Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with price

How much should I charge for my fruit tree planting service?

Sentus — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 10:11:02 -0800

I am doing a lot of landscaping gigs lately, and want to start planting Edible Landscape for folks. How much should I charge for an edible tree package? Hello there fellow Mefi friends!

Fruit trees, Berries and Nut trees.

I will come to the customer, asses and test his soil for P.H and drainage, check the amount of sun the area is receiving, see that the area is large enough to provide space for future growth.

I am not going to push stuff that will not grow well in the area/problematic/high maintenance just to make a sell. Only trees that "want" to grow there, and will prosper without much maintenance, disease and pest problems.

Included:
* Healthy vigorous plants that have been checked for disease, been found free of "root bounding". Specific verities that adapted to the growing zone.
* Beautiful organic soil mixture tailored for new trees.
* Thick Layer (4"-6") of good mulch.
* An information pamphlet about the tree history, the specific variety, growing tips, watering schedules, pruning advice.

My questions will be:

1. What is the price range you would be willing to pay for something like that? How much for one tree? How much for a package of five shrubs/trees?
2. If the client have deer problem/huge dogs I can install a small durable fence. How much extra you think that worth to you?
3. What other services/extras I can offer that you think will make your decision more smooth?
4. Generally speaking, would you want a cheaper younger tree (2'-3' feet tall) or a more expensive and established tree (5'-8' feet tall)?
5. Any other suggestions and nuggets of wisdom?

Thank you and have a great day,

What's better for the environment: mailed physical CD for £6, or digital download for £7?

mstillwell — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:09:14 -0800

Is it better, environmentally speaking, to buy a physical CD for £6 and have it mailed to me, or to buy a digital copy for £7? Some of the £6 goes toward manufacturing the CD and transporting it, but the £7 I give to the digital music store pays the wages of their employees, who in turn buy stuff. (Their equipment, rent, etc. gets turned into stuff in the same way.) What if the numbers were £6 physical CD, £12 digital?

In other words, to what extent does raw price (i.e. a proxy for the amount of stuff that your purchase allows other people to buy) matter? If I buy £100,000 of environmentally-friendly stuff, isn't that (approximately) £100,000 of (potentially not environmentally-friendly) stuff that other people can then afford to buy?

If I buy a Prius hoping to help the environment, does it matter how Toyota's employees and suppliers spend their money? Are there any substantive differences across industries, or is a dollar for Toyota more or less equivalent to a dollar for McDonald's?

Lather over Lotion?

CollectiveMind — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 10:07:00 -0800

Why does Palmer's Olive Butter Formula Lotion vary so wildly in price? In looking for a hand lotion, I noticed that their new offering began showing up in Big Lots for $2.00 for a .60 oz tube, $2.50 for a 8.5 oz bottle and $3.00 for a 17 oz pump. Besides that not making any sense, it was on the shelves throughout last winter and spring at these prices, only to disappear for about a month with only the bottle returning at twice the price (which, BTW is the same price it was selling in the grocery stories). Then it disappeared for another month and now, all three are back at last year's prices. Understandably, it is flying off the shelves, again. But (1) Why the disparity in price vs. quantity, and (2) Why even in the discount stores, was the price raised and then reduced again? I'm wondering what kind of market or corporate forces might be at work?

What do you charge for a freelance scriptwriting gig?

Anonymous — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:03:09 -0800

I've been asked to write a series of scripts for online videos and I have no idea what to charge. Do you know the going rate for this type of service? I was approached by a university to write a series of scripts accompanying online videos they plan to place on their website. The videos are between 5-7 minutes long. I would have no hand in the editing/production part of the videos -- they're looking for a scriptwriter.

I am a seasoned comedy writer with many years in radio and print, but I've never had to set my own price. (I've always worked as part of a production team.) I just started freelancing and would like to obtain more work through this university, so I want to make sure the price I set is something they'll work with in the future.

Any thoughts?

Allstate or Liberty Mutual to insure my 4 policies?

mdn31 — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 19:15:31 -0800

Allstate or Liberty Mutual to insure my 4 policies? I tend to be loyal to companies whenever possible so making a change can be hard for me. I was with Amica insurance for about 5 years before changing to Farmers after buying another investment property and getting priced out. I have been with Farmers now for 3 years. My agent is the sister of a business associate, and I took her on my associates word, but, she has been very inattentive and unhelpful. I have not had claims, so I don't know that side of it, but, my rates have gone up exponentially every year for no reason. Also, because I have the investment property, I have begged for her to find a policy for my rental (it is so hard to insure rentals) so I would not have to keep paying 2 companies (no benefit to have a separate policy in terms of discounts). At any rate, I renew next month and I have been seriously shopping. It is very frustrating tho because there are few insurance companies out there where anyone is saying GOOD things...it is all complaints. Also, all rates have been very high, especially for the rental. Most wont even do those policies. So, the quotes from State Farm, Amica, AAA, and another smaller company were too high.

