$50 custom frame for millionaire

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cjmst3k

cjmst3k

SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
Joined
Apr 25, 2006
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4,414
I had a customer visit me a couple weeks ago. She had a small 10x11 painting of a dumpster... yes, a dumpster... that she wanted to frame. Didn't want to spend more than $50. I showed her a few I could frame it with for $50, but she didn't like them. I showed her others which were more, and she resisted. It was too much for her to think about, so she had to come back. She finally settled on a frame which was $65. It was like pulling teeth to get her to spend more than $50, but got the sale.

She picked up the piece today, very happy. As I wrapped the piece, she was telling me about a giclee she had made of her original Monet, which she has the original on loan to the local museum. (original Monet, I'm thinking... THIS customer?)

Out of curiosity I decide to zillow.com her address after she leaves... She owns a $3,999,000 property (which is the most expensive property I've ever seen around here). I can't believe someone of such wealth who has this expensive of a home and an original Monet to be super price concerned not to go over $50. :)
 
I hear you loud and clear! We, at our dealership, (in the car business) have many customers who are into oil, huge farms, (ranches) and just old rich folks, we have a lot of german background here, and trying to get them to part with a nickel is like trying to catch a rattlesnake with a blindfold on. But, maybe that's why they have it! Randy J.
 
Hey............It was a picture of a dumpster afterall.............:shutup: :D
 
Maybe you were being tested out. I've had thet happen, and have recommended customer do it themselves. Bring in the trash artwork, watch how he treats my trash art. If no good, oh well, what's $50, if she likes it maybe she'll bring in the Monet!

Sounds like you passed!

But then again I have a customer that is the richest lady I know in Kennebunk. All the work I do for her is under $50. She's rich because she doesn't give her money away! Haven't made any "real" money off her, but her freinds, they spend! and She sends them in. Cheap frames are free advertising!
 
Because they have it, doesn't mean that they like to spend it.

I have a long time customer who has a home in that price range (higher) and built up his business to a Fortune 500 level. He once ordered a frame over the phone for a painting he owned. He specified a gold swan shape frame. When he returned he was upset that I had a 22k gold frame($1.200) around his $5mil painting. That was just too expensive for him. He wanted a "gold color' frame($250.00).

At the time I was doing about $75k per year in business with his company. What do you think I did?
 
JFeig said:
Because they have it, doesn't mean that they like to spend it.

I have a long time customer who has a home in that price range (higher) and built up his business to a Fortune 500 level. He once ordered a frame over the phone for a painting he owned. He specified a gold swan shape frame. When he returned he was upset that I had a 22k gold frame($1.200) around his $5mil painting. That was just too expensive for him. He wanted a "gold color' frame($250.00).

At the time I was doing about $75k per year in business with his company. What do you think I did?
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Wow... he thought $1,200 was too much for a 5 million dollar painting? He didn't know the price before you ordered it? I had a customer spend $2,500 in 90 seconds to frame a not-so-good portrait of their child... funny the differences between customers.
 
Not this time. He called me from his car on the way to the airport for a ride on his private plane. It was to be done by the time he returned.
 
JFeig said:
Not this time. He called me from his car on the way to the airport for a ride on his private plane. It was to be done by the time he returned.
Click to expand...

hahahahaha!!! "It was to be done by the time he returned."

I'd say that type of rush service deserves a special charge anyway. :)
 
Out of curiosity I decide to zillow.com her address after she leaves... She owns a $3,999,000 property (which is the most expensive property I've ever seen around here). I can't believe someone of such wealth who has this expensive of a home and an original Monet to be super price concerned not to go over $50. :)[/QUOTE]

Chris,
It can be tough to ascertain who is willing to spend a lot for framing and who isn't. Income and assets aren't always good indicators. We have wealthy clients who really tight, and less affluent customers who will spend good money in order to get exactly what they like. Then again, maybe your customer with the dumpster painting really didn't care a great deal about that particular piece of work, but is willing to spend more on something that is more meaningful. I had that experience in my first encounter with one of our best customers. She wanted a cracked piece of glass replaced on a print that was in a really junky, beat up frame. She wanted the frame and matting saved, which were in rough shape. Turns out it was just a piece of artwork hanging in her laundry room. She has subsequently been in quite a few times and spent far more.
 
The more they have, the less they like parting with it. :icon11: There is a moral there somewhere......

There are a lot of rich farmers around where I live. The younger ones aren't so bad, but the old boys are hard work. I have had some in the shop haggling over a few pence and pleading poverty with a new 60k Range Rover parked outside.

There is a saying over here: "You never see a farmer on a bike".

(framer maybe, never a farmer):shrug:
 
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