Handmade Dollars

I’m a Bargain Hunter. What started as sport out of necessity in my early days of college has grown into a lifestyle. I will gladly drive across town if the yogurt my kids eat is less expensive there than at the store 2 blocks from our house. The adrenaline rush I experience when finding a mammoth bargain is palpable. One of my best finds was during my first years out of college while working an office job. It was a smart black velvet dress at Eddie Bauer for .99 cents! Yay me!


Although these days aren’t as lean as those in which I would make a box of Mac N Cheese last 3 days, the penny pinching thrill is still with me. In these hard economic times, being a bargain hunter has proven worth its weight in gold. This is also why I have a deep understanding of those doing the same. We all want the best deal. We all want to save. No one likes to pay more than it’s worth. In fact, many of us want it for even less. So, to the gal in front of me at the market with 20 coupons, good for you!!!

Yet, there’s another side to this story that I also deeply understand. The side of the person(s) or entity selling the goods. It is indeed a daily balance of pricing merchandise appropriately to keep bread on the table, while offering a fair value that will keep customers happy and returning. In the world of handmade, where I live, this is even more of a delicate balance. In the world of handmade, unlike the mass produced world of widgets and gidgets, the more I make, the more time and money it costs me. As they say in the world of big business, I don’t benefit from economies of scale. So, if I’m to offer a discount on larger purchases, I simply lose money; sometimes a lot of money.

It took me a good while to learn that unlike WalMart or Kinko’s or my grocer where things are cheaper by the dozen, the more things I make as an artist, the more it costs me in time and supplies. Simply put, whether I make 2 totes or 20, it costs me the same per tote and a LOT more time. My time and supplies do not get cheaper simply because I use more of them. My prices are already based on what I need to cover costs, supplies (which I already buy in bulk), labor and still turn a nominal profit. Therefore, offering discounts similar to what you would find in the world of widgets and gidgets is actually not feasible at all.

When I first realized this in my own little business, it was a hard pill to swallow. You see, not only do I love bargains, I love offering them. But, over time, I was kickin’ the bucket financially speaking. I had to draw the line and make it a policy not to offer discounts just because someone asked. And, I’ve had to learn to not take the buyers objection personally.

I’ve discussed this with a LOT of artisans across all specialty lines. Some don’t mind being asked for a price break, while others consider it a deep insult to be asked. I’m somewhere in the middle. While I don’t mind being asked, (remember, I’m a Bargain Hunter) I do fully understand how an artisan would be offended by the question. Buying from an artist isn’t shopping at a garage sale, or a swap meet. Rather, these are women and men who work countless hours to perfect their craft and often do so for faaaar less money than they or their wares are worth.

Think of it this way, if my favorite store or artist were having a sale, you bet I’m going to be there. BUT, I would NEVER ask them outright to sell me something for less than it is being offered. Ever.