Painting services
DDetmer89
for others. As a figure painter and a small business owner (graphic design
studio) I can sympathize with both sides. Being on time is maybe the most
important thing that you can do. However sometimes things come up that you have
no control over. I find with most of my clients a simple telephone call works
wonders. Most people can understand that you can have problems that are
unavoidable. What they can't understand is not calling them.
I have in the past only painted figures for local people so I don't have a
lot of problems. I have thought of starting to advertise over the net, but....
I think that if one wants to start painting for others communications should be
first and that will eliminate any future problems. Quality of course is
important, but service is just as important and even sometimes its more
important.
People who are just plain crooks are another problem that figure painters
have. There is nothing you can really do except grin and bear it. But it does
make you wary of the next client. Its unfortnate that people like that exsit,
but they do. Maybe with any luck the IRS will take a good look at them and get
them for back taxes.
Rod Stafford
Matt Pavone
painters
>have. There is nothing you can really do except grin and bear it. But it
does
>make you wary of the next client. Its unfortnate that people like that
exsit,
>but they do. Maybe with any luck the IRS will take a good look at them and
get
>them for back taxes.
People being crooks, in my experience anyway, is much more a problem for
those customers using the painting services than those doing the work.
$1200 and counting thus far...
itybtyrob
For the painter, communication is paramount when accepting a new
client. My preferred method is to talk to the prospect on the
telephone and listen carefully. Generally, the guy who talks like a
big-shot is going to be a potential problem. When accepting a new
client, I never send out a complete order in one shipment. As I don't
take advance payments (I wouldn't send my money to someone I don't know
anything about)I send out only a fraction of the order to see if first,
the paint job is acceptable and secondly, to see how long the guy takes
to pay for the shipment. If the client doesn't remit payment within
terms, you can bet he won't see any more of the order. If I am
painting his figures, then he has some incentive to pay promptly.
For the client, ask for samples first. And remember one important
thing. If you advance cash, the painter has less incentive to hurry
and finish the job. An honest and concientious painter will finish the
job within the specified time frame. The other guy will string you
along. Why should he hurry, he already has a good portion of your
money and it is probably already spent.
I give my clients 15 day terms. Most pay within that time frame. For
those who don't, I cut them off and won't ship anything else. Fair is
fair. And those who do pay promptly, receive priority service.
Afterall, if I spend a week painting an order I don't want to wait a
month to get paid.
Rob
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DDetmer89
designer and with new clients that I don't know I usually ask for a third up
front, a third upon completion and the last third within 30 days. I also have
the client sign acceptance on the roughs that I present him. Although I've been
stung a few times, the vast majority of my clients are pretty good. The
difference is I am not working with individuals but with companies.
Since I have only painted figures for people that I know and are locally
I've always been paid. (Maybe they figure I'll send my 6'2" son to collect). I
don't paint for extra money but for the pleasure of the painting itselve. Its a
relief from running a business.
I can understand the problems of people who offer a painting service. I just
can't understand the dishonesty of some of the people who use those services.
Rod
FrstWave17
I have to agree with you on the communication part of what is one the more
important part of this.
But also for the painter (talking from my opinion) having a deposit up front is
also a must but request that it is a check this can protect both you and your
customer in that you have the check as proof should the need arise and they can
cancell it or have it traced on their side.
Also I found (and I never had a problem knock wood) is any e mail communication
you have with a client discussing the terms and payment structure print it out
and file it ,
now you have for your protection proof on your side should you have to go after
your payment.
But above all this I think is word of mouth,
let's face it any good clients you have are not going to be as likely to tell
someone they know that tends to be well lets say less honest then they are,to
use you cause just like you the painter screwing up and they talking about
you,the same applies to their good name.
No matter what we are all going to run into these problems at some point
regardless of it being the painter or the client it happens.
Joe D.
First Wave Painting
H.M.G.S. East
Andy O'Neill
<ddet...@aol.com> writes
> I can understand the problems of people who offer a painting service. I just
>can't understand the dishonesty of some of the people who use those services.
Human beings are not naturally particularly honest, laws and police
would be unnecessary otherwise.
Some general business advice.
Bear with me, there is a practical point.
Humans have spent most of their time in small groups.
There are convincing studies which indicate that the closer the contact
with people the less likely they are to rip you off.
One involved a 2p coin left in a public telephone.
Virtually all people would pick this up during their phone call.
An actor would then approach them asking if they'd found their change
left.
If the actor touched the subject on the hand casually during the
conversation ( UK telephone booths used to have a heavily sprung door )
then this greatly increased the chance the subject would admit to
finding the trivial sum and hand it over.
These are Joe public rather than hardened conmen, but most people
swizzing you on a deal are probably otherwise honest.
If you meet people face to face they are far less likely to be dishonest
in dealings. Obviously, if you insist on payment as you hand over the
figures then they would need to use physical force or some such.
It would seem that the old practice of shaking hands on a deal might
have surprisingly effective benefits.
Andy O'Neill
www.l-25.demon.co.uk/index.htm
Liverpool Wargames Association
www.l-25.demon.co.uk/LWA.htm
itybtyrob
ddet...@aol.com (DDetmer89) wrote:
> Its interesting to see how people handle these things. As I said
> I'm a graphic
> designer and with new clients that I don't know I usually ask for
> a third up
> front, a third upon completion and the last third within 30 days.
> I also have
> the client sign acceptance on the roughs that I present him.
> Although I've been
> stung a few times, the vast majority of my clients are pretty
> good. The
> difference is I am not working with individuals but with
> companies.
> Since I have only painted figures for people that I know and
> are locally
> I've always been paid. (Maybe they figure I'll send my 6'2" son to
> collect). I
> don't paint for extra money but for the pleasure of the painting
> itselve. Its a
> relief from running a business.
> service. I just
> can't understand the dishonesty of some of the people who use
> those services.
Rod,
I've been engaged in selling painted figures, full-time, for 4 years,
but having been doing it, as an extra source of income, since 1974. In
all those years, I've been stung for $56.00. Lucky?, maybe. But, I'm
also careful. I explain, up-front, my policies concerning turn-around,
returns and, of course, terms of payment. Another important item that
I emphasize is honesty and integrity. As I extend these to my clients
I expect the same in return and am not afraid to demand it. I am also
not shy about calling a client concerning a delinquent invoice. I
think some guys are shy about doing so, and they shouldn't be.
I like to think that the 25 or so years of retail experience and
selling has given me a good foundation for being able to spot potential
problem clients. I pick up a lot of clientele from magazine ads and
word of mouth, but my preferred method is at the conventions where I
can talk face-to-face and kind of size up the guy. You can usually
figure that you will see this person again, at another convention, so
the likelihood of getting burned is less.
I have only taken advance payments on a couple of occassions. And then
not necessarily because I had uneasy feelings. Basically, I think that
most of the people I come into contact with, in this industry, are
honest folks.
ki...@localaccess.com
I'm interested in your 8mm painted napoleonic figures. Please contact
me .
Kip