Commissions for Family

[mbevington]

I have a question for everyone. Do you charge your family if they ask you to do a carving for them. My dad wants me to make a nativity for a christmas gift. He does not know that I am making 7 sets of nativities for christmas gifts. I feel bad charging him but I have put alot on my plate and one more set seems to be alot. I think I'm just going to charge him the cost of material.
Just wondering what others do in this situation, or what would you do?
Thanks
Mark

[whitecree]

I run into the same thing myself. Not from mom & dad so much, but from other family members.

I take into account if brother or sister or cousin or whatever is working and can actually afford something. If they're flush, then why not charge? Give'em a discount, certainly, but if you went to their place of work, would they give you something free from their employer's store?

If my dad wanted a carving for himself, I'd just give it to him. I wouldn't even worry about material costs. My dad gave me a heckuva lot when I was a kid and in the years since, and I'd be happy as anything to make something for him.

If he was going to sell or give away what I made for him, I might change my mind.

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Well unfortunately my Dad has passed on, but no way could I charge him for anything! I know many times he had way too much on his "plate"!

[Ashbys]

My father had gone as well , but if he ever wanted anything I could make , I would never consider charging him for it.

Now that said, My mother the same, the gifts my mother has given , the knowing of fixed income , giving of my time not a consideration.

Brother and sister , they ask free as well , but they would be aware they might have to wait on it. This includes inlaws. Beyond that if I chose to make it for a gift for them , then it is a gift , if they ask they should be aware they will be cost involved.

Ash

[Lynn O. Doughty]

I always add an additional 15 percent for relatives. It's a little payback for thinking they're going to get a better price just because their related!! (only kidding!)

[Tom-H]

Moms and Dads get it for nothing....If it's for them...My sister wanted me to make her a Noahs Ark with 18 sets of animals. I said, but it may take a while. She asked me "How much will I charge?" I said, "hey, you're my sister" She replied, "Yes, but your sister is going to give the Noahs Ark away as a gift, and unless I pay for it; the gift would be from you" She paid for it. Tom H

[Kenny_S]

I wish my father and mother was alive so I could give them a carving.

No Mark, I wouldn't, ever.
After all, did he charge you for the things he did for you?

[Kenny_S]

Lynn, I had a relative like that, Strangers got good deals on tires, friends got what it cost him plus time and labor, relative got the tires for 20% more than what he paid for them plus time and labor plus 10%.
Never did go to him for tires and he always got upset when I came to family reunions with a set of new tires, I didn't buy from him.

[arbarnhart]

Your dad wants a nativity to give to someone or for himself? If it is for soemone else, is it other family? A nativity is not the kind of thing you give to business associates, so I am guessing this is family. I vote freebee.

[dart]

I don't charge my relatives but sometimes I do get a "donation."