Customer ain't picking up order

[cattees]

It's been 7 months and customer still hasn't picked up her order.  She tells me her event was cancelled in September and that she would pickup shirts before year end.  Year end comes and she sends an email that event is re-scheduled for this Spring.  She indicates she doesn't want to put the money up for some people who haven't paid, but geez I'm not a storage house!!  She paid her 50% deposit, & still owes another $350.  Just wondering what you do when they don't come up with the balance - should I threaten to throw them out?

[mk162]

sounds good to me, I donate them.  I give them ample warning, and then off to goodwill or the shelter.

[Fresh Baked Printing]

Give her 10 days then tell her they are considered abandoned and will be donated to Goodwill or such.
You only do 100% upfront now, right?

[JBLUE]

Tell her that she owes for the other half. She paid for you to print the shirts. You printed them. Its not your problem the event was canceled. She has to options/ Pay now or in small claims court. Do not get rid of the shirts until it is settled. If you throw them out or donate them then go to court you will lose without the shirts.

[cattees]

I would love to donate them, but I don't even think the homeless would wear them - they are candy pink with purple ink with a logo of a princess crown that reads October Divas, can u imagine?  But I'm thinking I just need to be firmer by giving her the deadline or else & hopefully that will solve it.  We have always gotten 50% deposits and have never had any problems - once in a while u just get a bad apple.  Thanks guys.

[RICK STEFANICK]

strikeoff shirts baby!!

[Ripcord]

I would hang on to them. She may actually pay you...And if she's looking for a reason not to pay, getting rid of them would give her one.  "Why should I pay if I can't have them..." Be grateful that she's keeping in touch. When something like this happens to me, the customer mysteriously stops answering the phone.

As annoying as it may be, the nicer you are about it the better chance you have of collecting. If you get crappy about it she can say "He yelled at me. I was going to pay but now I'm not."

[Homer]

I had this  happen once with a customer. It was a "high end landscaper". . some sort of fancy gardener, works on all the ritzy homes and fancy restaurants.
 She's real stuck on looking elegant and high end so after a few months -I said I was going to drop off her shirts to the homeless shelter. . .she freaked the
hell out! NO -I don't want a bum wearing my shirt! Oh no, don't! . . .haha, I wizzed my pants, so glad I thought of it. . .I got my lawn rolled for FREE the next day. . .

[Shanarchy]

Another option. You are owed $350. Tell her, You're trying to work with her and understand her situation, but she needs to work with you a little as well. It's been 7 months since you did the job. See if you can her to drop off $100 towards it. Even if it's $50. At this point it's trying to shave how much of a hit you are taking on it. If she does, give her a few weeks and ask for another partial payment.

[tpitman]

I had this  happen once with a customer. It was a "high end landscaper". . some sort of fancy gardener, works on all the ritzy homes and fancy restaurants.
 She's real stuck on looking elegant and high end so after a few months -I said I was going to drop off her shirts to the homeless shelter. . .she freaked the
hell out! NO -I don't want a bum wearing my shirt! Oh no, don't! . . .haha, I wizzed my pants, so glad I thought of it. . .I got my lawn rolled for FREE the next day. . .

It's amazing how quickly they suddenly find their wallets when presented with an option that might reflect badly on them.

[mk162]

Homer, that is funny as heck.  You should have asked here what is wrong with bums.

People find a way to pay real quick usually.  They move you to the bottom of the rung if it doesn't effect them directly....like a cable or cell phone bill.

[Ripcord]

This gives me an idea for a website. A community deadbeat list that people can check to find out who's not paying their bills and adjust their credit policy accordingly for these people and companies. This would add a humiliation factor when you let your customer know that he or she has been placed on the list, and it would make it more difficult for them to get terms with other local vendors in the future.

I dunno about the legal aspect though. Maybe you could get in trouble for publishing information without hearing both sides of the story...

[Denis Kolar]

This gives me an idea for a website. A community deadbeat list that people can check to find out who's not paying their bills and adjust their credit policy accordingly for these people and companies. This would add a humiliation factor when you let your customer know that he or she has been placed on the list, and it would make it more difficult for them to get terms with other local vendors in the future.

I dunno about the legal aspect though. Maybe you could get in trouble for publishing information without hearing both sides of the story...

There is a web site like that...
www.bbb.org

[JBLUE]

I threatened a deadbeat customer that I would park my truck with a 4 x 8 sign in it stating that "he does not pay his bills" right in front of his business. I had an envelope with cash in it the next morning when I got to the shop. The funny thing is I still print for them. They are just 100% down now.....lol

[Homer]

I threatened a deadbeat customer that I would park my truck with a 4 x 8 sign in it stating that "he does not pay his bills" right in front of his business. I had an envelope with cash in it the next morning when I got to the shop. The funny thing is I still print for them. They are just 100% down now.....lol

100 cool points for this. . LOVE IT. . .

The BBB is the biggest crock of sh!t going. . .it's credibility means nothing anymore, which is terrible. . .such a waste of money.