[lorax]

Well, I got burned!! I sent a carving off, and never received payment! I carve primarily religious items, so the clientele I deal with is usually pretty darn trustworthy. But the Moses I carved for a guy named Doel (who contacted me through this very board), received the carving and told me he was having trouble with his Email and would send out the payment after I re-sent him my mailing address. After more Emails I realized that he doesnt intend on paying for my services. I have been doing business this way right along with no problem, but I am now starting to rethink how I should secure payment. Does anyone who ships alot of your carvings out, have this problem? When I go full-time, I plan on using paypal, but I dont necessarily want to go down that road yet. Does anyone have any easy solution that I am missing?

[Nancy_G]

You have his street address for shipment, so you can probably get his phone number. Give him a call and ask politely what's going on.
If he's in a small town you can mention that you're thinking about calling the chief of police or county sheriff and asking for help because you don't know what else to do.
Good luck - that's a rotten problem

Just my two cents. That's why I like gallery sales.... I never have to worry about money.

Hi, and here is another two cents worth. : I have been dealing with the public for a long time, and find most people trust worthy. But having said that I also know that there are a few out there that are looking for a way to do you out of your money. I have had regular customers trying to get me to let them pay later . I will loose a sale before I let something go before I have the cash in my mit. Even pay pal has some risk. When the money is yours the carving can be theirs. No exceptions, better for me to be an idol fool, than a busy one, is my motto. I like people and love to find ways to make people happy, but giving credit isn't one of them. It can end badly. To sum this up 'BE TOUGH'

Here are some links that will help you locate this deadbeat. I got ripped-off for about $900 on boxlot.com - auction site about 7 years ago. I found thousands (really) of other people that also got ripped-offed by the same people on all of the different auction sites. After 1000's of letters, emails, and phone calls, Richard, Jeff, and Wanda Wesco were arrested and tried (the first federal case of online fraud). They lost a few thousand dollars and whatever they didn't sell from their 'computer business' but more or less got off free and didn't have to payback a cent. I know where they live and someday I'll have to go the East coast for something and I plan on paying them a visit. After all these years, I still keep tabs on where they are!

http://www.freeality.com/findt.htm
http://www.infobel.com/world/default.asp
http://www.infobel.com/usa/default.a...rchType=USASWP
http://www.expedia.com/pub/agent.dll?qscr=mmfn

If this deadbeat happens to be in Missouri, let me know, I'd be more then happen to show him the small spirit carved on my cane

Lorax-
I think the payment up front idea is the way to go. Paypal is pretty easy to use even on a small time basis, so I would at least check into it. Most honest people will not be reluctant to pay in advance. Be sure to tell people that if they do not use cash, money order or cashiers check, there may be some time delay to wait for their personal check to clear. You might try calling the gentleman, but past that the time & effort to pursue the collection will be more frustrating than beneficial. Chaulk it up to education

[lorax]

Hey, Randy48- thanks for the sites, I was able to find his number, so I left a message. The thing I forgot to mention was that he moved during the transaction. The websight I looked him up on had him back in his original state, so maybe he didnt move. I may very well have left a message on the wrong machine . Actually I've already chalked this one up as a loss, (although it would be nice to recover those funds) but I wanted to stop it from happening in the future. I don't want to have to be too tough, but it may be a necesary evil.
BTW I certainly did not mean this to be a flame on the guy, Im all about giving the benifit of the doubt, so to call him a deadbeat may be a little rough. I did want to find out some alternatives to get payment, as well as let people know that people may try to rip you off.

[dart]

I'd have to say to use Paypal. Or only accept a Money order. A private check after being cashed and waiting for a minumum of 2 weeks for it to clear. I have used Paypal with no problem to purchase item. Also I've used a Money order which seems to take forever to get the item for me as a buyer. If you decide to use Paypal, you will need a checking account with cash in it. Paypal will withdraw some cash and then refund it to you just to see if it's legitimate. Go to Ebay and look at the auctions and ways to buy and sell there. I don't have a checking account so I am not 'Verified' , I have a credit card that is used for transactions. Let us know how things work out for you. It's a shame that there are a few dishonest persons that take advantage of the rest of the honest persons. Just my double Abes.

What??!!! You mean we can get paid for this stuff??!!!

Teri

[lorax]

Usually! Teri, I guess you dont have that problem as much, being that you dont do as much custom work, you operate more like a traditional store-type operation. Maybe that is what I should move to, but I love the challenge of making the ideas in peoples heads come to life.

The wife had a similar experience trying to get paid for a commissioned woodburning. She delivered the item but the individual didn't have the cash and promised to pay later. After weeks of excuses, she asked to 'borrow' the piece back for display on her table at our carving club's show. The burning now has a new home - ours!