Slow Paying Customer Policy

[piannaman at aol.com]

 Terry,

I would ask for 50% before any work or materials ordering commences, and 50% upon completion (before pickup/delivery).? Why should you be out the cost of the materials for 7-8 months?? 


 


Dave Stahl, RPT

Dave Stahl Piano Service
650-224-3560
dstahlpiano at sbcglobal.net
http://dstahlpiano.net/



 


 

-----Original Message-----
From: Farrell <mfarrel2 at tampabay.rr.com>
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Sent: Mon, 4 Jun 2007 5:06 pm
Subject: Slow Paying Customer Policy
















I'm looking for some opinions on setting a policy 
for a slow paying customer. A company I have been building soundboards for 
several years now has consistently been a slow payer. The last invoice they paid 
up was for $3,500 - it was finally paid this February - they got their 
soundboards in May of last year -?eight full months to pay. And it was like 
pulling teeth. I currently have an unpaid invoice for them - I have sent three 
copies of the invoice - the last one with a very personal note in red ink - 
emailed and phoned them. They owe me $1,500 - they got their soundboard panels 
last October.


?


My policy has always been to take a soundboard 
order, build and ship it, and then bill. Everyone I deal with pays promptly 
(thank you guys!) - except this particular crew.


?


I love building soundboards for anyone. But I gotta 
get paid! I received another order from this same company for more soundboards. 
I definitely need to have all previous invoices paid up before I start on their 
new order - I know that. I know many folks who do this type of work will ask for 
50% up front and the balance upon completion.


?


I have always been very timely with constructing 
and shipping their orders - even on short notice. I'm thinking that because of 
their demonstrated reluctance to pay their bills, it would be reasonable and 
really the only sensible policy to ask for payment in full with?shipment of 
soundboards within two weeks of receipt of payment in full.


?


I hate to have to play hardball - and I know I 
might even loose this customer because of it?- but if I don't get paid, 
what good where they anyway? I have little doubt that I have wasted enough time 
over the past few years to have built a soundboard for someone else in the time 
I have spent tracking down these slow payers.


?


I'm a one-man-show. I have no administrative help. 
I'm reasonably efficient building soundboards and related things. I'm very 
inefficient at administrative tasks.?I probably spend ten times the amount 
of time doing administrative things that someone more efficient at those tasks 
could be. I just don't have time to spend being a bill collector.


?


Any opinions on a fair, efficient?and 
productive policy for this client?


?


Terry Farrell
Farrell Piano


?


www.farrellpiano.com
terry at farrellpiano.com

 


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