should you charge for hole punching?

[Guest Jon smith]

Hi,

I was just wondering should there be a charge for putting holes in belts, shoes etc?. If so what kind of price structure should it be? or should it just be a free service As I charged a lady £1 for 3 holes and she thought it would be free

[Auto Key Wizard]

Ask yourself this question...

Did your tool suppler give the punch pliers for free?

[Danny King]

We charge £1

 

Nevr had a customer complain about it. Infact most give us a £1 tip

[Guest jamesstratton]

£1 per belt in charity pot, no matter how many holes

[earlsdoncobbler]

50p to a £1

[Jay]

I don't think i've ever charged for this,..unless they bring loads of belts in.

 

A lot of them give you something though, or put it in the charity box.

[k4mrc]

i agree with jay on this one, i have always done this for free - asking for a couple of coppers put into blind box. they always put a pound in but the best thing is they will always return for repairs or keys.

[ironplanet uk900]

I agree with the last two posts

[Michael]

I agree with the last three posts

[ironplanet uk900]

we're all in agreement then

[Danny King]

Nope, not me I charge and will continue to charge. You give a service away for free people then expect other things done for free.

 

For example:

 

Thanks for putting that hole in my belt you couldn't just stick this shoe for me,. o and can you put my watch strap back on my watch o and I don't expect to pay. As it didn't cost you anything.

 

Ah but it has taken up your time which = money o and you have had to buy the tools todo the work.

 

Sorry iIm going to charge.

[Jay]

as K4 said, they always return for other repairs or whatever anyway. I think if i was to charge them a quid for punching a hole then they'd be a bit p*****d off & probably wouldn't see them again

[ironplanet uk900]

Nope, not me I charge and will continue to charge. You give a service away for free people then expect other things done for free..

 

We decide whats free and what aint, not the customer.

 

I can't recall any customer expecting other repairs for free.

 

I think you should know a big percentage of your customers and they know you, therefore they know what to expect from you, thats why they shop in your store.

I think you would loose more custom for charging for such a simple little job than you would gain. They may pay up on the day, but in reality £1 for punching a hole is extortion,

If Lee charged a £1 for every post you made, would you make any

[Danny King]

Maybe

 

But i'm still going to carry on, Have done for years and have many very happy customers

[ironplanet uk900]

Just done a pair of Leathers and the customer wanted one of the seams stitched on the upper, I didn't charge any extra.

I told him I didn't charge extra.

 

But if he came in with just a seam stitching job only, I would charge a minimum of £3.50

 

Just a bit of customer service.

[Danny King]

Agree with you there, Thats different

[x minit uk]

I always ask the customer to put a few coppers in the charity box, its a way of building goodwill in my opinion. As far as I can remember Timpsons have wall banners, or they did, stating how much they expect to be placed into the charity box. They raise hell of a lot of money for child line and have a league table to see which shop has raised the most.

[ironplanet uk900]

I for one hate charity boxes being shoved under my nose, Or anyone asking or telling me to give to charities.

so I wouldn't ask my customers to put their money in a charity box, although I have one on my counter for those who like to put "coppers" in.

 

I give to charities close to my heart on a regular basis, and don't need to be asked.

 

I hate charities who phone business's with emotional blackmail tactics to try and make you feel guilty for not giving money.

 

Bleedin hell, I think I'll just charge for hole punching

[Guest Iain Cheall]

I have been asked a few times if i do hole punching since i opened here and if its a free service i think i will continue to say no and send them to my cousins cobblers shop round the corner

[ironplanet uk900]

Watch it Cheall, everyone'll think your me cuz

[Guest Iain Cheall]

your too ugly to be in my family mate

[ironplanet uk900]

Yeah, and we couldn't afford to ask you round for tea

You big B***ard

[Hugh-Candoit (ENG)]

Consider this,----------Lady brings in a Belt for a couple of holes.

You punch in the holes and tell her to put something in the charity box, which she does.

Same customer comes back i after about 20 mins and says that the holes are not in the right place and the belt is ruined as the holes do not line up. Not only is the Belt ruined but she can now not wear the £250 Designer Dress that was bought with the Belt. (It happened to me some years ago).

If I had the choice now I would ask the value of the item before doing the job. If they dont want to pay then I would let them use the tool to do the job themselves, most cant do it and then realise that it is a skill that needsa to be paid for.

As many charity boxes get robbed by desperate folk I would not put temptation under their noses. And it isn't just the public who rob them.

[Auto Key Wizard]

Not only is the Belt ruined but she can now not wear the £250 Designer Dress that was bought with the Belt. (It happened to me some years ago).

 

Are you a cross dresser then Hugh

[Ted Starzec]

For hole punching we say" no charge, just reccomend us to all your friends but don't tell them we do work for nothing" Good P.R. we think