Turned Down An Order

[Rayban]

I've learned to pass on projects that take me away from those things I do regularly and efficiently......as kindly as I can I let them know I just don't have time for experimentation projects.

Usually I get a "I understand, thank you"...but when I get no reply, it's safe to assume I've POd someone.

[Cyberthrasher]

.....it's safe to assume I've POd someone.

That's why I've learned to live my life under that assumption. That way I'm never disappointed

My customers are important to me and I treat every one of them like they're the most important job I have, but I won't let any of them treat me like I should be desperate for their business.

[DoubleC]

I have a hard time with no, and I'll finish the collar, even if I have to do it on my own money. I've been told time and again get at least 1/2 up front, and if I can't learn to do that, then I guess it was just a 'stupid tax' I think it's called on here :-) I'll make it a baby present and try and do it different the next time. I got totally stiffed on another order so I shouldn't feel so bad about this, got 1/3 :-)

[Cyberthrasher]

Never take knife to leather until you have at least half of your expected payment in hand. You'll only lose money that way with all the people who are interested until they find out how much it costs.

[DoubleC]

I know Allen, and he's really excited about the collar but is totally oblivious when I tell him I need the rest of his payment to order the D rings and Chicago screws. He said last Weds. 'I should have at least $10.00 by the end of the night,' but I couldn't stand being there that long. He dropped off the collar after taking it home to try it for fit on his dog to a friend of mine with the invoice I showed him of what things had cost so far, but not a dime did he give her. Like I said, considering it a stupid tax and I'll just the collar on my dog if I don't have anymore money from him by Weds. I'm not going to beg him for enough money to finish the project, I'll give him the 10 back he gave me though my friend (she works at a store he comes in every day) and Skadi will have a nice, new collar much nicer than the one I made her before. Sometimes you just have to learn these things yourself before you believe someone isn't going to take you serious. When the 10 bucks shows up with no collar he'll realize I'm serious then but it will be too late.

[Sir Titus]

All of my coustom work is $20 an hour to be payed 50% up front. If they pay for 3 hours they get 3 hours and I stop untill more time is payed. I have also worked off of a deposit secured with a Credit card and a contract.

[DoubleC]

A friend of mine said I need to make up a form and charge 50% non refundable up front for a cutting fee. I'm going to do that. I am just not good enough yet at collecting money from people. That way at least I won't be out any money, like I am on two orders I took on. I think maybe even I am finally fed up and that takes a lot. Cheryl

[Cyberthrasher]

Well, it's not that hard to be strict about money. I have 2 orders waiting in the wings right now with artwork all approved (both from friends). One of them finally paid me the required 50% down payment yesterday, so last night I cut out his guitar strap. I make it very clear up front, and several times once the artwork is finalized, that I will NOT cut the leather in any way until I have a down payment (unless it's a "personalized" item which will require 100% of the estimated amount). Using that method, I never waste an order and I make sure that all my customers are serious about what they want. But, I'm not the kind of guy that cuts favors at all, so that's probably why I don't have a problem doing that to even my closest friends.

[DoubleC]

Allen I wish I could be that strict. I should have waited to make the cuts but didn't ever think I wouldn't get the money. So from now on it's 50% down to cut. That way I won't be out anything....but all my stuff is personalized, well no it's not, it's custom, so I don't mind going with 50% because it's just another item I'll have finished for Etsy. But I am working on one that is personalized, and that one I'm doing as a gift so I don't mind.

[Cyberthrasher]

Well, to me "personalized" means the persons name or something else that would be hard to sell to another person. Take the previously mentioned guitar strap that I just got paid for. Technically it's personalized because it's a jolly roger wearing a hat with the customers family crest on it. But, the family crest is so simple and cool that I could easily sell it to someone else. Now, if it had his name or even his nickname then it would be payment in full up front. In the end the goal is to not have any stock on hand that isn't paid for. If I can't easily sell it somewhere else when they fail to pay me the remainder, then they'll definitely be paying me in full before the work starts.