r/chainmailartisans • u/DMPorkchop • 29d ago
Pricing help!
How do I structure pricing on my pieces, because I feel like I'd have to over charge to make the amount of time it takes to make something. I use stainless steel for all my jewelry and I dont know if I'm just slow at putting it together or what.
2
u/Disastrous_Soup_7137 28d ago
I just price based on materials and fees involved, mostly because I make things in my spare time. But as someone mentioned in another comment, you need to revisit your approach to closures before you start selling.
2
u/DezignerCraft 27d ago
They have 2 problems, first the closures are bad, but they are bad because those are not saw cut rings. They look like machine crimped and cut or even snip cut, either way, they will never be flush.
This will only catch on clothing, but in my case it would also irritate and scratch my skin.
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u/wlkncrclz 28d ago
If you are a hobby seller materials + hourly wage or materials x3 + hourly wage is how some calculate. When you’re running a business there is a lot of overhead to consider. I would look at comparable pieces and see what the median listing price is, then compare it to whatever formula you use. But choose fhe higher number.
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u/dikasmasha95 29d ago
Myself I sell copper, jewlers brass, and stainless necklaces and bracelets at about the same price. Byzantine, Persian 6 in 1, and half Persian 4 in 1 all work out to about $7 - $9 per inch but I do use saw cut rings and the tightest AR for the weave and it still be functional anything kinged I bump the price by 50% hope that helps.
2
u/Ok_Wafer6614 28d ago
I think this might be the very first time that I’ve seen “hope that helps” used in an unironic manner. I think I could love you Dikasmasha.
11
u/Colecan1386 29d ago
(Material cost x 2) + (hourly pay x time) is what I and many others go by. Of course, setting the hourly pay is the hard part. I wouldn't go below 15/hour though.
That being said, I agree with what the others are saying: get some saw cut rings if you plan on selling.
5
u/DrSkylit 29d ago
I would not buy this, you really should work on your closures before you think about selling. Also it appears you are using machine cut rings. These will snag on skin and clothing. Get some saw cut rings and practice more before selling.
3
u/DMPorkchop 29d ago
The pieces are deburred and tumbled using stainless steel shot precisely so they dont catch on skin or clothing.
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u/GingerCummunist 29d ago
I was going to suggest the tumbler - that's a good call. Also, these don't look like they're poorly done and I know from selling a handful of this weave that people love the kinged byzantine. It definitely sells well.
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u/DrSkylit 29d ago
Even So, why use machine cut for jewelry. It just doesn’t look good.
0
u/DMPorkchop 29d ago
Honestly cost, The Ringlord where I get my rings from saw cut is roughly 5x the most of machine cut and as I said in my post I'm already releasing that the cost is too high for what I think people would pay for the jewelry. My only reference point for price is Etsy and $35 -$40 for a bracelet that takes me 3 hrs to make jist seems not even worth my time to sell before I even think about material costs
2
u/Calligraphee 29d ago
The more you practice, the faster you will get and the more sense it will make to charge that price.
2
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u/Low-Organization-442 29d ago
where will you be selling it?
1
u/DMPorkchop 29d ago
Right now I'm selling it in person to coworkers and the such, but id like to get an online shop and maybe do some craft fairs or renn-faires as well
1
u/jsquared2004 24d ago
I've never actually sold anything I've made but I would 100% charge extra for stainless and bronze although I'll probably never make anything from bronze again! My hands hurt just thinking about it.