So, what do you charge for jewelry repairs?
For me, I consider this on an individual basis. Some factors I consider are my costs, including time and materials; the customer’s history, repeat customer or brand new; my responsibility, my fault or theirs; and the pain in the you-know-what factor, a simple fix or will it drive me crazy.
Make sure you cover your costs and that includes time and materials. Obviously, if your design is flawed, then these expenses should not be passed onto the customer, but if it broke due to no fault of your own, then you have every right to charge for this service.
I have a few customers who seem to constantly break things, and not just jewelry they buy from me. However, because they buy jewelry from me regularly and often pass my name onto others, I consider this when I’m fixing a piece for them. If it something really easy, like adding a new ear hook, then I may not charge them anything because I know I will be rewarded later on with a large sale.
Finally, you need to consider if the repair is worth it to you or not. Sometimes customers will ask for something they think is easy, but because they know little to nothing about constructing jewelry, they won’t understand that what they are asking for is very difficult. At times, it is possible to explain this to them, but sometimes it isn’t. If the pain in the you-know-what factor is high, feel free to say no and perhaps refer them to a local jeweler for help.
I have to confess that I hate repairing jewelry as much as anyone. It reminds me of the days I used to sew a lot. I would rather make an entire dress than sew on a button. However, repair work is really part of the job if you are making jewelry to sell, and it can also be a way to earn a little extra income as well.
