Mirroring someone else's price list

[fofazoju]

So after HOURS upon HOURS of research, I stumbled upon another photographers site and I am in love with her pricing guide. It is exactly what I had been trying to think of but never got the A-Ha moment myself.

Its not that genius really, just sell a few digital images and offer a print credit on prints a la carte. Then, with each additional package, offer a few more digital images and higher print credit, and discount on a la carte pricing.

If I mimic this idea, is this stealing??? Is it wrong both morally and legally? I wouldn't use the same package names and change a few things around, but the basic idea is going to still be there. She is in my state but hours away, so no competition in that sense.

Thoughts? Would you be offended if someone had "copied" your pricing list ideas??

Thanks!!

[Jim Poor]

Are you talking basic structure or actual prices? If you do the latter, you're possibly setting yourself up for failure. You have no idea what her prices are based on and whether or not they will work for you.

[wulf]

I think you have three options to play it safe and above board:

1. Keep looking for your own "aha!" moment. Fed with ideas like this it might not be long before you discover something that is yours - inspiration breeds inspiration.

2. Keep looking to find other examples of similar plans. That way you know it isn't a unique plan but a common pattern (like nobody is going to be upset if you publish a book with contents listed at the front and an index at the back).

3. Contact the photographer in question and ask if they would mind if you did something similar.

Wulf

[fofazoju]

Jim: Guide. I do not know her prices on her stuff..like how much she charges for an 8X10 etc. But I knew I wanted my first package to be at 500, and I wanted to incorporate digital images, and a further discount to give incentives to purchase more. I like her structure, that is all.

Wulf: Thanks for your suggestions!! I know it isnt that genius so I think I may mimic it - while altering a few things.

[GTAltman]

Originally Posted by fofazoju

So after HOURS upon HOURS of research, I stumbled upon another photographers site and I am in love with her pricing guide. It is exactly what I had been trying to think of but never got the A-Ha moment myself.
......
If I mimic this idea, is this stealing??? Is it wrong both morally and legally? I wouldn't use the same package names and change a few things around, but the basic idea is going to still be there. She is in my state but hours away, so no competition in that sense.

Thoughts? Would you be offended if someone had "copied" your pricing list ideas??

Thanks!!

You're not stealing her pricing...only what she includes in a price.
No reason to re-invent the wheel.

Change the price and a few of the items included in said packages, and it's not "stealing", it's borrowing the concept.

I heard somewhere that if you "borrow" from one you're plagiarizing.
If you "borrow" from many it's called Research.

If you really feel the need/want/desire, contact the person you're thinking of borrowing the idea from. As seen elsewhere on this site and in this section, contacting up front USUALLY is a very good thing, and I'm sure they'd be flattered.

Just my 2¢ worth.... :-\

Gary

[danbaileyphoto]

Good for you for doing your research. It's not bad at all to reference other photographers prices, in fact it's better to be on the same page rather than be way far off on pricing.

I'd use their list as a guide and develop your own pricing based on that list, but factor in your own customers, uses and experience and come up with your own list. If it ends up being very close to the other shooter, so be it- that's not a bad thing.

[kathiemt]

Do your homework regarding your pricing and make sure it is right for you. There's no problem with working with a similar idea though. Few people come up with 'new ideas' but rather modify things they've seen or heard to suit their needs, often adding to those ideas to make them even better.

[NicolaB]

Most photographer don't publish their pricing on their webs for that very reason.

However in my personal opinion you are free to do as you wish. The web site in question is either 'green' in publishing a complete price list or at the other end of the scale, confident enough in their ability that pricing is not the main reason people choose them.

I have seen a few quotes from established photographers that when challenged on their pricing - well so and so does it for x, they simply raise their prices.

Go with what works for you - you are in business and that is what businesses do. You can add your own "ah ha's" as they happen.

[Xposurepro]

No comment on the stealing vs. not stealing. My first thought was .. why would you want to mimic a photographer who bases their strategy on not only giving digital images but then rewarding buyers with additional digital images .. and the rest simply revolves around print credit for them to use however they see fit? That's a horrible example of package strategy. She's not upselling. She's not controlling her product line. I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess that 99.9% of her clients buy bottom-level packages.

[fofazoju]

Originally Posted by Xposurepro

No comment on the stealing vs. not stealing. My first thought was .. why would you want to mimic a photographer who bases their strategy on not only giving digital images but then rewarding buyers with additional digital images .. and the rest simply revolves around print credit for them to use however they see fit? That's a horrible example of package strategy. She's not upselling. She's not controlling her product line. I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess that 99.9% of her clients buy bottom-level packages.

Well I have hemmed and hawed over whether or not to sell digital files or not for a LONG time. If it was BEFORE the digital photography era, I couldn't imagine selling the film of a session. But alas, we are where we are and people want digital files.

I switch everyday, because like you say, once you sell your digital files bam, there they are for others to manipulate, etc. So I get the fact that you want to control your product line.

I guess for me, I am trying to think what the public wants. 5 years ago, no question they want prints - but now, with everything the way it is, they also want digital files. I am still debating!!! Ideally, I want to just sell prints because I don't want my files thrown every which way. But I also want to sell packages.

You worded your response rather interestingly. Upselling means making the customer purchase more by offering incentives to do so (or something, haha). How is it not up selling when you say, if you spend $200 or so MORE then you will get THIS AND THIS???

I dont know. It literally can go either way. Rather than sit on it for months, I finally posted on website.....and in all honesty, it will probably change. Sadly, there is no magic formula