[jamesfa]

without giving away any secrets,how do those that sell their carvings arrive at a price.
I hadn't any intention of selling my carvings because as new carver i didn't think the quality is there yet,nowhere near what i've see on picture trail.however i was asked the other day if a carving i had just finished was for sale.being so surprised and unprepared i had no idea what i should charge.

[David_Aaron_Sercel]

jamesfa,

I have never really found a good answer to that question. I have only
been selling mine for about two years.

You can't really go by the time it takes, charging a certain amount
per hour; because two carvings of about the same size, and the
same value in the eyes of a costomer, can take different amounts
of time due to the subject.

I find that the best way to come up with a price is to go to shows
and look for carvings that are comprable to yours, and get a feel
for what they are selling for.

It also helps to find someone who does similer work to yours and has
been selling their work for a while, and ask them to take a look at
your work and see if they could give any advice.

The only thing I sell is canes and sticks.
An uncarved stick I sell from $15 to $20 depending on the type of wood. For a cane I start at $40 and go up. For a Stick that has been carved with a wood spirit I start at $50 and go up. I have a couple that would go between $150 to $200 ut those are very nice. Most of my wood spirit sticks sell for around $75. Depends on the type of wood, amount of detail, type of handle, type of grip and or loop, and type of finish. I also judge them as to whether they are my better work or just ordinary. Another factor I consider is how bad I need the money at the time someone offers to buy 1 and how close they are willing to pay to what I was asking. Some people like to haggle. One of my favorite things to do to the hagglers is when hey offer a lower price than what i had originally quoted is to come back at them when an even higher price than my first quote. as their offer goes down my price goes up. Seems to stop the haggling and get back to my original quote.

[Colin_Partridge]

James,
I know you have been to my shows so you know how much I charge and I have been told by my peers that my prices are much too low that I should be charging three to four times what I charge. I look at it this way I am probably the most honest person in the world so I would feel very guilty about overcharging for a carving. On the other hand what is considered over charging? I charge a reasonable price and I sell lots the other guy that charges a fortune maybe sells one only once in a while. Charge what you think is a fair price consider your costs, material, labour sometimes you may have to go on a excursioon into the woods to collect the wood this is all time spent. Bottom line if you are happy with the price you are getting then thats the price you should charge if you are not selling anything then maybe your prices are too high.
Hope this has helped it is a very hard question to answer.
Colin

good answer Collin

Your carvings are a one of a kind and there are never any two just alike and that in itself is worth something.
I have heard from many customers that they could get a simular product from some store elsewhere for a much lower price and I tell them that thousands of other people can get the same product as well. But if they want something that no-one else has, then they are welcomed to purchase one of my carvings.
I dont like to sell my carvings at Trade-Days or Flea-Markets because people go there for getting things at cheaper prices.
If you want to sell your carvings for better prices, go to carving shows or someplace where art is sold. There are mostly people there for the sole purpose of buying a certain hand made item. I once made two walking sticks that were about the same and priced one of them for $95.00 and the other for $225.00 and they both sold that same day.
There's allways that one person out there who will pay a higher price for something they want , it's just a matter of how long you are willing to wait for that person.
Whittlebit.

[dart]

I'd have to agree with whittlebit. But people think that woodcarving is just like 'crafts' and should be given to them or sold in the 'craft' sections of a business. I feel that I put a lot of time and effort into making a 'one-of-a-kind' work of art. I do not wish to give away my work nor sell it for a dollar or two at most. Woodcarving is a talent one must have to produce something nice and one-of-a-kind only. An original.

