"An unpleasant experience." Topic

Hello,

I want to share with all, a bad experience that I have had with this client. I share it, because this has not happened to me since I started this business. It seems to me on the part of the person who has done it an act of irresponsibility and disrespect.

This person and me got in touch through the Sail of Glory Anchorage forum. He asked me if I do conversions of Sail of Glory ships and I wondered about the price, I gladly replied by redirecting him to my ModelJShip website to see the prices and photos of finished boats. Once seen my work he asked me a conversion of an british ship of 74 guns. At first we kept the contact by facebook in a cordial way, but from a time to this part he did not respond my messages, I thought that I would be busy and for prudence I continued with the project that he had commissioned. This project has been completed and I have tried to get in touch with this person. This person has never responded to any of my messages, so I have been forced to post a message on his facebook wall. (I know that this can infuriate the person in question, but you have to take into account that he has not answered any of the messages that I sent him by different means and I doubt very much that he has not seen any). In response to my action this person has blocked me from facebook, therefore, with his action makes me understand that he disregards the project at all times. This person does not intend to pay for the item he has ordered.
In conclusion, I have made a commission that I have not charged and does not look like I will charge.

Next time I will not be as permissive with new clients.

For the person in question, in case you read me. You must know that this takes hours, days and weeks of work. I try hard to do a good job so that a guy like you does not value anything. I hope you do well in life because I believe that you will need it. You have to be a very bad person to do this. You are not a man of his word and this type of man ussually are a piece of ****.

Best regards,
Julián

If you want to see the conversation with this pers….

link

Beautiful work. If you get a quote on a commission and agree, then you are responsible for payment. This hobby is too small for acts like that.
ModelJShip to protect yourself somewhat could you go the route of contactors in my area. Half of the payment up front and half when it is finished. I have not ever commissioned work before so I do not know if this is feasible.

Thank you, I used to do it for new clients, but as I had never had any problems I decided to charge for finished work. It is clear that from now on it will not be so.

Julian,
Damn that sucks. I went to the SoG Anchorage and read the exchange you posted. It's clear you went way above and beyond the call of duty for him. If he has an account here, I think that you should name and shame him publicly.
BWW

Agreed.

Agree as well.
Protect others from people like this.

This just sucks. Unfortunately, it happens. And even once is too often (and I speak from unfortunate experience). Its "people" like this cretin that reminds me of the old saying: "This is why we can't have nice things."

Hang in there, Julian. Thankfully, there are more GOOD people out there than BAD people..

The guy who commissioned the work is clearly in the wrong but I'm surprised you went ahead and started the project when you had no communication with him for so long.

If he doesn't get in contact presumably you can sell the finished model. Given the quality of your work perhaps you won't have any problem selling it.

You won't loose out financially having sold the commission and the base hull will have been provided free of charge.

Perhaps going forward you need to protect yourself with some well defined T & Cs.

Indeed, I acted with good will. Maybe I should have asked for money in advance. It is clear that this mistake is not going to be repeated. At no time did I think that a person could do that, so I was not worried, I was focused on doing the boat well.
For now with all my clients I haven't had any problems doing business. I think I've come across serious and responsible people, but it's clear that not everyone will be like that.

I am now in the process of selling for a second customer who has shown interest in her. Thanks for worrying.

Best regards,
Julián

Julian,
You know what I think, but I'm sorry for what happen too you.
I think the model will go. So you should be in pocket money wise, but it will leave a bad taste. Stop running your business as a friend, be friendly but be a business. Get them to pay for the model(s) upfront. Half money upfront for new clients. get you T&C's set in stone. I also would stop being nice! NAME THE BUG#ER! If he has done this to you, he will do it again!
Be safe
Rory

Hi Julian
I have admired your work for a while, you are a true artist, I charge up front to avoid this, as I can not afford for this to happen as I am a full time painter, it has not effected my business, I am booked out 3-4 months continually.

Ask for 50% of the fee up front. That will be a good barometer for serious interest and will maintain it.