Comments on: Professionals Don't Discount Their Services (and Neither should You)

By: Beatrice Johnston

Beatrice Johnston — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 17:32:28 +0000

So true. You feel much better when you get what you’re worth. I think holidays and milestones are a great time to discount (such as when you had the sale when you had Oliver) or a pay-in-full discount, which I do. But, discounting out of necessity isn’t good energy.

By: Charlotte

Charlotte — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 12:52:13 +0000

Thank you Fabienne. I think you are absolutely right. I just had a call from a copywriting agency asking me to do some work. They said my day rate was too high (it really isn’t) and they wanted me to do an extraordinary amount of work for peanuts. I said ‘no thank you’ and explained I couldn’t lower my day date, and I felt really good! Yes, I need the money, but I am highly qualified with lots of experience and I refuse to be taken advantage of. After all when I go to the hairdresser, I don’t say, “I’d like the top stylist please but I’m only willing to pay half of what he or she usually charges.”

By: Chris Eh Young

Chris Eh Young — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 13:09:29 +0000

I’m not a fan of discounting my services but I do think there is a time and place. I will discount my services for military, police, firefighter, or charity events and that is because I believe strongly in thanking these service people for what they do.

My other scenario is where i discounted my services by 75% for a lady who had sent me over $10000 in work over the last 2 years. It seemed appropriate and it was my way of thanking her.

That being said, there are those in my industry who will discount at the first sign of push back from a client. I don’t agree with that. Stand firm for what you are truly worth.

By: Linda

Linda — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 13:52:49 +0000

I think you are right on. People will always find a way to buy what they really really want.

By: leah

leah — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 05:12:52 +0000

That’s an interesting concept, but I am not sure it works across the board. Our translation agency works with quite a few charities and we have set a discounted price for this category of clients.

I do agree that giving discounts ad hoc whenever you are pressed for clients or feel pressured by the client is not a good idea.