DEAR MISS MANNERS: I’m a fantastic artist, with a studio connected to my residence. Pals and guests typically ask to see the studio, and I’m blissful to oblige.
Generally, a customer will ask how a lot a specific piece prices. This places me on the spot. I often say, “Well, I would normally charge $300 for that painting, but with my ‘friends and family’ discount, I would charge $150.”
On a couple of events, I’ve had a customer who appears to be like aghast and murmurs one thing to the impact of “I didn’t think it would be so expensive.”
Miss Manners, I have no idea the way to reply! I’ve already halved the worth (which isn’t outlandish to start with), and am now made to really feel I’m being grasping or unreasonable. My response has been a strained smile and a few breezy remark about how the piece was significantly time-consuming, and many others., however by then the environment has modified, and is tough to undo.
Am I being impolite? Ought to I’ve declined to debate costs on this context? I believe my visitor has been impolite by implying my work is just not definitely worth the (discounted!) value.
How can I deal with this case extra politely sooner or later?
GENTLE READER: Though the studio is adjoining to your house, you retain it separate for a motive (much less paint within the yogurt). Miss Manners wonders in case your friends want extra space between their barely impertinent query and the implied gross sales pitch of your reply: They might have requested the worth out of mere curiosity.
Both inform them you haven’t but set a value, or, if you happen to assume they’re severe about a purchase order, inform them that you’d promote it to a industrial supplier for $300 — with an emphasis on the phrase “commercial” that invitations them to ask an extra query.
DEAR MISS MANNERS: I urge for steerage on the correct etiquette with one’s cutlery at resort buffet breakfasts.
Whereas there are ample clear plates, the protocol appears to be that one has however a single set of cutlery. Maybe that is to disgrace one into avoiding gluttonous habits.
Nevertheless, when shifting from bacon and eggs to toast or muffins, how ought to one get a clear knife? The knife and fork disappear within the fingers of the waitstaff. Asking for brand new ones is never met with a gracious response from the (admittedly busy) servers.
GENTLE READER: Is that this a trick query, Miss Manners wonders?
One will get a brand new knife and fork by requesting them, a solution that doesn’t rely on whether or not these beforehand equipped had been made soiled by your self or an unnamed third occasion.
As as to if the workers is spending breakfast judging you, she can not say for sure, however suspects they’ve higher issues to occupy their ideas — equivalent to when this meal service is lastly going to be over.
