Thread: how much would you expect pay

All the time. I now suggest they supply the material and give I them a machining price only. Usually don't see them again.
Jim

Originally Posted by powderpost

All the time. I now suggest they supply the material and give I them a machining price only. Usually don't see them again.
Jim

This is a pretty good tactic.
We had an excellent talks about this at Fine Wood Working Association of WA.
The speaker was Dave a member of the forums and he suggested a detailed quote will check if the prospective customer is just a cheapskate or tyre kicker.

Gees $10.00. You got a regular spendthrift there. Some of the bugg... that come in here expect me to pay them I reckon for the privilege of doing it.

In their defence it is a good learning experience for you . You got to practice if you want to get good.

Originally Posted by chuck1

was asked to turn stool tops 300 diameter 32 mm thick 10 mm half rounds on the edges. the person said they wanted hardwood but only wanted to pay $10 each! I'm still feeling bewildered as spotted gum is $85 a metre! does anyone else get unrealistic people wanting jobs done!

so at $85 a metre, you'd have to price the tops at around $45 to $50 each not to be going backwards

what would be galling would be if spotted gum tops made in China were about $30 each in Aus

For $10 I'd cut the blanks out on the bandsaw from timber they supplied . . . . . . . . . but that's it

ok I knew I wasnt alone! ive priced it out of pine and came to $25 to 30, think I'll tell them that I can do it for 15 if they supply timber cut and drilled

Just say you are not interested in a polite way of course. Don't bother explaining because some people just cannot be educated.

Originally Posted by chuck1

ok I knew I wasnt alone! ive priced it out of pine and came to $25 to 30, think I'll tell them that I can do it for 15 if they supply timber cut and drilled

I wouldn't go that route, because it'll be your fault if the supplied blanks are undersized or the holes are off centre

It's frightening what people expect, when you give them a realistic price the normal response is 'What for a bit of wood!'

thankyou guys! ive slept on it and looked at his web site! and will give him a call this morning. the cheapest stool he sells is $125 and he mentioned being able to get them from Bali for $7, doubt it will be by the date he needs them. so I will have a rest this weekend!

Originally Posted by

....... Some of the bugg... that come in here expect me to pay them I reckon for the privilege of doing it.

If I make it to Melbourne and happen to visit can I have my payment in a cup of tea?

Originally Posted by chuck1

thankyou guys! ive slept on it and looked at his web site! and will give him a call this morning. the cheapest stool he sells is $125 and he mentioned being able to get them from Bali for $7, doubt it will be by the date he needs them. so I will have a rest this weekend!

Yeah, some one has to kill a tree, do the work and feed a family with $7 and other pockets $125. Here is an example of evil of the western world at work.

$20-25 each plus material costs.

Don't forget to add 20% to the material costs for waste and offcuts.

I prefer the customer to supply the material, then if it has cracks or defects, not my problem.

Had a lady ring me once and ask if I would make miniture rolling pins.

She was buying imported ones for less than $3 each and thought they were much too expensive!!!!!

I takes my hat off to anyone that stands in front of a wood lathe all day and can make a living.

Cheers

Tim