Cal Club Autocross Forums

Alright, I have a little bit of a dilemma. Part of the reason for the shirt pricing has been convenience. $12 ea or 2 for $20 means generally easy change making and most buy 2. The other part is to make it affordable for my friends, most of what you buy commercially are marked up a lot. I haven't changed prices since I started doing this, around 14 years ago. Shirt prices alone have gone up around 150% in the last few years (world wide cotton shortage). And of course all other costs associated with producing the printed shirt have gone up (big ink price increase last year due to the government deciding a certain ingredient was unsafe then just recently saying "Oh nevermind, we have no way of detecting it in a printed shirt").

I've been told I should raise my prices, but 1) don't know how much and 2) wonder if it will have much of an effect on sales. I like to keep things in simple numbers, no coins. If I made it $15 for one and $25 for two (don't care who or how that's done) would that make a big difference to you potential customers? Seems like a lot to me (25% increase) even though it's really not a big increase in profit.

Feedback please.

I do this for several reasons. I like providing entrants with a memento of the event at a reasonable price. I like seeing my designs on people years later. And if I'm lucky it pays for my Tour and Pro entry fees and a set of tires (only $200 for me). Thanks for reading.

For the quality of the shirt you deliver, I have no problem paying $15.

BTW, the jump from $12 -> $15 is only a 25% increase. And while that may sound high in percentages, it isn't in absolute dollars.

Pricing a product for any company is a mostly a product of trial and error. Is selling fewer at a higher price more profitable that selling more at a lower price? Once you think you have it figured out, everything changes. The real dilemma for any company today is wholesale prices are going up dramatically, people have less disposal income, yet we'd still like to make a profit.

So the answer to your question is Who Knows!

Price them where you think it should be. If you don't sell out as usual, you can always run a close-out sale starting at about 1:00 PM on Sunday.

Any increase is going to create objections, and potentially lost sales. That said, you typically run out of at least most sizes, so this might just line up suppy with demand a little tighter. While I'll object to the increase (I'm cheep), I'll still pay the higher price you mentioned above because its still a good deal.

As you stated you've held price consistent for MANY years. I hate price creep, more than I dislike price increases in general. I'd suggest setting the price somewhere you believe you can hold steady for some years to come.

Craig

Speaking of such, can I paypal you for two shirts for both weekends now (Assuming the above mentioned price), as I have a tendency of not making it to you before you run out of my size?

I think $15/$25 is completely reasonable for the quality of shirts you sell. Not one of the ones I've bought so far has any peeling or cracking whatsoever, and the quality of the shirts themselves is top notch.

BTW, I'm going to get two of each in 3X, if you're going to have them that big. And, like Craig said, I'd love to pay you via PayPal in advance if that works for you.

Remember I am relatively new here, but realistically I am not sure how many people one remember what they cost last year, two are going to be offended by a minor price hike, if fuel prices, entry fee, and hotel costs didn't keep them away. $15, and $25 are more than fair. $15 might make some think if the design isn't creative enough, but $25 for two seems like a deal. This is an emotional buy, a memory, I suspect a little increase wont leave you stranded with inventory. As long as you don't anounce it you can always have the suggested Sunday sale or even a if you forgot say at the pro. I would go two for $30 if you could give me long sleaves and tall. As for the paypal thing, I agree with the guy who asked. If I had the choice I would pre pay by Paypal as well. Being that I am a XXL and perfer long sleave for medical reasons, and tall because heck I am 6'3" and fat.

Just my put.

Sounds perfectly reasonable to me.

Arthur Grant wrote:Remember I am relatively new here, but realistically I am not sure how many people one remember what they cost last year, two are going to be offended by a minor price hike, if fuel prices, entry fee, and hotel costs didn't keep them away. $15, and $25 are more than fair. $15 might make some think if the design isn't creative enough, but $25 for two seems like a deal. This is an emotional buy, a memory, I suspect a little increase wont leave you stranded with inventory. As long as you don't announce it you can always have the suggested Sunday sale or even a if you forgot say at the pro. I would go two for $30 if you could give me long sleeves and tall. As for the paypal thing, I agree with the guy who asked. If I had the choice I would pre pay by Paypal as well. Being that I am a XXL and prefer long sleeve for medical reasons, and tall because heck I am 6'3" and fat.

Just my put.

I've done the Sunday sale in the past, but since have adjusted my quantities so I don't get stuck with any. My designs are always creative! ;) . Have to think I do something right based on the number of my designs I see around.

Too late to order long sleeves, at least in the color ordered, if they were even available. We only stock white shirts, but I'll see if there are any 2XL long sleeve if you are interested.

Welcome to my world. Almost every customer I have is some sort of friend. That makes it real hard to make a fair buck. I suggest you just raise the prices to where they need to be. Everything is going up, can't really help it at the local vendor level. I'd rather charge/pay more than have the product go away. I'd say $15/$25 is a good break. Just bring a lot of $10's and $5's. Sorry I don't really wear t-shirts, I like the polos.

What I try to do with my timing/equipment rental is provide a "new service" with the price hikes. Like more cones, extra person, or the like.

Jay W

Jayson Woodruff wrote:Welcome to my world. Almost every customer I have is some sort of friend. That makes it real hard to make a fair buck. I suggest you just raise the prices to where they need to be. Everything is going up, can't really help it at the local vendor level. I'd rather charge/pay more than have the product go away. I'd say $15/$25 is a good break. Just bring a lot of $10's and $5's. Sorry I don't really wear t-shirts, I like the polos.

What I try to do with my timing/equipment rental is provide a "new service" with the price hikes. Like more cones, extra person, or the like.

Jay W

Hmmm, should have ordered an extra small for Katy and hired her to sell the shirts................ ;)

Rick Brown wrote:

Arthur Grant wrote:Remember I am relatively new here, but realistically I am not sure how many people one remember what they cost last year, two are going to be offended by a minor price hike, if fuel prices, entry fee, and hotel costs didn't keep them away. $15, and $25 are more than fair. $15 might make some think if the design isn't creative enough, but $25 for two seems like a deal. This is an emotional buy, a memory, I suspect a little increase wont leave you stranded with inventory. As long as you don't announce it you can always have the suggested Sunday sale or even a if you forgot say at the pro. I would go two for $30 if you could give me long sleeves and tall. As for the paypal thing, I agree with the guy who asked. If I had the choice I would pre pay by Paypal as well. Being that I am a XXL and prefer long sleeve for medical reasons, and tall because heck I am 6'3" and fat.

Just my put.

I've done the Sunday sale in the past, but since have adjusted my quantities so I don't get stuck with any. My designs are always creative! ;) . Have to think I do something right based on the number of my designs I see around.

Too late to order long sleeves, at least in the color ordered, if they were even available. We only stock white shirts, but I'll see if there are any 2XL long sleeve if you are interested.

Not a problem on the color long sleve. Actually I thought last years pro was sort of bland compared to some I saw around the paddock, which is where the comment came from, however it didn't stop me from buying two. White is ok, but I will likely just by what you have in stock if XXL are available. My only real issue is if they aren't tall's they become trophies of sort after a couple of washings. Pre-orders would certainly be a nice option in the future, seems it wouldn't be a burden if accompanied by pre-payment.

All said, I don't have a problem with the 2 for $25.

Hmmm, should have ordered an extra small for Katy and hired her to sell the shirts................ ;)

just give a shirt to my wife and after she washes it, it will be an extra small!

I need to buy a 2X just so it can shrink to size.....but I love my wife....

See you soon!

Steve G