<html> <head> <style> .hmmessage P { margin:0px; padding:0px } body.hmmessage { FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY:Tahoma } </style> </head> <body class='hmmessage'> Just smile sweetly and say, "That's fine. It's not like I don't know where your car is parking." That works better, at least in Germany, where the car is the most holy item one can think of :-) I usualy get paid cash from 90 % of my customers. The rest get an invoice, to pay within 7 days. Most of my customers pay after 2 or 3 weeks. Sometimes, but seldom, I have to send a reminder. Institutions like schools or churches usualy pay after 2 month or so but they pay. Checks are not common in Germany and credit cards as well. I never ever had problems to get my money. This situation is a good basis to trust every customer as they trust me. That counts for selling pianos, too. I have a store and I never felt it necessary to take a partial prepaiment. Just puttin the invoice on the keyboard at delivery with a term of credit of 7 days. These customers who buy a piano from me usualy pay within 3 days or so.  But on the other hand I would not hesitate to ask for a 50 % prepaiment if the customer seems not to be confidential. Gregor > > > > How does one nicely put it without looking broke or offending the client? > > > > Thanks, > > Rick Ucci/Ucci Piano > > Just smile sweetly and say, "That's fine. It's not like I > don't know where you live." > Ron N <hr />Get news, entertainment and everything you care about at Live.com. <a href='http://www.live.com/getstarted.aspx ' target='_new'>Check it out!</a></body> </html>