Just got back from the store, had to buy some Ranitidine and Rolaids after a customer called and said unless I lowered my price he was taking his deer to a guy that came in my shop and watched me mount a deer a couple times and went to a one week course from a school that is now out of business. I told the customer that with his past customer discount it would be 35.00 off but there was no way I could or would lower it anymore ( my price with tax is a little over 400.00 ) and hoped he would compare our work and then make his mind up. He said he asked what the differene in work was and that according to this taxidermist " I was an expert on my pricing and that was it". I think I'm going to tell people when they call if they bring it to him I'll be more than happy to remount their deer after he gets done with it ( I've done 3 of his abortions the past 2 years) Hell I've let this unappreciative SOB use my flesher whenever he wants, from now on it'll be at 50.00 an hour. Just wanted to vent. Thanks John. P.s. If you happen to be reading this please don't stick your brochures directly in front of mine anymore and tell the truth why you charge 200.00 some odd $$$$
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Hi John, keep your head up. No one needs customers like that except the guy down your street. Be thankful to weed them out, life is too short and not worth the grief. By the way, thanks for the referral. Skullery.....Jeff....<><
Here in my hometown, new "haxidermists" are surfacing everywhere. (A paper mill just closed.) Guys are doing heads for $150. I still get my share and haven't lowered my prices. If you're good the customers will stay with you. The economy has a lot to do with this business anyway. The other day a guy showed up with a deer to mount and his little 5 year old stood there shivering from the cold. He only had on a thin shell. I felt like telling the guy to go and buy his kid a jacket instead of mounting the deer. (But it's not my place to play social worker.)
Thanks, like I said just venting, I won't say anything about this guy other than to look at his work. See you at the show in Feb. John
Plus he will be way over worked and dping, When you can actually account for the money you invest and true shop expenses $175.00 in min. cost to mount a head without wages or continuing education, depriciation of equipment.
Tell the next price shopper to ask you competiton if he will mount the head for $100.00 like he did fo Joe Smith over at the papermill.
He Is probably looking for a 100 dollar job that maybe a hobbiest
has done In the past and figures the pro's should do like wise?
Hi John:
I am a part-time hacksidermist, doing only 20 - 30 heads per year, using DP, and I wouldn't do a mount for $200.00 I charge $360, and quite frankly, need to raise it more. My time is worth even more per hour, because I'm doing it in my spare time.(Which means I work some nights, and a lot of weekends) I would let the customer walk... If he is trying to knock you down on your price by threatening to go to the other guy, do you really want him as a customer?
In regards to your competition. I would tell him to go buy his own equipment. I also would not let him back in your workshop - period.
How ungrateful can people get? You help him out and let him wear your equipment out for free, and then he says stuff like that, and cuts his price. If you allready re did 3 of his mounts, it won't take long for his reputation to take him out of business.
Isn,t that the american way now,teach and be taught big business cut there compition throat all the time the american way