Sick and tired...

grafx · #1 03-13-2006, 11:19 AM

Why is it ALWAYS an on-going battle to get payments out of clients? They always have little emergencies and then I'm the mean one for reminding them of their contractual duties.

I'm venting.

NancyJ · #2 03-13-2006, 11:30 AM

dont deliver until you have the cash. People soon pay up.

Mike · #3 03-13-2006, 11:40 AM

I do not start the work till I have the $'s. I have a collection of old prints and really nice retouched copies of them, all partialy paid for. Some of them I have had for over 15 years.

grafx · #4 03-13-2006, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike

I do not start the work till I have the $'s. I have a collection of old prints and really nice retouched copies of them, all partialy paid for. Some of them I have had for over 15 years.

Ha! Someday you might need to blow the dust off and deliver (if they pay)
Too funny.

I run into problems with people who pay really well for a while, big orders and such, but then all of the sudden...TRAGEDY!!! strikes and then the stories begin. My own fault for allowing myself to trust.

Overall, most do me right, just every now and again I find myself bald on one side of my head from pulling my hair out. ((where's a bald-head icon when you need it))

Mike · #5 03-13-2006, 02:42 PM

I have never had a customer come back after a number of years to pick anything up. It makes me a little sad some times, I would almost kill for some images of some of my great grandparents, and these people just leave the orginal prints of theirs with me??????????? I guess its all what you think is important to you.

I have used a couple of them as examples here in the studio. I would never publish them or post them on the net, but they make good before and after sales tools.

I think one of the reasons I stay in busness is to watch and see what the next customer is going to do

crazypatsgirl · #6 03-13-2006, 05:32 PM

I have been there too! Never again..payment up front, period. I lost too big a chunk of change to ever go down the trust route again. Good luck getting paid...

grafx · #7 03-13-2006, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazypatsgirl

I have been there too! Never again..payment up front, period. I lost too big a chunk of change to ever go down the trust route again. Good luck getting paid...

If I remember correctly you work for the same...lets say "caliber" of people that I do

Ed_L · #8 03-13-2006, 05:50 PM

It sounds like you frequently have this problem. Do you get at least 50% down when you take the order? The more you get down, the better chance you have that they'll pick up the order, and pay the remainder.

Ed

grafx · #9 03-13-2006, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed_L

It sounds like you frequently have this problem. Do you get at least 50% down when you take the order? The more you get down, the better chance you have that they'll pick up the order, and pay the remainder.

Ed

Yeah, I have this problem often. Normally with different people, at different times. I think they get comfortable and then lazy with payment because for the first 3-6 mos of work they are "Johnny on the Spot" with payments and then it goes South. I hate starting out a business relationship with 50% or all up front. Its the whole, punishing all for the sins of a few. I guess its a necessary evil.

Mike · #10 03-13-2006, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grafx

I hate starting out a business relationship with 50% or all up front. Its the whole, punishing all for the sins of a few. I guess its a necessary evil.

Why? Think of all the times that you pay up front, fast food places, movies, hotels, airplane trips etc etc.

Sanda · #11 03-14-2006, 02:09 PM

I'm having problems with a customer at the moment, she paid 50% up front but can't be contacted for the final payment and delivery of her restorations. It's so frustrating. I was considerig a "wall of shame" page on my website but I won't do it.
Do you tink with only partial payment you have the right to use the finnished work as advertising? Or is it still the property of the customer regardless of the fact that it's not paid for fully?

Mike · #12 03-14-2006, 05:15 PM

I do not know about your laws, but here after a certain time period the property is considered abandoned. Depending on just what it is that we are talking about, some of it has to be turned in to the state authorities,(usually that is things like money, bonds, jewels etc).

In my state there is nothing that really covers photographs. Part of that is because they really do not have much value except to the family involved. So its kind of a gray area, but the longer I have it, then the less claim they have to say anything about it.

This whole thing would not be a problem if they would just come in and pay the bill and take the work out of here

twinkissed · #13 03-14-2006, 07:12 PM

I don't start until they pay but it takes FOREVER for them to pay a lot of times. I have a folder I store the photos in on the computer for backup and I find I'm constantly having to email people to "remind" them they inquired about a service. Then I get a lot of oh I've been so busy... which is fine but a little email would be nice. I have one guy I understand though... he lost the password to his email while out of state. Anyways, then I usually get bombarded all at once. Well, I'll be slacking off on business anyways... I'm going back to a regular job. *cue psycho theme*

LOL

laradfreder · #14 03-22-2006, 06:47 AM

charge twice as much as you do now and make them pay half down before you start!!!!!

grafx · #15 03-22-2006, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sanda

I'm having problems with a customer at the moment, she paid 50% up front but can't be contacted for the final payment and delivery of her restorations. It's so frustrating. I was considerig a "wall of shame" page on my website but I won't do it.
Do you tink with only partial payment you have the right to use the finnished work as advertising? Or is it still the property of the customer regardless of the fact that it's not paid for fully?

Depends on the wording in your contract. If I can get someone to sign mine, my contract it states that they do not have ownership or rights to the retouched photo until paid in full. I need to get more strict with the contracts, but most are verbal or via email.

Anyone ever use electronic signatures for contracts. You know that whole "by clicking here" you sign...blah, blah, blah....
It then sends the form to you via email and you can print it or store it.

Hmmm....IDEA! I'm revamping my website anyways so I'm going to work out the html coding for it. Does anyone else know about the legality of such documents. Will they hold up in court?

ferdberfel · #16 03-22-2006, 10:28 AM

Are we all forgetting that these people are just like us? If they are 'johnny on the spot' most of the time, cut them some slack. I'm sure everyone on here has been late on a credit card payment at least once...this is no different. I usually get a deposit up front, but I ALWAYS take into consideration the customer, what they need, any problems they may have, etc. It's called customer service. If you live in a small town, like I do, you have to remember that a lot of times your customers are your neighbors. Do unto others, remember?

PatrickB · #17 03-22-2006, 06:23 PM

Oh my god, listening to you I'm so happy to have business clients

I don't know how it's handled in the US but in Germany not paying means some small paperwork to court and two weeks later "Hello Mister Marshal!". Guess it pisses off some clients for future work, but hey, who the hell needs clients not paying?

Mike · #18 03-22-2006, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ferdberfel

Are we all forgetting that these people are just like us? If they are 'johnny on the spot' most of the time, cut them some slack. I'm sure everyone on here has been late on a credit card payment at least once...this is no different. I usually get a deposit up front, but I ALWAYS take into consideration the customer, what they need, any problems they may have, etc. It's called customer service. If you live in a small town, like I do, you have to remember that a lot of times your customers are your neighbors. Do unto others, remember?

Of course, but don't you think after 10 or 15 years or so they might get back to you? (and I live in a small town also)

Little Fisher · #19 04-17-2006, 02:59 PM

I have in the past let the client well aware in the contract that their images will be discarded after a certain amount of time (like 90 days), due to lack of space. I would then give them a call to remind them that I would have to clear out any old orders to make room for new ones. They will come and pick it up if it means anything to them at all.