Posted: 12/3/2004 9:45:31 AM EDT
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Seeing the 'Why do gunsmiths charge so much thread' made me write about this funny thing that happens with some new clients at my law firm. Typical new client: 'I need you to set up my corporation.' [Lots of questions ensue] 'You need a single member limited liability company. I estimate that it will cost $1,000.' 'That's too much, I saw in a magazine that I could buy a book for $50, and it would only cost me $50 more to file the paperwork'. 'Okay, good luck.' 'Wait a minute, is that going to be okay?' 'I don't know, I could look at your paperwork for you, it will cost $1,000.' 'That's not fair.' |
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I told the guy at my local favorite gunshop that I'd love to be a gunsmith, but I couldn't afford the pay cut. Supply and demand meets the tightwad. Lots of demand, not enough 'smiths - but gun people are the cheapest bastards I've ever met. "Hey! Where can I go to save $2.95 on my purchase of a $400 item?" Sheesh. |
Try being a tradesman  .Why are you charging me $5 for that outlet? I can go to [insert big home improvement store here] and buy one for $0.79.... I saw that one [insert name of home improvement show here] and it didn't look so hard. Why do you charge so much? Try to explain about education, apprenticeship, overhead, tools, transportation, equipment and maintenance, and it falls on deaf ears. |
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It's not just people, it's businesses also. I get this at work also. They want to know why it costs so much to paint something. Let's see, paint 50 bucks a gallon. Painter making 25 bucks an hour, plus overhead, and environmental costs. Hey it all adds up. I had one customer give me the low ball pitch over the phone, I told him to hold on, and asked the guys in the shop if they wanted to work on this guys project for nothing. I just got the look. I got back on the phone and told him no one wanted to work on his job for nothing, and the price remained the same as I quoted. He went for it. Some people are just cheap. Try going into a steak place and telling the waitress up front that you want a t bone, but you aren't willing to pay the 25 bucks that they are charging. You only want to pay 20. See what happens. While you are making friends, tell her that you are dropping her tip from 20% to 5%. Getting a bargain is one thing, but nobody likes a cheap skate. Sorry for the hijack. |