with the auto mechanic or the doctor.We shouldn't be any different.They are just working you to see what they can get.Most of the time the guy wanting the discount is living better than you.I see something wrong with that.The discount they want is money from your profits.I prefer to look at it as them wanting to steal from our families.Think about it.Once you start standing your ground,many will still do business with you.The few that don't will go down the road and drive someone else nuts.You'l find over time that you have a much better clientele base and a lot fewer problems with slow payers etc..Remember,the guy is already letting you know he's cheap.Who do you think is going to pick his mount up quicker,they guy who accepts without question the price that you know you need or the cheapskate?I've also found over time that people respect and value things that they pay for with their hard earned money.Things that they get for nothing or cheap,don't hold the same value for them.Your a good taxidermist.Expect to get paid for it like any other worker.Keep up the good work.

[Sawtooth Taxidermy, Todd]

It seems to happen all the time. The last guy that asked me for a discount drove up in a new F350 pulling a 30 ft. camper. I asked what he paid for the truck, then the camper, then his rifle and scope, camo clothes, food and drink for the hunt, etc. Turns out I was the least expensive in his hunting equation. He got the point. I got the deer.

[EJ]

I have to do that right regular Piggy1 Way to go! 

Gina, I always tell customers you can pay the deposit with a check, but it's cash for the balance!

[Cole]

Freinds ask for discounts all the time. I explain to them that I must charge all of my freinds because my enemys take their business somewhere else.

[Mary Krueger]

Hello Evelyn,
 Chris gets that from time to time in his shop. In the past when a client would ask for a discount we would  very seriously,say,"Let me get back with you tomorrow on that after we talk to our daughters tonite at dinner and see if they are willing to give up their Irish dance and music classes for a month so you can have your discount" Needless to say ,they never would mention a discount again after we put it in perspective. Plus, we never lost them as a customer. Sometimes we need to remind customers that this is our business, our income, our livelyhood..some people still view taxidermy as a hobby!?!
 Our new reasoning with customers is "when you go to the Doctor or Dentist and have more than one procedure done ...do you get a discount?" The customer quickly gets the idea. We also explain that we don't get a discount on tanning or supplies or shipping!
 There are taxidermists around here that give discounts for multiple mounts brought in.  Those are the individuals who work 16 hour days , 7 days a week and end up hating taxidermy because they get so burned out and are missing life. They blame taxidermy , but it is there poor business ethics that are to blame. I know for a fact of several taxidermists in our area, that have closed their doors to new work this year, because they are sooooo far behind, from giving deals!
 Better to have a bit less work and get paid well for it than be overwhelmed with work that isn't making you a decent living ,or preventing you from enjoying life, also.
 You go girl, stand firm and raise those prices! Chris is getting $600 for a deer head as of this season.
 Will be in touch with you soon, have a few things I would like to donate to TERF and need to get that dillo picture to you. Did you ever get the dogs mounted?
Regards,
Mary

[Gunny]

Sawtooth, where did you hook that steelhead?

[bill@hogheaven]

We just do not need those kind of customers. If you cater to them word will get around & that is all you will get . More cheapskates! Had a guy a few years back who drove 30 miles to get here. He lives about 1 mile from another taxidermist. Said he came here cause the other guy was to expensive. He obviously had not checked prices because the other taxidermist, who is a friend, and I were charging identical prices. Anyhow I got the cheapskate & it took about 2 years to get the mount paid for & out of here. Like I said we DO NOT NEED that kind of customer!

[Evelyn Billington (Superpig)]

Hello Mary . Girl you need to quit being a guest and register. You hit the nail on the head with your reply, and so did everyone else who replied. Thanks to you all. I did tell the customer about the not getting a discount whether I send 1 hide to my tannery or 100. Same price per cape. I would like to see the face of UPS, FedEX, DHL or any other carrier if I ask them how much discount they are going to give me if I send 10 boxes all at once or I'll send them 5 more people as customers. I think we all know the answer. I go to Wal  Mart and bring 10 friends with me who buy stuff too, do I get my stuff for free? . Yeah that'll be the day.

I do give a break to a very small select group of customers who have brought me thousands of dollars worth of work due to sending people my way on top of bringing me a bunch of their own animals including whole safaris. I am not unreasonable. Plus those guys don't even ask for a break. I do it out of my own free will and to show my appreciation.

What irks me is when a customer comes in and the first thing he says is "how much discount are you willing to give if.........." NONE. I have a set pricelist. If they don't like it, good bye. I do not want people who come to me because I can save them a few bucks, I want people to come to me for the quality work.

Looking forward to hear from you Mary. Call me, it's been a long time since we talked. We need to catch up on things.  

[Becky P]

The last discount here came when a guy brought in 5 ducks. Wanted to know if I would give him a discount for multiple mounts. I knocked off a little. Come to find out, they were not all his, two were his and the other three were his father-in-laws. No more discounts, except for a rare occasion like Evelyn mentioned, as an appreciation token to a very good loyal customer. Anyone else...forget it.