Prices on Website?
Should one show the prices of paintings on one’s website?
If you also exhibit your paintings in a galleries, then I do not recommend it.
The gallery will not like it – it appears you are in competition with them.
Also there may be a difference in prices between the gallery price and your web price and this could cause problems.
Showing prices on paintings can also cut off interaction between potential customers.
My experience shows that the more I interact with the potential customer the better chance of a sale. On my website I post a link with “Want to know the price and availability of the painting, please e-mail me.”
When they contact me I can then write them back the price, plus send additional information about the painting and/or more photos of the painting. I can also offer them a print of the painting if they can’t afford the original or another alternative.
Any interaction or starting a conversation with a potential customers is good; putting up a price can be a big STOP sign to any interactivity or sales.
Test it and see what brings in more sales. One month put prices on your paintings in your website, the next month not and see which works best for you.
Also see my other post on showing prices here: “Show and Sell”
May 4, 2009 at 4:30 pm
I don’t understand why you say there ‘may be a difference in prices between the gallery price and your web price’. I set the prices for my art work, not the gallery. My prices are the same whether you buy from me, Gallery A or Gallery B. It’s the only ethical way to do business.
May 4, 2009 at 7:49 pm
Errors can happen.
As one person wrote me – “Have artists ever physically checked what the prices are in the galleries? Sometimes galleries put the price lower or higher. But still pay you the commission on the price you gave them.”
Another person wrote and said she decided to have a 10% off sale on things in her web gallery, but forgot about the paintings in the gallery. Ooops.
Do the galleries where you exhibit your art also have the prices of your paintings on their websites? If not, what do you think are their reasons for not putting the prices on paintings in their gallery website?
May 5, 2009 at 5:03 am
No my galleries don’t have the prices on their sites. I think many artists and galleries have the idea that folks will contact them for prices. That hasn’t been my experience. If you are looking for something on the internet and one site has the prices listed and the next one doesn’t, which one do you buy from? I buy from the one with the prices that are easy to find.
May 5, 2009 at 10:33 pm
Reply to K. Henderson-
Do people buy art from your website without first seeing other of your art works in person at some other venue?
I have rarely sold a work of art in the $1,000 and above range to someone who has only seen my art on my website. I would say 99% of the people that buy art that is displayed on my website are current owners of my art or have seen my art in a gallery, at a friends house or other venue.
Because of this familiarity with my art, they already know the price range of the art.
Even though you list the prices on your art, people cannot buy it directly from your website, correct? (As in place an order like on Amazon.) Don’t potential buyers still have to contact you as to your method of taking payment, if the painting is available, delivery time, etc.?
When a person contacts me regarding the price and availability of a painting this gives me more opportunity to interact with them. Since I do sell prints of my art in just about any size and material, if a person does not want to spend the money for an original I then have the opportunity to offer them a print or a smaller painting that fits their budget. (Plus I ask to add their e-mail to my mailing list for future contact.)
The price on the website can act as a “STOP” sign between customer and artist. If they feel the price is too high for their budget I can be almost guaranteed they will never contact me. If someone likes the painting enough, my experience seems to be they will contact me. Buying it is another question.
And I offer an easy-to-fill-out contact form which makes it all rather painless and quick to do!
Have you ever tested not putting prices on your art and asking people to contact you?
Thanks for your comments!
May 6, 2009 at 1:56 pm
Actually, I rarely sell the work myself. Most of my work is in galleries and my website indicates where the painting can be purchased (and the price )I frequently have my galleries call and ask if a piece is available because a client has seen the painting on my website.
Yes people have to contact me if they want a painting that is in my studio. They know the price ahead of time and know if they can afford it. I don’t offer prints.
And yes, putting prices on the site can STOP people because it’s out of their price range. But I’m not a low priced artist and I realize that not everyone can afford my work.
I’ve only had prices on my website for about a year. Prior to that, I had no prices and I rarely had people contact me asking for prices. Maybe nobody likes my work! LOL. (I do make my living by selling my paintings)
Good discussion!
May 6, 2009 at 6:23 pm
Reply to K. Henderson: There is no right or best way to sell art; it is whatever works for each artist is the best…until there is a better way!
I am always testing things to see if something works better. (In a former career I worked in advertising.)
I noticed that more and more of my originals were being sold in galleries, so I thought maybe it would be better to “push” people to galleries that exhibited my art, PLUS increase the number of galleries that sell my work. More galleries = more people that see my art in person = more sales! (My (dream) goal: my art in one gallery in each major city in the U.S. and Europe – 50 galleries or so.)
And I am slowly in the process of changing my website from a selling platform to concentrate more about me, the artist, my art and the process of making and creative ideas behind my art. Heavy on the art, little on me.
As I mentioned in another post on my blog, I set up a second website to sell my prints and other art works. My art website currently has no selling going on – just links to those that do sell my art. (Who knows, maybe in a year I will change it back. Always testing…)
Thanks for your thoughts and comments! I always like to hear new and different ideas on subjects.
May 8, 2009 at 9:08 am
Yes, if people buy works by more than 1000 dollars and has only seen from your computer. This will be for sure. Picassomio from the web before the web came down due to bad practices of the owner, sold for years, works of different prices. I myself sold a set of works for a decorator to the total price was over 1000 dollars and my friends also sold works by a higher value. If you visit the website of Amanda Blake Etsy shop in some of the works sold rub or exceed that amount. True, but what is sold over the Internet are little works of lower value, but also others.
