Anyone's Prices Being Affected By Rising Cost Of Gas?
- Thread starter Ron
- Start date
That is close to what my policy is. 25 miles away, I travel at no charge. More than that, its a buck per mile...calculated from home, TO the venue.
Let's see if I got this right -- I like math
25 mile radius equal free -- included in CODB.
If I'm 30 miles away, you will charge me an extra $30. 30 miles from your home, to the venue.
If yer gas guzzler gets only 10 mpg, and there are only 10 extra miles involved (round trip), then your extra gas cost is say $4 at current prices. But you will add on an additional $26 for what?
Please expound...
I assume it's a buck per mile after the 25 free .. so a 30 mi one way = 5 *1 = $5 more . 50cents per mile is about the norm for business expenses.
Wow, I figured out the multi-quote -- how cool am I...?
If you look at the statement again, you will see he says:
"More than that, its a buck per mile...calculated from home, TO the venue."
Then that's overcharging .. only in my opinion. Should be the excess only until you get to the point where room/board come into play (> 100 mi.). So maybe 0-25 free, 25-100 $1 each mile (you decide 1 way or both ways) and then custom quote after that.
I used to drive 100 miles each way to work everyday -- took me more than a couple hours each way (LIE can get a bit busy at times). Friday's were usually a 5 hour ride home.
Buy a vehicle that gets better mileage...
It's CODB.
mileage is a big factor for us since we travel pretty good distances compared to most. The truck gets 6mpg...diesel has been high the past few years. We charge a per mile transportation fee, and it can exceed the cost of the service for those 650 mi away events. We haven't had an increase in a few years, and I don't see one coming just yet. Btw, we do keep a close eye on our expenses as we have events booked as far out as 3 years.
I used to drive 100 miles each way to work everyday -- took me more than a couple hours each way (LIE can get a bit busy at times). Friday's were usually a 5 hour ride home.
Buy a vehicle that gets better mileage...
It's CODB.
To a point .. you base your charges on the known. When the unknown (travel) is factored in, you deal with it separately. I assume you factored the 100 miles into your decision to either take the job or leave it.
I have a set fee for 4-hr and 5-hr events. If the event is outside my normal area then I include travel expenses based on travel time. With the cost of fuel steadily increading, travel expenses are too. Travel, lodging, etc. are not broken out for the client to see. Anything an hour away is usually $100 extra, based on MY driving habits. And, if I haul the DJ trailer the cost of fuel increase about one-third.
Previously booked clients are not billed a "surcharge." I eat the cost. However, I have not been charging extra for "meetings" to "draft" the Reception program, but may revisit that issue down the road. I try to meet somewhere equidistant from one another. But sometimes I go to their city to meet.
For those of you who do Ceremony and Reception for the same wedding, do you charge more money for travel for Rehearsal? I have been eating that cost as well, but with gas going up I may have to charge more for the Ceremony fee.
Gee...lot's to consider. No wonder Brides are trying to find ways to SAVE...and the DJ, unfortunately, is the sacpegoat.
And, if I haul the DJ trailer the cost of fuel increase about one-third.Previously booked clients are not billed a "surcharge." I eat the cost. However, I have not been charging extra for "meetings" to "draft" the Reception program, but may revisit that issue down the road. I try to meet somewhere equidistant from one another. But sometimes I go to their city to meet.
For those of you who do Ceremony and Reception for the same wedding, do you charge more money for travel for Rehearsal? I have been eating that cost as well, but with gas going up I may have to charge more for the Ceremony fee.
Gee...lot's to consider. No wonder Brides are trying to find ways to SAVE...and the DJ, unfortunately, is the sacpegoat.
I'll be doing several ceremony's later in the year .... all are at least an hour away. I rolled up the rehearsal cost into my overall fee.
Adding a value added tax to a DJ getting some gas, is silly IMHO. Even if he only charges for the extra 10 miles, that's $10. If his vehicle gets 10 mpg, then he's raping the customer for an additional $6.
You don't do it for 10 miles .. but there needs to be something for the gig that's 150 mi away if most of your business is 20. Set a reasonable break point and a reasonable recovery. It's not a fuel surcharge or VAT, it's recovery of costs that aren't reasonably factored into the base price. You build your prices based on SOME basis .. can't bury it all. A travel zone charge at least puts it in the client's view. When I was a consultant for HP, we had contracts with drive zone charges .. 1st 30 miles free, then a charge for 30-60, 60-100, 100+. It's not just gas, it's YOUR time while traveling as well.
I am having a great time reading these posts! Y'all sound like the Banks...fees and more fees LOL. That is why i do not do Packages, Mileages and all the other damn ..ages! I compute everything in my head and charge the Client accordingly. They are not interested in the details, they just want the bottom line. Are y'all UPS or FedEx or sumptin'?
Y'all sound like the Banks...fees and more fees LOL. That is why i do not do Packages, Mileages and all the other damn ..ages! I compute everything in my head and charge the Client accordingly. They are not interested in the details, they just want the bottom line. Are y'all UPS or FedEx or sumptin'?
Don't do gigs 150 miles away -- it's that simple
I had more to say, but I have a Corona, and I'd probably get into trouble...
Don't do gigs 150 miles away -- it's that simple
I had more to say, but I have a Corona, and I'd probably get into trouble...
I don't .. others do .. and I'll be joining the fun shortly.
I am having a great time reading these posts!
Some customers don't like custom pricing .. I know from experience. To each their own and YMMV.
Steve, Just for conversation sake. Do you think I drill it in their heads or itemize everything before giving a Total? I ask the pertinent questions first. Date, Time & Duration, Amount of people, Lighting or No Lighting, Location/Venue etc.?
I give them a quote pending a visit to the Venue (At this time I determine load in access, Load in time and load out time, amount of equipment needed etc. etc.)after which time they get an actual figure. What is there to not like about that method. Clients know they are paying for exactly what they want and not being overcharged for things they don't need.
I also know that some Clients don't like Package Prices but YMMV!