Interestingly, the company that holds my rental is offering me a great deal to bring the other policies over...however, the company is Allstate, and I have heard nothing but bad about them. I have my rental with them, but they were one of the few companies that would insure it as a stand-alone, so I did not have a choice, and again, there have been no claims so all is ok. Yet, to put all 4 of my policies under them is going to be a little more risky.

Their quote would save me about 700 per year cumulatively over Farmers and all would be under one company. I also got a good quote from Liberty Mutual, who offers discounts to ppl in my Alumni Association...and it would be the same savings as the Allstate policies and the policies have the exact coverage.

That brings me to the dilemma...Allstate or Liberty Mutual??? Anyone have experiences or advice? Or, perhaps another one to try?

What's it worth?

sporaticgenius — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 09:37:21 -0800

How much is this blanket/rug worth? My google-fu has me confused. Here is another picture.

This is a handmade brand new blanket/rug from Afghanistan. It measures about 90" by 79" roughly. The bottle feels kind of like soft leather. It's very plush and thick, has a good weight so it would probably be warm to snuggle under. It's beige and darkish tan. Very pretty.

I don't like fur, even if I did I wouldn't run the risk of my small child damaging it. I've been googling and trying to find out about how much it's worth, but there are so many different kinds for different prices. I could really use the money for it, so I'm planning on selling it soon. I'm not sure where to sell it, maybe ebay, so any suggestions on that would be helpful too. My main question though... What should I reasonably expect to get for this thing?

I would really appreciate any help I could get!

That Gruyère is Too Rich for My Pocket

bluefly — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 11:50:25 -0800

I made this casserole last night for dinner, and it was quite tasty. I'd like to add it into my regular rotation of suppers, but the gruyère cheese is kind of expensive at my local market. Can you suggest a more pedestrian cheese I can use instead? I guess it would have to be something that was similar in hardness/melting point. (Similarity in taste would be nice, but I realize with supermarket cheeses I can't have everything). Also, any suggestions of places to get gruyère cheese at a cheaper price would be helpful (and quinoa for that matter -- although I think if I buy in bulk it shouldn't matter that much).

JetBlueTracker JetBlueTracker JetBlueTracker

2bucksplus — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 08:48:08 -0800

I live in New York and my parents live in Sarasota, FL. There are two direct flights per day on JetBlue between JFK and SRQ. Is it possible to set up something up that would alert me whenever prices on these flights dropped below a certain amount? I'd like to see my family a few times a year and am in no way tied to certain dates of travel. Some travel sites offer flexible travel for major cities but not for a city this size.

I specifically asked about JetBlue because they are currently the only airline offering direct flights on this route. I am also a member of JetBlue's TrueBlue reward program.

Where can I get provogil for cheaper?

Lord_Pall — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 16:56:13 -0800

Where can I get Provigil/Modafinil for cheaper? So we've covered where to get Provigil or Alertec if you're in canada. We've covered Adrafinil as an alternative.

What about where to get Provigil that's cheaper than the US?

I've been taking provigil for years. It's an amazing medication.
Downside is that now that I'm back in the US, it's 400 dollars a month.

With Insurance. Which is a high deductible plan, but more importantly, that refuses to pay for it

Also, I do not qualify for any prescription assistance programs.

I tried half pills to make it last longer, but that sucked.

Is that the closest I'll get to "real" provigil for <400?

If I understand correctly, Modapro and Modalert (asian variants of Modafinil), don't work quite as well as full Modafinil...

Is Modiadol from Mexico in the same boat?

Am I missing another alternative?

I considered Adrafinil, but the liver problems are a red flag, especially considering that I'd need to take upwards of 600-800mg to give the same result as 200mg of Provigil..

I ordered some Modiadol from MedsMex already and tried one. It seemed to be okay, but I've only tested 1 dose.

AIG bottom price

Penelope — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:32:53 -0800

Do you think AIG could really hit $0.00? Do you think AIG could really hit 0? It is dropping so quickly. It is somewhat tempting to buy in at, I don't know, $5 or something. But what are the risks? Didn't they already declare bankruptcy? What else could possibly make it completely worthless or delisted from the NYSE?

