Advice request

[familliaraver.livejournal.com]

Take on a rush order, finish entire costume on time, in two months start to finish, ready to ship on time. My end of the deal is finished.

Customer informs me after seeing final photos she will pay me the final (around 700 including shipping) on Thursday.

Thursday passes. Not entirely worried.

Talk to customer Friday, don't mention payment, talk about photos, normal conversation

Remind customer Saturday the remaining balance is due and I need to ship Monday to get it there on time.

Informed customer was robbed on Thursday and is unable to pay me anything until after AC.

Inquire about when I can expect payment, if they can get me anything by the 8th (I have bills too, you know)

Waiting for a response. Feels as if I'm getting the cold shoulder. Customer has been absolutely wonderful otherwise.

My TOS doesn't cover any situations like this. That is being fixed.

I'm completely heartbroken, I don't know what to do. If this was a normal commission (something that takes me 5-6 months to finish) I normally wouldn't have a problem giving 3 months for them to sort things out and put them on the back burner.... I put my other customers on the back burner to rush order something that now can't be paid for on time. I made this specifically to be at AC. Would it be fair to ask for further compensation/late fees?  I don't even have the room in my studio to have a suit hang out for 3 months.

Halp me AB; you're my only hope.

Comments

[matrices.livejournal.com]

I had a similar case where I did a rush order squeezed in between other work and then the person couldn't pay for shipping.

In my case I only do rush orders that are paid in advance. But I still ask and have them pay for shipping at the end (otherwise how am I supposed to calculate the price based on weight for something I haven't created yet?).

In my particular case my client paid for their work in advance, wanted it by a certain date, was well aware shipping would be paid by them in the end once I could weigh and pack the item. ...but sadly didn't have the money for the shipping when that time came. Unfortunately, the sad fact of the matter is they just don't get their item until its covered.

I felt a little cruel not comping shipping, but as a business overhead that can cost a LOT of money it just ended up being the fact of the matter.

So in your case: Don't send the item. Its a bad situation, and stuff like this happens, yeah but asking for a police report is way too invasive and inappropriate. Also don't be tempted to send it out early. If they are unable to pay for it they don't get it.

Others have had other great ideas on handling storage fees, etc. I just thought I'd share that I had a similar thing and I handled it by not mailing the item until I was paid.

[beastcub.livejournal.com]

Yes always be sure everything is covered before sending a suit, including shipping, and don't count on a check not to bounce!

I have been screwed more than once on shipping (one time it was a bounced check) but I must say the one time it hurt the most was when I did a rush clean and repair job for a customer's (somewhat abused) suit. They were going to the same con as me and I knew their trip to the con was expensive so at the time I was happy to accept being paid later on, we agreed within 3 months. Considering the cost of the clean/repair/shipping was a fraction of the suit's cost and they were a valued customer of mine I figured I could trust them...

...that was in 2011.
I am never seeing my money...
... and I don't know what hurts more, the hole in my wallet or my broken trust :[