Kathi LeSueur on thu 3 jun 04
pupspotspaddles@COMCAST.NET wrote:
>At Mel's workshop in Harrisburg (PA) in April, he said that he has been letting folks take now/pay later for years and that most people make good on the payment. In thinking about that, I wondered what I might do in the same situation (if I ever get enough decent pots to sell). Here's what I decided: (1) get one of those little order blank pads with 2-ply copies from any office supply store. (2) Prepare a pile of self-addressed and stamped envelopes. (3) At the time of sale, have them fill out their contact info on the order form, add the price of the piece, and give them their copy with one of my envelopes. (4) See what happens.>>>>
>
>
>
We stopped taking credit cards about 8 years ago after assisting another
potter at a show. She didn't take cards and people just pulled out their
cash. Like Mel we let people send us a check. We've only had one person
not send it. But the people who buy pairs of lamps have always sent
their check (Over $300 that they walked away with). The only thing I
would change with your proposed system is to use a three-part form. If
you don't get the check in a timely matter, just send another copy and
write on it "did you forget us?". Works every time.
Kathi
Sue Baldwin-Way on thu 3 jun 04
At Mel's workshop in Harrisburg (PA) in April, he said that he has been letting folks take now/pay later for years and that most people make good on the payment. In thinking about that, I wondered what I might do in the same situation (if I ever get enough decent pots to sell). Here's what I decided: (1) get one of those little order blank pads with 2-ply copies from any office supply store. (2) Prepare a pile of self-addressed and stamped envelopes. (3) At the time of sale, have them fill out their contact info on the order form, add the price of the piece, and give them their copy with one of my envelopes. (4) See what happens.
Too many years of corporate communications work taught me that if you make it easy for people to act, they will. And too many years of living in my home state of New Jersey taught me that if people know that you know where to find them, they'll come through. Seems like an unbeatable combination, to me. If I ever sell anything, I'll let you know if it works. :-)
Sue Baldwin-Way
pdp1@EARTHLINK.NET on thu 3 jun 04
Hi Sue,
Make your own 'forms'...
It is easy do do either with hand drawings taken for
replication thence cut-to-size at 'kinkos' or the like, or,
done in 'Microsoft Word' ...get some Carbon Paper...and...
It is as much 'yours' then...as are your Pots...
To give them their Copy in 'your' envelope...
...is genius...
And is then so much easier for a Customer to remember at
day's end when the pocket or purse junk gets tossed
wherever, and crumpled receipts and sundry slips tend
(otherwise) to get the indifference most of them deserve...
What a good idea...!
Best wishes,
Phil
el ve
----- Original Message -----
From: "Sue Baldwin-Way"
> At Mel's workshop in Harrisburg (PA) in April, he said
that he has been letting folks take now/pay later for years
and that most people make good on the payment. In thinking
about that, I wondered what I might do in the same situation
(if I ever get enough decent pots to sell). Here's what I
decided: (1) get one of those little order blank pads with
2-ply copies from any office supply store. (2) Prepare a
pile of self-addressed and stamped envelopes. (3) At the
time of sale, have them fill out their contact info on the
order form, add the price of the piece, and give them their
copy with one of my envelopes. (4) See what happens.
>
> Too many years of corporate communications work taught me
that if you make it easy for people to act, they will. And
too many years of living in my home state of New Jersey
taught me that if people know that you know where to find
them, they'll come through. Seems like an unbeatable
combination, to me. If I ever sell anything, I'll let you
know if it works. :-)
>
> Sue Baldwin-Way
>
>
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Lois Ruben Aronow on fri 4 jun 04
> We stopped taking credit cards about 8 years ago after
> assisting another potter at a show. She didn't take cards and
> people just pulled out their cash. Like Mel we let people
> send us a check. We've only had one person not send it.
I guess it depends on where you are. Here in NYC, I would never do that.
Not so much afraid of getting ripped off as I am that people would just
plain forget.
* * * * * * *
Lois Ruben Aronow
Modern Porcelain & Tableware-Updated for Spring 2004!
www.loisaronow.com
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