Purchasing a used VW Cabrio with a online vs. sticker price discrepancy

strangelove — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 07:55:18 -0800

I am interested in purchasing a used VW Cabrio which is listed (recently) online at ~$7800, while checking out the car this morning on the lot, it has a sales price of ~$9400. I am hoping to communicate with the dealer today, but am unsure how to proceed with this price discrepancy noted, and in general. Please help, thank you.

is this a good price for my CO flight?

krautland — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 08:10:31 -0800

is this a good price for my CO flight? I'm looking at tickets for a flight from HAM to NYC in late august but since I'm not originating from the US I'm kinda lost on whether the local (=german) websites are offering me good deals here.

a return business flight to EWR on continental, which is the only airline offering a direct connection, is being offered at €1,682. not too bad but again I have no comparison when it comes to european tickets. does this strike you as a reasonable offer or do you think I could make it cheaper (in business or premium eco) to NYC?

I'm okay with stopovers, btw.

Please help me figure out what to charge for video segments

bryanjbusch — Tue, 12 May 2009 09:09:10 -0800

I have an opportunity to create some short (say, less than 5 minutes) video segments for a popular, ad-revenue-generating blog. How can I figure out how much to charge for each one? Some things I've thought of:

Charge a flat fee per video, whether it's used or not, whether it's popular or not

Charge a flat fee and get a bonus for each time it's played

Charge a fee only for each time it's played

Charge for the video creation, but based more on my time and effort, not just a flat fee

Charge a fee based on the length of the video

I have no idea what a flat fee or bonus fee looks like. Help?

Other considerations that probably shouldn't be influencing my decision:

the blog's owner is an old friend of mine

I really want to be getting in the habit of creating videos like this

the blog's owner publicly posts the revenue generated from the blog, so I could base my decision partially on how much he can afford

How much is a 5-year-old oboe worth?

feelinggood — Mon, 11 May 2009 17:37:33 -0800

How much can I expect to get for a used oboe? (Details inside.) Details: a Yamaha "student" oboe (it's missing a key [by design] to make it easier to play, I think). We bought it for $1800 Canadian about 5 years ago. We are selling it in Toronto, although I wouldn't want to limit answers to people from Toronto.
How much can I reasonably expect in a private sale - not a negotiating price, but a real final sale price? Assume very good to excellent condition with regular maintenance.

Cost to dealier of new car. Cost to pay?

If only I had a penguin... — Sun, 10 May 2009 11:46:41 -0800

How much does a Chevy Uplander cost the dealer and how much should my mom pay fin Toronto today? My mom wants to buy a Chevy Uplander. Today. I know..I know...I know there are web sites that tell you how much a car costs the dealer but I can't find any that work for Canada. Do you know of one?

And how much is a reasonable mark-up for the dealer?

Any other tips on getting the best deal?

p.s. We know nothing about cars and my mom buys one every 12 years or so. I've never owned a car and hope I never do.

London to Berlin by train - what is the fastest/cheapest route?

maryrosecook — Thu, 07 May 2009 02:42:32 -0800

London to Berlin by train. The best option I've found is Eurostar to Paris then sleeper to Berlin for £250. This seems expensive. Are there faster/cheaper options?

Licensing a video

aerotive — Wed, 06 May 2009 17:01:48 -0800

I uploaded a video to a video-sharing site, and it's drawn a couple of offers to license it. What's a fair price? Any tips for this sort of thing? It's a 30-second-or-so, weather related clip. The companies that contacted me both produce what look like terrible reality compilation shows. One company I've never heard of, the other most everyone's heard of.

Both have said that they want a copy of the original video before proceeding further. Is that typical? (one noted I could watermark it before sending it in) Being a neophyte at this, is there anything else I should look out for?

Foods that are cheaper to buy than to make?

archagon — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 09:20:50 -0800

What are some foods that are cheaper to buy than to make from scratch (using non-bulk ingredients)? Carrot juice is the only one I can think of at the moment, but my experience is very limited.

Why are one way tickets so expensive?

snwod — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 17:29:50 -0800

Why are one-way tickets so much more expensive than a round-trip ticket for airline travel? I'm in a situation where the organization I work for here in Japan will buy my ticket home at the end of my contract. The catch is that it has to be one way (even though I plan on returning to Japan after only visiting home for a couple weeks).

I was looking at the costs today, and the rate for a one-way ticket one month from now (two months from now, and four months from now as well) was about 400,000 yen. Whereas a round-trip ticket was running about 140,000 yen or so.

Why is there such a huge difference?

Why not just say "price?"

msbrauer — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 21:18:41 -0800

Why do people say or write "price point" instead of "price?" Over the past few years, I've noticed an increase in usage of the phrase "price point" where I would just say or write "price." I first noticed the phrase "price point" in writing about new iPod releases on blogs, but now I find the phrase moving outside of electronics writing and punditry. I'm sure there's confirmation bias involved in my notice of frequency of usage, but that doesn't make me any less confused about why one would use "price point" when "price" seems completely adequate.

