Common!!!
Hey... lets face it!!!
We all know its rough out there, too many job cuts, lay off, everyday there is less and less freelance jobs available...
But.... $200.00 for a logo?
Lets be real! We designers don't even get a full $200.00 pay.
for our design, our creativity, talent and knowledge.
This is really Sad, and NOT Fare!
I personally refuse to do any design on any client just wants to pay only $200,00 for a original logo design for his company. A Logo that will identifies his company and that he will use for the life of that company. Like Nike, Coca-Cola, Apple and so many others. Still... they (The Company or Client) is only willing to pay a $200.00 "gross" feed for all the time you as an artist and designer, has spent, all the effort, your God given talent, all your collage studies, etc, etc, etc.... WOW.... that is totally unacceptable.
Hey!!!! its 2012!!! There are bill's to pay! Lets be real!
I suggest that all logo prices should start at a standard minimum price of $475.00. Or at lease the Artist or designer should receive for his work a net $400.00.
I believe this is more real with the cost of living, the time invested, the talent, quality and effort.
If the client is NOT willing to pay for his logo, he probably shouldn't have a Logo to begin with.
I hope I don't offend anyone with this. I'm just speaking my hart out.
P.S.
Just in case... I'm 51 years old.
I have been in the advertising & Graphic Design business, since 1983. Do the math. I know what I'm talking about!
28 Comments
I suggest you to disregard those briefs that are priced too low.
Good suggest! That's what I do.. :D
Maybe that sounds kinda arrogant, but I simply don't have the time to work for that amount on a contest.
exactly
What's going with $300 contests? Are we going to have such ones? I bet more people will work on them and less clipart will be there.
Good talent is something that everyone is willing to pay for.
When we need a good doctor, or a contractor or specially a good lawyer....
so way not a good designer?
Thanks, that is actually what I do.
I only design for those spacial clients who truly appreciate what we designers do.
+1
Well currently there are 4 options - $250 / $500 / $750 / $1000.
Maybe there should be - 250 / 350 / 450 / 550 / 650 / 750 / 850 / 950? this could work better for all involved as a client who's on the fence about a price is more likely to just go for the $250 as opposed to $500 which is almost double the price, when they might be inclined to go for $350 had there been an option. More choice = a fairer and more accurate price that someone's willing to pay. IMO. ;)
Yes, perhaps we can try that.
"Just in case... I'm 51 years old. I have been in the advertising & Graphic Design business, since 1983. Do the math. I know what I'm talking about!"
That last statement made me smile. Why? Well for myself I've been in the industry for over fifteen years, not as much as JCGD granted if that statement is to be believed. And why shouldn't we? But in that time the most valuable lesson I've learned is that nearly all customers who run a business, and who want a brand identity from a designer, ALWAYS want it to be as cheap as possible. Businesses don't make profit by spending money unnecessarily. Any penny that can be saved, will be saved if the owner can get away with it. I've lost count of the amount of times I've heard customers say "How much for that? I can get that cheaper at XYZ!" In which case, I tell them to go there, and then invariably, if by magic, they then agree the price is okay ;) Obviously, this isn't true in all cases. But I can bet that in 99.9% it is.
That statement above, in fact the whole thread is riddled with in accuracies and naivety if I'm honest. The logos that were cited like Nike, Coca-Cola and Apple, were all very cheap in their day. The Nike logo for example cost just $34 from the designer. Rack that up to today's money values, and I bet you're not far off $200 for a custom logo design. The reason that custom logos are $200 on here is simply because Stock Logos gives the client that option. End of. If the minimum was $300, $500 or $1000, the majority of clients will nearly always pick the lowest price all of the time.
We designers often forget that, for all those savvy clued up and image aware companies out there looking for and willing to spend good money for a good brand identity. There are tens, if not hundreds more companies that are simply happy with a design that they feel is unique to them and if they get it at a good cheap price, even better. So providing that the design they buy, or indeed commission through a brief fulfils their business requirements, and quite often looks pretty, then they'll probably buy it. The majority of business owners don't understand, know about or care about how designers get to a design solution. As long as it's pretty or looks nice, clients are happy.
Let's not forget that happy clients are paying clients! And if a $200 brief results in a successful logo sale, therefore the client will be happy, and will more then likely spend again for other services ;)
If any member feels that $200 is too cheap for a logo, then simply don't do the brief. It really is that simple. I've won a few briefs on here, and really very rarely do I spend more than an hour on any design and that includes the revisions if there are any. I'm a very fast worker, and can knock out work in ten minutes. That's not bragging, it's a way a working that suits me and is required for my job. But if you can work that way, then there's nothing to lose by popping the idea into a low win brief as the time spent isn't even chargeable. If you win, your quids up. If you don't there's nothing lost. For any designer on here who is slow and methodical in their approach to design, then maybe low cost briefs are best avoided.
+1
Also, the Nike logo final cost would probably be in the five (or six) digits vicinity.
