How do you compete with this?

Has anyone ever tried this tactic?

Explain you get what you pay for, and suggest they should go with the craigslist company, and offer $59 off your normal package price when they aren't happy with the results? No loss if they ARE happy, and incentive to come to you when they aren't without paying any extra out of their pocket for the learning experience? (if your pricing could handle the discount, that is, and it should.) The way I see this, either you convert them or get rid of them, win-win? :P

k8et wrote in post #11174806
Has anyone ever tried this tactic?

Explain you get what you pay for, and suggest they should go with the craigslist company, and offer $59 off your normal package price when they aren't happy with the results? No loss if they ARE happy, and incentive to come to you when they aren't without paying any extra out of their pocket for the learning experience? (if your pricing could handle the discount, that is, and it should.) The way I see this, either you convert them or get rid of them, win-win? :P

I don't quite see the point in this, as soon as you offer that deal you're now trying to compete again on price, and the first thing they are going to ask is why can't I just get that discount now?? And then you're back to discounting for no apparent reason other than to keep a price shopper.. seems like a pretty quick way to degrade your brand, business, and bank account..

What about when my price is only $58.

I don't mind getting out a disk of images if that's what people want {and they do } ... but I ensure my profit is done on the core shooting and let the clients have their fun with the images that they get. Funny thing is I wouldn't be able to make much of a profit doing what I do at 58$ and I'm in India ... I have no clue what these guys do to even stay in business.

Dear craiganutt, I hope your business transaction with you chosen photog goes well for you. Somewhere in that multitude there should at least be a few that are not flat, washed-out, out of focus or unflattering. Should you not get all that you hope for I'll still be here in case you need my services. Be safe and let me know how it goes.
The carnival style setup's like that hype it up, with feel good schmooze so thick you'll think yer at a Vegas floor show. ( hurry, hurry, step this way fokes, you'll be amazed at the number of photographs we can take of you in a second ) mid res jpeg.. Hold that pose- click,cli,cli,cli,cli,​cli,cli,cli,ck,, click.
{ I wonder if the know we just took 15, shots } ok move a smig that way oh yeah that's it hold that thought, cccccccccccccc, on and on it goes. Photographs straight from card through a standard pp and onto a cd. Psst if you'll follow me we will take of your payment info while they process, should be ready by the time we are done. .. Here you go enjoy and have a nice day! NEXT

Bosscat wrote in post #11173981
Thats because some jackhole started doing that to make a quick buck, and now its become the expected norm.

Problem is I am aware of somebody who operated that way, and then folks complained that they were paying for a huge amount of poor quality shots.

You're correct on one point--it's what the customer EXPECTS!!! We live in a digital age where soft files can be shared around the globe via email, social networking sites and private websites without incurring the cost of printing, packaging and mailing. Which part of this is difficult to understand?!!!

dave

Next day. Hey over half of these photos are not worth keeping, and most of the rest I could have taken with my camera at home. What are you going to do to fix this? - fix what? You had 4 changes and we gave you 300 shots. No where did it say they would all look good. - they look better on your website, bait n switch. If you can't dazzle them with Brilliance, load up the website and baffle them with BS.

snyderman wrote in post #11175442
You're correct on one point--it's what the customer EXPECTS!!! We live in a digital age where soft files can be shared around the globe via email, social networking sites and private websites without incurring the cost of printing, packaging and mailing. Which part of this is difficult to understand?!!!

dave

Because as I said earlier in this thread, because some jackhole started giving files as part of a package, so now thats what folks expect. The stupid part is I have a ton of killer shots on my hard drive, and don't have a digital frame, nor do I care to look at them on a computer.

I'd rather have a print anyday.

The social networking thing has devalued photography as has digital.

Come Monday November 1st, I will no longer be sharing anything via facebook, as I see the internet as an easy way for the less honest people to steal work...........I am sure I have had of mine stolen, either through facebook, or people scanning in prints to make their own enlargements.

I was offered a job, as a track photographer, and after figuring the cost of doing biz, I would be working for $5.00 an hour, a wage I used to make when I was 17 yrs old, which was over 30 yrs ago.