Why do writers and speakers use the phrase "price point?" Is there a technical difference between the terms that isn't obvious to the economics or business layperson?

You spin me round right baby right round, like a record...

emjay — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 11:15:09 -0800

Need to get Excel to ROUND properly in a custom way, details inside... I have a spreadsheet that pulls gas price data from a database (which comes from to me in the form of an .xls spreadsheet)

Sample Data shows as an average of several prices:

A 2.096
B 2.085
C 2.137
D 1.991
E 2.013
F 2.034

I need to round these numbers in Excel to:

A 2.099
B 2.089
C 2.139
D 1.999
E 2.019
F 2.039

So always rounding UP to the 9-Thousandths.

I've tried ROUND, ROUNDUP, ROUNDDOWN, CEILING, MAX, MOD and various combinations.

So far, the only way I've found to do it has been:
=ROUNDDOWN(2.034,2)+.009

I'm concerned that the ROUNDDOWN function may not always work properly as ROUNDUP sometimes has anomolies for Thousandths <> 5

Is there an easier formula to use tha doesn't require adding back in the .009?

Cigarette Price Map?

zaphod — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 16:19:12 -0800

After the shock of paying almost $10 for a pack of American Spirit wore off I thought there must be a website like Gas Buddy or Boston Gas Prices for cigarette prices. My google foo has failed me on this one, anyone know if there's any such site(s)? Yes I know they're bad, and I should quit. And, yes I know I can drive to NH and buy cartons for less, but I don't want cartons as I just end up smoking more.

If you don't know any such site, do you know anywhere in Boston (Downtown, Back Bay, Kenmore) that isn't so friggin' expensive?

Is there such thing as a 'season' for laptops?

tumples — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 09:59:06 -0800

Is there any specific time during the year that laptops or computers seem to be cheaper. I have heard of this occurring when it comes to car prices in the winter (I don't know if even this is true though), and wondered if it applied to computers too. I will be looking to buy a new laptop in the few months post Windows 7 launch, but would wait for a cheaper season.

Will house prices track stock prices (in NE USA)

IndigoJones — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 05:39:49 -0800

The stock market is at 1997 levels. Are house prices (specifically in the NE US) likely to follow? If not, why not? If yes, why and when? All arguments welcome. (Yes, I know, overly simplistic, "it depends, all markets are local, NYCity real estate actually went up last year" (or so the real estate shills claim and I would be curious to know how those stats were calculated)- bearing all that in mind, what factors might I be missing?)

Advice for timing a move and getting a "deal" in a tough rental market?

limonade — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 12:56:41 -0800

Advice for timing a move and getting a great deal in a tough rental market? I live in Boston, which has a notoriously tight rental market. This is complicated by that fact that, unlike in other cities, here virtually all leases renew their leases for the same date: Sept. 1. Landlords want to have a signed lease as early as possible. This means that if you are not sure you want to renew your lease you risk having your current apartment rented out from under you before you fully get to compare your options.

My currently apartment is okay, but I'm not crazy about the location or the price. My landlord wants to raise the rent by $75 even though the rental prices have supposedly dropped a bit--even in Boston! This makes me think about moving, but it's more a matter of principle that he shouldn't raise the rent because he doesn't maintain the place all that well. If I could find a significantly better or cheaper place, it might be worth willing to move...but I won't be able to look for a place until other people have already started looking at my apartment. However, if it's not a significant improvement it won't be worth it, since moving would not only be an enormous hassle, I would probably have to pay a Realtor's fee--usually 1/2 month's rent--effectively canceling out the small rent increase.

I'd love to find something by owner, and thus without the fee, but I've had a very hard time finding one in the past, and I do have a cat, which limits some of my options (all "no pet" apartments are out). I also have a lot of stuff, so that further limits my options to apartments with big bedrooms (not common in the city in my price range). I would consider moving in with established roommates when my lease is up, but how far in advance people would know they would have one room in a larger apartment available? It's hard to time everything for a fixed date (Sept. 1).

I always hear about the "friend of a friend" who had a huge place and whose landlord didn't raise the rent for 7 years, yet every landlord I've had has raised the rent every single year!

I guess what I'm looking for is advice about:

1. Weighing the potential benefits of moving against the potential and actual costs--and hassle
2. Ideas for how I can get a great deal under these conditions, in an expensive city where everyone is looking for a place at the same time
3. Options I might have overlooked
4. Timing my search

FYI, I might consider buying in a few years but it's not really an option right now, and also doesn't feel like a great time since I'm not sure I'm completely immune from possibly being laid off if the economy tanks further. Also, if I'm going to plant roots I'm not sure I want to place them here.