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Do You Or Don’t You … Charge To Do an Initial Design?

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[componentheading]Yes, I Do[/componentheading]

Do You Or Don’t You … Charge To Do an Initial Design?People appreciate something more if they perceive value in it. I find that if we charge for a service, they respect the end result more, whether it’s an appraisal or an initial design. — Chuck Kuba; Iowa Diamond, Des Moines, IA

I put hours of work into a design, so I expect to be paid for my work, and I educate the customer as to the nature of the work. — Terry Parresol; Parresol Jewelers, Lakeland, FL

We offer a store credit on the design cost if they choose not to use the design. — David Mell; The Goldsmith Jewelers, Lawrenceville, GA

By locking the customer in and making them leave a non-refundable deposit, it commits them to the process and keeps us from making designs that never come to fruition. — Rich Bennett; P.K. Bennett Jewelers, Mundelein, IL

I don’t do work without a $500 non-refundable deposit that is applied upon purchase. I used to do it for free and people would waste my time. Now, only serious people come in! — Rafi Jooma; Icebox Custom Jewelry, Atlanta, GA

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We will charge $400 for the design and the prototyping in wax if it involves CAD/CAM. For hand carvings we try to give one completed price. — Mark Goodman; Goodman Jewelers, Abingdon, VA

We charge $100, which will be deducted from the piece if it is made. It stops customers who have no intention of buying from wasting our time. — Shari Altman; B & E Jewelers, Southampton, PA

We charge based on how long the custom drawing takes to make. — Ericka Harville Goode; East Tennessee Diamond Co., Morristown, TN


[componentheading]No, I Don’t[/componentheading]

We don’t charge until we have a model that the client is satisfied with. Our rate of success is high, and we feel that the clients who back out of a project would spread the word that they paid for nothing.  — Kent Bagnall; Kent Jewelry, Rolla, MO

For sketches and consultation, there is no charge. If the customer is pleased, we will move on to a minimum of $300 for a wax carving or CAD work. — Ken Hanchey; Hanchey Jewelers, Charleston, SC

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People are leery of paying for an idea. The initial design is what sells the custom design. — Jennifer Choi; Rose Diamonds Custom Design & Repair, Springfield, MO

I charge for making the piece. I don’t charge for what I consider part of the sales pitch. — Steve Stempinski; Steve’s Place, Madison, GA

I couldn’t in good conscience charge a customer for my chicken scratchings that are only useful to remind me of what I’m doing! — Janne Etz; Contemporary Concepts, Cocoa, FL

We don’t want to turn off a customer if they are curious about having a custom design done. — Molly Lurth; Philips Diamond Shop, Marion, IA

I don’t charge for the initial design, but I’m thinking I should, due to the fact that so many people are balking at the price for the finished product. — Kris Schmid; Dieh’s Jewelers, Bernardsville, NJ

[span class=note]This story is from the June 2011 edition of INSTORE[/span]

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Retirement can be a great part of life. As Nanji Singadia puts it, “I want to retire and enjoy my life. I’m 78 now and I just want to take a break.” That said, Nanji decided that the best way to move ahead was to contact the experts at Wilkerson. He chose them because he knew that closing a store is a heavy lift. To maximize sales and move on to the next, best chapter of his life, he called Wilkerson—but not before asking his industry friends for their opinion. He found that Wilkerson was the company most recommended and says their professionalism, experience and the homework they did before the launch all helped to make his going out of business sale a success. “Wilkerson were working on the sale a month it took place,” he says. “They did a great job.”

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Do You Or Don't You?

Do You Or Don’t You … Charge To Do an Initial Design?

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[componentheading]Yes, I Do[/componentheading]

Do You Or Don’t You … Charge To Do an Initial Design?People appreciate something more if they perceive value in it. I find that if we charge for a service, they respect the end result more, whether it’s an appraisal or an initial design. — Chuck Kuba; Iowa Diamond, Des Moines, IA

I put hours of work into a design, so I expect to be paid for my work, and I educate the customer as to the nature of the work. — Terry Parresol; Parresol Jewelers, Lakeland, FL

We offer a store credit on the design cost if they choose not to use the design. — David Mell; The Goldsmith Jewelers, Lawrenceville, GA

By locking the customer in and making them leave a non-refundable deposit, it commits them to the process and keeps us from making designs that never come to fruition. — Rich Bennett; P.K. Bennett Jewelers, Mundelein, IL

I don’t do work without a $500 non-refundable deposit that is applied upon purchase. I used to do it for free and people would waste my time. Now, only serious people come in! — Rafi Jooma; Icebox Custom Jewelry, Atlanta, GA

Advertisement

We will charge $400 for the design and the prototyping in wax if it involves CAD/CAM. For hand carvings we try to give one completed price. — Mark Goodman; Goodman Jewelers, Abingdon, VA

We charge $100, which will be deducted from the piece if it is made. It stops customers who have no intention of buying from wasting our time. — Shari Altman; B & E Jewelers, Southampton, PA

We charge based on how long the custom drawing takes to make. — Ericka Harville Goode; East Tennessee Diamond Co., Morristown, TN


[componentheading]No, I Don’t[/componentheading]

We don’t charge until we have a model that the client is satisfied with. Our rate of success is high, and we feel that the clients who back out of a project would spread the word that they paid for nothing.  — Kent Bagnall; Kent Jewelry, Rolla, MO

For sketches and consultation, there is no charge. If the customer is pleased, we will move on to a minimum of $300 for a wax carving or CAD work. — Ken Hanchey; Hanchey Jewelers, Charleston, SC

Advertisement

People are leery of paying for an idea. The initial design is what sells the custom design. — Jennifer Choi; Rose Diamonds Custom Design & Repair, Springfield, MO

I charge for making the piece. I don’t charge for what I consider part of the sales pitch. — Steve Stempinski; Steve’s Place, Madison, GA

I couldn’t in good conscience charge a customer for my chicken scratchings that are only useful to remind me of what I’m doing! — Janne Etz; Contemporary Concepts, Cocoa, FL

We don’t want to turn off a customer if they are curious about having a custom design done. — Molly Lurth; Philips Diamond Shop, Marion, IA

I don’t charge for the initial design, but I’m thinking I should, due to the fact that so many people are balking at the price for the finished product. — Kris Schmid; Dieh’s Jewelers, Bernardsville, NJ

[span class=note]This story is from the June 2011 edition of INSTORE[/span]

Advertisement

Advertisement

SPONSORED VIDEO

Retiring? Let Wilkerson Do the Heavy Lifting

Retirement can be a great part of life. As Nanji Singadia puts it, “I want to retire and enjoy my life. I’m 78 now and I just want to take a break.” That said, Nanji decided that the best way to move ahead was to contact the experts at Wilkerson. He chose them because he knew that closing a store is a heavy lift. To maximize sales and move on to the next, best chapter of his life, he called Wilkerson—but not before asking his industry friends for their opinion. He found that Wilkerson was the company most recommended and says their professionalism, experience and the homework they did before the launch all helped to make his going out of business sale a success. “Wilkerson were working on the sale a month it took place,” he says. “They did a great job.”

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