Pricing for product addition - new ecommerce-site.

[Baz Watkins]

Hi there,

I have a prospective client who wants an e-commerce website built on Joomla and Virtuemart.

The only problem I have is setting a price for the product addition, he wants upwards of 5000 products added, the client also wants each product description seo'd and all the images edited for quality.

Do I move from my current price per item (e.g. Up to 750 items = £4 per item = £3,000), to hourly rate, or is there another way?

If so, has anyone here ever inputed so many items, and how did you go about charging for it, and how long did it take.

Thanks in advance, B.

 

[kulture]

I would discuss this with your client. Does he know what he is letting himself in for by way of costs? Can you suggest a range of alternatives, like outsourcing?

 

[anth.payne]

You should ak for the data in csv o similar format, and just import it into the database - and advise that Data Integrity is his responsibility.

When you say image editing for quality? as in cropping, or adjustment/sharpening etc?

If you are looking to do all data input and image manipulation, I'd defo charge hourly, otherwise you could end up working forever, and you'd already quoted fee...

 

[Baz Watkins]

Yes it is just basic image editing.

As for quoting hourly, how many hours would it take to do 7000 items, by my calculations your looking at a best scenario of:

4 items minimum an hour, maybe 6 to 8 on a good hour

Average that out to 5 an hour at a half my normal rate of £12.50 and thats 1400 hours and £17,500 total.

Am I missing a trick here, or is that a lot of hours and a high cost for data entry, allthough I understand that I'm not a data worker I'm a marketer/web designer?

You should ak for the data in csv o similar format, and just import it into the database - and advise that Data Integrity is his responsibility.

When you say image editing for quality? as in cropping, or adjustment/sharpening etc?

If you are looking to do all data input and image manipulation, I'd defo charge hourly, otherwise you could end up working forever, and you'd already quoted fee...

 

[DesignerNick]

I know some people just assume that it is a quick job and you will do it for them as part of the price.

Mention your workings out and how long it will take you to do it and I am pretty sure he won't want you to do it.

Mention outsourcing to him, if you were to outsource to the Phillipines it would be a lot cheaper for him.

 

[Baz Watkins]

So I'm not being silly then, thats good to hear, because if he wants all the work done, the next 6 months of my life is gone.

Hmmm...outsourcing..lol. Only problem with that, is the fact that he may go there for all the work, and I lose a possible £22k job, not including the PPC work that needs doing.

I know some people just assume that it is a quick job and you will do it for them as part of the price.

Mention your workings out and how long it will take you to do it and I am pretty sure he won't want you to do it.

Mention outsourcing to him, if you were to outsource to the Phillipines it would be a lot cheaper for him.

 

[DesignerNick]

Well maybe you could work it out at an outsourcing price and then you manage the outsourcing?

It depends on how fast he needs it doing.

You could have 2 people working on it full time until the job is done. You would just need to give them basic training on what is needed

The only risk then is relying on other people.

 

[TotalWebSolutions]

Hi there,

I have a prospective client who wants an e-commerce website built on Joomla and Virtuemart.

Hi Baz,

If your client has not yet chosen a payment gateway/merchant account for this feel free to pass on our details. We offer some of the most competitive rates in the UK and have a free VirtueMart module (as well as many other cart modules).

If you or the client would like further details on the service drop me a PM and I would be happy to call you regarding this.

Thanks,

Simon

 

[Baz Watkins]

Thanks, Simon.

I think he already has a merchant account in place, but if the proposal goes through I will mention it.

Hi Baz,

If your client has not yet chosen a payment gateway/merchant account for this feel free to pass on our details. We offer some of the most competitive rates in the UK and have a free VirtueMart module (as well as many other cart modules).

If you or the client would like further details on the service drop me a PM and I would be happy to call you regarding this.

Thanks,

Simon

 

[anth.payne]

A couple places near me just employ someone on a minimum wage to do the data input on their websites... but like I say, if he already has a product database, then you could import this (inc images)- half the battle

 

[ORDERED WEB]

Hi there,

I have a prospective client who wants an e-commerce website built on Joomla and Virtuemart.

The only problem I have is setting a price for the product addition, he wants upwards of 5000 products added, the client also wants each product description seo'd and all the images edited for quality.

Do I move from my current price per item (e.g. Up to 750 items = £4 per item = £3,000), to hourly rate, or is there another way?

If so, has anyone here ever inputed so many items, and how did you go about charging for it, and how long did it take.

Thanks in advance, B.

Im a professional photographer and webdesigner

I can edit 1000 images properly a week, however it is much better to outsource, as my time like your time is worth more

Virtuemart is not the quickest cart system to add products to by hand, much easier to use a CSV file

My answer would be this:

1. train the customer
2. if the customer wants products entered manually, then it costs. We charge £xx a hour, add as many as you can in a hour, and figure out the rate
3. If the customer cant produce a csv file, goto step 2
4. If the customer has any sort of database at all its worth doing the import/export/conversion, but that costs time, costs £££