Yeah.......that's friggen progress

USER876 wrote in post #11174263
yeah, I think I def need to get into a higher market. Although I have been keeping busy, the amount of cheapo's I have to deal with is not worth it. Last night, someone asked me to cut my rates 50%, and when I said no, they said they prefer to work with someone that isn't just doing this just for the money, and sees value in growth through networking and working with other professionals....WTH?

And the funny thing is.....the person contacted be because they said they were not happy with the photographers they have worked with in the past. I guess yes you get what you pay for, but these people are just waiting for a free miracle.

I met with a company that wanted product/showroom shots for a brochure. I spent an hour with them and they wanted a printed quote, They told me they were not happy the last time they had this done. I used Foto Quote and came it at the middle of the range, figuring that would allow a little flexibility if they said it was too high. They nver even had the couurtesy to respond to the quote.

I sleeo good knowing that although I didn't get the job, I didn't give away my services.

Bosscat wrote in post #11175885
Come Monday November 1st, I will no longer be sharing anything via facebook, as I see the internet as an easy way for the less honest people to steal work...........I am sure I have had of mine stolen, either through facebook, or people scanning in prints to make their own enlargements.

To be blunt that really is a sure fire way to drive your business into the ground. Today's business climate, specifically those service based is moving more and more towards having an online presence, especially within the social media realm. To shove that to the side you're making it much harder on yourself and your business to gain new clients. There have been numerous studies regarding this, a simple google search will bring them up.

Face it, the internet and social media are not going anywhere. To try to stick with the same business model as 10 years ago is like sitting in a running car in a closed garage, you may not succumb immediately, but you will soon enough.

FYI: I just had my FB account hacked and they spammed all my 'friends'. Everybody yelling at me to BUGGER OFF! Is any publicity good publicity? Password now changed.

tjames wrote in post #11177857
To be blunt that really is a sure fire way to drive your business into the ground.To shove that to the side you're making it much harder on yourself and your business to gain new clients. There have been numerous studies regarding this, a simple google search will bring them up.

Everyone at the tracks know who the hell I am.......parents want me to post stuff online....basically so they can get it for free. A buddy has 30kb images lifted all the time and people thank him for those photos. I've had stuff stolen off of facebook and printed or used in a Press Release.

Do you seriously think anything on the internet is going to knock the internet as a bad idea?

tjames wrote in post #11177857
Face it, the internet and social media are not going anywhere.

They said the same thing about Betamax and VHS and where are they now?

Bosscat wrote in post #11175885
Because as I said earlier in this thread, because some jackhole started giving files as part of a package, so now thats what folks expect. The stupid part is I have a ton of killer shots on my hard drive, and don't have a digital frame, nor do I care to look at them on a computer.

I'd rather have a print anyday.

The social networking thing has devalued photography as has digital.

Come Monday November 1st, I will no longer be sharing anything via facebook, as I see the internet as an easy way for the less honest people to steal work...........I am sure I have had of mine stolen, either through facebook, or people scanning in prints to make their own enlargements.

I was offered a job, as a track photographer, and after figuring the cost of doing biz, I would be working for $5.00 an hour, a wage I used to make when I was 17 yrs old, which was over 30 yrs ago.

Yeah.......that's friggen progress

Yeah, this whole digital thing is just killing everything. Let's all just bury our heads in the sand and count to 10...maybe we'll all be transported back to the 70's.

USER876 wrote in post #11173530
A few people have asked me if they can get a cd of the entire shoot. when I tell them I don't offer that they showed me this ad from craigslist. How do you respond to this and not lose a customer?
---------------

"we're offering slots at $59 in order to fill some vacancies. No catch or hidden fees. "

_340 photos taken ...
_Studio and Natural light setups ...
_Up to 4 changes of clothing ...
_Free Retouching ...
_Leave with a CD of all images ..

---------------

The studio actually does decent work too.......(at least on their website)

Tell them to go for it.

Bosscat wrote in post #11178062
Do you seriously think anything on the internet is going to knock the internet as a bad idea?

This is seriously your thought process?? That the internet is the bad guy?? That's an extremely naive point of view..

Bosscat wrote in post #11178062
They said the same thing about Betamax and VHS and where are they now?

This comparison doesn't even make sense... You're comparing a video printing format and it's obsolescence solely to the advancement of technology to the internet's viability as an information and commerce platform??

It's amazing to me that someone even has this point of view that is posting on an internet forum.. I guess time will tell, good luck.