Don't you love it when they call you - tell you all about the house that they are moving to (and you know where it is) - ask you about your services and tell you you're too expensive? Boo Hoo - Poor Little Rich Girl!
I had such an experience, just today. A lovely Realtor, who often refers her clients to me for interior design work, sent me another one! The woman called me and told me that she is moving from a smaller house in Chappaqua to a larger one. She named the street and I know the neighborhood - charming and gracious colonials and capes. She told me that she was moving to another neighborhood - I know it well, filled with McMansions of enormous proportions. After all, they belong to the country club right next store so living in this new development is going to be uber convenient for her husband's golf game.
She asked about my design philosophy and of course about my services. I told her a little bit about myself and then told her that I work on retainer - a minimum of 10 hours and of course, quoted the price. I also mentioned that I pass my designer discounts on furniture and furnishings along to my clients and that my fee is for my eye, my taste and my experience! "OH MY, that is really very expensive" she said and told me she must consult her husband and she'll get back to me!
Too expensive? And what about all of the expensive mistakes she is going to make? And what about all the money I'm going to SAVE her because she is going to do it right, the first time? When someone says something like this I don't know about you, but I absolutely cringe! Nails on a blackboard!
Saying this to a designer is kinda like saying to an artist that his or her painting is too expensive. Who can place a price on talent? A better way to phrase it might be "Gee, I'm sure you are worth every penny but I am not sure that we can afford you".
But the Poor Little Rich Girl couldn't say that because I know she can afford it - she told where she is going to live. What would you do if she actually called back?
Comments(45)