| Subject: Am I being mean spirited? |
Author:
Overworked DM
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Date Posted: Monday, June 22, 03:24:25pm
A post below made me wonder if I'm the only DM who's constantly being asked for a bargain price dress but with just as much work in it as ever. I've cut my OTR prices by $200 or so just to help out, and they still sell fast, and I've made a few half price dresses specifically to help people out, but now so many people are asking, and almost expecting, me to make them a rock-bottom price dress and I'm wondering if I'm the only person feeling mean to say no.
I just feel I can't always make half price dresses just because others are feeling the pinch. I do try to help when I can, but my family needs to eat too! Am I being too mean? How are other dressmakers handling this situation?
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 My spouse and I were just talking about this yesterday!... -- same here, Monday, June 22, 03:28:47pm
- Does the plumber do his job for half the money? Or does the supermarket hand out food for free? -- DM., Monday, June 22, 03:44:37pm
- I can relate - it's tough times for everyone, you included. You shouldn't be asked, let alone be expected, to knock your price down, particularly when there are SO MANY SECOND HAND DRESSES available. Let the penny pinchers bargain with someone who needs to sell a dress. You don't need that headache, especially when it could only end up in resentment for the future. Be fair, but be firm! And remember, NO. is a complete sentence, without any need for explanation or justification. (NT) -- Good Luck., Monday, June 22, 03:47:29pm
- I've been working to come up with OTR designs that look good, but involve less work so I can save people a bit of money that way, but custom dresses are just as much work and my prices haven't changed. I do what I can, up to a point, and after that I say no. (NT) -- too many bills to pay! its a business., Monday, June 22, 03:47:59pm
- I'm the OP from below and to be honest, I selfishly didn't think about the consequences for dressmakers of a request like mine. I do apologize for being, what I now realize is, pretty insensitive, I think we all...(more) -- I am honestly sorry :), Monday, June 22, 04:00:07pm
 That's very nice of you. Hugs! (NT) -- dm, Monday, June 22, 04:19:19pm
- My post was not directed specifically at you, and I am sorry if it seemed that way. You were looking for ways to cut the cost by minimising work in a dress, but the people I am talking about are those who want the same amount of work as usual, but for half the usual price just because times are tough for everyone. (NT) -- OP, Monday, June 22, 04:27:18pm
- Like the OP of this post said, people like you aren't a problem. It's ok to be realistic about your budget, and want the most you can get with it, and look for ways to save. Its the people who EXPECT everything for nothing that are...difficult. You sound like a doll, don't be afraid to ask around for quotes on your idea. (NT) -- we won't bite! promise. =), Monday, June 22, 04:44:42pm
- With regards to this same issue, what would be a fair price to ask for a nicely made, very up to date (rah rah type), OTR with minimal to no embroidery and loads of Swarovski crystals? Just a ball park figure of what others are charging. (NT) -- me again, Monday, June 22, 05:25:49pm
- Without embroidery, such a dress would take me about 17 hours to make. So... 17 x hourly rate + materials = ?? Way less than a 1000 for me. (NT) -- =), Monday, June 22, 05:39:45pm
- a good friend of mine recently got a dress with hardly any embroidery, bought the fabric themselves and they paid $1400 for the dress and had to add crystals themselves and few other things bringing the costof the dress to almost $1700 (NT) -- I am buying used for my dd, Monday, June 22, 07:36:16pm
- Sorry...just being honest, can't buy 17 hrs. Where is the time for shopping for fabric and notions, designing, cutting, finishing? I don't believe that 17 hrs is going to get a beautiful ID dress...just minus the embroidery. What standard would it be? (NT) -- smdm, Tuesday, June 23, 10:41:44am
- My standard, I'm a very good seamstress, and very quick. I know what I can do, and how fast I can do it, and that not everyone works at the same rate. But still.. An OTR rah-rah skirt, they're pretty straight forward if they aren't detailed. I'm taking jacket style bodice, straight hems on the skirt, etc. VERY simple. Like building a prom dress. (NT) -- a funny looking one... lol, Tuesday, June 23, 10:48:45am
