Mate rates?

[Passionate]

Does anyone give special discounts to friends?

 

[Martin Duffy]

I personally don't as regardless of who I am treating it's taking up time that could be filled with full-paying clients. That said my mum & partner get the odd freebie, if I'm feeling generous!

 

[*sarah*]

I always do my mum for free, no explanation necessary I think lol
I give discounts to very close friends and they have to fit in around me (unlike clients) but would'nt do anyone else on mates rates or I would never make any money hth xx

 

[BABSann]

I think the problem here is that a lot of friends actually EXPECT the treatment to be free and that's where the whole thing becomes very awkward.It depends what type of person you are and if you're strong enough to make a stance and charge everyone, but for me I never charge my very close friends and certainly never charge my family.Saying this I do get cross when I spend my much deserved time off carrying out several treatments,using my products etc on certain friends,to have them say,"thanks,I owe you one"!!!! Mmmmm,how about some well deserved cash I hear myself mutter:green:I really need to toughen up on this matter.:lol:

 

[KristaBurgess]

Friends and family get £5 off my normal prices. It isnt alot and to be honest I actually enjoy treating them as we have a good old gossip while I do so. Its like im being paid to socialize!

 

[chazac]

i do have mate rates to close friends i never used to charge them as they were usually people i used to practice on so was awkard to start asking for money but i had to as was buying all the stuff. my mum i always do for nothing if you cant spoil your parents after everything they have done for you your whole life then that bad lol. only set back i have a friend who now knows my mate rates and has kinda let on she wants to pay same prices lol

 

[glitz]

I have printed out a Mates Rates price list and last year handed it out to family & closest friends all in all about 8 people of which only 1 comes for everything from Enhancements, waxing & tanning she comes on a regular basis, she does have to fit in with me and if I need to cancel her to do a full paying client I do. I also do a treatment swap (which for me is the best) my hairdresser does my hair every 6 weeks and I do her nails every 2 weeks it works well for us however if she is having a tan or minx I do charge her at mates rates otherwise I would be losing out too much. I did this to stop friends (particularly the one mentioned above) from booking a treatment say a set of Acrylics and when I had finished she would say is £10 OK . I never had the balls to say no until I was really fed up with it and took the bull by the horns and just handed her the Price List and said her are your "Special Prices as from now" she did look a little shocked but hasn't stopped her coming. I find my oldest friends and family never expect a freebie and are so chuffed with a discount they try to tip me anyway, those are the friends I don't mind doing!
Dont fall into this trap it is very hard to get out of once you have started.

 

[Ruthlm]

yea, same as chazac, I used alot of them to practice, then started charging a bit for products, now it's just kinda stuck, going to do the same as glitz and print out a mates rates list, with prices for family and friends, for their eyes only of course!! x

 

[fozzyo]

A friend gives no discount on treatments, but does on product sales. Which I think is a fair deal.

Mat

 

[Claire-Bear]

For family and very close friends I give a free upgrade. i.e they pay for a premium pedicure and receive the luxury one!!! They're happy and I still cover my time and products.

 

[aangel]

i like the "upgrade" idea claire-bear. that would work well with my mates, i.e. pay for P+W and get glitter tips.
ill bare that in mind thanks xxx

 

[FlawlessBeauty]

No, i have so many family and friends i wouldn't know where to draw the line tbh.

My mum, dad and brother get treatments free, but usually insist on giving me something anyway.

I will give products for the rates i get them for.

I am also happy to do swaps, e.g my hair is free, so i do their waxing.

 

[Teebster]

I use to but I don't now.

I do whatever my Mum wants and whenever, I could never repay her for everything she has ever done for me, and that's all - no one else. I swap treatments with a few other therapists but that is not the same at all as so called mates taking the micky. I just got so fed up with people taking advantage all the time and they did not even want to pay anything let alone a discounted rate so I just stopped it completely. x

 

[diamondsue]

I hate this subject.I have tried to say it to family and friends and i have even brought them with me to salon services so they can see how much I do spend and it does not make any difference all they say is thanks your very good.I cant bring myself to ask for the money for the products out straight. I am only training and they seem to think they are doing me a favour by letting me work on them!!:irked::irked:

 

[Martin Duffy]

Although it's hard to do, you won't make any money in this industry without asking for it!!

 

[Helen v]

Hi, I never charge my parents for any treatments but i normally do them out of working hours. Otherwise i do trade ie hair cut for a massage, treatment for a treatment etc. The only other people that get anything free would be the people that let me practice new treatments on them. Although i know it costs me in products until i am up to speed and standard in a treatment i personally wouldn't dream of charging. If it wasn't for willing guinea pigs then I wouldn't get any better and be able to charge.xx

 

[persianista]

No, My friends pay the salon prices, this is my living not my hobby.

 

[FlawlessBeauty]

I have to admit though that i was very lucky, none of my family or friends ever assumed that they would pay any less than full price.

I gave my cousin a free treatment on her 21st birthday and she was so appreciative. If i gave free treatments all the time it would be taken for granted and not be anything special.

 

[M00min]

So glad I found this thread! I'm new to the biz and having such a battle at the mo - my head says charge everyone, but maybe offer a 10% discount to v close friends and family. But then someone asks me for something and I almost feel guilty! Which my head knows is stupid!

I like the separate friends and family pricelist idea, and the upgrading idea - or could just keep it simple with the £5 off idea?

Arrrgggghhhh - I've worked for other people in business for years and totally get it. So why is it so hard to charge now I'm working for myself?! x

 

[skankinchar]

my mum is the only one who ever gets a discount on her haircuts/ colours, my mates pay the full price, as they can appreciate that I am trying to make a living!! :green: