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  • Knitting for Numbshulls

    Okay, my first story of my own hm....

    First some background. I do not have a "real" job. I am a student and one could call me "self-employed". I knit. I knit for fun and profit. Emphasis on the profit. I tend to work on a "payment on delivery" basis. I get the order, I make the stuff and then get paid when I hand it off to the customer.... This usually works fine.

    Not today. Woman had ordered seven scarves. She'd paid for and received three a couple weeks ago. That's fine....

    Today I come with the others and she tells me she doesn't want the rest. So I have 4 scarves at 15 bucks apiece.... Wow, bitch just cost me 60 bucks.

    Yes I know the yarn isn't that much, and I -could- find a way to sell off the others, with that winter mix shit coming down. But the point is, I should NOT have to. But seriously, if I do NOTHING else I can make a scarf a day (maybe). Scarves are usually a two day project. I should really start demanding a deposit or payment in advance.

    Am I overreacting to the fact the woman basically cost me a month's worth of groceries?

  • #2
    No, you're not overreacting. She promised to pay you and is backing out of the deal. However, situations like this are why I always get at least partial payment up front when doing custom work.
    Random Doctor Who quote:
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    I has a gallery: deviantART gallery.
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    • #3
      half now half on delivery has been standard when ever I get anything special ordered.

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      • #4
        I'd say... don't make her anything else again, at least not without up-front payment.
        Then make her understand that it's a "no refund" policy.

        if she complains... "I already wasted supplies on you before and you changed your mind. I'm not going eat the costs again. I'm sure you understand."

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        • #5
          In the cosplay world it's not uncommon to commission a costume from somebody who can sew better than you. In those cases, it's standard for the commissioner to pay for materials up front.

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          • #6
            Asking for half-upfront is completely reasonable. Non-refundable deposit is quite normal.

            Did you ask her why she didn't want them? Maybe she was unhappy with your previous work. I'm not saying that you do bad work, it's just a good idea to get what information you can when things like this happen.

            Odds are, she's just a jerk.
            "Always stand near the door." -- Doctor Who

            Kuya's Kitchen -- Cooking, Cooking Gadgets, and Food Related Blather from a Transplanted Foodie

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            • #7
              I should clarify: don't make ANYONE anything without half upfront.
              "Always stand near the door." -- Doctor Who

              Kuya's Kitchen -- Cooking, Cooking Gadgets, and Food Related Blather from a Transplanted Foodie

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              • #8
                i would be upset too, but i would also maybe contact some of my pervious customers who liked that type of thing and informed them that you had some surplus products and maybe cut something off the price, maybe 2-3 dollars. Also i wouldnt refund the deposit informing the customer it was to pay for the labor and materials used to date, and if any of your other customers wanted them or the previouse customer desided she want them after all sell them.

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                • #9
                  I'd start making yourself a little contract that states what you are making and the cost, and that 1/4, 1/2, (I think 1/2 of your material cost would be good) is due upfront, and is non-refundable once the prodcut has been started. The rest is due upon delivery.

                  Make sure you get it signed for people who will argue with you about wanting their money back.

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                  • #10
                    And stuff like that is why I won't sew for money anymore. I did a couple times and had really bad experiences. I had someone stop payment on the check that she used to pay me. So I was also out bank fees; as yes, my bank charged me for depositing a check that was stopped.
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                    • #11
                      Part of what I do is custom work, either custom printing, Stamps, Discs, etc. there are some things that I have to shell out money for because I sub it out, or have to lay out money for the supplies.

                      A standard rule of thumb in the printing business is minimum 50% deposit on custom orders. I normally don't have to do that on stuff like VHS transfers, hehe I allready have your only copy of kids baby video, you aren't gonna screw me over while I have that in my hand.

                      But When you have to cover expenses its smart to do a 50% down and the remaining 50% upon deliverey, with stipulations that the deposit is non-refundable. This way if bozo the buttmunch decides to change their mind, then it cost's 'em money to do it.

                      I will not agree with the comment that you have to keep the policy the same accross the board. If you have certain customers that you have been dealing with for a while and have never had a problem with, then use your judgement. New customers then you don't know how they are, the judgement call would be to demand the deposit from them.
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                      • #12
                        Quoth marasbaras View Post
                        Asking for half-upfront is completely reasonable. Non-refundable deposit is quite normal.

                        Did you ask her why she didn't want them?
                        She told me the people that she was giving them to as gifts didn't want them.

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                        • #13
                          I have to agree with 50% up front and the rest on delivery.
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                          • #14
                            Please tell me that the yarn cost $15 not that you are selling them for that price, because if so then you are selling them for way to little. Most people I know who knit on commision charge the yarn price up front (non refundable) before they even start knitting with an hourly rate estimated and priced seperately. A hand knit scarf should be around $40 or so by time and go up from there.
                            Can you get on etsy or ebay and sell the ones you got stuck with?

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                            • #15
                              Your not over reacting in the slightest.
                              I'd be pretty annoyed to.
                              She asked for those pieces to be commissioned, you held up your end of the bargain and made them at cost to yourself.
                              She backed out after you had made them for her, the least she could have done is mentioned it at an earlier date or given a reasonable explanation for why she no longer wanted them.

                              Ps you must be a fast knitter, it takes me at least three weeks to do a pair of socks.
                              Please excuse me , I need to wander round the corner to scream now, before my head explodes.

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