Well said Whittlebit

I have noticed that when I carve the wood spirits that no 2 are ever the same. I have tried to make them look the same. it just seems that they always seem to be different. I start the same way each time. I do every thing the same, they just all turn out different. Some look better than others and I spend about the same amount of time on each of them. I just finished a couple of sticks. Both are from Pecan. Spent the same amount of time on each, sticks are very similar as far as shape of the stick. The wood spirit on 1 looks so much better than the other. When it is time to sell them the better looking 1 will be in the higher price range while the the other although it still looks good will be of a lesser price. Although the time and material cost are the same, I think the better looking 1 should sell for a higher price.
I have been watching some sticks for sale on Ebay. Some are selling for around $10 (example: Sassafrass 5 foot finished and oiled or pollyurthene with a leather loop and a good rubber tip for $10). No way would I sell 1 of mine for that cheap. I would rather give them away than sell for that amount. Now there are some cheapies that look to be made in Taiwan supposedly hand carved for $5 to $10 on Ebay. I purchased 1 of the same sticks in a Dollar store for $2. looks to be exactly the same stick as on Ebay.
I would also suggest staying from Ebay unless yo set a minimum price to begim with. Most people who shop Ebay are looking for a bargain. Many of the same items I have seen on Ebay are available at Flea Markets and you do not have to pay shipping.
Now do not get me wrong, there is some good stuff available on Ebay at great prices. I have seen some very nice merchandise on Ebay that people were sellimg due to retirement or liquidating an estate.
When I was takig physical therapy i always had a sick with me when I went. One day the owner of the Physical therapy asked me about the sticks and where I got them. i always had a different stick every time I went. I told him I made them. he said he would like to but 1. Next time I went, I had 6 sticks with me. A lady just leaving the clinic bought 1 and he bought the other 5.
Every time I leave the house, I have a least 1 stick with me. Usually 1 I am willing to sell. I do this for 2 reasons.
1. I need a stick to aid me in walking especially if I have to be on my feet very much and will be getting up and down a few times (like in a waiting room at the Dr.) or if I know there will be steps at the place I am going.
2. It is a good way to show some of my work. i HAVE SOLD A COUPLE OF STICKS, this way. People will see the stick when I am at Wall Mart or somewhere and comment on it. We will talk and when I tell them i made it, and next thing you know I have sold it. Some want it for themselves and some want it for a familly member.
Like I sated earlier in this thread, I make sticks and canes, usually with a carving in the stick (usually a wood spiritt). Mine are what I would call an old fashion Country style cane or stick. They have not been turned to get them perfectly straight. They have the natural look (bent curved and can see where branches were removed). I prefer this type of stick to the type sold in pharmacies or the pharmacy department at Wallmart.

[nadcarves]

jamesfa, selling, and the prices depend on you. First never put yourself down ,if a person asks to purchase a carving,the quality is there. I carve to exist,my wifes Rx's are greater than my social insecurity,and she will be having an operation this year that comes out of my pocket,OK, I buy the Jag roadster next year. Second,never overestimate the amount of money people have to spend. Third, enjoy your carving, and what you learn. If you are going to sell,observe the ones selling,the prices, where they are in comparison to your ability. Guestimate the time and ask the time it took them. You will start getting a handle on prices. Forgot who did the birds this thread,his home site, the prices are very fair,and the work excellent. I do an 18 inch loon,total time 2.0 hours,wacked out on a duplicarver,carved,sanded,painted and get 70 dollars,in a shop less 30 percent.There is a 54 inch Santa in the upper hall,I need help getting it down to finish,app 800.oo. Sitting next to me a photo of a 44 inch Santa a gal wants and will pay 700.oo. Am not a computer person,otherwise would put on trails ,however,even with instructions,I can't even bring it up. So if you want to see the crummy work I do and get 700.oo for, send an e-mail, I learned how to use a scanner last week.. cordially Nad One other item,people equate size with price,in many cases, it is quicker to go larger,double the price and actually have less time in the carving.......

Nad
i am in the same boat you are in almost. My short term ds ins just ran out was getting 80% of my gross whic amounts to about the same thing i was bringing home. had to start paying full cost of my med ins $300/month. Had to drop that. Luckily i have some long term dis ins. it only pays me about 50% of what i was making. I applied and was denied disability fro SS.
I have an appointment with a lawyer next week to file an apeal. SS denied my clain before they enve got all of the med records from the Dr.
looks like i need to sell 4 to 10 sticks a month.
First stick I sold, I was not even trying to sell. I was out and someone saw the stick and commented on it. They wanted to buy it. It was not 1 of my better pieces. Made me feel great . I am deffinitely my own worst critic. Lil woman likes everything I carve. I acuse her of being predudice. When someone outside of friends and family like your work and want to buy it, then you know it is really worth selling. Until I sold that first stick, i just thought she was being her normal nice self and building my ego. I did not think that 1 in particular was woth selling. There is a guy who has posteds some of his work on my yahoo group that recently sold 1 of his sticks for $900. He had a lot mre detail in that 1 than I put in mine.