I have worked hard over the past few years to get my business off the ground, investing time and money into my passion. A family member recently commented that they feel bad buying my product elsewhere because we’re family. I thanked them for their support, but they replied that they should get a bigger discount since they support me.
How would you have responded to that comment?
Edit: Wow, I wasn’t expecting so many responses. It’s reassuring to know others have been in this situation. For some background, I’ve been a fashion designer for 9 years, hustling through pop-ups and shows. I’ve always given friends and family a discount. Last summer, I opened my first brick-and-mortar store, which took me 8 years to achieve.
When my family member said they should get a bigger discount, I laughed and said, “If you really supported me, you’d pay full price and not ask for a discount.” They responded, “But that doesn’t make sense, we support you.” At that point, I just shook my head and walked away. People with this mindset will never understand. Family and friends aren’t the majority of my customer base, so losing them won’t impact my business. The fact that many friends go to the shop and pay full price speaks volumes about who truly supports me.
A true friend won’t expect a discount; they’ll happily pay the full price and praise your products and services to others. Family might try to use their relationship to get a discount, but you should insist they pay full price or not buy at all.
It is tricky when it comes to mixing business with friends and family. As a developer and consultant, I always make it clear that my services aren’t free. I will listen to your issues and offer general advice, but I won’t write any code without a formal contract. Business is business, and it can get complicated with friends. Many people don’t understand the actual costs and margins involved, leading to unrealistic expectations of what I can do for them.
As a tattoo artist, dealing with friends and family can be really tough. I once had a guy who, after I finished his tattoo, tried to haggle over the price. He already had other tattoos, so he definitely knew how much they cost. This particular tattoo was very detailed, and he completely ignored the aftercare instructions. His disrespectful behavior made it obvious that I shouldn’t have him as a client anymore.
That is really tough! I have a friend who is my tattoo artist for all but my first tattoo, and he always charges me less than he should. I want my friends to do well, so I usually give him a 100% tip because I feel he did not charge enough. Friends should help you succeed, not expect freebies. I feel the same way about my friends who work as servers—I tip them more because I want to support them, while some people think they don’t need to tip their friends.