I call customers to pick up their mounts and they agree to an appointment and never show up. Then the excuse was that they didn't have the $. So why the hell did they make the appointment? So I started calling people after I mount and then tell them 2 weeks as a courtesy call to give them some notice. Then after a week they are calling saying is it done yet! I give up. I bet they don't tell the electric company they will get them there money when they get it! I mean come on you think some of these guys could show some good faith and drop somthing off.
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This sounds vaguely fimilar. Makes it difficult at times doesn't it, good thing I'm only part-time. Hang in there...Mark www.natures-reflection.com
What I do is print a postcard, with three different pickup dates and times, the balance due, I space these dates out over three weeks. I also have in my contract that if they fail to pick the mount up and its reminded on the card too, that there is a $45.00 late fee.
Check your state laws as late fees may be covered and restricted to a percentage.
it on the fact that they don't have the money because god knows we all have been there but......to give someone the run around. I give everybody a time it will be completed (down to the month) if I don't deliver then I deduct from there bill. Not alot but enough to keep GOOD FAITH. I keep a tight schedule since I am part time, I can tell you what I am mounting next month on any perticular day so when someone gives me a smoke and magic show about time and money I get mad.
Must be my glowing personality - lol!
Occasionally I get one or two a year that are really late. I don't sweat it. I hang 'em up and they become a display specimen for awhile. I'll call them after two weeks again. I could use a few display specimens so I figure if they stiff me at least they've paid for half and I get my walls decorated - lol! I've yet to anybody stiff me. And I think the longest I've gone is about two months after the initial contact...
The more you collect up front the less you take in the rear.LOL
the only customer to shaft me was my brother over a 22" trout as a christmas present for his girlfrieds daughter.
a few weeks ago from out of state insist that I ship his mount to him and put the invoice in the crate then he would mail me his payment! LOL! LOL! LOL! I sent him an invoice by registered mail.
I get 1/2 up front, and tell them they have the option to send more w/ time,and the explination that it cuts down on such a large pay off amount when thier mount is done.Many of my customers take advantage of it too.Past that, 2 week notice as a courtesy call,another on completion followed by a card (written documentation).And i have a 60 day , you no pay, i make it go away clause on the invoice. Thankfully ,ive never had to use that option.The biggest share of my customers are chomping @ the bitt,to get thier mount back.
i collect half down when the customer drops off a specimen. it is stated on my invoice that they have 60 days after completed and called. after that it becomes mine to do with as i please. ofcourse ihavent had to do that either. like ed said people want thier trophy, and usually come get it the day i call or the next. even if someone did take more than the 60 days, i would work with them if they gave me something against the ballance. no one wants to upset the customer,but we have to protect ourselfs too. good luck
bob
I usually get half up front, but sometimes I take payments. I tell them I can't even get in the "priority list" until I get half. Then when it's done, I photograph it on a wall and that is my post card. I give them 2 weeks, call them and remind them and then if nothing works, my 2nd post card is registered and tell them in two weeks more I charge $1. a day retroactive if not picked up by the weekend.
Usually the first post card (it's their mount) works. Oh, do not put it in an envelope. The photo is the postcard. Seems to work for me. Good luck to you. Bob.
...I would never send them a pic of the completed mount. Manytimes the photos will not do the final mount justice. And, you've spent many months building the anticipation for them to first see their trophy when they pick it up. Now you've ruined it by giving them a sneak peek prior to paying. I like to see my customer's reaction too (and that's a good part of WHY I am in this business). Also, "that deer looks smaller in that photo than my deer" is a distinct possibility. Many ways to skin a cat but in my opinion, sending them a pre-pic is wrong on so many levels...
My completion notices state that if mounts aren't picked up or arrangements made that they become my property after 60 days. Until then I add them to my display room. I get a lot of calls from customers that are short on cash and they make payment arrangements to avoid losing their mount. I'd prefer the payment up front, but at least I get my money 95% of the time. The other 5% either stay in my display room or get sold.
Call them as soon as I get done mounting. This at least gives them three to four weeks to save up the money and let the deer dry and finish. I tell them that I will give them another call to set up a pick up date. This has worked pretty good for me.