**Steem4nigeria Accelerator Contest Week 149 “The Artisan Chronicles”

Welcome to another writing contest. I would like to use this opportunity to thank the admins of the steem4nigeria community especially @steem4nigeria for this beautiful topic and a way to express our experiences in details.

Just like the topic says " The artisan Chronicles" I have written in depth on how I feel and a better way for artisan and customer to relate better with one another. I do hope you all enjoy reading it.

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An artisan is a skilled person who uses their hands, knowledge, and experience to provide services or create useful products. A layman definition is a person with handwork that you need at a particular point in time to help you fix and handle a particular need.

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I'll gladly write about the experience I had with an electrician that made me realize how easily misunderstandings can happen between artisans and their customers. So on this fateful day I think a Saturday, I needed some electrical work done on my room wall socket and I went to meet an electrician that stays around my area for his skills. He told me to call him later in the day that he has another place he needs to work on so I told him okay and left. Fast forward to evening when I noticed he has not showed signs of coming, I called him and he apologized that he forgot and came. He looked at the socket and said it got burnt and I already knew that is what happened and gave him the replacement I bought from the market and he started fixing it. Once he was down I asked the electrician for his price and the amount was too high. I tried to negotiate because as a student that price was too much for me and instead of this man to explain why his price was what it was or even reach a reasonable agreement with me, he got upset and called the money I was offering him “trash.” I was so pained when he said this because he doesn't even know how I came about the money, I found this very disrespectful and unprofessional because I was simply trying to work within my budget as I still had other things to use the money with me for. The experience taught me that both parties need to communicate at first before the work begins so as to avoid unnecessary arguments and insults.

I think the biggest problem is poor communication, especially about prices and expectations. Now in a student area like mine, many artisans here overcharge because of that ideology that students have money forgetting the fact that they are "STUDENTS" and have a lot to pay in school. With my story, I know for a fact that the money I offered was okay for the job the man did but he as an artisan felt that I did not appreciate the time, skill and materials involved in the job. This shows that when both sides fail to communicate clearly, small disagreements can quickly become arguments.

NO, never. I won't advise anybody to pay the full amount upfront, especially when the job is expensive and will take several days. In my country Nigeria, some people are not to be trusted especially when it involves money and completion of a job. Some will take that full payment and you will never hear from them again. Some will take the full amount and you'll be the one chasing them, constantly reminding them of the job and they'll keep playing you. As a customer make a reasonable deposit to help the artisan purchase materials and begin the work, then pay the balance when the job is completed satisfactorily. However, this can depend on the type of work and the agreement between both parties.

Artisans should be clear about their prices so that a customer won't feel scammed , explain what the charges cover and treat customers respectfully, even when negotiations happen because that little job you handled and how well you related with the customer is a key to more customers in future as referral goes a long way. Customer should also respect the artisan's skill and not assume that every price is unreasonable. Both sides should agree on the price, materials, deadline and scope of work before starting. Most importantly, they should communicate calmly and professionally and also keep your receipts of deposit and discussions to avoid change of mouth later. I'll close by saying that a good working relationship is built on respect, honesty, clear communication and mutual understanding.

• I invite @jewelking, @bigcharles and @mannatnawaz to participate in this writing contest.