Should I leave it be or call again?

[Joan Breckwoldt]

Hi Julie,

I would do exactly what Tom suggested, write the grandmother a note with a business card enclosed. That way you'll be sure there was no miscommunication about you not fulfilling your part of the bargain. I think Kimberly's idea about a time limit is a good one too (for future gift certificates).

And try not to worry about it, sounds like you've done everything you can.

Joan

[Chris Saper]

Hi Julie,

Notwithstanding that you should always have an expiration date attached, I think you have a potential problem at hand. Because your certificate is for a product, not a dollar amount, you are pretty exposed. I have had many experiences where the gift is not redeemed within the time frame, but then I do list an expiration date, and only donate a set $ amount TOWARD the portrait. So it never really matters to me when it's redeemed, since I've probably already had a price increase along the way.


Aside from the financial problems above, I have had two situations where the buyer gave a gift to someone who really had no interest in a portrait, and yet who had approval authority. Please take my work for it that this is an unhappy road to travel.

My advice is to let it go. When you give yourself a price increase ( which you should do regularly, even if it is a small increase) take the opportunity to send out a mailing letting ceritficate holders ( whose certificates have no expiration date) know that your new prices are $xxx, and that their gift certificates will be converted to a credit for a value at the old prices. Then they will either need to act, pay you the difference, or let it go too.

[Julie Deane]

Thanks, Tom, Joan and Chris -

This has certainly been a learning experience! I guess I will send the b.c. with a note. That sounds low key and not irritating to anyone. The price increase idea will have to be for next year sometime at the earliest.

I appreciate your help and experience in these matters.

[Tom Edgerton]

Chris has made a vital point. We expend a lot of energy trying to bring home these "soft" commissions--putting way too much time and energy into keeping them alive--when, believe me, you do not want to go through painting a portrait for a person who had no real interest in the project to begin with. They will invariably be your most critical, least available, and most fractious clients. They will make you hate the work, and will never do anything afterward to advance your career through positive referrals etc.

Better most always to just walk away and concentrate on making the genuinely interested parties happy. These clients are where the real gold lies.

Best--TE

[Julie Deane]

Thanks, Tom -

To contrast this frustrating experience, Iast month I did a pencil drawing for a mom that, after I made one minor adjustment as requested, she was very happy with. And she will want three more done in the future. That experience was so rewarding for all concerned.

I hope I don't run into too much more negatives, but I guess I had better be prepared.

Like today - Not a people portrait, this time, but a house portrait: the woman wants her house done so she can have cards made with the watercolor sketch on it. She was supposed to have told me what time of morning the sunlight would shine on her roses, which she wants to be prominent, but she didn't remember to. I came by last week, and had to ask her to move her car out of the way of the front door so I could take photos. I wasn't satisfied with the first set of shots, so called ahead to let her know exactly what time I would come by today. And, waddayaknow, the car was there again, and it was too early to ring the doorbell and ask her to move it!

Besides contracts, which I now plan to use on ANYTHING commissioned, are there other ways to limit this sort of irritating experience?

[Tom Edgerton]

Ring the doorbell and make 'em move the car. The yard man would. The plumber would.

Part of avoiding negatives is to insist on being treated like a professional. This is not always necessarily verbal--it's in the attitude you convey. If you run a tight ship on your end by keeping scheduled appointments, preparing adequate contracts, communicating clearly both personally and in writing, and generally doing what you say you will do and not doing what you say you won't, most clients and potential clients will respond to you with respect. You don't have to be humorless and stiff, just straightforward and firm when firmness is needed.

Ninety percent of the people I work with are exceptionally nice and personable, even fun. But I learned a while back if I act like "hired help," some folks will treat me that way. Subsequently, I've found that if I expect respect (and extend it) from my side, and I don't get it back, that's someone I don't want to work with and I diplomatically decline the job. Any project that smells bad at the beginning smells worse in the middle and won't get better later. Trust your initial impressions.

Better to work part time until your business picks up than to work for obnoxious people who will spoil the work for you.

Best--TE

[Joan Breckwoldt]

Tom,

What a great response. I agree with you that it's all about respect, in probably just about any professional relationship (and personal too). Here is my questiont though, HOW do you respectfully decline a job once you've shown up and seemingly shown up because you are interested in the job. I'm not saying I would feel forced to do the job, just want to know some of the good ways of getting out of it without offending the client. I wouldn't want to offend a client and have that person 'bad mouth' me.

Not like this is a big problem for me, just wondering!

Joan