The Value of Items

[Trisha&ChrisPlant]

I wonder if other shopkeepers get this. We have a cookshop - selling all types of kitchen related bits and pieces - with a fairly broad range of quality products - although, granted, we don't do cheap and cheerful.

I guess it's just the economy, but the number of customers that look at prices and gasp - 'wow, not paying that for a pair of oven gloves' (£15.95 and made in the UK, not in the Far East) or £16.45 for a good quality springform cake pan or £35.00 for a good quality frypan (these are all recent examples).

The next customer that makes that remark, I think I'll ask 'well, how much do you think it's worth, then?'

To me, those prices don't seem over the top - but I guess I'm biased as it's our shop. Someone has to make those things, then there's materials etc. Granted, you can get cheapo stuff that lasts a fraction of the time and warps in the oven from the bargain basement shops - but it's just really getting to me.

Sorry for the rant. That's better. I'll get off my soapbox now!

Trisha

 

[Root 66 Woodshop]

My company is pretty much a "top of the range" style business. Everything we supply/install is of a reliable quality, so much so our Padlocks have a 10 year guarantee... i.e. if a customer brought a padlock in to us, that they "had" to cut off due to the key failing for whatever reason, we can swap it for them free of charge and return the faulty padlock to the manufacturers.

No one in their right mind would expect that from the cheaper brands of padlocks that are out there, as they're only a couple of quid... but, as they say you get what you pay for.

I hate the fact that places like B&Q can sell a product, totally devaluing it to the point that we can't compete with their prices, however when someone buy's from B&Q they don't get the installation with it or the advice that we give on all our products.

Yeah they've got a "chippie" in there (well, they do at ours ) who think's he can install a lock correctly, but when he sells a 3 lever lock to someone who needs a fiver lever British Standard lock... well, self explanatory isn't it?

It's always interesting to hear what people have installed themselves or have had installed, especially on UPVC doors... how anyone can think that a standard night latch (that's a Yale lock to you common folk ) can be fitted on to a plastic door is beyond me... but hey... some people give it a go

 

[businessfunding]

The next customer that makes that remark, I think I'll ask 'well, how much do you think it's worth, then?'


Sorry for the rant. That's better. I'll get off my soapbox now!

Trisha

In the nicest possible way that is exactly what your response should be (try not to offend) - at least by asking they are giving you the opportunity to explain why the price is as it is.

Space & cash permitting you coul also stock a 'utility' range - which is an opportunity to illustrate quality whilst also capturing the cheapskate sale.

Quality is seldom an easy sell without a recognise brand.

 

[Trisha&ChrisPlant]

In the nicest possible way that is exactly what your response should be (try not to offend) - at least by asking they are giving you the opportunity to explain why the price is as it is.

Space & cash permitting you coul also stock a 'utility' range - which is an opportunity to illustrate quality whilst also capturing the cheapskate sale.

Quality is seldom an easy sell without a recognise brand.

Thanks Kickstart, that's a useful post. It might be worth have some 'utility' range products, I may look into it.

We do sell recognised brands though - Le Creuset, Aga-Rayburn, De Buyer etc. We also sell the actual Rayburn cookers themselves.

At least it's Friday

 

[emmylou74]

I get it all the time with my collars, harnesses and leads - and I don't even charge top dollar for them either. As a compromise I brought in a range at a lower price. The lower price items are still sitting there and my collars etc sell great.

I personally think don't even try to appease these people that want cheap. I tried to and still they didn't buy lol

 

[Alfa Amore]

The quality of the product is remembered long after the price is forgotten - are you sure you are attracting the correct level of customer in relation to the quality of product you are selling

 

[LED Lightworld]

The quality of the product is remembered long after the price is forgotten

Amen to that.

 

[mhall]

I long ago discovered that around 20% of our "customers" say things like that. It used to worry me a lot until I realised that they were not actually my customers at all. My attitude now is, if anyone says we are too expensive, they do not qualify as customers which means I can spend more time on the 80% of people who do qualify.

 

[mobyme]

I wonder if other shopkeepers get this. We have a cookshop - selling all types of kitchen related bits and pieces - with a fairly broad range of quality products - although, granted, we don't do cheap and cheerful.

I guess it's just the economy, but the number of customers that look at prices and gasp - 'wow, not paying that for a pair of oven gloves' (£15.95 and made in the UK, not in the Far East) or £16.45 for a good quality springform cake pan or £35.00 for a good quality frypan (these are all recent examples).

The next customer that makes that remark, I think I'll ask 'well, how much do you think it's worth, then?'

To me, those prices don't seem over the top - but I guess I'm biased as it's our shop. Someone has to make those things, then there's materials etc. Granted, you can get cheapo stuff that lasts a fraction of the time and warps in the oven from the bargain basement shops - but it's just really getting to me.

Sorry for the rant. That's better. I'll get off my soapbox now!

Trisha

If this is a recent phenomena it would suggest that something is amiss; has the surrounding area deteriorated or perhaps the outside decor of your premises. The fact that you sell the the type of brands you do should really preclude that sort of statement or you are suddenly getting an influx of people who are never going to be a customer of yours in a million years.

Something has happened and if I was you I would be tempted to give my shop a bit of a going over, maybe refresh your display with price tags on some of the products in the window; these types of tyre kickers (I won't call them customers) could actually putting off your real customers. It sounds elitist but it isn't; do you really want to spend your day trying to enlighten somebody about the benefits of buying a good quality product that is never going to buy?

 

[Esk247]

Remember that money can be a little tight at the moment, however, as has already been said, those who gasp are not your customers. If they cannot afford it then they can happily shop elsewhere.

I wouldn't get funny about it. I'd just accept it. People look at Jags on the forecourt and go 'HOW MUCH! Can get a Fiesta for half that'

Do as Moby says though and have a quick objective look at your shop. Imagine you are the customer and see if you spot anything. Are all your Made in UK tags on full show? Is it obvious that these are unique products, not imports?

Also are your tags printed? Printed tags always look like you've taken much more time to get it just right. Hand written tags turn me off, they look like a scribble

 

[Talay]

What about reviews ? What about guarantees ?

I went looking for some half decent pots and pans a couple of years ago and ended up at Harts of Stur buying Circulon Infinite. Perhaps not quite the level you are talking about but reviews were crucial in my decision to buy.

I didn't buy on price but on recommendation.

 

[Trisha&ChrisPlant]

Thank you so much for all of your input, it really is helpful. No, this is not a recent phenomenon, but just irks me from time to time. I think I WILL point out in the nicest possible way when someone else remarks on pricing that the quality is exceptional.

The shop is set back from the road with our own small car park at the front which we have recently had re-surfaced in smart block paving. There is a little strip of garden area at the pavement which we have planted with bedding plants. The exterior was painted last year.

Our location is secondary though, and although we have signage and an 'A' board on the pavement, I feel that people still miss us. I'm thinking of perhaps putting some flags in the garden at the bottom. Maybe the type that garages have?

Anyway, it's been a fairly busy morning here but customers have tailed off now - all home watching the Grand National I guess!

Thanks again for the input, I'll keep reading.

Trisha

 

[sofaz]

Some people know the price of everything but the value of nothing.

You would be better to shout about the benefits such as lasts a lifetime or super safe or better at conducting heat etc etc.

We went down the cheap leather sofa route to try and capture these type of sales and I am just clearing out the last of it - nothing but trouble. Stick to your guns but shout as loud as possible.