Log In
Been talking with a lot of taxidermist about pricing their work. I know this is beating a dead horse, but I would love to hear some feedback and discussion on this topic. Let’s don’t make this a bashing post because people charge different prices. My question is, why do you charge what you do? What determines the prices you put on each thing you mount for the public? Please, once again, lets make this a discussion I hope will benefit us all.
I used various formulas that were taught at business seminars and came up with what i should charge. then i looked at what the other guys were charging and the quality of their work. i then compaired my work to their’s and came up with a price somewhere in the middle that i felt i could live with.
December 8, 2012
Offline
basically just being competitive.
July 22, 2011
Offline
Well, before this year, I used the simple formula of 10 X cost of the form give or take a few dollars rounding for convenience purposes. For example a deer form last year was roughly $50(average) so I was charging $500. After lots of thought and talking to you Vince, and Page, I have changed a few ways of determining prices. There for I am at $600 for a W/T this year and will be going up again next year. Being competitive with others around me does not come into play anywhere in my pricing.
I have been in this industry now for 26 years. I used to have the mindset of, I had to mount everything that I got a phone call on. I would adjust my prices to do that. I was sometimes embarrased to tell the person on the phone what I charged because I was afraid they might take it somewhere else, that was foolish and have not done that in awhile now.
Now when the phone rings, I can’t hardly wait to tell them $600 for a deer head, just to hear their reaction. Oh, and if anyone was wondering, I have all the work I can handle right now.
Here is a spreadsheet I designed for determining pricing. I have a few tweaks to do yet, but it works. Just fill out the grey boxes and it should figure it for you. You will need Microsoft Excel to complete it.
http://timberlandtaxidermy.net…..sheet.html
After being in this discussion many, many, many times I have come to the conclusion that we all have our individual battles to fight with the pricing issue. I can’t speak for anyone but myself but the economy, competitor pricing and most of all deer processors make it very difficult in my area. I ended up only going up 10.00 this year and I am at 460.00. I hear all the time comments like “Parker’s Taxidermy mounts the best deer around BUT he is too high on his prices.” I don’t believe I am the best taxidermist in my area but I really strive to give the customer the best I can. I have had several of my good customer bring deer this year and tell me about the deer processors trying to get them to take their deer to various other taxidermist and telling them how much money they can save. Thankful that I have customers that have been educated over the years the difference in a good and bad deer mount. Just last week I had a new customer call all excited about bringing a deer and when he took it to the processor it ended up at another taxidermist. Needless to say me and the processor had a very unpleasant conversation on the phone. As the deer season is winding down I wish you all the best and may the Lord bless you with a profitable year!
November 28, 2012
Offline
Learning from my mom about taxidermy here in Indiana and she is at $425 this year and never heard anyone compare prices to someone else. We have 5 other taxidermist within a 50 mile radius. Her work speaks for it’s self.
Thanks for sharing that spreadsheet Cole. It is a big help for me!
I charged 450.00 this year.It dropped my intake a little . But these trophy hunters spread the word quick about the high end work they get. I’m the highest in my area and I’m getting deer from other counties now .
Quality mounts come with a price . It took me a while to up my price because of joe blow charges less . Well I’m redoing joe blows deer today . And their happy to pay more to get it done better .
Kevin Halle wrote: Thanks for sharing that spreadsheet Cole. It is a big help for me!
Nice job Cole, should be a big help for many
Kevin Halle wrote: Thanks for sharing that spreadsheet Cole. It is a big help for me!
Did it work, and were you surprised at the results? Were your prices already close to what they should be? I’d be interested to know anyone’s results using it.
Yes, it worked. My prices were somewhat lower that what it computed but not too bad. There was an article a few years back in Taxidermy Today I believe it was, that had a formula similar to yours but one would have to do all the computations the old fashioned way. I like yours better. I think the results were more accurate using the spreadsheet. Thanks again.
Kevin Halle wrote: Yes, it worked. My prices were somewhat lower that what it computed but not too bad. There was an article a few years back in Taxidermy Today I believe it was, that had a formula similar to yours but one would have to do all the computations the old fashioned way. I like yours better. I think the results were more accurate using the spreadsheet. Thanks again.
I wish I would have made it years ago. Once your shop rate is figured, pricing mounts is super fast and easy. It’s also nice to know you really are making money doing this job. I’m trying to make an interactive page online instead of the excel sheet, but so far it’s been tricky.
TAX-E-DERMIST wrote: Here is a spreadsheet I designed for determining pricing. I have a few tweaks to do yet, but it works. Just fill out the grey boxes and it should figure it for you. You will need Microsoft Excel to complete it.
http://timberlandtaxidermy.net…..sheet.html
Very nice, really like what you have done with this spreadsheet. Need to get this in every taxidermist hands in NC, heck every taxidermist period.
TAX-E-DERMIST wrote: I wish I would have made it years ago. Once your shop rate is figured, pricing mounts is super fast and easy. It’s also nice to know you really are making money doing this job. I’m trying to make an interactive page online instead of the excel sheet, but so far it’s been tricky.
Excel is good for business. I’m in the process of fine tuning a P & L statement i came up with. Hopefully it will be finished soon.
I can’t get the spread sheet to open on my end but I can tell you that the people that live around here DO NOT like paying $500 for a deer shdlr or $600 for a bobcat etc. There is a guy down the road from me that is at $300 for a shldr mount and I heard from a reliable source he has over 100 this year. He also processes deer so they get one stop shopping. All that matters here is price I can assure you.
Soggy Man wrote: I can’t get the spread sheet to open on my end but I can tell you that the people that live around here DO NOT like paying $500 for a deer shdlr or $600 for a bobcat etc. There is a guy down the road from me that is at $300 for a shldr mount and I heard from a reliable source he has over 100 this year. He also processes deer so they get one stop shopping. All that matters here is price I can assure you.
No one LIKES to spend ANY money, but that’s not how the world works. The reason none of the taxidermists in your area are getting more than $300 for a shoulder mount, is because they are SCARED to ASK for more than that. The best comment I hear in my shop (MANY times) is this. “You are a hundred dollars higher than (insert name), but I’ll GLADLY pay it”.
100 deer at $300 each is a nightmare. He will work LONG hours to get them done, only to GROSS about 15 thousand dollars (minimum wage AT BEST). No thanks. Only HE knows what his work is worth. There are NUMEROUS taxidermists in very economically depressed areas that charge well over $500 for deer shoulder mounts. If you do good work, and supply good service (mainly turnaround times), you will get plenty of work. It has been proven MANY times.
Soggy Man wrote: …people that live around here DO NOT like paying $500 for a deer shdlr or $600 for a bobcat etc.
The guy that lives here won’t mount a deer for $500 or a bobcat for $600.
September 26, 2011
Offline
If your not going to get a good wage for your time, why even take in the work. You are better to have lower volumes to start and build up to higher volumes at the right price.
Taxidermy Talk Administrator
Stehling’s Taxidermy LLC http://www.stehlingstaxidermy.com
Taxidermy Insider / Learn Taxidermy Online http://www.taxidermyinsider.com
920.650.5457 a.n.stehling@gmail.com
1 Guest(s)
