I totally agree.
For me, ebay is still the second best venue with my
website being the best. Except maybe for a local show. Other shows - I have
to factor in travel costs and such, which can be substantial, depending on
location. Galleries/bead stores want wholesale or consignment.
Ebay/PayPal/Credit Card fees come up to about 20% of my prices, generally
speaking, and shipping is really inexpensive. So far, I have gotten really
decent prices on ebay.
My website is by far the best venue, though, but takes a lot more time and
energy to run than my ebay presence. So I do both, and they average out to
be very good. Why? When others say the market sucks and sales are down?
Because I work really freaking hard, and I do my homework. I don't
undervalue my work. I work with the market to get the best prices I can
while giving buyers the highest quality, most pleasing beads I possibly can.
Anyone with a little talent can do this if they work hard at it, and listen
to their customers. People complain way too much and tend to think this is
an easy way to earn lots of money, and think they can do so without much
effort.
Anyway. Ranting again. Time to stop now before someone whacks
me with a tomato!!
--
Kandice Seeber
Air & Earth Designs
http://www.lampwork.net
I just read your reply on WC. I thought you did it very well. And you do
make some really good points. I too have mixed feelings about this whole
thing.
I don't yet sell beads, hope to one day. I do make pieces with lampwork
beads. I understand wanting to get full value for your work, but I feel
uneasy with the idea that "everyone" should do XXXXX. I know a beadmaker
that won't sell on ebay at all - to her that is undervaluing her work, so
she only sells at shows and galleries. If that works for her great, but
for
some people ebay is what works.
One of the problems with selling art is that it is sooooo subjective.
I've
gotten beads at what I thought was a steal, I've paid full value for some
beads, and I've probably over paid for others. To someone else what I
thought was a steal they may think is a fair price, etc.
I also understand that it's easy to undervalue your own work (still
working
on that with my jewelry), and some may not even realize that they are
doing
it.
Lots of shades of gray in this - it's surely not just black and white -
raise our prices and all will be well with the bead world.
Kathy K
"Kandice Seeber" wrote in message
...
***sigh*** and I just posted a response over there. Time to go hide in
the
bunker. Why the hell am I a glutton for punishement? Seriously, I think
I
bring up some good points, but that whole thread is so full of "Amen!"
"I'm
in!" "You go girl!"and "Me too" posts that I am afraid mine will not be
well
received.
--
Kandice Seeber
Air & Earth Designs
http://www.lampwork.net
I have mixed feelings about that whole thread. On the one hand, the
intentions are good, I am sure. The people are mostly nice,
hardworking
and
well-intentioned. On the other hand, price fixing is illegal and
annoying.
I agree about pricing your things in such a way that it mirrors value
and
hard work. However, I don't agree with a huge group governing that,
or
trying to control things. But I am pretty anti-government, so maybe
it's
just that. Or maybe it's because I haven't had my coffee yet
today,
and
I am cranky.
--
Kandice Seeber
Air & Earth Designs
http://www.lampwork.net
Rita says:
"....when 1/2 of the market is undercutting themselves it has not
only
a
trickle down effect but a landslide."
This is what I've always said. It's true, it affects all our sister
and
brother
beadmakers, jewelrymakers --- and artists as a whole population.
The way I said it recently was deemed unacceptable by some -- but
I've
been
fighting for this for a long, long, long time. People just don't
listen
when
you say "Increase your prices, because it affects us all." I wanted
to
be
dramatic because the message doesn't get through people's heads, as
is
evidenced by this thread on Wet Canvas. "The Beadmakers' Liberation
Front"?
Drama. You have to paint in bright colors for people to GET IT.
~~
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
http://airandearth.netfirms.com/soozlinkslist.html