how do I answer ths Question??

[on time]

ok I had been contacted to do a company picnic again this year(did the company picnic last year)
I felt I was kind of Juked when i told the lady What I charge and that I had a 2 hr mi.
I quoted the price at 125hr min 2 hrs and 100 each additional.
they booked me to the Two hours and had me stay another hour after for $100)
Well this year there is another person in charge and wanted to have us back again this year but needed us for 3 hours. I quoted it at 3 hrs and $100 EACH ADDITIONAL.

Well I just got off the phone with them and after explaining I did not increase my fees and that last year I was contracted for two hours and this year it was 3, They want to hire me for the min 2 hrs and pay for the additional hours at a discounted rate.


I understand they are trying to save a few dollars but come on, now they want to hire me or 2 hrs(knowing they want me for 3)
what do i tell them??
I know they will only be saving $25 but its the princible

[sinaz]

ok I had been contacted to do a company picnic again this year(did the company picnic last year)
I felt I was kind of Juked when i told the lady What I charge and that I had a 2 hr mi.
I quoted the price at 125hr min 2 hrs and 100 each additional.
they booked me to the Two hours and had me stay another hour after for $100)
Well this year there is another person in charge and wanted to have us back again this year but needed us for 3 hours. I quoted it at 3 hrs and $100 EACH ADDITIONAL.

Well I just got off the phone with them and after explaining I did not increase my fees and that last year I was contracted for two hours and this year it was 3, They want to hire me for the min 2 hrs and pay for the additional hours at a discounted rate.


I understand they are trying to save a few dollars but come on, now they want to hire me or 2 hrs(knowing they want me for 3)
what do i tell them??
I know they will only be saving $25 but its the princible


I'm not sure that i am understanding. but if i am. I would kind of be on the side of the client.. if you are charging 125 per hour then 100 for extra hours.. it sounds like your pricing is.. 125/h for the first 2 hours and 100 for every hour after.. which to anyone would sound like a standard..

But charging 125 per hour for a 5 hour booking, if they book you for 5 hours up front ( 5 hours being an example obviously). But then charge 125 per hour for a 2 hour booking and 100 per hour for 3 more hours if they get you to stick around..

It sounds like your penalizing the people who want to book you for longer up front rather than the ppl who are just winging it.. If anything it should be the other way around.

I would say have your price per hour regardless.. or decide how many hours you are going to charge at 125.. and keep that as the standard and stick with it regardless of the lenght of the original booking

Just my take on it. :)

[Tat2guy]

Ontime: The reason we post a min. per hour is because it covers are driving time and setup time. If they want us to be there for more then the two hours we go with the 100.00 per hour rate because we are all ready setup and there. Some people here don't post hourly rates so they can get every dime out of there customers ie: gas, mileage, drive time and anything else they can think of. I would just say sorry charge her the 350.00.

[jjrardin]

I think I see your point, with book me as long as you want and if I stay over it's $100.... however I agree with Sinaz, in that it is more 'standard practice' to have a minimum hours with each additional. So that everybody gets the same pricing. $125 for the first two and $100 for each after, or whatever you want to set it to.

book for 2 hrs $250
book for 3 hrs $350
book for 5 hrs $550

It makes more sense to me that if they book for a longer time, it should be cheaper for them not higher....

That's just my 2 cents :) I hope I didn't ramble too much LOL

I have one more closing thought.... if you don't like that pricing method, raise the additional hour amount to make it more of a penalty.... $125/hr and $175 for each additional hour not booked.

I'm just throwin' it out there... always trying to think of new things :)

Peace out

[sneakyd]

They're a return client, give them the $25 discount. It's repeat business. Now if it was more than that I would have a problem. I had a festival call me and wanted to book me for 10hrs, after I quoted them they said I would make much more than that if I came in as a vendor. I gave them a really good deal hoping to get paid, but instead they wanted to charge me $200 as a vendor. I did the fest last year and made alot of money so I know what they say is true. They didn't want to pay me so I told them that they have to give me a discounted rate for me to participate and they did. Things happen and atleast they're having me back.

It's your business so it's up to you, but I always make a deal that makes us both happy. To me a few dollars isn't worth getting uptight over, some one might book you for an additional party and it will make up for it.

[etool]

Last year you charged them 350 total for 3 hours, this year they asked you for the same deal up front. If it was my customer I would have agreed no question.

If I was the customer, and you charged me 350 last year, and wanted 375 for the same time and service I would have said no thank you, and found someone else, or a different form of entertainment.

I see what you did, and what you are thinking. Your standard rate is 125/hr 2 hr min. so:

2hrs=250
3hrs=375
4hrs=500

But if I knew I could book you for your 2 hr min of 250, and get you for 4 hrs at 450, why would I book you up front for 4hrs?

[Alan]

The problem is that you could alienate them and lose next years booking. Personally I would apologise for the confusion and say it was a mistake on my part and of course it would be at the same rate as last year.

It take a long time to build a reputation and a short time to lose it. Er on the side of caution and take the money offered.

[on time]

Thanks, I am calling them in the morning and will offer the same deal as last year. After all they are a return client and in the end I want everyone to be happy.
thanks for all the suggestions,

[extremefaceart]

Your pricing system needs some reworking.

And a repeat client - that's what a good business is built off off. Don't quibble about $25. That $25 will come back to you time and time again when the keep on hiring you.

[extremefaceart]

Well duh - I missed reading on and seeing you were going to contact them...

Good to understand that calling a client and rewroking a deal to always ok - even if it's a job you didn't book. If you think hey wait I would do XYZ... and maybe then they'd book - call 'em.