providing designs before the sale

[rmonks]

I think I have just about had it with some of my customers, I have a few customers that always want to see a design or two before they place an order, they usually do place the order by I have had a couple lately that I have provide the designs and I never hear back from them, i call they don't answer, and i even saw one of my designs on shirts that i thought I was going to be printing. I think I need to start telling them they need to place the order and then we will prepare designs. Just Bit#$ching.

[prozyan]

I require a $30.00 per hour fee for artwork, which is refunded when they actually place an order.  Our art fees are bundled into our inclusive pricing per shirt.  Unless you get some kind of deposit for it, you are just doing spec work, which isn't the way to go.

[Socalfmf]

no order no art...simple procedure in our office

sam

[Fresh Baked Printing]

Unless it's an obvious "tire kicker", sometimes I'll spend a few minutes creating a quick typography design and often times, I will mock-up the art or use their art on a mock-up and send it along with the invoice. Makes them pull the trigger faster when they see a visual representation of their shirt included with the invoice. The key is, if it's really not a big deal and I have time.

I used to get customer wanna-be's that would say something like "If I like your design, then I'll have you print them."
I stopped "auditioning" for print jobs a couple of years ago. Telling the customer that once payment is made, I can create the art and mock it up for them usually works and very few, if any,  have not used me for that reason alone.

[Frog]

"If I like your design, then I'll have you print them"

Fine. We can settle the shirts and printing later. What is your budget for design? I will need that now to get started.

[Fresh Baked Printing]

"If I like your design, then I'll have you print them"
Fine. We can settle the shirts and printing later. What is your budget for design? I will need that now to get started.

Yes!

[Frog]

I think I have just about had it with some of my customers, I have a few customers that always want to see a design or two before they place an order, they usually do place the order by I have had a couple lately that I have provide the designs and I never hear back from them, i call they don't answer, and i even saw one of my designs on shirts that i thought I was going to be printing. I think I need to start telling them they need to place the order and then we will prepare designs. Just Bit#$ching.

Besides no freebies,  low resolution jpgs, and then heavily watermarked proofs.
Also, make it quite clear on the invoice whether the client has the rights to the art or not.

[T Shirt1]

Money first then art.

[GraphicDisorder]

I do nothing, for nobody, before I am FULLY paid.  Learned that a long time ago. 

[Sbrem]

No free art. Must have deposit... We're $60 per hour, and we try to tell them that it's running up with every change they make. We also try to get a better idea of what they want. As you know, some don't 'splain themselves well...

[mooseman]

we don't do anything without a deposit.  If customer does not buy the shirts the art charge is $60.00. All our quotes are on paper or by e-mail they have to give me a deposit, any deposit. This I am told by a judge this is iron clad as commitment to an order or just the art fee and almost a guaranteed win in small claims court should it go that far.

we never do any work or art  without a commitment to an order and handover of some cash. The theory is nobody parts with any cash unless they understand what they are buying into.
mooseman

[3Deep]

When customers come in our shop and say I won't to see your work first, we point them to a rack full of shirts we,ve printed already, then we say you can paid for art or you can place an order and paid half whichever you like.  Like Brandt said learned that lesson many moons ago, you let free art out the door and thats' where it stays.

[Artelf2xs]

I react a little differently when say a big Casino comes to me. repeat customer who will through cash at us... even they know they pay for the designed not used,

Just tell you customer " Sure!! I will do that as soon as you tell me which restaurant I go to that will fix five meals, let me try them all and pay for the one I like If I like it!"

[mk162]

Good call on that one!

Actually, some customers do get some art before the order, but those customers also spend $50,000 a year with us, and I know they will order them.

[sportsshoppe]

I give quote on art and job before I do art.... No more art for free to take to the place down the street or to send on internet.