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Hey all.
I've been working on curtains for a lady I met at a local sewing store. She bought curtains that were meant to go on rods, and needed them altered for a hook & pully curtain system. Each window took 2-sets of sheer curtains and 2 sets of embroidered curtains that needed to be pleated to X length. There were 2-windows to do. Additionally, she had 1-curtain left-over to be cut into 2 for another 2-windows; one window with a rod, one with a pully system. So I did 17 curtains total and averaged about 2 hrs of work per curtain, in addition to 5-visits to hang the curtains for her averaging about 1 hr each. I spent about $35 in thread, ribbon, hooks, etc. I normally charge about 10$ an hour. I figured I would just average the time and make it $20 flat fee per curtain. But, charging $340 plus $35 in supplies, plus $50 for 5 appointments...It seems like charging 425$ is just too much. The work on the curtains ranged over about 3-months, as she understood it was a side-job, so each set of curtains took approx. 3-weeks. This included all the measuring to pleat the curtains from 60in down to 40, with the number of pleats depending on how many hooks the system had; so pleating on all 4 sets was different. I also had to modify hooks to fit her track system.
So, does 425$ seem fair? I'm not a pro and had to improvise to get the curtains she bought to hang like she wanted, but they look damn good and a professional alterations person would have charged her $25 or 30$ an hour. I also took the time to hang the curtains for her and moved furniture to do so. We never really discussed price, I told her I was keeping track of expenses and would be fair and that my price averaged 10$ an hour, so it seems she trusts me. but seeing it all added up is different, and I don't want her to think I'm trying to rip a little old lady off.
I've been working on curtains for a lady I met at a local sewing store. She bought curtains that were meant to go on rods, and needed them altered for a hook & pully curtain system. Each window took 2-sets of sheer curtains and 2 sets of embroidered curtains that needed to be pleated to X length. There were 2-windows to do. Additionally, she had 1-curtain left-over to be cut into 2 for another 2-windows; one window with a rod, one with a pully system. So I did 17 curtains total and averaged about 2 hrs of work per curtain, in addition to 5-visits to hang the curtains for her averaging about 1 hr each. I spent about $35 in thread, ribbon, hooks, etc. I normally charge about 10$ an hour. I figured I would just average the time and make it $20 flat fee per curtain. But, charging $340 plus $35 in supplies, plus $50 for 5 appointments...It seems like charging 425$ is just too much. The work on the curtains ranged over about 3-months, as she understood it was a side-job, so each set of curtains took approx. 3-weeks. This included all the measuring to pleat the curtains from 60in down to 40, with the number of pleats depending on how many hooks the system had; so pleating on all 4 sets was different. I also had to modify hooks to fit her track system.
So, does 425$ seem fair? I'm not a pro and had to improvise to get the curtains she bought to hang like she wanted, but they look damn good and a professional alterations person would have charged her $25 or 30$ an hour. I also took the time to hang the curtains for her and moved furniture to do so. We never really discussed price, I told her I was keeping track of expenses and would be fair and that my price averaged 10$ an hour, so it seems she trusts me. but seeing it all added up is different, and I don't want her to think I'm trying to rip a little old lady off.
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