You get what you pay for

This is a statement I know too often to be true. You would think after a few bad experiences I might have learnt my lesson. However in times of financial strain we all tend to try and cut corners or perhaps the more appropriate phrase would be ‘take a risk’.

A flyer came through my door a few weeks back. It was from a girl who had set herself up selling Bio-sculpture Nail Services. Bio-sculpture is a clear gel that basically strengthens the nails and allows them to grow. As I looked down at my chubby digits with thin brittle nails I though “why not, it won’t break the bank and I can’t afford to go to a beautician this month so I will give her a call”. After an hour of mindless talk and a set of incredibly tacky solid white tips, covered by very messy gel I gave the girl the £22 and said my goodbyes.

After she left, I tried to battle that sinking feeling that you get on occasions such as this. For at least 20 minutes I tried to convince myself “oh it’s not that bad for the price really”.

Well actually, it was that bad, it was really bad! Instead of my usual ‘slightly masculine’ looking hands, I now had slightly masculine looking transvestite hands! Oh yes –  it was as though Vicky Pollard herself had given me her hands in her last will and testament and I HAD to wear them!

It got me thinking about how it relates to ‘almost’ all of our choices regarding services… whether it be builders, kitchen fitters, hairdressers, mechanics and so on and so on. This includes the industry I work in. Nothing angers me more than seeing some ropey piece of design or artwork that has clearly be done by someone who hasnt got a clue, but probably ‘pedals their wares’ as an experienced pro.

We are often questioned on cost in our industry because there is usually someone’s ‘son’s, friends, brother’ who has just discovered Photoshop for the first time and has promised a 20 page brochure for a packet of Marlborough Light’s and fifty quid. My Dad has always said “you get paid for doing something that not everyone else can do”. This is true, and it also comes with years of experience and knowledge passed on from other professionals over the years. I think that generally applies to whatever industry you choose, so long as you have a good mentor. This is what you pay for right? A job may ‘only take’ 2 hours to amend, but it takes two hours and 15 years of experience and skill. I read from David Thorne’s website, a designer who cleverly and funnily puts this point across (see Link) http://www.27bslash6.com/p2p2.html.

I think he hits the nail on the head. There is of course nothing to say that there aren’t people out there who do a good job for a good price, but I would say there is a difference between a good price and a incredibly ‘cheap’ price. If the brochure prints with pixelated images, grubby colours and inconsistencies, then not only does this reflect badly on you (the client) as a person and your business interests….  you then have the stress and conflict of either trying to get your money back or pay someone else to do it again. If you have a website built where you have more chance of navigating your way around Spaghetti Junction then the pile of confusion on the screen, then it is not exactly doing the job you had in mind.

I suppose it’s up to you whether you are happy to ‘take the risk’ in life. I certainly won’t be taking any more risks with my nails and will stick with the tried and tested skills of the girls at Beauty Box in Basingstoke from now on!