Another Ad: A couple of ONE CENT auctions

Yes, yes! Good point.

Well, and materials and time on top of that. ~~ Sooz

------- "Those in the cheaper seats clap. The rest of you rattle your jewelry." John Lennon (1940 - 1980) Royal Varieties Performance ~ Dr. Sooz's Bead Links

Exactly. I don't think price policing happens too often here on RCB - just opinion sharing. I think what happened to Tink was someone trying to coerce her to raise her prices by trying to make her feel guilty and by calling her names.

LOL - we just need to keep in mind that people run their businesses how they run their businesses. Opinions are good. Guilt trips, name calling, poking with a stick - all not good. :) That's just my opinion, of course. Also, I view pricing for handmade jewelry somewhat differently than pricing for handmade beads. Having done both things, I think pricing jewelry can be more of a formula that pricing handmade beads. The materials and time that go into making a piece of jewerly tend to be more quantifiable in my view. So it's easier to look at a piece of jewelry and guess what the pricing should be for it, knowing exactly what kind of materials were used, and what the time would generally (generally!!) be for making a similar piece. Pricing handmade beads is a more personal thing, and one cannot really see a specific price when looking at a handmade bead, generally speaking. One might see more of a range of prices.

For instance - when I look at a bracelet made from Swarovski ab bicone crystals, sterling silver daisy spacers, Softflex wire and sterling findings, I can see a general price based on what's gone into that and how quickly a piece like that can be made. A couple of other things might factor in a little bit - like the color scheme used and how popular that style might be at the time. When I look at a lampwork focal bicone bead with, say, applied flowers, I see a range of prices that would vary based on the artist's style, the technical application, the colors used and a number of other things. That range would vary a lot. Does this make sense at all?

So when Sooz (or someone else) sees someone really underpricing jewelry, she knows what things cost and what time goes into that kind of jewelry because she's been making it for years. She can make a well-educated post about her opinion on the matter.

However, when someone (such as the person who's pestering Tink) sees Tinks work and thinks it's underpriced, her opinion is likely not nearly as well-educated, even though she's been making beads for a long time and whatever, because every beadmaker's style and ways of making beads are very different.

I really appreciate everyone's feedback regarding this *interesting* matter. I guess in an odd way I'm kind of flattered that this particular artist would single me out. I confess, I have been a fan of hers for a long time.

It seems to me that someone did some research into starting and ending prices of beads and how auctions with really low starting prices fared compared to those with a starting bid of about wholesale. I really need to find that info.

I used to start all my auctions at 99 cents. Because of all the fuss in various forums, I stopped doing that. No one said anything to me, I just didn't want what just happened to me to happen. LOL! So much for THAT logic, eh?

I'm really quite pleased with what the one cent auctions have done so far. I bet it would really cheese off this artist to know that, if anything, she has opened my eyes to the fact that really low starting bids work VERY well for me. I may well start all my auctions at a penny from now on.

Whether I do or don't, however, is my choice. I don't think this particular artist will be annoying me anymore, either. I said something to her via email that, while true in my eyes, was really rather rude . It takes a lot to push me to that point, but once I'm there.....

Tink Rent-A-Tink Info via snipped-for-privacy@blackswampglassworks.com Latest Work is here:

BEAD SALE here:

Hi Tink and everybody!

Just happened to see your link to the "protest auctions" and went to investigate. I think everything has been said regarding this situation. But it's so dang funny, what in the world sets people off. And why do they think anyone cares about their opinion when voiced with such anger, and apparently stupidity! How dare you MOCK me!!LOL, maybe they had a very bad day and can't pay the rent or something. Oh well....

I'm heading to bed, so glad I found yet another BB to read daily:)

Good night little Mocking Tink - chirp chirp

KarenG

Hi to KarenG from KarenK (currently anyway). Welcome to the {beaded}asylum!

Oh, of course. I just meant that time and materials are worth nothing at all without the skill.

Tina

"Dr. Sooz" wrote ...

Tink- It is so sad to hear yet another person is jealous and envious of a colleague. The sand box is so large, you woudl think they would play nice in it. You are a class act and always will be in my eyes. NOW go post some more 1 penny auctions so I can bid too!

