prices

[gamtcixzkr]

In our economic climate, I wonder how many reflexolgists out there have reduced prices? and by how much?

 

[x man P]

Hi
I'm not a reflexologist but I do others therapies and have reduced my rates by about £5. Had have a few extra bookings since.
Allie

 

[Wanna play?]

I'm not a reflexologist either, but don't drop your prices! That's the route to, at best, being very busy and making no money.

If you feel you need to do more to attract or keep clients add more value in some way, or offer an even better service.

Or another way of looking at this ... are you charging enough? Play with some price points in your mind and note how they feel to you. How does doubling your current fee feel? If that's too uncomfortable visualise a few pounds less then that, until you find a point that feels good. If doubling actually feels very comfortable double again ... play

My bank manager once told me to reduce my fees to rock bottom as the only way of getting clients (in a small rural area). I did so and it made no difference at all. Now my fees would cause her to fall off her chair and I've got more clients than ever.

Just my experience of course

 

[Chrisy]

I do reflexology as well as many other therapies and the thought of lowering my prices hasn't even entered my head. I haven't been affected at all by the current ecomonic climate. I had actually thought about putting my hot stone prices up!

I agree with DeepTrance. iI you lower your prices now, clients won't like it when you put them back up again.

 

[tesalala]

No I haven't. Whenever I've introduced special offers etc. it's never attracted more clients. I truly believe that if people really want the treatments they will come. I haven't actually noticed any decline in business. Perhaps I would have gained more new clients if the economic climate was different, but I have remained at a steady rate so far.

 

[ioecvulpialiooewx]

Hi Jeannie,

As with others who have replied, I'm not a reflexologist but I would assume that someone working in any therapy field would be able to answer this based on their experiences (worth noting for future reference that threads like this often do well in the Business and Marketing forum, it's also worth looking in there for similar threads).

I'm actually about to put my prices up, although not by much as I'm not as comfortable in doing so as I usually am.

Reducing prices is pointless unless you like working hard for little money (or worse, still not having enough clients but at a lower rate!). In my opinion, people who look for a therapist based on price alone
a) Have their priorities seriously wrong when it applies to their health and wellbeing
and b) Will never be a decent client, they'll be off somewhere else as soon as they find a cheaper price.

A favourite quote of mine which I have always felt is so true:

(John Ruskin).

 

[Sadaf]

Interesting replies, in one hand (as a therapist) I can see the reluctance to lower prices, however as a potential client wanting some therapies I feel aggrieved that prices have not been lowered. Now due to other financial committments in life I will have to forego treating myself. Just another interesting perspective don't you think

 

[Ladys Man 2.0]

The way I look at it is if people are really unable to pay the full price, does lowering it by £5, say, make it more affordable to them? I just don't see it as a way to bring in more business, and would only mean that I do the same work, but get less income. I did make the decision not to raise my fees this year - the first time ever - but I wouldn't lower them. I have done some bundled offers, which add value, and in fact this has attracted business, but I don't think lowering my prices per se would. My dentist hasn't seen a need to lower his prices, my hairdresser has put hers up quite considerably "to cover her extra costs", my car mechanic and window cleaner are charging more than they were a year ago.

 

[smallsassy]

If you can't afford treatments for yourself then perhaps you should increase your own prices so that you have more income?

As Charis said, other businesses/services are either the same price or more expensive than they were last year. Although supermarkets etc are still in price wars (which means that many households that have regular incomes not affected by the recession actually have more money than usual!), there are very few businesses that are reducing their prices.

In fact price reductions in many industries just look desperate or not believable (like Kwik Fit who always have an offer on but can always be beaten on like for like products if you shop around, DFS who always have a sale on etc). A few weeks ago, I drove past a hairdressers near where I live and the windows were crammed full with A4 special offer posters on everything they do. The assumption both I and my wife drew was that the hairdresser must be on the verge of going out of business.

 

[Jerrod]

Hi Jeannie,

Do you offer any therapies yourself, and if so, have you lowered your prices? All businesses could lower the price of their services during these hard times but then they have less money coming in and then that may have the knock on effect of having to let staff go. Then these people cannot afford to pay for services and so more businesses suffer. It really is a vicious circle and business people really have to work out where they draw the line in regard to how much they charge for services and goods, just the same as many of us have to think twice before spending at the moment.
Unless ofcourse you're an MP - then there are a different set of rules!!!

 

[chrissy4568]

Jeannie, why don't you post on the therapy swap forum, if you're willing to give someone else a treatment in return for receiving one yourself?

