Matthew The Astrologer said:
I've had a bit more time to think about this, Natasa, and you raise some interesting points.
1. It's not free, true. However, unlike most cases where "you get what you pay for," this is really more a matter of "you pay for what you get." Which is... I know... really unusual. You get it, and you tell me what it's worth. And if it's worth X to you... then you may very well come back for more.
2. Since the client sets the price, they know what they are paying for. People generally don't rip THEMSELVES off.
As for the Agency example you gave: If they were already a customer, they should know if the person they are dealing with knows what they're talking about or not. Then they can figure out if the price is right. Same with me, except they set the price. And to be honest... with what I've been paid so far, I can honestly say that (if we use price as the only objective standard) I seem to be good at what I'm doing.
3. Unionizing astrologers is like herding cats. Seriously: as a former Shop Steward at a phone company, I know exactly what you mean. But (at least around here) the astrologers are more lone wolves than pack animals. Nonetheless, the cost of a consultation tends to float around a certain point. That's not organization, that's just how the free market works.
4. You sound like my Mom. And I have Moon in Cancer on the ascendant, so that isn't an insult at all.
http://www.warrenellis.com/?p=7066
I strongly disagree.
1. I am not going to get it or to tell you what it is worth. I just feel sorry for the rest of your colleagues that have to experience this situation and maybe even fear of prices falling. I emphatize with them, I don`t want the market to work on a lower level and I will not try the cheaper product. I want the person who works to feel satisfied and worth. So, I refuse.
2. Since whan the client sets the price? He knows nothing about your work or about the time you need to do it corectly but you give him the oportunity to interfere with your work and not only, but to set the price also... When you go to the Super Market and by food for yourself to eat and to make your organism strong every morning so that you will be able to do astrological predictions, do you set the price? Or to by close and to protect your body from cold? Or to pay your electricity and to work with your computer? No, you don`t set the price.
This system was already experimentaly applied in Socialism and it faild. To work in practice, everyone must work and think in the same way. This is not the case. (Or, with example: if your client can set the price, since you are a client too in other cases (Super Market, shopping, using electricity...), than, it would work if you could also set the price for yourself in those cases).
In my Agency, a client is never right.
And you wrote that a client should already know if the person knows his job. Why do you think that they are obligated to know anything? In most cases, they know nothing. And they don`t have the time or the necessary knowledge to know anything. How can a client know anything about your job? If he knew, he would not come to proffesional astrologer at first place. He would do his readings by himself. You have to ``sell` yourself as an proffesional astrologer who will not compromise with less.
3. I know how difficult it is to make people make an Union. But, except written rules, there are also ``invisible`` rules - also applied and also respected in real life and they are even stronger than the regular one. Deontology is the key word.
4. I know I sound like your mother, but you HAVE to think about your time and health!
And there was a film with Tom Cruise as a manager of a baseball player and he talked too much and then the baseball player just tells him ``show me the money``... Maybe it would be prefered to find yourself a good manager to promote you and your work and to think in a more commercial way...
And you asked about good internet offer. Here it is:
1. The golden rule is: golden average.
2. Deontology and collegiate behaivour
3. The client is never right
4. I need 8 hours of sleep because I am human too.
5. Show me the money
And sorry for the approach, you may disagree, I certainly do disagree strongly with the free market idea, but since I am the part of the free market being a free lancer, it means that I MAKE THE RULES. Maybe it is the Neptune Moon square since Moon rules my 6th - I never mix bussiness with feelings. I understand that you empathize with people and the world crises but something has to be done about it. And in my 1th, there is no Moon, only one Mars but it is doing what he is suppose to. And I don`t know what I will do with Cancer AC. Feelings and business? This is indeed ``a challenging`` aspect...
In my office,
1. A costumer is never right.
2. Show me the money
3. Take it or leave it
4. Please go elsewhere and do it quicly
5. Don`t waste my time
6. I studied for 30 years and YES I demant it to be payed in cash
7. You want to do it by yourself - be my guest
8. You want the job done ``yestrday`` - I have a table on the wall: ``For miracles we demand a 24 hours term``
9. A clinet talks too much: I give 2 notifications - non verbal by looking at my watch and a verbal one how ``time is passing`` and the 3rd one is that I have to go and close the office so he goes too. He insists on talking? - a table No 2 ``Minimum charge for consultation: 10 euros`` (Consultation meaning that I do nothing - the job is not done, all I did was jus listening to him and his problems about his documents and maybe gave an advice where he should go from here. Because, there is a proffesion called ``Information bureau`` - and they CHARGE. Real money. And I am not ``Information bureau``.
And now, please think how much time you will waste with clients who want to talk, tell you their life story, talk about their love problems, ask ``just one question`` and then of course a ``subquestion``, see you as a friend since you ``shared`` all their career or love problems, just ``keep in touch`` with you after the reading, even flirt with you and waste your time again. And of course, your mother is right. You have to think about yourself, your healt, your time, your personal issues - maybe you want to take a walk in the park with your boyfriend / girlfriend instead of listening unknowned people?
Wish you the very very best, keep the prices and the level and think about yourself.
Natasa