Interesting Price Negotiation vid

http://www.asmp.org …ment-page-1/#comment-1035

Great video. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for the link.

A video with successful business people talking sense about exchanging their work for it's true value.

“If you sell yourself cheap, you will never get out of that hole.” - Barbara Bordnick

When I was approached for the first time with a commission for a couple of books, I looked at the contract and thought "these guys want all the rights to the images in the work. Why?" I decided not sign the contract and instead to negotiate with them and at first they said "no, that's the contract". I explained to them why the contract was no good for me and they still wouldn't move. I then showed them that I understood what rights they needed for the book and which rights they would never use and why I was both in a better position to exercise those rights and why I needed to be able to exercise them. After a bit more back-and-forth I got the contract changed - the contract we signed gave them all the rights they needed and no more. My attitude throughout was one of everybody getting what they needed ... and everybody won.

People will try to pull one over on you by giving you "standard" contracts or "that's the price" and they expect that as a novice you will just accept that "that's how it is". Well, lesson one - that's not how it is. You can and you should negotiate or the words of Barbara Bordnick will come true.

I think one of the best comments in that video is "never give something without getting something back" I've used that for years in my non-photography business and it is very effective. I also heard somewhere that "if you give something away, it will be deemed to have no value to the receiver"

Nice video. Thanks for the link.

Jon.

A friend of mine told me last night who has owned 7 successful businesses and made a living as an entrepreneur : If you're going to do anything, make sure you get the full amount of profit for it. If you're going to sell a print for 40$ you're going to get complaints no matter if it is half the price the other guys are selling for...they'll complain about you, they'll complain about the quality, they'll use that to compare despite the price. If someone is going to buy something from you it may as well be the best appearing product you can get away with ...without cutting the cost"

So recently I've been thinking of raising the prices on my lower-mid range prints to closer relate to my larger ones (there's about a 200$ gap after 17x22). I've also been thinking of investing in mats instead of just prints so naturally I need a price up anyway.

That's a great video that illustrates those concepts.

Chris wrote in post #8421994
"never give something without getting something back"

More or less that's the translation of an ancient latin proverb:

Quid pro quo

I am glad you all like it!

I love the positivity that they exude in their comments. I mean its great advise, and we all get good advise everyday from our parents to our peers, but to feel that confidence and positive energy reminds me what it is all about. It is about being proud of yourself and your work. Money just gets in the middle, so learn to have pride in that part of your business as well.

Chris wrote in post #8421994
. I also heard somewhere that "if you give something away, it will be deemed to have no value to the receiver"

That kind of reminds me of what my dad (amazing salesman) always taught me:

Me: Dad what is this worth:

Pop: It is worth what someone is willing to pay

truly a great video. Thanks very much for posting this.

Karl Johnston wrote in post #8423249
A friend of mine told me last night who has owned 7 successful businesses and made a living as an entrepreneur : If you're going to do anything, make sure you get the full amount of profit for it. If you're going to sell a print for 40$ you're going to get complaints no matter if it is half the price the other guys are selling for...they'll complain about you, they'll complain about the quality, they'll use that to compare despite the price. If someone is going to buy something from you it may as well be the best appearing product you can get away with ...without cutting the cost"

So recently I've been thinking of raising the prices on my lower-mid range prints to closer relate to my larger ones (there's about a 200$ gap after 17x22). I've also been thinking of investing in mats instead of just prints so naturally I need a price up anyway.

That's a great video that illustrates those concepts.

Great advice. I recently raised my prices after comparing the local competition. I was WAY less than what they were charging. I did get a complaint that my prices were too high. The family loved my work, but didn't want to pay my price. Well, they looked around and realized that I was cheaper than the others, and had better quality than most.

asysin2leads wrote in post #8430399
Great advice. I recently raised my prices after comparing the local competition. I was WAY less than what they were charging. I did get a complaint that my prices were too high. The family loved my work, but didn't want to pay my price. Well, they looked around and realized that I was cheaper than the others, and had better quality than most.

I own a body shop also, and this is what I experience there on a daily basis.

A shameless bump!

Thanks for the link, seems so easy but many forget or undervalue what they do!