Discount offert a obligation or a gift?

[mlogan]

Asking a discount on a floor model mass-produced object is not the same as asking a discount on hand produced one of a kind art. You simply cannot compare the two.

A discount is up to the artist, and yes I do feel it is rude in this situation to ask for one. When I was commissioned a piece of art for IGMC, I contacted several artists to find out their prices. I understood it was my choice to accept the price or not.

Nio, if you feel you must offer discounts to every client you might as well just lower your prices, which would make it not worthwhile to you.

 

[Kvich]

I agree with all the point of people said here 

Kvich point thought make me doubt 

so in simple I should offert at least discount....even this not please me D: ?

for myself I think for the discount  we should never discount someone in the first "buy" and I think this normal because we don't know the client or such but if we see the client is a good one I think we can after offert a discount for the second time he will ask resources no ? 

well this how I see that haha...

That's not what I meant mate.

A more direct example.

I ask if you could make me a few busts, you tell me it will be 45 bucks for three, and I ask if there's room for negotiation, on a unconfirmed promise I'll buy more.

You say "no, not on just a few busts, but if you continue to buy a few more times, we can look at it."

Same goes the other way, I may not trust you with doing busts for my whole game, straight up from the start, and ask you to do 20 at one time, because of the 300 fee for something I may not have any clue about the result.

It's really down to trust.

You should never ever give a discount if you don't want to, it's a one way ticket to hell.

As I can understand you take pride in what you're doing, and if it's against your principle to give discount to anyone asking, then don', because then in the end, you may just do a half arsed piece of work, which will end up loosing customers for you.

 

[nio kasgami]

That's not what I meant mate.

A more direct example.

I ask if you could make me a few busts, you tell me it will be 45 bucks for three, and I ask if there's room for negotiation, on a unconfirmed promise I'll buy more.

You say "no, not on just a few busts, but if you continue to buy a few more times, we can look at it."

Same goes the other way, I may not trust you with doing busts for my whole game, straight up from the start, and ask you to do 20 at one time, because of the 300 fee for something I may not have any clue about the result.

It's really down to trust.

You should never ever give a discount if you don't want to, it's a one way ticket to hell.

As I can understand you take pride in what you're doing, and if it's against your principle to give discount to anyone asking, then don', because then in the end, you may just do a half arsed piece of work, which will end up loosing customers for you.

oh now I understand ! 

then yes negociation are different from discount! 

just for say exemple the people will found exemple for 20 bust with 5 expression each ( 15 + (5*2) * 20 = 500$ ) 

I can recognize not everyone have to money for that so most of time I can enter in "negotiation" but this not a discount c: ! 

that's a price discussion  that's show you are flexible to adjust your prices to something more affordable then a discount is simply here I give you 25% removed on the final prices ...who not give to negotation c: 

 

[Kvich]

oh now I understand ! 

then yes negociation are different from discount! 

just for say exemple the people will found exemple for 20 bust with 5 expression each ( 15 + (5*2) * 20 = 500$ ) 

I can recognize not everyone have to money for that so most of time I can enter in "negotiation" but this not a discount c: ! 

that's a price discussion  that's show you are flexible to adjust your prices to something more affordable then a discount is simply here I give you 25% removed on the final prices ...who not give to negotation c: 

Now it's a little more a language thing, for me negotiation is a more polite way of saying, "Can I get it cheaper?"

But yeah for 20 busts with expression, we're talking a different scale than 3 busts with no expression.

But it's turning a little more into a marketing strategy, and a little away from the topic at hand, on which I don't think you should give discount just because they are asking, but it makes sense.

For people who are rude when either asking or when you tell them that the order needs to be somewhat bigger, in order to justify a discount, you should simply tell them to find someone else to do the work.

 

[Matseb2611]

To be honest though, that's not a very good attitude to tell them to find someone else. Let's face it, there is plenty of choice of artists and musicians here who advertise their services. If someone came to you out of all these options, you should kind of be thankful for that. Not saying you should be their doormat, but you have to be a pleasant person to work with. Because if they don't like it, guess what - there are plenty of other choices to turn to and you've lost yourself a customer.