- Gosh, it all depends so much on the actual look of the dress. Does it have supporting underpanels or a tutu, does it have the BN "look" and the correct proportions, lovely colours and fabrics for a really up to date dress? What is "loads" of crystals and how big? I would say at least 800 of 40ss crystals would be loads, but different people have different ideas. (NT) -- The lower the price, the quicker it will sell!, Monday, June 22, 06:26:45pm
- I have learned the hard way (being in a helping profession) that the most powerful tool I have is the word NO. It has become a wonderful tool in the management of my time, resources and energy. I sound facetious, but I am totally serious. It's enpowering. (NT) -- don't let people abuse you, you have value, Monday, June 22, 08:56:02pm
- People will pay what they think something is worth. If customers are asking you to lower your price, their perceived value is not the same as yours. -- ., Monday, June 22, 09:59:11pm
- Michelle Davis?? Never heard of her. Over all though... I agree with you, there are definietly a scattering of DM's who make over priced dresses.. It frustrates me, mostly because I'm a DM (NT) -- and I know the time spent, Tuesday, June 23, 10:39:00am
- I think Michele Duns is also very under-rated! Her dresses are great, have a great stage presence, and are very reasonably priced. She is also great fun at a feis. I can't wait to see what her daughter's new school costume will be like! (NT) -- Big Duns Fan!, Tuesday, June 23, 11:53:26am
- I try not to say anything negative about DMs, but must disagree about Duns. I get several of her dresses to repair. The workmanship isn't there. I'm trying to sell a used 3 panel she made. (NT) -- Have cut the price to $250. It still won't sell, Tuesday, June 23, 12:53:49pm
- Not the ones MIchele made for us! They're fantastic! (NT) -- Confused?, Tuesday, June 23, 04:55:38pm
- If you're a dress maker, it doesn't make sense that you would be selling a dress Michele made. Wouldn't you be making and selling your own? (NT) -- Something's odd here?, Tuesday, June 23, 09:07:29pm
- I'm selling the MD dress as a favor to my dd's retired friend. I had to fix it before she intitially wore it. There's no market for it now (NT) -- Even at a rock bottom price, Thursday, June 25, 05:03:47pm
- Still makes no sense. Why not let this lady sell her own dress, and why trash Michele? (NT) -- Please don't do me any favors!, Thursday, June 25, 11:14:08pm
- With the dancer retired, they no longer attend feiseanna. So, I'm lugging it from venue to venue hoping to find a buyer (NT) -- I'm doing this as a favor. Sorry, no conspiracy, Friday, June 26, 08:24:11am
- It sounds like YOU are the one bitter about selling this dress, why not give it back. E-Bay, Dance-Again, Craigslist, etc., there are lots of ways to sell these days. Unless of course, you're expecting to make a profit, which is what this appears to be. (NT) -- X, Sunday, June 28, 09:51:22am
- Don't know who you are (can guess) but not sure who is sending you dresses for repair--I do my own--and a three panel will only get 250 today and why are you selling it? Did you buy it off me for the 300 I charged? (NT) -- Michele Duns, Thursday, June 25, 02:50:54pm
- My favorites are those that you accommodate by keeping your cost to a minimum... you request payment by a certain date, and they ignore your request because they have other priorities ahead of paying for their custom made dress. You have already put the time in, have bills to pay, plus any late fees due to your customer not paying on time, and they are upset when you want to charge them a late fee. (NT) -- No more for me., Monday, June 22, 10:14:02pm
- I don't understand the person who said that they would make a new dress for way less than 1000 (unless she is talking about pounds). From what I've been reading a new BNDM costs around $2200-2600 once you factor in delivery and customs. -- mid, Tuesday, June 23, 03:16:47pm
- I am fairly new at making dresss so its hard for me to sell, I have one I am just finishing, I sold it for 500.00. I feel it was priced low but not sure how to charge email for pic (NT) -- laura, Tuesday, June 23, 07:39:06pm
- there's nothing like making a dress for bare-bones cost and then seeing the dancer drive up to dance class in a new convertible. Yup, happened. Only once. (NT) -- a dm, Thursday, June 25, 08:50:42pm
- why are they even $1000? Not knocking the skill in embroidery etc but c'mon. It's a dress - that's all (NT) -- don't get it, Monday, June 29, 08:02:59am
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Lets send post below down to the archives been at the top of page too long!
Listed on ebay USA...Perfect Shape Fays Hard Shoes Grey Sole 2 UK, Split sole hard shoes 12.5 US, Steprite ghillies 3 UK, Capezio Dance Sneakers 1.5 US
