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Been there.. I got hit with the changing of the mind BEFORE T started making/piecing it but AFTER i cut more than half of the fabric!!!
From now on NON-refundable deposit is what ill be asking for.. |
I always ask for 1/2 the selling price up front to hold the quilt,and never do lay-a-ways.It sounds cold but you have to protect yourself. The 1/2 down payment will cover the cost of the materials it took you to make to make the quilt. I also put a time limit on how long I will hold the quilt. If you let 1 customer take advantage of you,then she will tell others how to do it.
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This is a very good reason why I give my quilts away, to family, friends and people I think need a quilt.
These two women just seem like they want a quilt but don't want to pay the full price for it. If they get it for less, they will be bragging how cheap they got it for. Not very nice people. |
I say 1/2 up front is not unreasonable. you have to buy the fabrics, etc....and they will show their HONESTY and determination to have the quilt.
sorry that's happened to you -- but it's a lesson for all of us! |
That stinks! You were wronged.
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Originally Posted by joan_quilts
Ok, I have 2 quilts people wanted. I told the one lady her quilt would be ready to ship the first of November. She saw it back in July, and she knew the price back then. She asked me last week if I would take payments. I said NO.
She has ordered from me before, but this quilt is a twin size, all hand quilted and won 3rd place at a quilt show. Her story is she has bills and just can't afford it all right now. I told her that was ok, because I would hold onto the quilt until December and then I would offer to sell it to someone else. Joann, you should have no trouble selling these quilts with Christmas coming . Be sure to get some nice pictures and post on this board and also use craigslist or ebay. Good luck. We live and learn. Another lady, after seeing this quilt, asked me to make her a full sized quilt kind of like it. Her husband just loves John Deere and these quilts had a John Deere theme. So, I make this quilt, it also placed 3rd in the contest under its category, and I called the lady who wanted to come by and get it. She stopped by on Friday, said how much she loved it, but "just can't afford it" right now. Uh-huh, that meant she wanted me to lower my price, a price she agreed on BEFORE I made it. From now on, I am going to ask for a $100 deposit, non-refundable, on my quilts. I have close to that much in the fabric and other material needed alone. Why do people "ask" for things, offer to pay and then "change their minds"? If they can't afford a quilt, don't ask me to make one I guess this is another lesson well learned, sigh. |
I think the $100 is very reasonable...I ask for 50% of the finished price when the order is placed/ 50% upon delivery. A receipt with all the info is very important..I do it in triplicate, one for her, one for taxes, one to stay with order. I also have customer initial the receipt after I read her everything. I've also been burned by being nice.
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Wow, I feel for you!! I absolutely agree with you and the others on pre-payment of some sort.
Separate the women from the girls lol |
I tell people up front that there is a 50% deposit required when the quilt is ordered, and that the other 50% is required when the quilt is delivered - no ifs, ands or buts...
Of course most people aren't willing to pay for handmade quilts, because, as one potential customer told me, they can "get them at Cracker Barrel for $100!" |
I don't charge that much for my quilts. I am asking $350 for each of these quilts, mainly to cover the costs of material. Heck, trying to get paid for the hours upon hours of hand quilting, well, you never get it all back.
Thanks for the wonderful suggestions! I have learned the hard way, again, but will stick to my guns from now on. I love when people tell me "it can't cost THAT much for fabric". And, I can buy one for a lot less at Penney's. Sure you can, but mine is and orginal and will last years and years, and it is not going to fall apart after 3 washings. |
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