has this ever happened to you?

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penmanship

penmanship

Member
Joined
Sep 23, 2008
Messages
383
Location
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Without going into details (don't want to single out a group or person) but, has anyone ever had a deadbeat customer? If so, what have you done.

I'm out of pocket so far only about $100 on laser engraving. I'm not even factoring in the 4-5 hours of leg work, but it is ticking me off.

The fellow seemed truly on the up&up. He even contacted me in August to arrange to meet, pay, finish, etc. Since then, I have had a tough time getting ahold of him.

I could go the embrassment route (he's a big wig) but not sure. I had written a letter, still professional, but non the less getting my point across.

Should I cut my losses or keep after the deadbeat? Just curious if I'm alone on this one.........

Tim
 
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1. Write a letter of concern. You can't imagine what happens that turns people lives upside down.

2. Re-state your agreement.

3. Ask if a modification of terms would be helpful.

4. Ask for out-of-pocket expenses as soon as possible with a firm commitment date.

5. Set new terms with dates.

6. Do no more work until you have recovered all of your costs. Do not deliver until you have been fully paid.

Remember, if he's a bigwig, he associates with bigwigs. Your willingness to work with him may more than pay off in referrals.

Also, NEVER take another piece of work without 1/2 deposit...even from Bill Gates.
 
give 'em hell!!! I had to implement the 1/2 up front as well, ppl were wanting custom orders, then cant pay. There is nothing more frustrating than that!
 
Many years ago I started a photo studio. Being the terrible business man and a softie, I allowed some work out on credit. I soon learned there were three groups of purchasers. The filthy rich; they will pay eventually with enough encourgement. The dirt poor; they will cut the kids food ration if necessary to pay. My favorite I like to call the wanna be rich; they live three to five pay checks ahead of where they are and do not have any money to pay anything except the absolutly necessary bills. You will never get money from them, no matter how much you try. Best of luck collecting, but try politely but firmly to make arrangements. You may get lucky and get at least part of what is owed to you. I closed the studio in '76 with over $15,K on the books. It is still there.
Charles
 
Send a copy of the original agreement to this bigwig's Account Receivable department if the route that DCBlueman suggestion falls through, Requesting full payment.
If those don't work, contact a debt collector.
 
Good enough is never good enough to me. I've been burned by a close friend. I use his pen as a carry everytime I'm around him. I even ask if he's ready to have it. Oh well, I'm growing attached to it so I may have to make him another IF he pays.
 
Sometimes I think people see our pen making as a "hobby" and don't feel that our payment is that important in the over all scheme of things.

I would continue to be professional about it, send the letter, state the facts. If that doesn't work, then a phone call. If that doesn't work, then write it off as a business loss.
 
Tim I feel your pain :(

I have found that if possible a face to face meeting will usually get it all worked out. this guy might just be embarrassed about it all. if you know where he is just show up with a smile on your face and a bill in your hand.

Erik
 
Two Possibilities

Well, you can do one of two things in my opinion.
a) Write it off - but don't sell to him again.
b) Go after it -- if he is a "bigwig" then he is probably not short of funds so there is some other reason he isn't paying. Maybe he isn't satisfied with the product and you might need to address that...or maybe he is just the kind who takes advantage of friends and you need to let him know he can't do that.
 
Sorry to hear of your trouble Tim. Sometimes these "freinds" turn out not to be the people you thought them to be. Some times I wonder how they can look themselves in the mirror each morning. Takes all kinds I guess. Fortunately for you it was only a hundred bucks, it could of been worse. Hundreds of times worse...

With these "so called" bigwigs this sort of thing can be a power trip. In that case, the best thing you can do is to let a little sunshine in on the matter.

It all depends how mad you are and what it is worth to you - and all the unnamed others that he may prey on down the road. But you are really the only one that can make that call.
 
Winnipeg's a small, close-knit community. I'm betting that he's just busy, as he wouldn't want to risk embarrassment over such a matter...

I'd send him a letter informing him that you've completed the order - maybe his email is just full, or he's under the gun for some project and has prioritized his inbox. Many times, a physical reminder is what's needed - which is why a letter's better than an email, in my opinion.
 
The kicker is, (I saw with my own eye's) he had got made up cheaper pens, and attempted to have them "engraved", not laser engraved either.
Flimsy looking mass produced pens!

NO, the only thing he forgot was to pay me.
maxwell_smart007 said:
Winnipeg's a small, close-knit community. I'm betting that he's just busy, as he wouldn't want to risk embarrassment over such a matter...

I'd send him a letter informing him that you've completed the order - maybe his email is just full, or he's under the gun for some project and has prioritized his inbox. Many times, a physical reminder is what's needed - which is why a letter's better than an email, in my opinion.
Click to expand...
 
Winnipeg is small & it's funny how things work out. I'm just going to write this off as a lesson........BUT since the world is a small place, & kharma is a B***H, I DO have a NEW DAILY CARRY PEN..........:biggrin:I know we're going to bump into one another again (or at least all the big wig buddies of his (who I know)...........this may turn out to be a fun thing.....When it does, I can update.......lololol

PR_Princess said:
Sorry to hear of your trouble Tim. Sometimes these "freinds" turn out not to be the people you thought them to be. Some times I wonder how they can look themselves in the mirror each morning. Takes all kinds I guess. Fortunately for you it was only a hundred bucks, it could of been worse. Hundreds of times worse...

With these "so called" bigwigs this sort of thing can be a power trip. In that case, the best thing you can do is to let a little sunshine in on the matter.

It all depends how mad you are and what it is worth to you - and all the unnamed others that he may prey on down the road. But you are really the only one that can make that call.
Click to expand...
 
KEEP YOUR ENEMY'S CLOSE TO YOUR SIDE...
KEEP YOUR FRIENDS CLOSER TO YOUR SIDE...
MEANING DON'T TRUST A SOLE ALWAYS ASK FOR HALF DOWN TO START NO MATTER WHO IT IS, ONCE YOU BUILD A RELATIONSHIP WITH CLIENT MAYBE GIVE THEM A LITTLE ROOM WITH CREDIT. MY .02 CENTS
 
Been there, Made one of the early circuit board pens for a friend who is a computer programmer. His coworkers all wanted one. I told him the cost and they readily agreed. made six more and they all changed their minds when it was time to collect. Now custom orders get paid ahead of time. It's a hobby for me, hard to justify the expense when you can't write it off.
 
I had a friend mason that built a fire place for a Dr. that was known for stiffing workmen. The Dr.'s wife tried to build a fire in the fire place just before a big indoor party and found out the chimney would not draw. She called the mason complaining. She was told that the fireplace had not been paid for. When it was paid off, it would draw just fine. By the way it had to be cash. She said come on over, cash would be ready. He went over, collected his payment, removed a ladder from the truck and dropped a brick through the piece of glass in the flue allowing the chimney to draw. Both problems solved. If I was only that smart!
Charles
 
Stiffed

If you are going to be in business now and then you get stiffed...you might as well learn to live with it.

I sell on eBay and now and then someone says "I didn't get it"...and even though you have proof a package was delivered they say "it was empty" and eBay forces you to issue a refund.

even more frequently a foreigh buyer will clame non-delivery....well either the postal systems in most of the Free world suck or international buyers have discovered that they can claim a refund from eBay before you can get an inquiry through their customs hence they get a refund and then the package gets delivered....
 
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