[bluffroadglass]

I think that what's often overlooked in these discussions about tutorial pricing is that the value in what you're buying is in the information that's being offered, not the format it's offered in or the amount of time it took the tutorial author to write it or photograph it. Bottom line, what you're actually buying when you buy a tutorial is another artist's trade secrets. You're buying the exact color recipe and detailed step by step instructions that will allow you to clone one of the author's best selling original designs, and sell it and profit on it, for the rest of your life.

Think about your favorite bead design -- something you're really proud of. Suppose it's a bead that always sells for you, one that you can always depend on to help pay the rent or put food on the table. It's a design that other beadmakers are always asking you how to do. You've made thousands of dollars on this design over the years, and because nobody else knows how it's made, you have the exclusive on the market. Anybody who wants to buy this bead, has to buy it from you.

Now, suppose another beadmaker came to you and asked you to teach her how to make that bead, and also to give her your permission to sell and profit from the design forever. Let's say she offered you $25 for this. Would you think it was a fair offer?