Advice

[Coverup]

I have a question about pieces left after an extended period of time.
I refinished a cedar chest mid November. I have called and left
messages, sent letters, talked to the lady in person. She will not
come in to get her refinished piece. The last time I spoke to her,
about a month ago, she told me she would be here to pick up the chest
in 2 weeks, never showed.

I have a guy who will buy the chest for what I have in it. When can an
item be considered abandoned?
Or how have you all delt with this problem? I have been doing
reupholstery and refinishing for 28 years and have never had anyone
not pick up their furniture.

Thanks,

Marge

[Tim Inman]

No-Show's are a tricky legal problem.

Each state has it's own rules about this. Small claims court
sometimes comes into play. Generally, I think just good open
communication can be the best solution.

The customer doesn't have the money. Period. They'll stall and lie
and drag their feet forever, hoping their ship will come in.
Sometimes there's a divorce in the works....

They may be very willing to give up the piece in order to get you out
of their hair. I'd suggest first, be informal and just call or
communicate with the customer and tell them you need to have your
money, and there is a person who is willing to 'buy out' the piece for
the charges. Don't get into brokering a sales deal!

If that is met with a hostile or non-response, then send a registered
letter with a return receipt, and move the piece off premises for at
least a month. Ultimately, you're in a cat-and-mouse game. Don't
forget to charge daily storage fees, and interest, and keep records of
all your contacts, in case the need may arise later.....

Deposits, and pre-arranging credit card charges for services when
completed are two ways we use to eliminate this problem. With our
'snow-bird' customers who leave furniture with us for the winter while
they are in the south, we get them to pre-authorize a credit card
charge so when we're done working, we process the card charge. That
way, we're not sitting with a room full of unpaid work until they
decide to come home and take care of business.

We wish you luck - you'll need it.

Tim Inman

[Ann Herman]

We have this problem at least 1X a year. If you at least have a deposit it
helps. Then after phone conversations I always follow up with a letter to
prove that I have notified her/him. We have 1 right now and we probably
won't be doing any more work for her because it has happened before with the
same person. Duh!!! We didn't get a prepay after the problem last time. Good
luck.
Ann

Thanks,

Marge

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[Cynthia Saar, Cardinal Restorations, LLC]

Hi, Guys:

We print on our quote/estimate sheet our terms for payment.  50% at beginning of job, balance due upon completion or pick-up / delivery.  Storage fees start 7 days after notification, and we will sell  after 30 days to recover our costs.  We don't take a job at all without a deposit, don't care who you are or how long we have been doing business together, unless it is under $100.  This policy keeps our shop space and showroom areas free of completed jobs, thereby leaving room for new work, and we get our money one way or another in a timely manner.  Hope this helps.  Cynthia at Cardinal Restorations

Cynthia Saar
Cardinal Restorations, LLC

Cardinal Cabinets of Distinction
5139 Front Street
Stedman, NC  28391
910-480-2523

Restoring Beauty To Your Life

[medi...@aol.com]

I seem to have the same problem on occasion.  Usually its the kind of furniture the customer wants finished and the bill is way more than the piece is worth but they want it done anyone, sometimes a family passdown.  I just keep calling every so often to touch base with them but I'm stuck with the furniy=ture taking up precious floor space.  I even have a bed I restored about a year ago and the customer even paid for the job.  I'm thinking of delivering it and charge her a fee, if I can collect, at least I get my space back.  I'm never rude to the customers, that gets around fast, but I do plead with them and explain my position for space I need.  Hope it helps but probably doesn't.

Mark W Brown

Brown's Cabinet Shop

Lancaster, Ky

-----Original Message-----
From: Coverup <margek...@gmail.com>
To: WoodFinishing & Furniture Restorer's Guide <woodfinis...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Thu, Feb 17, 2011 11:34 am
Subject: [WoodFinishing Guide: 238] Advice

I have a question about pieces left after an extended period of time.
I refinished a cedar chest mid November. I have called and left
messages, sent letters, talked to the lady in person. She will not
come in to get her refinished piece. The last time I spoke to her,
about a month ago, she told me she would be here to pick up the chest
in 2 weeks, never showed.

I have a guy who will buy the chest for what I have in it. When can an
item be considered abandoned?
Or how have you all delt with this problem? I have been doing
reupholstery and refinishing for 28 years and have never had anyone
not pick up their furniture.

Thanks,

Marge

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[Marge Keasling]

Sometimes it just helps knowing someone else feels your pain.

It helped to hear how others handle the situation. I have never asked for half up front, but I guess those times are coming.

Thanks for all responses.

Marge

medi...@aol.com wrote:

>
>I seem to have the same problem on occasion. Usually its the kind of furniture the customer wants finished and the bill is way more than the piece is worth but they want it done anyone, sometimes a family passdown. I just keep calling every so often to touch base with them but I'm stuck with the furniy=ture taking up precious floor space. I even have a bed I restored about a year ago and the customer even paid for the job. I'm thinking of delivering it and charge her a fee, if I can collect, at least I get my space back. I'm never rude to the customers, that gets around fast, but I do plead with them and explain my position for space I need. Hope it helps but probably doesn't.
>Mark W Brown
>Brown's Cabinet Shop
>Lancaster, Ky
>
>
>
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Coverup <margek...@gmail.com>
>To: WoodFinishing & Furniture Restorer's Guide <woodfinis...@googlegroups.com>
>Sent: Thu, Feb 17, 2011 11:34 am
>Subject: [WoodFinishing Guide: 238] Advice
>
>
>I have a question about pieces left after an extended period of time.

> refinished a cedar chest mid November. I have called and left

>essages, sent letters, talked to the lady in person. She will not

>ome in to get her refinished piece. The last time I spoke to her,

>bout a month ago, she told me she would be here to pick up the chest

>n 2 weeks, never showed.
>I have a guy who will buy the chest for what I have in it. When can an

>tem be considered abandoned?

>r how have you all delt with this problem? I have been doing

>eupholstery and refinishing for 28 years and have never had anyone

>ot pick up their furniture.
>Thanks,
>Marge
>--

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>o unsubscribe from this group, send email to

>oodfinishinggu...@googlegroups.com

>or more options, visit this group at

>ttp://groups.google.com/group/woodfinishingguide?hl=en