What do you tell people when they ask how much your gear costs?

Pretty much every client I've worked with asks me how much I spent on all my gear. My usual response is a jokingly "you don't want to know" or "I don't want to think about it."

What do you guys respond with?

"Too much."

Double to one half,
Half to other half.
Go figure out which half is which.

Never been asked.

Guess my feeling is that it's mostly none of their business unless they are wondering about the cost of something they are shopping for. Even then I'll probably just refer them to someplace like the B&H website.

samsen wrote in post #13860202
Double to one half,
Half to other half.
Go figure out which half is which.

My other half thinks I have about $1200 worth of gear. Just looking at my signature would dispel that impression if she had any idea.

Wow that camera looks expensive. What was it, like $500?

Holding my 5D w/24-105 and 580EXII: A little more.

Most people have no idea what this stuff really costs.

Usual answer is "more than I like to admit". Unless it's someone that's honestly asking because they are actually interested in photography, too.

Two motorcycles worth.

The only people who know what it is all worth is the insurance company, who just happen to have my mother work for them, and she hates how much ive spent

Anyone else i just say "enough".

One hundred, million, kazillion....yen.

I have no idea, it was a Christmas present from my wife.

Depends upon who's asking. If it's a guy from the hood surrounded by his friends from the hood, I tell him "I picked it up from Goodwill at a bargain price because it does not fully work."

If it's a young, good looking wahine in a two-piece, I tell her "it cost almost as much as my Porsche, and more than that, it cost so much I almost didn't get to my Caribbean vacation house last year. Why do you ask, sweetie?"

More than my wife thinks it cost

casp3r wrote in post #13861152
More than my wife thinks it cost

+2, one for each wife.

toastyphoto wrote in post #13860161
Pretty much every client I've worked with asks me how much I spent on all my gear. My usual response is a jokingly "you don't want to know" or "I don't want to think about it."

What do you guys respond with?

If its a client, tell them double. explain that's part of the reason why your rates are so high. it's the best gear your client could ever ask for, with no resale value.

Why would you not just answer the question?