Ship before payment? Advice needed!

[laurenashleyart.livejournal.com]

Hello everyone! Hope I'm doing this right, being my first post here and all, but I'm stuck and I need some advice-

I sold a fursuit to a friendly buyer, and they've been making relatively steady payments, and we have had excellent communication.

Here's where stuff gets tricky though- the buyer is going in on the purchase with a friend, and the friend isn't putting forth his part. The remaining payer has asked if I would ship him the suit on his good word that he will make the last payment himself. He wants to make sure his mate gets it in time, and edited, for FurFright

they've been paying via snail mail checks, and sofar they've all cleared without a hitch.

So, what do you guys think? Should I ship the suit or hold on to it until it's all paid?

Thanks for your time!

Comments

[oceandezignz.livejournal.com]

I'd hold off. This is just me and seeing the various posts here or on journals on FA where the artist has sent items in good faith, but the good faith was never reciprocated on the end of the buyer.

They may have wanted it for that particular con, if that was the case, they should have made larger payments, or gotten said-friend off their behind to pay their share of this suit.

[eveshka.livejournal.com]

Hold. The buyer may be friendly, but in the end, you are a business and friendly doesn't pay bills.

He wants it in time, he'll figure it out.

[komickrazi.livejournal.com]

Echoing what everyone else here has said:

Don't send it till you get paid in full... it's far too easy for them to fall of the face of the earth once they get what they want (no matter how nice they seem online). In the end, it's just business.

They knew when they wanted the suit, and surely you have communicated this to them. It is their responsibility to pay you on time to get the suit when they have requested.

[spiffystuff.livejournal.com]

My advice? No, don't ship until payment in full.

I say that, but if I were in the situation, what would I do? I suppose I might if I could see evidence that they are trustworthy, such as references from other sellers, and if losing the money in a worst-case-scenario wouldn't cause tremendous problems.

But overall it's a big risk for you for little potential gain. If you choose not to ship, they can always wear the suit at next year's FF.

[aggro-badger.livejournal.com]

Generally I would hold off, echoing above comments.
I guess the deciding factor for me would be how much was owed, and if I could stand to be out that much if the customer turns around and decides not to pay me. If it is a small portion of the overall price I might chance it to be nice,knowing I'm not out that much and whatever.

[fenris-lorsrai.livejournal.com]

Since there's a time limit involved, this would be a "maybe". The buyer is paying you on time, but the other person involved is apparently not ponying up their part. If they're taking over payment for a deadbeat, that does afford them some brownie points.

Since they're paying by check and have been doing so reliably on a fixed schedule, have them send the last check payment NOW, but date it for when it is due. Just don't deposit until the day it's dated for. They're unlikely to go to the trouble of closing or emptying the account just to welch on the last payment. (afterall, if the money isn't there, the bank is going to smack them with some late fees)

[glacidea.livejournal.com]

this. This is what I'd do.

[monalisa-od.livejournal.com]

Echoing this. If you feel comfortable with how they've paid you so far, a post-dated cheque may be just what's called for here in order to get the suit out by the requested date.

[ocelotish]

This may be a dumb question, but could you ship it in parts?

I'm not familiar with it at all, but maybe ship the body to be fitted, have them ship that back, then send the head and hands off to them to wear at the con, then have them ship those parts back after for any alterations.

Personally, it's your judgement call. How much do you trust this buyer and how much would you be out? If it's just the price of refitting (or close to it), why not? If they keep it and don't send you back the cash, you're not out anything.

[ocelotish]

Or is someone else doing the editing? I'm quite confused.

[tervicz-renard.livejournal.com]

Can't you send it "Cash on Delivery"? That way the buyer could pay it cash when it arrives. If not, he won't get it.

[marus-puppy.livejournal.com]

That would probably put it on the guy who's already paid his share, so that'd be unfair. Plus there's a lot of issues with CoD...

[glacidea.livejournal.com]

Since they've been reliable and it is a need for a time frame, it would be okay to ship, I think. I echo what someone said above about the check.

[claytronic.livejournal.com]

Like someone said up there... friendly doesn't pay bills. Just because someone is nice and up-front about paying, doesn't mean you should let your guard down and ship out items that aren't fully paid for.

Say you had a... laptop
Someone is buying it off you, You want $400 for it total and they pay you $25 every so often. Their payments get to about $150... would you ship it because they've been good with their payments?
... lol

Besides, "my friend isnt paying :(" could be an excuse for "I'm broke as fuck"

[claytronic.livejournal.com]

Adding something on....
What does OP POSSIBLY have to gain by shipping out an item that isn't fully paid for? What, a "thanks so much!" from the buyer? I don't understand why someone would ever do such a thing

[glacidea.livejournal.com]

Just to be nice, sometimes doing things like this for a customer garners rave reviews and added business. I often times go out of my way to make a pleasant experience for the customer and they always appreciate it and then go and reccomend me. It looks good in my reviews and I just like helping out. From a non-customer service money stance, there is not one thing to gain.

[claytronic.livejournal.com]

Being nice = mailing out an item that hasn't been paid for?
I bet scammers would love to meet people this "nice"

That would only gain reviews like "this person will ship out items even if they haven't been paid for" and will attract scammers.

[glacidea.livejournal.com]

I have yet to attract a single scammer and it is also a case-by-case basis. I did not simply mean shipping out early. Like I said above, it would depend on my trust level of the person. Like friends or pkmncollector members, sure (and I have done so with no problems), but never anyone on DA or FA. By nice, it could be redoing a pattern, adding an extra detail, making a collar as an extra add-on for a plush, things like that. It really just depends on how the OP feels concerning the person and such. I've been faced with having to make something for someone before a con before and it really just depends on how I feel regarding the individual customer. I tend to turn away people whom I feel would end up being a scammer or untrustworthy from the get-go.