 

[nio kasgami]

well for myself I work like that : be respectful with me and I will be respectful

if the guy asked me gently a discount example he can't afford a big amount do you think you have to be more gentle with him? maybe find a deal with him?

but example if the guys is like 
YO man you try to abuse of me!? low your prices don't try to steal me

I don't think the guy deserve to receive a gentle answer xD

 

[Kvich]

To be honest though, that's not a very good attitude to tell them to find someone else. Let's face it, there is plenty of choice of artists and musicians here who advertise their services. If someone came to you out of all these options, you should kind of be thankful for that. Not saying you should be their doormat, but you have to be a pleasant person to work with. Because if they don't like it, guess what - there are plenty of other choices to turn to and you've lost yourself a customer.

It's not a good attitude in general I agree, but if someone goes abusive on you as Nio Kasgami says,  it's perfectly reasonable to tell them.

"Look, this aren't going to work, I would prefer if you found someone else to do it."

Chances are he won't ask for another set of busts no matter what you do.

well for myself I work like that : be respectful with me and I will be respectful

if the guy asked me gently a discount example he can't afford a big amount do you think you have to be more gentle with him? maybe find a deal with him?

but example if the guys is like 

YO man you try to abuse of me!? low your prices don't try to steal me

I don't think the guy deserve to receive a gentle answer xD

Luckily most, as far as I know, are grown up, mature people here, so they are hopefully few and far between, but the question is, if it's worth lowering oneself to their level, sure they may not deserve a gentle reply, but giving a respectful decline, and then ignore them, works far better than mudslinging.

 

[Shaz]

Asking for it cheaper is one thing - especially when you have something to bargain with (the computer was a display model; I might come back and order more from you). Expecting it and getting abusive when you're told no is quite another. Granted, the WAY you ask and the WAY you're told no could come into play when considering whether you get it, or your reaction if you don't.


If I could do art, I would not give a discount to someone who asked for 3 things, even if they said they might ask for more in the future. If they came back and asked for 3 more, I still wouldn't give a discount, but I MIGHT say if they come back again and order another 4, I'll only charge them for 3.


IMO it's the artist who's losing out here, so the customer has to make it worthwhile. A promise of "I may come back for more later" isn't worth much, because you also may not, and you may just be saying that in order to get special treatment.


In other words, prove you're a VIP customer before expecting to be treated like one.

 

[nio kasgami]

Asking for it cheaper is one thing - especially when you have something to bargain with (the computer was a display model; I might come back and order more from you). Expecting it and getting abusive when you're told no is quite another. Granted, the WAY you ask and the WAY you're told no could come into play when considering whether you get it, or your reaction if you don't.

If I could do art, I would not give a discount to someone who asked for 3 things, even if they said they might ask for more in the future. If they came back and asked for 3 more, I still wouldn't give a discount, but I MIGHT say if they come back again and order another 4, I'll only charge them for 3.

IMO it's the artist who's losing out here, so the customer has to make it worthwhile. A promise of "I may come back for more later" isn't worth much, because you also may not, and you may just be saying that in order to get special treatment.

In other words, prove you're a VIP customer before expecting to be treated like one.

and these word are from the woman who are the most comprensive client I ever had ( I guess we can call that the "perfect client" ?) c: so listen what she say and I totally agree with you on this shaz : D !

 

[Shaz]

lol - You're making me blush Nio I'm not the perfect client, by far.

 

[taarna23]

I am led to think of the story I heard of a man with a print shop. In his shop hangs a sign.

I can do it fast.

I can do it cheap.

I can do it well.

Pick two and talk to me.

People will always want all three, but the real world does not work that way.

 

[cosmickitty]

unless you're drawing stick figures $10 is crazy cheap, I would never under any circumstances discount that price.  In fact, I would suggest comparing your rates to others

That being said, I've been known to discount stuff for people I've worked with for a long time, but not usually a set amount, more like, this only took me 2 mins to do so we'll call it a freebie type of thing.  I've had several people ask me if they can have a bulk discount, now I usually say no, I have too much work at my current price so why do it cheaper?  But, I used to go with a buy so many get one free.... but that was character sprites.

