Possibly selling homemade tombstones for the first time

stoic_clown · #1 11-11-2011

Good afternoon everybody. I'm a new member and first time poster, so please forgive me if I commit any faux pas with my first post.

Like most, if not all of us, I have been making my own yard decorations for the past several years, and have over time gained a certain degree of proficiency at it. My favorite projects are anything that involves crafting/carving from foam board. I make tombstones (don't we all), signs, facades, etc.

So far, I have only focused making my decorations for myself, to spiff up my own yard and my office. However, after this year's yard haunt, for the first time ever I received a request from somebody to make some tombstones for them. Given the amount of time and effort involved, I'm inclined to expect to be paid for them (assuming I agree to it). Since I've never sold any of my homemade decorations before, and I'm far from a professional, I have no idea what would be a fair price to ask for them. Obviously I would want to cover the cost of the materials, but as far as what my time and work is worth, I haven't the foggiest.

Has anybody else ever sold their tombstones to others before? If so, can anybody suggest what would be considered a fair asking price? I'm not greedy, and I'm not looking to get rich or rip anybody off, but I do feel that my time and effort would be worth some degree of compensation. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

DeathTouch · #2 11-11-2011

Not to be negitive and I am certainly not a mod, so what I say means nothing but you might have posted in the wrong spot.

Screaming Demons · #3 11-11-2011

That is some nice work. Step one is to get a new hosting site for your photos. I got a porn popup when I enlarged the first photo.

Second would be to sit down and make an honest assessment of how much time and material you have into each of your designs. Then you need to figure out what four hours (as an example) of your free time is worth. Add that to the cost of materials (don't forget the little things like sandpaper, electricity, gloves, etc.). Then consider adding a little profit. Minimum wage is $8 an hour in my state. If it takes you four hours to make one (don't forget cleanup time) and your materials cost $8 that's $40 you have into it. Do you want more than that? Or can you even get that in your area? If not, you need to consider whether it's worthwhile at all. Do you want to spend your evenings in the garage up to your elbows in styrofoam dust and paint for less than minimum wage?

All things to think about.

stoic_clown · #4 11-11-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeathTouch

Not to be negitive and I am certainly not a mod, so what I say means nothing but you might have posted in the wrong spot.

Thanks for the heads up, Deathtouch. I hoped that a "general" forum would be generic enough for my post. Hopefully a mod can tell em where to redirect it ifthis is the wrong place.

stoic_clown · #5 11-11-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Screaming Demons

That is some nice work. Step one is to get a new hosting site for your photos. I got a porn popup when I enlarged the first photo.

Second would be to sit down and make an honest assessment of how much time and material you have into each of your designs. Then you need to figure out what four hours (as an example) of your free time is worth. Add that to the cost of materials (don't forget the little things like sandpaper, electricity, gloves, etc.). Then consider adding a little profit. Minimum wage is $8 an hour in my state. If it takes you four hours to make one (don't forget cleanup time) and your materials cost $8 that's $40 you have into it. Do you want more than that? Or can you even get that in your area? If not, you need to consider whether it's worthwhile at all. Do you want to spend your evenings in the garage up to your elbows in styrofoam dust and paint for less than minimum wage?

All things to think about.

Wow, really? I've used this photo hosting site several times and I've never gotten a porn pop up before? All I ever get is the photo the links go to. Maybe it just likes you.

I'd like to change them, just to be sure to keep it family friendly, if somebody can suggest a way to edit a post after it's been posted. (Still a bit of a novice at this forum stuff.)

I appreciate the suggestion. Minimun wage may be a good basis for pricing. Like I said, I'm not expecting any great degree of profit and getting rich, I just don't want to do it for free. I enjoy making this stuff, so it's not like I'd be suffering. I guess it will all just depend on how big an order they're going to want, and whether or not I can make myself part with them once they're done.