Where's it gonna end?

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A

artist

CGF II, Certified Grumble Framer Level 2
Joined
Sep 7, 2000
Posts
326
Loc
Uniontown, OH USA
OK kiddies, my morning cigar just went up 10 cents,gasoline is out of sight, our natural gas (heating)has almost tripled in cost, they,re gonna deregulate electricity, and my main distributor sent a notice that everything,(glass,moulding, mat board,supplies) are going up 3-12%.With the xmas we had I don't think we'll make it. I'm really gettin P****d!
 
Okay,Artist, Everyone on God's green earth has gone up on their prices. It's time maybe you(and the rest of us)did so,also?The big difference is "they" aren't afraid to raise their prices. Are you? Don't get po'd, get even. Or maybe get ahead. When was the last time you reviewed your prices? Remember that long tome on pricing, maybe it's time to re-read it. Get out and check your competition(as well as suppliers),analyze your pricing structure, and for goodness sake's, act upon it.The money you might be leaving on the table just might buy you a nice Bass boat
 
As a person from San Diego, I can say without a doubt, if they deregulate power in your state, LOOK OUT !!!!
Your electric and natural gas bills are going to go up between 3 and 6 times.
Last summer our bill went from $160.00 to $750.00 in one month, with no warning whatsoever. They are now saying that it can go up as much as ten times more than that.
I have a question, who can sell a 16 X 20 silver aluminum frame # 11 style with a single mat, dry mount, and fit with regular glass for $650.00 ??? We charge $65.00 for that, times ten, that is what we would have to get for it.
Most people around here are starting to chat about revolution or at least ousting every elected idiot that thinks deregulation is a good thing.
Try getting a good deal at a restaurant in San Diego. Between the power costs and labor increases on the minimum wage it won't happen. Most restaurants are now paying more for power than they do for rent.
Think about that before you vacation here.
John
 
I automatically raise my prices 5% across the board every 12-16 months. I then analyze glass, matboard, moulding, labor, etc. as time allows within the following month or so. (really only about 1-2 hours per subject) and then adjust each category. Seems to work for me, My accountant just told me Wednesday most profitable year ever.
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curlyframer, CPF
 
Hi Folks. I did go up on prices in Nov. while a competitor was giving 40% off. Who was the smart one? All I know is we were off 20% in Dec., but most of the business people I spoke with in our center were off too.
JRB & Silentpix - you just shot my plan down to move to Calif. Nothing holding me here now and thought of coming your way.
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Well, California isn,t the only waco state.
Our home gas heating bill for the month of December was 350.00. The paper said today that there will be a 58% increase in prices for January.which is our coldest month.
It would be great if we could increase our prices like that with no repercussions.
Gee, where are our elected officals when you need them, or maybe the country is really run by big business.
 
Ditto to John & Kara. Plus - check your electric bills. I think even though they lowered the price, we're building a "debt" with them & will pay the difference sooner or later. Our local grocery store is keeping half the lights off and no music. I'm in the process of raising my prices.

Cody - its too crowded here too. I'm always saying I'm going to Wyoming - but then I'll have to buy a coat
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My electric bill doubled for Dec. too & I'm not even at home all day, dog is, but hey, he's got his own fur coat. How in the heck can the utility companies get away with such increases. JRB -up to $750. my gosh that's a house payment. Maybe I'll stay put for now. Now back to Artist's question - Where's it gonna end?????? Could start framing utility bills.
 
I am in the process of raising prices also. With the prices of everything going up for me, I have to consider they are going up for my employees, also. I have one looking for a raise, and three that are overdue, but not asking. I'm giving something to everyone, but I cannot absorb the cost. I doubt that any of my customers are going to notice a few extra dollars on their bill.
 
Hang in there Artist! Just a wee little increase in your pricing should cover the increase. A $10.00 mat is now $10.80. No big deal to the customer.
 
With interest, I read some of the responses on increasing prices, and if I may offer a few suuggestions?While all prices need to have a relevance to your costs, so do they need the same to your market. Also,include some logic to your structure. For example,Sumik, instead of raising to $10.80, why not $11.00? I agree that it's probably no big deal to the customer, so why not round off and pocket the extra .20 times how many mats.Also, do you know what the median range for that item in your market? It might be $12.00, so you have even more room to go up. Just a few quick thoughts
 
Bob- I did raise my prices just before xmas as tadporter suggested. It seemed to work well. I'm just hacked that everything is going out of sight. The other night my asked me to stop and pick up a few tomatoes for her restuarant and when I gave her the bill she went into orbit. When in **** did tomatoes go to $2.50 apiece. We took them back,to say the least. That night - no sliced tomatoes on the submarime sangys.
 
Artist-I'm not disagreeing with you on prices, just don't be left behind. In the restaurant biz you get some goofy seasonal pricing, just remember that they balance out and sometimes you have to absorb the difference. The harvest prices usually offset. But we don't have those flucutations, so adjust accordingly to stay ahead. When's it gonna end? The beauty of the free market system is when demand diminishes, prices go down. No other real reason. Just stay on top of it and you should be fine. Fret over it and you'll probably get run over by it. Just act accordingly. But just like your produce purveyor, he didn't blink when he went up. Neither should you. You might ask him how many others passed on the tomatoes.
 
Free Market is a realitive term. Who is feeding the Bulldog? What I resent is that when I raise prices to the appropriate level, the utility company takes my increase last month. I can't go back and charge my customers an extra 30% after receiving my bill.
 
Le-Appropriate is the magic word here. Assuming your utility expense is 3-4%, are your prices tht close to the bone that your biz is devastated by that difference? If I can suggest, your prices should reflect enough margin to allow an 8-10% bottom line, after paying yourself. Possibly a closer review of your entire cost structure might be needed. Like I advised Artist, don't get left behind. If your utilities went from $300 to $390 (a 30% increase), while it's not fun to pay more, just react accordingly. You'll be fine. Remember everyone else is paying the same increases that you have, and has probably reacted accordingly. Don't get mad, just get ahead
 
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