Making and giving away . When you've made a project and someone sees and wants it do they ever offer to pay for your time and materials . People just assume it's free. How do you handle this?

If it's family I give them a supply list for them to buy and pick out what they want and then I will make it for them for a bribe of dinner out or once my brother brought all the fabric for two tablecloths and 36 napkins and traded a gold silverware set he had just got but wasn't happy with. Another time a lady liked the tapestry fabric on my purse and asked where it was purchased and when told I made it she offered me a good amount of money for it on the spot. I give my time for family because they are there when I need them and I give because it's a pleasure to give. If it's not family I do the general dollar for thousand stitch count if they supply the materials or charge for the materials cost plus stitching out time/count whatever is more. I print out the paper template with all the stitch count for them to see and agree on and sign off on.

I don't have this problem any more. Since I registered my business and got serious about it not even my family ask me for favors. They respect that I have a business and business is business. Naturally when my mum asked me to make the towel for my aunt who was visiting from Scotland, she offered to pay but I would not take any money. That was a gift.
If I am suspicious that someone is asking for a freebie I just tell them a price straight up.
My pet peeve is when I get asked to do alterations and repairs.

My personal feeling is that any person who does not sew/ embroider has no idea of the expense involved. I myself am not too worried about the time (retired) but it is all the thread/ stabilizer and everything else. My daughter always buys the garments that I embroider for her children. I do have friends who ask me to embroider things and they also seem to expect it as a gift. I am afraid Bev, that I am not too good at handling the problem!!!

Well there are a few answers to choose from. I do have a price list on the wall for all to see when there are in my sewing room. I do tend to give my tests away to my family. Helen

1 comment

by tmbache 02 Mar 2011

I think I like this answer the best of any. The price list on the wall for all to see. Good Idea!!! Hugs and flowers for all.

I usually tell them it's for a craft fair then they either ask how much or drop it. No hard feelings that way.....

If I give it it's free if someone see it and asks about it then I tell them up front how much it will cost. Then see if they really want it or not.
My family is bad about thinking I will do it for free all the time that goes for the cakes that I do to!!!
They don't think about the time and all the money that you have spent on everything.
DeVon

I have family that thinks it's nothing for me to make things. They will come up with things they want from me, and say well next time you can make (whtevr) for me. I speak right up and let them know it takes time and material and neither is free unless I want to do it. If they want I will be more than happy to make it but this is what it will cost. All of a sudden it''s not as important as it was a minute ago. I get out of doing a lot of things this way. Not that I would mind making it but free is not for me LOL

je pose mes conditions avant la réalisation,soit un échange de travail ou au moins le prix des fournitures. comme disait ma grand mère:toute peine mérite salaire.Si cela ne leur convient pas c'est regrettable pour eux.

Be firm, and give them your price.
Your valuable time and materials are very NB.
It does get easier to resist giving away for free,with a bit of practice.
From Bev

I pretty much give 105% OF THE TIME BUT I ALWAYS SAY WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND!!I AM STILL SEWING LOL(not much help sorry)

1 comment

by bevintex 02 Mar 2011

Carolyn, Yes you are a very giving, caring person. There should be more people like you in the world. Keep on sewing and making people happy.
Bev

It is free, if I offer.
Not, if they ask.

Or, I will say how much material I need... for the project. When I get the material, I will fit it in.

1 comment

by bevintex 02 Mar 2011

I don't think they realize the cost of the materials. I've been given some very good advice, now to put it to use.
Thanks
Bev

I just tell them the price is $???. What ever you want. If I don't really know them. Friends are a bit harder. They think that they should get it free! But I still will say the price. Oh it's only this amount. Sometimes they will say... You can make me that for my birthday to get around paying for it. I laugh and say Oh I probably won't be making anymore of those by then! Hehehehe!

It's hard but I don't just give my projects away for nothing. I paint and have just got into embroidery so my friends were always trying to get my items that I painted for free. But I stood firm and then they stopped asking. And if they really wanted something from me they paid for it. Good Luck I know it's hard at first but it does get easier.
Hugs Dawn

1 comment

by sewlikedawn 02 Mar 2011

Sorry for all the typos!
Dawn

When they say they love it and want it- Just Thank them, let them know you enjoy doing it but it takes quite a bit of time and supplies that you would have to charge them for. Most people will gladly pay if it is not a small fortune. I have friends that I do give them things. When they tell me they want something specific they also are a "friend" that knows I'm running a business and they are willing to help me out financially. Let people know what you want from them.

1 comment

by bevintex 02 Mar 2011

I always let the first one go, but then if their friends see theirs and want one I'll ask that they pay for it. Funny thing is they decide they don't want one after all.
Bev

Tell them-politely-that you prefer it's not for sale or giveaway, but you'll make one for them but they'll have to pay for it..period. I had a problem with a so-called friend of mine once. I had a beaded suncatcher hanging on my wall and this person wanted it like now. I had the pattern for it and she said "Oh, I can sell the for $xx", well so could I .
She ended up slapping me in public. Guess what happened next.

2 comments

by bevintex 02 Mar 2011

Are you still friends? Ouch.
Bev

by sewlikedawn 02 Mar 2011

Whoa! She really is not a friend! I have had people like this aroung me but not my friend.
Hope you came out on top!
Dawn