"I'll do it for £7!" - not just photography

[Biomech]

In retrospect, that probably isn't the clearest of thread titles :P

In 1.5 days, I finish my day job and do photography full time. Until then, I'm here selling and providing support for TV/A/V systems. And today is phase one of the "big digital switchover" where the analogue TV signal goes and all we have is digital.

With this in mind, I've been offering my services as a TV and IT veteran. I posted on a local "for sale" group on facebook about it, I'll retune peoples kit for £20 this week or £30 for both of the 2 dates - and then I'm met with a guy proclaiming "I'll do it all for £7, you don't need any experience in anything!". Ridiculous really, sure it's easy, but many old people get very stuck and would rather someone come and do it for them.

So I pointed out that you can very well get someone who has "no experience in anything" to do it, or me, a professional (surely an easy choice). I enquired how much he'd be in profit after travel, time, petrol and income tax - assuming of course (you're) declaring it and not illegally making a profit. I have an enquiry from another town, a good £10 in petrol away :P

I don't mind people doing this kind of thing, because I can sell my services better and they disappear after a couple of weeks. But christ it's annoying and can really damage the industry.

[Ambrosia76]

I completely understand where you are coming from. We have several small grooming shops in this area, Basically people with a converted shed in their yard that own a grooming guide and a pair of clippers. I can't count the number of times I have heard "well so and so does it for $25-30.' Ok well so and so has no training,washes your dog with dish soap,drys it with a cold box fan, and makes it look like it got hit with a weed whacker so if that is what you want go and get it. If you want me to wash your dog with professional shampoo,hand dry it and spend an hour scissoring so it looks good enough for the show ring you pay my price.

[Jim Bryant]

No mater what you do....there's always someone who'll do it cheaper. Unfortunately, there's way too many customers who'll rather buy on the cheap.

[UlpilotSC]

I was looking on facebook at one of my friends pages. He had his kids picture taken by "insert name here Photography". I checked her page out. Not bad work, but her prices floored me. Sitting fee $30. CD with hi res images - $45. Or you can buy a few prints and the CD is only $30.
This isnt podunk nowhere, its greenville/spartanburg SC, which is a pretty populous area. Couldnt believe it was that cheap. I wonder what the true pros in the area charge... I guess theres always someone willing to charge less, and people desperate to pay less.

[candleman]

The cheaper they are, the faster they go out of business too.

[Donal]

IF you think it's bad when someone under cuts the job you're doing, try get your mind around a few people taking out the economy of your country and leaving THIS for the people to sort out.

I know it's not photography, but it's not a pretty picture...

[dalmorloson]

Originally Posted by Jim Bryant

No mater what you do....there's always someone who'll do it cheaper. Unfortunately, there's way too many customers who'll rather buy on the cheap.

Just walk into wal mart and look around

[Bruce A]

Well folks, it's always been this way. That's private enterprise. You just have to market yourself better, offer a value for money service - you'll win some and lose some to the cowboys/girls. That's life. It's better than the alternative.

[Bruce A]

Originally Posted by Donal

IF you think it's bad when someone under cuts the job you're doing, try get your mind around a few people taking out the economy of your country and leaving THIS for the people to sort out.

I know it's not photography, but it's not a pretty picture...

Very scary stuff - and the US government could be shutting down tomorrow.