I don't know.

[woodburner807]

Late to the thread, but if I sell something via the business, then a minimum would be $500 then up. Hobby stuff I give away.

[NoDNA]

I made a mistake on a carving,, Then it came out as a very nice BETTER item. 2 pieces instead of one. IMHO a beauty. Then a niece says goosh that is a beauty I will give you 200. for it. My niece!! That was 2-3 years ago. I refused to sell it, she was broken hearted, I could have given it to her then as she is my favorite. I am still waiting to just send it to her. I think she has a BD coming up. ,, And as far as selling, I would love to sell my hangers on, but when someone admires anything and I can see that gleam in those eyes. Heck I just gotta hand it over. ..
Cheers and Merry days
Chuck

[Claude]

...

On last thought, I rather give something away and feel good about it, than to have someone offer me $5 for something that took me several hrs (days) to make and just feel insulted.

I hear you, grandpajim. I started selling my carvings because I didn't have any more shelf space in the house. I carve because I want to carve and I need to carve. My friends and family had already gotten enough (their words) carvings, so I had to do something. I use the pricing thoughts I mentioned earlier to come up with a price. It won't make me rich and I figure, being honest with myself, my pricing is usually less than minimum wage. I make enough through sales that I have to pay taxes on it, but that's ok. I have to pay Social Security tax (~15%) on my earnings, which is laughable, since I've been drawing SS retirement for 10 years... But that's ok... Government rules and all... The upside is that since I am operating a business, I can write off all my tools purchases, wood, trips to the p0st office, etc. as expenses.

Claude

[Arthur C.]

i'm coming to this party a little late, (just joined the forum), but i wanted to throw my two cents in.
I don't charge for my carvings. Most are given as gifts or if its made per specific request i'll only ask for material costs.

I'm retired and one of the most important things for me is keeping busy. I don't have an hourly rate because if i'm not in the shop i'd be watching tv (which i don't get paid to do). Having said that, if someone sees something for sale and ask me if i can make them one I'll say no, you should just buy it. Just because i'm working for free doesn't mean i want to take a sale away from someone who isn't.

On last thought, I rather give something away and feel good about it, than to have someone offer me $5 for something that took me several hrs (days) to make and just feel insulted.

I like the way you think.

[grandpajim]

i'm coming to this party a little late, (just joined the forum), but i wanted to throw my two cents in.
I don't charge for my carvings. Most are given as gifts or if its made per specific request i'll only ask for material costs.

I'm retired and one of the most important things for me is keeping busy. I don't have an hourly rate because if i'm not in the shop i'd be watching tv (which i don't get paid to do). Having said that, if someone sees something for sale and ask me if i can make them one I'll say no, you should just buy it. Just because i'm working for free doesn't mean i want to take a sale away from someone who isn't.

On last thought, I rather give something away and feel good about it, than to have someone offer me $5 for something that took me several hrs (days) to make and just feel insulted.

[Arthur C.]

I don't sell, but I like Claude's formula for determining price!

[Berg]

Don't be surprised if you never hear from them again when you give them a price.

[Muddy Dog]

Here's an opinion 180 out from previous posts by my respected and excellent fellow carvers. Don't charge anything unless you're specifically trying to go into business to supplement your income. I have a standing rule. If a stranger asks me to make them something I outright tell them that I don't carve for profit, I carve for self-satisfaction and for a few friends. If a friend asks for a carving I ask them what do they want and when would they like it; and that I don't make any promises but I'll try to fill their request. Over my thirty years in the carving world I've found that what you get in return usually is twice the worth of what could be charged. And I'm not talking about money. I'm talking about goodwill, friendship, joy, smiles and laughs. And oh how I love those smiles and laughs. And every once in awhile you receive something totally unexpected in return that you never would have asked for. Just as an example I had a good friend ask for a cane for her ailing mother. I told her that I would be more than happy to make a cane. Shortly after I mailed it off I received a check for .... if I remember correctly, $300.00. I immediately returned it and told my friend that payment was not part of our agreement. But ever since then, every three or four months or so, there's a knock on the front door and one of my friend's employees hands us a bag of freshly baked, home made, English Muffins, the kind that just melt in your mouth and taste wonderful whether they're toasted or plain. And every time I'm reminded that if I had taken the check I probably wouldn't have the pleasure of these wonderful gifts. As the saying goes..... “Life is an echo. What you send out, comes back. What you sow, you reap. What you give, you get. What you see in others, exists in you. Remember, life is an echo. It always gets back to you. So give goodness. ” ~ Unknown

