I thought of this last week.
I'm the first to admit I should put my prices up - I've not had an increase in my acrylic rate in 3 years, but the economy has hit so many of my clients that I've been holding off (I'm not full time, and I'm not starving as of yet). Nonetheless, my rate is average for the area.
I get this call last week from a young lady who wants to know if I was running any specials on acrylics right now. I told her that I didn't offer a discounted rate, and if she calls around, she'll find my prices are more than fair, and that she will get an excellent set of nails.
She says, "Well, I need them done by Friday, and I've got someone who'll do them for £15, but I heard you were good and wanted to give you first shot".
Oh, gee. Thanks.
I told her "I'm sorry, my prices are firm, but I have to say, for your safety, please check this other place out thouroughly as £15 is much too little to provide a safe, sanitary, competent service. I'd be asking the nail tech about her insurance, and why it is that she's charging so little for a service that normally costs much more".
Her: "Well, she's a good price - I'm sure she knows what she's doing".
And hung up.
I probably pushed a bit, but we are not offering a free service here! When I do a set of nails on someone who's never had prep done before (just file the nails down and whack new one's on again, no dusting, no primer, so prep solutions), and they say "oh, the other girl never did that!", I just want to bang my head on something sharp.