Talk to you a printer and print it yourself. I find that interesting and I think that if you could talk about the tools in that it would invest a good artist. I have no professional printer, I would like to know what is yours and how we use it. Thanks and I apologize for writing bad language, I think it must be a torture, ha, ha, ha, just read my posts because I was a little, help me from translators on line
May 6, 2009 at 12:10 am
You must always know the details of your contract with a gallery up front. If you’re free to show at other galleries and such, then rules change. But if the gallery that represents you does not allow that, then you are obligated to fulfill gallery prices. Period. That means you cannot offer collectors prices that differ from prices in the gallery. No wholesale prices, no discounts, etc. This is the price you pay for gallery representation. A price that is far too expensive in my opinion.
May 6, 2009 at 1:59 am
Excellent discussion. I have just been informed by a gallery that I can set the prices but they may chose to raise them but still just give me my asking price! It’s very difficult to keep work the same price. I have open studios occasionally and will offer discounts in person.
May 6, 2009 at 1:36 pm
That’s a very BAD DEAL. You need to be in control of the prices (which is a good reason to post them on your site) If you take a painting to a gallery and tell them you want to sell it for $1000, you will get $500 when the painting sells. In your scenario, the gallery can sell the painting for $5000 and still only give you $500. I had it happen when I was first starting out!!
May 6, 2009 at 6:02 pm
In other businesses like real estate, the practice you mention is illegal.
for example. a real estate agent can’t legally ask say to the seller, “You tell me what you want when all is said and done.” Then if the agent sells the house for much more and keeps the difference, but still gives the seller “what she wanted”, the agent has broken the law.
Any business deal that allows the artist to make less money than the agent is just plain crazy. No other business works this way.
May 6, 2009 at 2:36 am
I had prices on my website and no response. I then took
them off and then the inquiries and sales happened.
I also have multiple sites with prices and sales
happening also. Now I’m moving back to putting up prices
on my site.Customers contact me never ever buying before,
if they are hesitant I move my pictures to different sites
for better viewing,sometimes I email close ups to close the deal.Galleries have to realize art sites are just another gallery representing the artist….it’s business.
May 6, 2009 at 12:27 pm
I am the sole proprietor of my business. I make and control prices, and pay a gallery a commission when it sells my work.
I don’t work for the gallery, nor do I let them decide where I can sell my work. If they want an exclusive contract, then they must present me with a good reason for doing so – a reason that will benefit me – the business owner.
I sign up with a gallery because they are going to reach clients that I would not normally have access to.
If they raise my prices without my knowing it, it messes up MY PRICE SCALE, not only for me, but for my other galleries. I believe the artist should be in control of retail prices.
I do know a number of gallery owners who would never raise prices without the permission of the artist.
May 6, 2009 at 1:28 pm
I think that Lori.
May 6, 2009 at 1:51 pm
I think is not to give the price on the website is put like an aura of mystery that is intimidating to potential buyers. Many buyers are afraid to contact by e-mail not to be compromised. In the gallery online Picassomio had in view the prices and sold a lot. Respect for an artist is not in their prices as they are or not in its web, but to make an honest work. A picture once is painted it is a product more of the market, with its logical merits, as a work of art, but is subject to market forces.
Christmas here is an art market where people go to your shopping cart is taking pictures and all prices are on display and selling a lot of. In these art markets have also artists with a long history not only beginners.
May 6, 2009 at 2:10 pm
According artbiz2day, but that you explain in your e-mail, which you can offer them a smaller piece or Giclée, so you can have written on your website so that buyers will read. Or not?
I hope you understand this, ha, ha, I love this debate and not much English language
May 6, 2009 at 6:43 pm
Reply to Ana: On my website there is currently no art with prices on it. If it is an original painting, I have text on the page that says “Contact me regarding price and availability”. Then I have an e-mail link or a link to a form they can fill out and send. (I test to see which gets more response.)
I do have links on my website to another website that has the prints I offer for sale.
Also please note that not all my original art (especially smaller pieces) is posted on my art web site. I would say that maybe 2/3rds of what I create goes up on my art website. I may paint a large version and two smaller different versions of a piece, but only post one work of art.
My prints and other art works that I sell (and have prices on the website) are on a separate website (owned and operated by me).
I do not sell original paintings on that website; only prints and other art works. Occasionally I will put up a small original painting on that website, but mostly it is prints – on canvas or paper in many different sizes. I have my own large-format printer and make the prints in my studio.
Read more about my selling website here: http://artbiz2day.wordpress.com/2009/04/20/show-sell/
May 8, 2009 at 9:31 am
My sentence “Yes, if people buy works by more than 1000 dollars” can be understood incorrectly I will formulate it in a different way ¿people buy works of over 1000 dollars without seeing them and not being physically? Yes. Even though this is a new buyer? Yes
This it is my experience.
Also I say that 99 % of my sales has been across Internet. I have never sold anything in the galleries except a small monotype of 100 dollars. I have done several exhibitions but nothing, have not been lucky.