See: http://stocklogos.com/topic/fair-minimum#comment-78632
You're right, partly. Whe you go tot the shop do you buy the cheapest good - phone, food, clothes, everything? I guess no. Why? Because you know that if you spend more moeny for something you'll get better product that the cheaper. Your example for people saying - "i'll go cheaper with the other guy" is what's happening here. In this case you can choose telling him to go there or lower your price. And what you do? You choose not to lower the price. Why? Because you know lowering the price means compromise or work for nothing. And knowing you're brithish - in your country everyone argues for the price. This is not the case with the rest of the world. If one wants job to be done good he wouldn't argue about the price when it's still reasonable. In SL case - there's an $1000 option, so $300 one is still reasonable and i don't see Ivan doesn't want to put it? Maybe SL targeting lower range of graphic services? Then why don't we have $50 option? Oh, right we had? Me eprsonally don't care of how low is the price here but i do believe that my design priced $500 looks too expensive along tones of "$99 premaid logo designs". Just listen how does it sound.
Let me share with all of you this one story that a dear friend told me once.
There was once this company that was having some serious problems with one of there main printers.
They must have call hundreds of repair companies to help fix there printer, but yet none were successful.
This one employee told the owner about this tech guy he knew, that was a Guru fixing just about anything.
So the owner decides to call him up. The Tech guy shows up, and in just 2 minutes he fixes this printer.
The owner was totally astonish with such an accomplishment.
So, he gracefully ask the Tech guy how much did he own him for such great service.
The Tech guy turns to the owner and answer "its just $2,000.00 for my service.
The owner was shock! He said how can this be... it took you just 2 minutes to repair the printer how can it be $2,000.00? The Tech guy answer, Its not about how mush time it takes to fix your printer, but the knowledge and experience necessary to be able to fix it when no one could.
Hope you enjoy this as much as I did 20 years ago.
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Hey.... let me make myself clear.
Me, I..... do NOT design for any client that is just willing to pay a gross feed of $200.00.
Its that simple.
I rather invest my time in a client that know how to appreciate my time, my talent, my knowledge.
BTW I'm not pointing any fingers to those who sell there art for these low feeds.
Its not that.
On the contrary, I'm trying to get a little justice for all designers here.
There are good, not good, but Great designers. I truly feel we are being under value, and under estimated.
Hey. This is just my 2 cents.
Peace everyone.
JC
I agree completely fella, and in an ideal world, this is exactly what will happen.
But this site is called STOCK Logos for a reason, and that name gives some indication to the function and purpose of the site. If gives those clients who don't want to deal with a designer the option of buying pre-made designs at cost, a lot like iStockphoto.
The briefs section isn't strictly the main function of this site and is an addition that Ivan uses to generate extra revenue - it's just a bit of a bonus feature. I think Ivan would be the first to admit this.
I'm lucky in that I hold a full time job that pays reasonably well. Money I earn from SL is good pocket money and affords me the luxury of buying new music or photographic gear. So even low cost briefs, while not profitable, do offer some small reward for very little outlay of time. To some people on here, even the low cost briefs are still going to be profitable to some people depending on which country they live in.
Phunkmonster i respect you sir!
when creating a contest by the client there is an option call "URGENCY OPTIONS" do we get paid from that? if no i suggest
the price of urgency should be put high and pay us a potion?
it is also true,,,
a logo will be used for a long time and it gives identity to the company. should be someone who understands the meaning of the logo and design will have to pay more.
peace :D
Nice speech phunkmonster and how true is all I can say. Especially in the world of crowdsourcing, an almost a-dime-a-dozen creative services seems to be the norm.
Suppose here is some designers who work less in design as you, for example - me. It was always my hobby untill I've sold 2 logos here and it was - WOW! I sold (!!!) a logo! My god! I can work as a designer! That what made me make more logos, and as I had no time past 2 months to do designs - now I'm going to improve my skills and make logos again. For me 75$, now 99$ (as I'm a student) is a very good deal, also by this logos I make up my portfolio. I am also AGAINST RISING MINIMUM! My opinion - is starting price from 30$, logos would be bought more often, I will gain some pocket money and my passion to design won't die! As I don't have any design education and have no possibility to gain it due to country I live in. It's good to talk like that for a famous designer not a starter...
You are absolutely right JCGD!!! I fully support your view. Additionally, in my opinion better to sell 1 logo for $500 and make a good name for yourself than 5 logos for $100 each and be one of millions no-name designers . Thank you.
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I haven't met a respectable designer who sells logos for $100.
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Derren, this is my point of view and I completely disagree with you and your opinions. I sell logos and I purchase logos as well, so I am on both ends of the rope. I will not elaborate on that as I do not see any point of doing that. I respect you as a person, so let's leave it as it is. Regards.
Er okay... Just trying to engage in an an intelligent discussion. No worries I guess :/
100% agreee!