Deposits

[Doug Nelson]

I do no over-the-counter business (or even in-person business), so pardon if I wax theoretical (wax on, wax off).

So, a client walks up to your counter with an image to be restored that they don't want to leave with you. No problem. Using your white gloves, you either scan it or make a copy neg while they wait, and they take their original back with them.

My question: do you get a deposit or use some other tactic to make sure they actually return to pickup and pay for their work?

[DJ Dubovsky]

I guess I would have to since you don' t have the original to hold as collateral. I say this yet I have been too trusting. Luckily my trust hasn't been shattered but I know I will get burnt someday.
DJ

[john_opitz]

50 % down. Either way. I do this with ordering pictures(portrait sittings) as well. This covers the cost of the pictures. Well maybe some of the cost.

[Jakaleena]

I'm with John on this one. I ALWAYS get 50% down when I get the order. Balance is due on receipt.

One other thing. When they pick the finished work up (or I deliver it as in most cases), they can ask that more be done, say they don't like it and request a refund, or ask to have it remade for whatever reason and I will gladly accomodate that. Since I give them both an 8x10 print and a CD-ROM included in their price, once it has been approved and left my hands, if they come back and ask, I will still do more work or remake it if they like, but at that point I no longer offer a refund because of the opportunity for the work to be copied.

[Mike]

I recommend that you always get a deposit (we get 50%) as we have over the last 20 years acquired a rather large amount of copy negs, prints and even orginals (somewheres between 60 and 75, the last time we counted it was 60 some) that customers have brought in and never picked up.
Many of the "left here" jobs have been fully paid for. The real question now is what to do with them. The ones that are fully paid for are not really my property, the ones not paid for I do have some claim on. Laws in my state are not really clear on this so that adds to the problem. I guess that if I ever retire, they will just go with me!
It kind of bends the mind to have a customer thourghly grill me on how I take care of the orginals, will not damage them, yes I understand the value et etc and then never come back and pick them up!!!! So get the deposit or better yet the whole charge before the customer leave and disappears for good!
Mike

PS Anyone want a set of wedding proofs? Got a set the bride and groom have never seen, low miles, very few fingerprints, can be had cheaper than going to the expense of buying the dress and renting the tux, etc. Most anyone on the board could do the head swaps necessary to put you into the picture!!!

[Mike Needham]

Whilst not entirely the same, I am sure you should all follow the same principle of retainer/deposit to be paid for any work that may be undertaken. It does not matter that you may have done nothing more than scan it or make a negative, whatever the case your time IS money. I won't advocate charging through the nose for doing nothing, but imagine this.

As a Web Designer (are'nt we all ) I often have the scenario where a client will come to me and ask me te quote him on such and such, as sure as eggs are eggs he will want me to produce a mockup so that he can best see what he is getting. Now what insurance do I have that he is not also going to another 3 Web Designers to 'appraise' their work also.

In short, if you do any work that involves cost or considerable time yo yourselves you are not doing yourselves any favours by not charging the going rate (ps: you are also not doing me any favours! )