Excellent answer. BRAVO ZULU!!!
GO NAVY!!!

[Claude]

I sell a lot of my work. My friends and family have all gotten numerous carvings from me (no charge). I got to the point where they didn't want any more, and I was running out of room at home to store them, so I started selling through ETSY. To make it short, ETSY manages all the computer stuff, credit card charges, etc., for about 7-8% of the sales price. I pay the shipping (I choose to...). I still give away several carvings per year to charity auctions, relatives, or just because...

Pricing: I tend to go by some advice I received a long time ago. Ask yourself the following set of questions:
Would I take $500 for it? Heck, yes!
Would I take $200 for it? Yes!
Would I take $100 for it? Uh...yeah!
Would I take $75 for it? Ummm...yeah
Would I take $50 for it? I guess... <----- There's your price.
Would I take $40 for it? No...

Claude

[Eddy-Smiles]

Here's an opinion 180 out from previous posts by my respected and excellent fellow carvers. Don't charge anything unless you're specifically trying to go into business to supplement your income. I have a standing rule. If a stranger asks me to make them something I outright tell them that I don't carve for profit, I carve for self-satisfaction and for a few friends. If a friend asks for a carving I ask them what do they want and when would they like it; and that I don't make any promises but I'll try to fill their request. Over my thirty years in the carving world I've found that what you get in return usually is twice the worth of what could be charged. And I'm not talking about money. I'm talking about goodwill, friendship, joy, smiles and laughs. And oh how I love those smiles and laughs. And every once in awhile you receive something totally unexpected in return that you never would have asked for. Just as an example I had a good friend ask for a cane for her ailing mother. I told her that I would be more than happy to make a cane. Shortly after I mailed it off I received a check for .... if I remember correctly, $300.00. I immediately returned it and told my friend that payment was not part of our agreement. But ever since then, every three or four months or so, there's a knock on the front door and one of my friend's employees hands us a bag of freshly baked, home made, English Muffins, the kind that just melt in your mouth and taste wonderful whether they're toasted or plain. And every time I'm reminded that if I had taken the check I probably wouldn't have the pleasure of these wonderful gifts. As the saying goes..... “Life is an echo. What you send out, comes back. What you sow, you reap. What you give, you get. What you see in others, exists in you. Remember, life is an echo. It always gets back to you. So give goodness. ” ~ Unknown

[Randy]

When I started selling thing it was hard to set a price. I Just did not know what my work was real worth after all I was new at this carving stuff. A freind who made his living doing water color paintings said your work is worth material cost and what you can get. But if a person got (AT THE TIME) $5 an hour to pass a hamberger across the counter then my time was worth at least that. Today they are getting $15. Don't sell your skills and time short.

[Merle Rice]

Hi, M Dog, I feel the price of Carvings has a lot to with your Location . Your little Indian took a lot of work and if it was mine to sell I wouldn't take less than $ 50.00 for it . That might be a Starting Point for you . You could ask the Client what his Budget is . Just my 2 cents . Merle

[Muddy Dog]

I recently carved a Little Cigar Store Indian, I posted the picture here and on my Facebook page.
A friend on my Facebook page saw it and said he wanted one exactly like and to name my price.
To be perfectly honest I have never sold any of my carvings and do not know how to price them.
The Little Cigar Store Indian is 1 5/8" x 1 5/8" x 4" and can be seen in the Caricature Carvings Forum.
Any suggestions would be most appreciative.