Thread by @mlanger

Yesterday, a woman tried to haggle me down from $34 to $30 on a fine silver and carnelian bracelet I had made. Each bead is individually attached using double wrap loops; there are no jump rings. This is a bracelet that is not going to come apart, made with quality materials.

It took me over an hour to make the bracelet. It’s a tedious process that, for some reason, I find rather relaxing. But there are other things I’d rather do with my time — I don’t make jewelry like this for fun. With all that in mind, I think $34 was a good price.

Yet this woman decided that the price was $4 too high for her. Four dollars. When I wouldn’t budge on the price, she left it behind. (My friend Janet said she needed popcorn money.)

Now some people might be offended by this and I can understand why. An artisan takes a handful of raw materials and turns it into something usable or beautiful or both. That takes knowledge, skills, and creativity.

But instead of being offended, I’m full of pity for this woman. She obviously wanted the bracelet and she obviously could afford it. But because she couldn’t get a deal on it, she denied herself what she wanted. That’s pretty sad.

Four dollars stood between her getting something she liked that was handmade in this country. Something that could have been a reminder of her day out at the RV show with friends or maybe her whole winter trip to Arizona from wherever she comes from.

Instead, she’ll have a bag full of cheap crap made in China that she bought from other vendors at the show who had 20% off specials or buy one get one 1/2 price. Stuff that will likely break after a handful of uses. Stuff that is meaningless in the grand scheme of things.

Yes, it’s probably true that if you looked long and hard you could find a Carnelian and silver bracelet for less than $34. I wish her the best of luck finding it.

There are three messages that I’d like readers to take from this. First, don’t try to haggle with an artisan. Lots of us think it’s very rude. Most of us price our work fairly to compensate us for our time and the cost of our materials.

Don’t you think that about a dozen carnelian beads, a yard of fine (not sterling) silver wire, and an hour of my time is worth $34? I think it’s cheap.

Second, don’t expect to get made-in-China prices from artisans. If you want a bargain, go to the dollar store. Remember: you get what you pay for.

Third, if you like a handmade item on display by an artisan and you can afford it, buy it. Spend some time talking with the artist to learn about how it was made or what the artisan thinks about it. Let the artisan tell you about it — I’m sure she’ll love to!

You’ll be buying more than a trinket. You’ll be buying an experience that you’ll remember when you look at it, wear it, or use it. And you’ll also have the satisfaction of knowing that you supported the efforts of a creative person.

This is the bracelet. And one of the hands that made all those tight, tiny wire wraps.

@threadreaderapp unroll please.