Soured Commission Question

[EArkham]

I've been debating posting this for a couple of weeks now.

A client paid me a ton extra to come out of painting retirement to do one last miniature for his army. I did so, he kept putting off payment, then finally stopped responding entirely. Previously he'd been a prompt payer, so this behaviour was a complete surprise.

It's a nice figure, but I've been very hesitant to put it up on eBay at the full commission rate since a lot of that cost was to get me to make the time to do the work. It'd be too much simply for the figure's value IMO. I don't mind selling it for far less, but I don't want to risk the client seeing it and getting it for less than the agreed-upon rate.

I'd be fine with sitting on it for another year and then selling it for less (not caring if the client buys it for less at that point). However I could use some extra money now, and this is a figure ready for sale.

Any ideas? How can I get at least a little something for this figure without the possibility of giving the client a way to get a discount?

Thinking the best answer is "sit on it and sell it next year" but figured I'd ask for alternative ideas.

Thanks,

Kep

 

[wiccanpony]

when I did Commission work, I didn't take a down payment so I was free to tell the person if didn't like the work or pay for the item, I would sell it on the "open market".

If this buyer didn't supply the mini, I would try to contact them three times, then send a last e-mail that it would be on e-bay" then wipe my hands of it.

 

[IdofEntity]

It's rough that you're in painting retirement or I'd suggest the following:

Make it part of a different sale. Kind of like a bonus or "complimentary" item include it in one of your higher paying/higher volume commissioners as a kind of "thank you". No immediate reward, but that little extra bit is a great bit of customer service. You'd only immediately sell it for intrinsic value, but the investment would pay off.

If he hasn't contacted you back within a few months I'd recommend reimbursing him for whatever money he payed up front, or for materials, and then proceed to sell the figure at a price you feel is fair. Basically since he's fallen out of contact it negates the agreement. You assume the cost of the materials and then sell it to another party.


The guy may be hard up for cash, and too ashamed to admit it. People avoid explaining their situation out of embarassment, and simply avoid the issue completely.

 

[cfwheeler58]

Sell it here and control who buys it, Ark.
You have lots of friends and fans of your work.
If you don't get an offer from someone you know...don't sell it.

No listing fees !

Post a pic on this thread. People will see the story first,
then see the figure. Pretty straightforward.

Who knows ? There may be a lot of folks who really
wanted something you painted and never got a chance
to pick one up. Could be their last chance.

You've given this schmuck every chance to DTRT....

I, for one, would like to see it !

 

[nels0nmac]

I had this happen to me a while back with 2 squads of Ultramarines that I painted up. Come the time to pay the client dropped off the face of the planet and I have never heard from them since. I did wonder about the whole could it be he'll get it cheaper if I put it on Ebay thing, so I hung on to them for a few months and then put them up for auction. They actually went for more than I was going to charge so in reality he did me a favour.

If you want an alternative you could post a pic of it on here in the "Trading Post" section and see if anyone is interested in buying it from you. At least that way you get some idea of who is buying it.

 

[EArkham]

Well, it's been almost three months since I last tried to contact him and about a month before that where he last contacted me... so I've given it quite some time.

Alright, maybe I'll try here then. Will scrounge up some pics today or tomorrow.

Thanks!

Kep

 

[supervike]

I'd take the risk and just plop it on ebay.

If the client sees it and tries to lowball it, just cancel the sale. Or, better yet, just let the baby have his bottle, sell it off to him and be done with it. Sounds like too much grief to let it continue to have sway on you. If that's what he does, then you just know you are the better person.

Who knows, maybe the guy lost his job and really just can't scrape together the funds.

I realize your time and effort are worth something, but how much of your ego is really swaying your decision?.

(sorry, I don't mean that at all like a dig against you...I just mean to really assess the situation, to be honest with yourself)

 

[freakinacage]

i'll buy it of you for a tenner. job done!

sounds like a shit but something must be up for him not to pay.

 

[BarstoolProphet]

Sell it through a friend you trust's account. Then the bugger won't find it being sold by you, and if it goes cheaper than he would have paid, there's a better chance he won't be the dingus buying it.

 

[ollieholmes]

Personaly i would have it written in my terms and conditions of service that if after reasonable time no attempt to contact you or payment was recieved you have the right to sell the model however you see fit.

 

[Chrome]

Ebay it and if you see him as a bidder, get a few friends to trigger the price! I know, it's not the nicest thing to do but if you have moral problems with it, give your friends a roof that just happens to be what the customer was going to pay originally.

 

[EArkham]

I realize your time and effort are worth something, but how much of your ego is really swaying your decision?

Yeah, you're right. It's 100% ego -- if he hadn't cost me the time, I wouldn't hesitate to put it up on eBay and forget about it. I know what I'll do now. Makes it pretty clear in fact!

Thanks for the replies, all.

Kep

 

[cfwheeler58]

Ark,

Still wouldn't hurt to see it posted here.
Being a fan of your work, I'd like to see it.

.....Perhaps after it's sold, then ?

CFW

 

[Valloa]

A little late to the party, but if you have his email address, ebay id, handles he likes to use, etc. all of these can be blocked from bidding on the auction should you put it up. You can also cancel peoples bids and block them if you find he has bid on your item.

 

[Rodnik]

Kep,
I certainly don't understand all the details associated with this client....
but, I'd consider another alternative, based on the scenario presented.

This was a apparently a client you had in the past, that paid promptly.
He's apparently having some issue/change of heart related to this commission---or for some other reason, entirely (short on money, medical condition, etc.).

Personally,
I'd send it to him, free of charge, with a note where he could pay me a discounted price (whatever you feel the mini is worth) whenever he saw fit.

And if I didn't get the money, so be it.

I say this with a grain of salt, as painting has never been a primary source of income for me...and I've given away many more figures than I've commissioned.

But, in this case, if you're willing to accept less money from someone else, then why not this client? If he's bought stuff before, and it was always a positive relationship----then I'd just send it along to him and go back into retirement. No harm, no foul---and I'd go have a beer (or your personal drink of choice) celebrating my definitively higher ethical standard.

That is to say, in this scenario, you've met your obligations, did so gallantly, and actually went well above and beyond the proverbial call of duty.

That aside,
You're well within your "rights" to just pop it on ebay and sell it---and you wouldn't be a lesser man for it.

Cheers,
Kevin

 

[dogfacedboy uk1]

I'd say sell it on here mate, give someone else within the community here the chance to enjoy your work. Thats a long time not to hear from your client, and if he was a prompt payer before there is probably a logical, reasonable explanation to it somewhere. But don't let your work go to waste on ebay, take a bid by PM from people on here stating your starting price and ebay do not then get their grimy hands on a commission. Simples.

dfb