Thread: No Class.

Check out Different's response on the thread about a career change - it is a classic about morons like the woman in your experience.

The public almost to a man seems determined to surround themselves in items as vapid and ephemeral at their personalities. They are comforted by this lack of quality because it mirrors their own!

This has happened to me several times. I now start with the same argument you gave;

eg What is it that you want here? Do you want something that "is made from solid timber (Of your choice) not Chipboard, It will have solid joinery , not staples,any drawers would be dovetailed not butt joints, and overall a more solid and durable piece of furniture that she can hand down to your kids."
OR
"do you want something just to hold books for a few years before it falls to bits"

The response is usually "can't you make something something in between" and I say - I'm sorry I don't work that way. Of course I don't need these jobs so I can say that, and can fully understand why a professional trying to make a living out of cabinet making has to compromise.

Perhaps, she like most people dont actually want furniture to last a lifetime - change is as good as a holiday as they say. times change, decor changes, houses change, people change, so having a table built to last a lifetime means tossing out a perfectly good piece of furniture at some point for many.

Of course, the small amount of pain can be mitigated at the start, by making it clear up front that bespoke furniture is much more expensive than that in the shops, but you get exactly what you want at a much higher quailty - then the contact is either short or long, not a whole lot of planning for naught.

different strokes for different folks.

Steven,

Happened to me a few times. I use the same argument as you and get the same responses.

Now I just point them to the internet and tell them to use Google and they can find what they want from wherever. (Price and job are then off my hands)

Most of the time they don't come back. Only had two that came back and said ok. They never quibbled about the price and they got exactly what they wanted. (I think their friends are now envious)

The only jobs I do now is where they specify what they want, they have done all the finger tapping for the price of the materials and I'll quote on the labour. If they're not happy with the labour quote ....bye bye......

So far only done one commission piece this year. I'm not worried though...WW is my hobby and I like my hobby and I repeat 'hobby' and now I don't have to put up with the whinge.

Steve

I am reminded of someone that knows me who was after a cheap shelving solution and hinting strongly that I might make something striking for them at a good price. When I suggested a couple of chipboard shelves and some concrete blocks the nose went up in the air and fortunately they have never spoken to me since

Steven,

When people say things like that it means that they are not ready. Not ready to buy quality stuff. That was nothing wrong with what she said but she should not have come to you in the first place. They know where IKEA is so they should just go there.

Just take a deep breath and move on.

Once in while people will come to me and say I want something simple and something cheap.

I will say Sorry I don't make anything cheap. They are cheaper but not cheap and they will go away.

Originally Posted by Stevenp

G'day all, I had a woman ask me about a month ago , to build her "Something to go in the hallway" that would hold books and have doors on the bottom.
I did a bit of a search and came up with a display cupboard that we both liked. She then asked me how much it would cost, and as I am not a professional I suggested she pay the cost of materials plus a cuppla hundred for me.
Cheers Steven.

From reading your post I believe that, as you are not a professional, the woman did not think your time is worth money and you should have done a labour of love
Good for you not to fall into the trap.
Wolffie