-Mary...McDuck

Tink, One of the best things I like about your beads (in addition to how beautiful they are), is they are affordable. While I would love to buy $100+ beads (and have done so on two rare occasions), mostly I can't do that. I also have this strange disease - it's called "Keeplampworkforme" or keep all the lampwork beads for me. I have no problem letting go of the gemstone stuff (after I make something fabulous for myself of course), but most of the lampwork beads just want to stay here. Today I'm getting out all my lampwork which has been here "brewing" for awhile to see if I can design some jewelry with some of it. I'm delaying this by posting, of course, because I don't want to admit how much I have...off to get more coffee and design.. Tink, keep your prices the way YOU want, don't let anyone intimidate you. She's just jealous anyway. Patti

Visit my website and send me comments on my work. I'm lonely, my best beading friend is away until June. waah

Mary!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What are YOU doing here???? LOL!

I really think that some of the bead "pioneers" are feeling the crunch. They used to be the only ducks in the pond, if you'll pardon the expression, and prices for lampworked beads were out of this world.

With the influx of artists over the last couple of years, and, I believe, the free exchange of information (which was not prevalent in the glass world until recently) at sites like WetCanvas, the playing field has changed.

Personally, I think the evolution in glass is a wonderful thing. And not just because I'm a glass artist. I'm also a technogeek, and I love seeing technology bring about such positive (in my opinion) change in an ancient art. I think it's cool.

And I really think it levels the playing field, don't you? Before the internet, it didn't matter if you made the most fabulous beads in the world... If you were living in a small midwestern town and didn't do shows and couldn't afford advertising, well... no one would ever learn about your work.

Now, with eBay and the like, it's all equal. Customers come, they look, they decide if they want to buy or not. And the decision to buy is based upon a myriad of things. But customers have thousands of artists from which to choose. Isn't that a GOOD thing?

Ok... Enough ranting. I'm comfortable with my methodology. My customers are happy with my work and the way I do business. That's all that matters, right???

Tinkiepoo Rent-A-Tink Info via snipped-for-privacy@blackswampglassworks.com Latest Work is here:

BEAD SALE here:

OH!...you and I are twin daughters of separate mothers!!! ROFL

The Blessed Fiddy, Patroness Saint of the Disorganized LC in Sunny So Cal Personality Development Specialist (Full-Time Mom!)

I wonder how certain people come to the conclusion that it is their job to be the "price police" or the "copy police". People should just mind their own beeswax. Tink, I think your prices are really reasonable and you should keep them where you want them.

-Ellen

Welcome KarenG! ~~ Sooz

------- "Those in the cheaper seats clap. The rest of you rattle your jewelry." John Lennon (1940 - 1980) Royal Varieties Performance ~ Dr. Sooz's Bead Links

Triplets. (Me too.) Or just maybe we all infected each other. ~~ Sooz

------- "Those in the cheaper seats clap. The rest of you rattle your jewelry." John Lennon (1940 - 1980) Royal Varieties Performance ~ Dr. Sooz's Bead Links

Oh yeah -- *I* knew that -- I added it for the folks who don't know you as well as I do. :-) ~~ Sooz

------- "Those in the cheaper seats clap. The rest of you rattle your jewelry." John Lennon (1940 - 1980) Royal Varieties Performance ~ Dr. Sooz's Bead Links

Thanks for the welcome!! I go by musical winds on WC. I know lots of you from over there. I know Tink because she keeps me broke most of the time, but in a good way LOL!!

Well, I best go dig up some dinner, lets see, what lucky take-out will get my business tonight!!

Later, KarenG

Exactly!!!

I've gotten that same logic from folks doing polymer clay work. I never quite get it. I price my item according to the cost of labor and materials. I make sure that I don't make too many items that require a high price--I know that everyone wants to be able to afford to add to their stash! I make a few complicated items, but frankly, I want to make things that someone can afford.

After several years in this business, I realize there is a pattern: People start blaming others when their own sales drop or don't grow as expected.

Your auction is well above a penny now, good luck!

jayne

Dear lord. I am astounded at the temerity of some people! There is absolutely nothing wrong with your prices, and if there was, that would be for *you* to decide.

-Kalera

T> Now, you guys know I'm pretty even tempered and pretty easy to get