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How to raise prices without upsetting clients?
Posted by on 2022-11-25 at 6:52 PM
I need to raise the price for my online sessions, it was below “industry standard” for a 3-hour past life regression, and Covid is pretty much over, and my home insurance and all food prices are way up…My online price was cheaper than in-person sessions during the epidemic, to encourage even local people to do it online. Plus it is easier for me – no cleaning house or dressing up, LOL. But most of my work is online anyway, and with too many clients, I need to raise the price to work a bit less. So I changed everything on my websites, and I am already booked for November, and early December, and traveling the rest of the year – so I figured out I will just start scheduling January at a new price – BUT I start getting people who are upset about this – they saw my website earlier, or were referred by a friend, so they all ask for the old price and I am at a loss – shall I insist on them paying the full price or shall I give them the old one due to referral? What would you do? I am definitely not offering the old price to people who booked but canceled, especially last minute, but what would you do with folks who are aware that the price went up but never contacted me before or was referred by somebody who quoted them the old price? I need an elegant solution here, I am not a corporate type, and I do not know how to deal with this…A store will not offer last year’s price for an item when it went up, but since I am a solo owner I can do whatever I want, but I do not want to feel like a doormat either. Repeat sessions for former clients are on special anyway, way cheaper, but I am not really feeling that I should allow specials because they got a referral from somebody else, except for my personal friends.
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10 Replies
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I’d just say that there is a new price starting January, no explanations required. At the same time, I’d give people some slack as appropriate. For instance, in addition to my current PROMOs (referees, family & friends), I’d offer an old price/some discount for those who book their next year session this year. Also, if you have some leads who inquired about your services but haven’t make an appointment yet, you can email them heads-up about price increase and discount you offer if they book their next year appointment this year. Something like that 🙂
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Thank you, it is good advice. They have to pay in advance anyway, so if they pre-pay in 2022, they can still get a session in January for the old price. Splendid.
What kind of promos do you offer? Do you post them on your website or just tell your clients that any referred client will get a break? But it is kinda unfair to them if they paid in full…I do offer 30% off for a repeat session for the SAME client, I also give this ‘repeat client” price when my former client is paying for their younger relative who is a student. But I am not sure if I should advertise this. The minute you mention “discounts” on a website – everybody starts asking for a cheaper price for all kinds of reasons. I used to have a student discount – and everybody started asking for this price, student or not, just because they are low-income, stay home moms, between jobs, etc. So I had to take it off the site and only offer it to young people who are in college when they contact me. I also used to have a ‘honeymooners” discount for couples, both on the same day, these are usually tourists – but it becomes “can we get this price if we are two friends”? I end up giving it to everybody – but there is a difference between a couple, sharing most of their life story, so pre-talk is shorter, and people who are not married and each has their long life story, so the sessions are much longer…I am still learning marketing tips and tricks, I am not very commercial, and pretty busy as I have a large social media following, ‘so I have to play it by ear.
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@Irina_Nola Great. I’m glad you found my advice helpful! Regarding Promos I offer. Yes, I do post them on my website(in a shorter form), although not all of them. For instance, I have discounts for referred if they provide the name of their referrer in their submission form. For the referrer, I email them a thank you note offering money back (the same amt as the discount for their referrals) for each referral, starting with the 3rd referral. I also have family & friends discounts – the sessions are on separate days for them, not together, but to qualify for the discount they have to pay for both sessions at the same time, and have both sessions in the same month. The first promo is not on my website, and the latter is. Hope this helps too ❤️
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I just changed the price on my website. Period.
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That’s what I did also, just changed the price on my both websites, but I have a following on social media plus referrals, so I have folks who checked out my site before but did not contact me, and now they see a higher price and ask for the older one. Plus referrals when somebody told them they had a great session and quoted them an older price…With referrals – I might just give them the old price due to the referral, just ask not to tell anybody else…
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Irina,
I have changed my price on my website twice over the course of my practice (since 2015). I gave no explanation about the price change. I did have a couple of clients who inquired about the old price and I just told them that that unfortunately that was the old price and that price is not longer available. They still booked the session with no hesitation. I don’t think you need to give explanations other that your new charge is a reflection of your expertise and experience!
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I did change my prices several times before, but it was not as busy as now, mostly local clientele, so I did not get any complaints or requests for a cheaper price. For some reason now I am getting them. I am sure it will pass in a couple of months, but I feel a bit confused here.
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The grocery store didn’t give me last month’s price on this lettuce because I saw it last time I was in the store but didn’t buy it, but now want it and think the price is ridiculous. Even when I complained. In fact, they just laughed at me. ?
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Damn, @Jani_Bryson that’s some expensive lettuce ?
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Thank you for all the great information.
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