14/01/2024
A customer asked me how much it cost to do a particular job for them....
I answered him: $1500
He said: So expensive. For this job?
I asked: How much do you think it would cost you?
He answers me: $800 maximum... That's a pretty simple job right? !"
- For $800 I invite you to do it yourself.
- But.... I don't know how to.
- For $800 I'll teach you how to. So besides saving you $700, you'll get the knowledge for the next time you want to it for yourself.
- It seemed right to him and he agreed.
- But to get started: you'll need tools: A drill, grinder, chop saw, table saw, fish tape, oscillating tool, gloves etc...
- But I don't have all these tools and I can't buy all of these for just one job.
- Well then for another $300 I'll rent my stuff to you so you can do it.
- Okay, he says.
- Okay! Tuesday I'll be here to help you to start doing the work.
- But I can't on Tuesday I only have time on Saturday.
- I'm sorry, but I'm only available Tuesday to teach you and lend you my stuff. Other days I'm busy with other customers.
- Okay! That means I'm going to have to sacrifice my Tuesday, and give up my tasks.
- I forgot. To do the job yourself, you'll also have to pay for the off job site costs.
- What is this?"
- shopping for the materials, business liscense, bond, security, insurance, gas and wear and tear on the truck, etc.
- Oh no!... But to pay for all this, I'm going to spend more money and waste a lot of my time!
- Okay!
- I'll get everything you'll need. Just meet me Monday evening or Tuesday to help me load up the truck. I want to get started early; how about 8:00 am? Don't forget to be on time.
- At 8??? Nope! Too early for me! I'm used to getting up later...
- You know, I've been thinking; I'd rather pay you the $1500. If I had to do myself, it wouldn't be perfect and it would cost me a lot more money.
When you pay for a job, especially handcrafted, you pay not only for the material used, but also:
- Knowledge
- Experience
- Learning curve
- Tools
- Set up and clean up
- hours to complete the job
- Punctuality
- Accountability
- Professionalism
- Accuracy
- Shopping for materials
- Safety and security
- Payment of tax obligations
No one can denigrate other people's work by judging prices.
Only by knowing all the elements necessary for the production of a certain work can you estimate the actual cost.
I did not write this dialogue, but am sharing it to support craftsmen and entrepreneurs.