But yeah, it all really just depends on the feelings that the person gets from them.

EDIT: My understanding is that the item has been mostly paid for, or am I missing a thing?

[glacidea.livejournal.com]

From my understanding of this post, there's only one payment left and they've been making payments on time, which is why I'd ship it out. If there's only one payment left and a deadline, I'd do it if I knew the person to be reliable. I would not ship it at 150, but if it was like 350 and they'd been reliable, then I would consider if they needed it for, like, a class deadline.

It could be, at this point, the commissioner knows more about the customer than we do and can determine reliabillity. I, myself, like to help the customer out when I can with little things. I'm big on customer service and it looks great in reviews, plus word-of-mouth. Sometimes doing something little for a customer will make them rave about you and others will discover you, blah blah, etc.

Either way, what the OP decides would be based upon their feeling of this person and how much money is left to be paid. It all really just depends on what the OP feels like doing. For example, I'd never ship early to anyone on DA, but on pkmncollectors, I'd be happy to since I have a strong trust of the members there. So...yeah XD in the end, it all depends.

[claytronic.livejournal.com]

No. do not ship it.
Hold off until you get all the $$ and save yourself the trouble.
If the friend isn't putting his payments in, that's not your fault, that's his. If he wants this fursuit for FurFright, he needs to kick his friend in the ass to start paying

[banrai.livejournal.com]

If you ship, you're leaving yourself open to be ripped off, either unintentional or otherwise. Things 'come up' and 9 times of 10 'owed' money gets pushed to the back of the list of important things to pay.

No matter how good the person's name might be, hold the items until full payment is received. If the partner wants it immediately, you should tell them that they're free to cover the unpaid cost and have their friend/other partner in the transaction just repay them.

[meguroco.livejournal.com]

I would never, ever ship anything until I receive payment.

[kalika-tybera.livejournal.com]

Same as everyone pretty much said, don't ship until full payment is in.
No matter how reliable they may seem, any number of things could come up and it's just better to cover your bases first. It's not your fault if you don't get it to them in time for the con if they haven't paid in full.

[shukivengeance.livejournal.com]

This is a difficult situation, and while it's a great sign that everything has been working out with the buyer, the fact that there's a non-paying partner in this transaction throws up a huge red flag. I wouldn't be surprised if there was friction between the buyer and his friend over this (which has the potential for drama regarding the final payment, despite the person claiming *now* that they're happy to cover it) and to ship it before you at least have proof that the final payment is on its way would be an unnecessary risk IMO.

[anjel-kitty.livejournal.com]

No. Don't send anything like the suit till full payment. Let your customer know that the other person responsible hasn't fulfilled their part of the bargain, and you can't release the suit until the full amount is paid. Unless you can be sure to absolutely trust someone I would not chance it. Hopefully the customer will understand and agree to send the rest of the money when it is available.

[thrashbear.livejournal.com]

I have been ripped off by shipping out completed items that have yet to be paid for. I learned my lesson. No matter how friendly or awesome someone seems while a deal is being done, that does not matter when it comes to owed money. They got their item and have no incentive beyond their own honor and integrity to make that final payment.

To be completely honest, I have been on both ends of this deal. And yes, I have flaked before, much to my shame. I made good on it eventually, but in the long run it was a complete mess.

To conclude, the fact that your customer's "friend" is not living up to his end of the bargain is NOT your problem.

[greenreaper.livejournal.com]

I'm all for being nice, but if they're such good friends with this person, let them take the risk of default.

[frazzled-niya.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't ship it until it's paid for. That's way happens in the store with normal business....So why not your business?

[sovy.livejournal.com]

Take a post dated cheque as someone else suggested.

Trust is a two way street that the other commentators like to forget or ignore. There are commissioners that default on their payments to the artist and there are artists that take the money and run. You could easily walk off with the guy's money and fursuit and, for all practical purposes, there isn't much the buyer can do about it besides smear your name on artists-beware that he can't reach you while you are counting your dollars. This comment isn't directed at you but as a counterpoint to the tone of most of the responses on this entry.

[sci.livejournal.com]

Can you afford to and are you okay with potentially loosing the money that hasn't been paid yet?

If yes, then it's your judgement call. If no, then you don't.

[laini.livejournal.com]

It's totally unreasonable to ask to get it shipped now.
If they both wanted this suit for FurFright then they should make sure they have the means to pay for it.

[theassassinnox.livejournal.com]

I'd suggest you hold off. They can always get a friend/relative/someone to pay via paypal, then they can make arrangements with that individual to pay back on their own time frame.

[poizenkat.livejournal.com]

I'd say no. its not your fault if they dont have it on time.

[trimblecat.livejournal.com]

I think the problem here is that even decent people get into the mind set that "Oh I've got it. I'll make the payment eventually but I'm not stressed or pressed so it can wait a little while. They're always intending to pay you but they're unorganized and keep shoving it back and next thing you know, it's been months. I fell into the trap when someone commissioned me to make a plush of a character. She gave me payment up front and told me "whenever I wanted to get it done" and I procrastinated almost a month without really meaning to. When I realized what I was doing I got it to her within a week.

[theredwolf.livejournal.com]

If you feel comfortable shipping the item knowing you may never see that last bit, then I would ship it. If you can afford to lose the last payment, I mean.

Its really personally up to you, I've done good will favors for people in the past and turned out okay, so its really up to you. But remember, never do anything nice, or for free expecting anything in return.