Karma will definately come back to bite whoever said such rude things, I would suggest posting who they are so other artists know not to deal with the person.... but maybe that's just me

 

[Shaz]

yeah, no ... we're not into naming and shaming here.

 

[nio kasgami]

yeah naming the people even if they are not good client is actually really disrespectful for someone and this will destroy is reputation 

maybe a client is annoying but we are kept to the professionnal secret to 

I mean I can say example to shaz...: Damn this squirrel is a client of hell and make me work to much hard ( jk shaz : D *hug* )

but go saying on the forum and dress a list of everyone who are client of hell or I had a argument with.....I don't have the right to do that this a big lack of morality and you lower to the level of the people who lack of respect to you :/

but anyways us artist (well me anyways) have a strong Art code...and doing that is totally a big no and immoral :/

 

[Makio-Kuta]

I don't really offer "discounts" so much as sometimes I'll do some happy rounding for a customer. (the commission is $131 I'll round to $130 type thing) I don't even usually voice that I'm rounding the price. lol Once or twice I've worked out different prices with someone because they were tight on money, but I was really interested in their project and WANTED to do that for them. We shuffled around the weight of the job and worked out a new price. They didn't ask, I offered.

Like everyone before me said, it's up to you as the artist whether or not you want to offer any sort of discounts. Don't let customers pressure you into it. I've luckily never dealt with anyone that argued with me about my prices, but I've seen the horror stories and someone who is going to start devaluing YOUR time and YOUR effort is not worth your time in the first place. These are the type of people who will continue to try to ask for larger and larger discounts - they aren't interested in valuing you or your art and only want to try to weasel out of paying.

You're not greedy for expecting to be paid what you advertised yourself at.  They knew your prices ahead of time when they contacted you, it's just plain RUDE to belittle you because you wouldn't change the offer. If they approached you expecting something different, they likely just thought they could take advantage of you for some reason. Don't let people like that get you down. <3

Basically * ~Follow your Heart, Nio~ * 

Oh yeah and I agree, never out a bad client's personal information. People are going to come to the same conclusion within five seconds of dealing with people like that. (However, there are websites dedicated to keeping track of clients and artists who are notorious for not holding up their end of the deal. Payments without work, or work without payments. That's not for this sort of thing though. I've never been to one either, just know that they exist.))

 

[Susan]

A discount is simply a method for drawing in more customers, but never an obligation, no matter how much the other party may make it seem like to the artist (seller).

Personally, if I feel like I might want to try to see if I can get a better deal, I would try to ask. If the artist is not willing to negotiate for whatever reasons, I have exactly two choices from there:

a ) Take his current offer, or;

b ) Look for another artist (who may, or may not, produce a similar quality to the first artist for a lower price).

Name-calling, demeaning or shaming the artist is not going to get anyone far. Sure, the commissioner might get his/her way this once, but only this once. The same artist is not likely to take another commission from this person. This person could try the same tactic on other artists, but he/she is going to run out of avenues very, very fast.

But let's be serious here, the artists available in RMW are amazing and talented, but charge very low prices for their work (especially if people consider the hours of work that went into them). Speaking objectively, I see little sense in asking for an offer on the current low prices for their good work.

Wait for the artist to offer a discount, if a discount really must be had. A supermarket would sell items at a discount only when dictated, or under special circumstances, not when a customer throws a tantrum (ie. just because that box of chocolate is $1 more than he is willing to pay for it).

Let's not forget the famous, modern day, rather stereotyped ios/android users who want high quality apps, yet insist everything on the market should be not more than $0.99, and even then refused to buy them at that price, stating that they should be 'free'.

So, nio, if you feel your prices are reasonable, and there is no reason to give a discount, don't. Definitely work out all prices and payment method before agreeing to a commission, and stick to it. If you want to throw in one or two free artworks after that because that person is a good client, then that is up to you.