Sunday, September 16, 2007

Separated at Birth?

Oh wait...we're not the same age...

I know this is gonna be mighty hard for y'all to believe, but I wrote yesterday's post without any clue that Renea had beaten me to the punch! I read her post and comments mere minutes ago after Muslimahlocs told me about it.

The other day Renea mentioned our posts being harmonic...Goodnapps, Cashana, Brunsli, and I have often been nearly on the same page about some things, but this is just freaky!!!

I wrote my post about SL expense because it was on my mind after talking to a few people who were interested in them. I had referred them to my blog and to my consultant. I wanted to put some advice out there in case they visit my blog before I have an opportunity to speak to them again about price.

I decided to write a post about the 'expense' because so many people love the look and concept of Sisterlocks, but then shy away because of the cost. I started composing my post in my head on Wednesday, but didn't get to type it out until yesterday!

I was floored at how similar our sentiments are!...Too weird!!!

But also not (really weird) because the cost analysis breakdown is really the most logical way to look at it. I did a lot of research on my own before I ever talked to any consultants. As soon as I understood the method of installation, I immediately knew Sisterlocks would not be cheap - especially with my shoulder-length hair.

I didn't even expect to be able to get them for less than $700 right off the bat, simply because the process is so labor-intensive. As someone who has done crafts and design work and consulting (and occasionally hair), I completely understood that an SL consultant needs to be compensated for her time and attention to detail.

Personally, I never thought twice about the cost of Sisterlocks as a determining factor for whether or not I would get them, but like a car or appliance or any other big ticket item you intend to keep, I do think it is wise to 'shop around' if you have the option, all the while keeping in mind that you do get what you pay for.

I think this is particularly important for people who have longer hair or thicker hair or hair that might not lock quickly or easily.

A bargain is only a good deal if you get the SAME item or service at a lower price. It is not worth the savings if you get an inferior product at a cheaper price point.

I still can't get over how similar the posts are, and that I addressed some of the points that Goodnapps brought up and that I used the term sticker-shock like Brunsli. And Meikmeika talked about how the time savings makes them worth it just like I did - we even both used the term 'fret'. I swear I hadn't read a word of it when I wrote my post!

Are we all becoming psychically connected through blogging?

....Ponder...Discuss...

8 comments:

Unknown said...

Hi--
I do think we all are somehow on similar wavelengths. Maybe because despite our differences, we all have in common a willingness to try something new, to be unique, to learn new things, to be interested in who we are...

I wrote about the cost of SLs because someone on LockItUp asked.

Well, actually the person who asked implied that everyone who had SLs must have a lot of money. Her post was titled something like "What Kind of Jobs Do You All Have to Afford SLs?" It just annoyed me for a lot of reasons and I ended up posting the cost analysis so I wouldn't go off on the person who posted. But I will now...
1) Why is it OK to make assumptions about people based on their appearance? I have SLs so I must be rich? To me this is like people who say black people who are trying to improve themselves in anyway are "acting white." There's nothing wrong with being rich, but why would you make an assumption about someone's income. I think that's rude. If someone, did the reverse...oh people who wear their hair like that or do whatever are poor...that would obviously be offensive.

2) If something costs more than you can afford, does that make it expensive? The poster acknowledged she was not good at budgetng and had spent the money she was planning to use for her SLs several times. I guess to avoid taking responsibility, she declared SLs expensive. That bothered me because...

3) Installing Sisterlocks is very time and labor-intensive and how some person is earning their livelihood. If you won't pay their price, don't knock their hustle. Being self-employed is very difficult, especially when people are always expecting you to hook them up because they are too cheap or cheeky to pay for the services they receive. It's very passive-aggressive to call someone's endeavor an extravagance because it's currently out of YOUR reach. Plus it just pollutes what other people think about SLs when it's really about you. Which leads to...

4) If you really want something and you're not willing to do what's necessary to get it...make a plan, do your research, follow through...don't make passive-aggressive statements about other people. You should hold yourself in higher regard. As L'oreal says, you're worth it. Not only can you find what you are looking for at a fair price, but you are worthy of having what you want whatever the price. Taking subtle digs at everybody else--they charge too much, they must be rich, is just distracting you from the real issue. You aren't handling your business.

As you can see, I'm having a cranky weekend...lol. But posting the cost analysis was meant to keep me from posting what I just wrote back to the list where it undoubtedly would have come off harsh when I really am just annoyed that the young woman was being so short-sighted and imo judgmental.

Going on LockItUp and announcing, in effect, that you think everyone who has them must be bourgy and everyone who does them is trying to rip you off just griped my...

I'm posting what I really wanted to say here...1) because I guess it's still bugging me...lol. 2) I want to say my peace without stirring up a huge hornet's nest and I figure the people who are reading your comment section are less likely to start an internet dust-up than on the list. 3)Since we all do end up discussing the same thing, I figure you and other people who are thinking along the same line will appreciate what I'm saying as an intellectual point rather than as an internet flame and 4) because I am having a stressful, cranky weekend and I feel like Grandmaster Flash...lol.

brunsli said...

Begin weird music freaky fade-in for all blogging about the same thing at the same time...

Come to think of it, I also blogged about the cost of SLs in a long-winded posted a long time ago too...

http://brunsli.blogspot.com/2007/03/just-how-much-do-sisterlocks-cost-isnt.html

...music fades out.

CarmenNC said...

All I have to say about cost is take the consultant class and you will understand why they cost so much.

Cashana said...

It is kinda weird, huh? All I can say for folks to do is research and yes do a cost analysis.

N'Drea ~ the Storyteller said...

I can identify with Renea's rhetorical questions - "Why is it OK to make assumptions about people based on their appearance? I have SLs so I must be rich?" For me, it not only applies to my SLs, but also to my braces. I guess some folks are probably thinking, 'Well, if she has both, she mus' be rollin' in some serious dough.'

And I hate when people ask me about the cost of SLs, because I know I'm gonna see some eyebrows shooting up to their scalps. The same folk then end up going to some bogus person to get it done at a much, much, much cheaper rate, and end up with anything but SLs.

N'Drea ~ the Storyteller said...

Over the weekend, someone actually told me that I could afford to pay the pricey fee for an upcoming retreat. But anybaddy eva si mi dyin' trial?

Goodnapps said...

Renea - you said enough for all of us and I couldn't agree more or have said it better myself.

We bloggers definitely think and agree a lot on the same subjects. But even for issues we don't see eye to eye on, it's good to see the issues presented in a well thought provoking manner. For me, that's where I gain real growth
and learning.

Naturally Sophia said...

I agree with goodnapps tenfold. We are all psychic. lol!