We’ve all had at least one of these sentences said to us before, haven’t we?
We love your website and loved reading your testimonials but is there anything you can do about your price?
You come highly recommended, is that your best price?
We’re on a really tight budget for our wedding and your fee is much more than we’ve budgeted for, is there anything that you can do?
Your fee is quite high for half an hour’s work, would you consider a reduction?
As our ceremony is only a few months away, could you discount your price?
We love your vibe but we’ve seen another Celebrant who is much cheaper than you. Can you match his/her price?
Whilst as Celebrants we understand the expense that goes into holding a celebratory event, whether it’s a wedding, funeral, baby-naming or other service, being asked to reduce our price does create a potentially awkward start to a working relationship.
As a new Celebrant, who is keen to get bookings and work with wonderful families and couples, you are put in a difficult position of accepting work at a lower price than offered or losing a potential client by not accepting a lower fee.
As a more experienced Celebrant, potential clients are not taking your experience into consideration and are asking you to reduce your price to an amount, which does not reflect the value and years of experience that you have built up.
Why do people ask for discounts?
We live in a consumer culture where discounts, cheap prices, special offers, Black Fridays, Cyber Mondays are all part of our regular vocabulary. Seeking to pay for a product or service for less than what it normally costs is something which is widely encouraged and practiced and something that many consumers expect. It has become such a norm that many people feel confident to seek and ask for all manner of discounts, for all manner of services and products.
Putting anger, annoyance and frustrations aside, it is important to take the right approach to responding to those who ask for discounts, even the enquiries which come across as a bit arrogant, selfish or even, downright rude.
Everyone has their reasons for why they ask for a discount and sometimes there is not a simple response. Sometimes, it’s not about simply saying ‘no’ (even if that is your intention) but giving thoughtful, informative answers which get to the root of people’s enquiries.
In the fourth episode of the Celebrant Survival Podcast, Natasha explores this topic of ‘discounts.’ She discusses the negativity surrounding the D-word and how it has the potential to derail a working relationship before it’s even begun. She also looks at
- Our reactions as Celebrants when we’re asked to discount our prices
- What it means to you and your business to agree to a discount
- When it’s okay to agree to a discount
- How to respond when you’re asked to reduce your prices
Listen below for top tips and advice. Do you often get asked to discount your prices? How do you deal with such enquiries? Leave us a comment below.
***
The Celebrants Collective is a membership platform for Celebrants, from all over the world, who want to undertake ongoing career development on a monthly basis. From live Q&A sessions with industry experts, a Resources Room full of useful and regularly updated celebrant-related material, to celebrant-related articles and tutorials, the Collective is about empowering Celebrants to be the best they can be. Take a look at our full benefits here.
Ps. Have you joined the Celebrants Collective Facebook group. Made up of over 1000 Celebrants worldwide, it’s a great spot for support, advice and camaraderie. Come and join us now.
