Steve Dean Painting :: View topic

Dunk · Experienced Joined: 30 Oct 2007 Posts: 39

You know that feeling that you should just walk away from something before you even start it?

Just finished a commission for someone - I had that very feeling at the start I should have rejected it.

The miniatures arrived without any warning, and despite assurances from the customer that they hadn't been painted, they very much had been painted, many times, with emulsion.

They'd also been stripped with nitromors, and the sculpt detail was knackered on roughly half of them (compounded by them being late 80s GW, not renowned for depth of detail)

Then, when asking for reference material for colour scheme, I get sent two thumbnails - a whole 7.5kb of jpeg based information.

But I stuck with it, despite the customer taking yonks to reply to my questions about basing etc.

Then, in the last week or so, customer is mailing twice a day chasing an update.

Completed the commission on Monday night, sent pics and final invoice, and whaddya know?

No response!!

Nnnnnggghhh!

Tell me the good and the great on this forum get the same problem!

Steve · Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2007 1:48 pm Post subject:

yep.

Now I don't do any work until I get some money.
_________________
Steve

Ook · Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2007 2:08 pm Post subject:

Marvelous ! This is an area I'm trying to get into, and you guys have put me right off
_________________
Ook

"DON'T use the M Word !"

Antenociti · Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2007 3:09 pm Post subject:

Take a 50% non-returnable deposit up front every time as a minimum.
_________________
"Melding Construction and Art, in miniature."

"You don't need eyes to see, you need vision."

generulpoleaxe · Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2007 3:22 pm Post subject:

i'm waiting for £600 at the moment and no check in sight.

good job i live off fresh air and don't need food!

(had to dig into my sculpters fund for my airbrush etc)

you know i aint doing anything without a deposit unless it's from previous customers i can trust.
_________________
http://myrmidonstudio.blogspot.com/

Dunk · Experienced Joined: 30 Oct 2007 Posts: 39

£600!!?!?

Blimey, makes my £70 seem somewhat insignificant

tomrommel1 · Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2007 3:59 pm Post subject:

never do anything withoutr a deposit!!!!

Gangleader147 · Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2007 5:05 pm Post subject:

The few bits I have had done I have paid up front ...... going to have to pay anyway may as well get it out the way!

Ook · Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2007 5:23 pm Post subject:

I will bear all this info on deposits etc in mind, IF I ever find anyone to pay me to paint anything for them.
_________________
Ook

"DON'T use the M Word !"

krom1415 · Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2007 5:23 pm Post subject:

I always get the whole amount before I start, unless their regulars, but even then get most of the money up front.

Hope you can resell them.......but do wait, as his computer could of blown up etc etc

I feel for you, not a nice thing to have done to you

Dave T · Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2007 5:26 pm Post subject:

Yup I'm a 50% down and no return on painted figures if you don't pay the rest within a month; I've been taken for a ride 3 times now and none of them was for pocket money either
_________________
"I hate hippies"

rob184 · Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2007 7:57 pm Post subject:

Send him/her a deadline threaten him/her with a small claim court for your services. If you've got e-mails or some paperwork commissioning you then I reckon you've got a case.

If he/she doesn't respond check out where you stand legally then sell em on e-bay

I got ripped off years ago when I was first getting into gaming sent some AB 15mm off to get painted up. Deposit as well never saw either again.

Now I use one trusted painter and do the rest myself when I get the time.

Put the pressure on him/her. Don't give up your time for free

Dunk · Experienced Joined: 30 Oct 2007 Posts: 39

All's good - he's contacted me...

Small claims court?!?

Bit serious for £70!!

Dave T · Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2007 8:31 pm Post subject:

Ook · Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2007 8:45 pm Post subject:

All these tips for making sure the customer doesn't rip you off are all well and good, but how do you get customers in the first place ?
_________________
Ook

"DON'T use the M Word !"