 

[Press2Play]

Although I have not reduced my fee for a 55 min reflexology treatment(€55). I have introduced a 30min(€40) follow up treatment so that it is more accessible in the current climate...I usually add a few extra mins too. I feel that it is important that treatments that reduce stress are accessible to all at the moment.

 

[Mehdi]

DeepTrance...I'm not a reflexologist either, but don't drop your prices! That's the route to, at best, being very busy and making no money.

Candy...55 min reflexology treatment(€55). I have introduced a 30min(€40) follow up treatment.

Lets look at this situation...I now have a job and only do my therapies occassionally (not really a business as such) When I first started out with holistic therapies, 12 years ago, I did so primarily because I wanted to help people, in some way ease their path in life. I did not think of it as a way of making money. For those in it as a fulltime business, then of course you have to make money. However, I truly find it impossible to believe some of the prices charged. How can figures such as £40 or £50 pounds be fair for one hour of work. Especially for an hour of work that is supposed to be related to helping people in life. I would not feel right in charging such prices, we should try to promote holistic therapies in a way that is accessible to all, not just the well off.

 

[Pompal 09.]

I have been a full time therapist for many years, and have kept my prices affordable, as the therapy I offer means that people have to see me regularly - and I pay tax etc on my earnings, which, at the end of the day, doesn't leave me much. I do get your point about trying to help people, but I see my work as being as valuable as the plumber I have just had to employ at £65 PER EACH QUARTER HOUR for 3 hours to cure a leak. Likewise, the builder I had to employ to reinforce an external loadbearing wall, who charged £250 per day, materials extra, for 5 days. They haven't reduced their prices due to the current economic crisis, but both are self-employed and trying to stay in business.

It took me 5 years working part-time, to pay off my initial training costs when I first started out in the late 70's. I have also done my share of charity work, and still do (I have elderly clients who don't even know I charge!!!!). Presently my business is ticking over nicely, and I have not seen any reduction in my client base.

 

[richard m]

I keep trying to get my head round the challenges people have round the charging issue, as I do really want to understand. However, as Jabba says, wrapped up in the 50 euro charge (so actually not even as much as £50 per hour) is all the costs the therapist has accrued to get that client in front of them. That includes their training costs, their room costs, their marketing costs, their insurance, their cpd. yadda, yadda ;-) I know that sometimes students look round my training room and do a quick "HOW much is she earning?!?" calculation. At the top line, it looks impressive, but on the bottom line, it really isn't. As a fairly new business (I gave up therapies to set up a training school three years ago), my business isn't hugely profitable yet, so while the turnover is respectable, I'm not coining it. And if I WAS, I would be very happy I give freely two days a month for voluntary work, and I have no compunction whatsoever for charging a fair price (and yes, I would consider 50 euros and higher an hour fair) for the rest of it.

 

[Bertuccio]

Jabba the Hut...plumber I have just had to employ at £65 PER EACH QUARTER HOUR for 3 hours to cure a leak. Likewise, the builder I had to employ to reinforce an external loadbearing wall, who charged £250 per day, materials extra, for 5 days.


Sorry but two wrongs don't make a right. I would not like to be classed as a rip off merchant such as a plumber or builder.

 

[Abs]

But as others have already explained, there's nothing 'wrong' with charging a fee that takes into account the costs involved in running a business - if you disagree with that, I think you're being a bit naive. If you dont want to pay as much, then try a mobile therapist, who doesnt have the same overheads and therefore ought to charge less, or a therapy swap as I suggested earlier

 

[michelle bohannon]

Can't quite under stand 'two wrongs' comment. Neither my plumber, nor my builder, could be classed as rip-off merchants, or, heaven forbid, 'cowboys'. The former is the third generation in the family business, and has done extensive training and is insured/registered to the hilt - he also employs two apprentices . My builder (family freind of 30 years) is a Master Builder, coming up for retirement - I don't begrudge his charges one bit - I have neither the knowledge nor the skill to do what he does. I know my limits.

I've been fleeced by a few 'rip off merchants' in my life, but please don't tar them all with the same brush.

 

[patrick s]

Jabba the Hut. I don't begrudge his charges one bit - I have neither the knowledge nor the skill to do what he does. I know my limits.

Hummm, If you don't begrudge paying £65 for 15 minutes of someones work/time then that is your choice.

 

[angrydoc]

Well,when I finish later in the year I intend to charge 50 euro per treatment,45 minutes to one hour.I have already ploughed alot of money into my training and Im sure people will have no hesitation once they get the results.If one wishes to do therapies for other reasons then that is fine,for me personally if I have to pay for all my other services I receive then I could not justify not charging.