Ask a Gallery Owner | Follow up with a Client Who Has Failed to Make Payments

I gained the next e-mail from an artist who was in the uncomfortable problem of obtaining sold a piece to a collector and agreeing to a payment system, only to have the consumer fail to adhere to by way of on the system. In this delicate circumstance, tact is going to be the important, but at the same time you don’t want to beat around the bush. Go through the artist’s encounter together with my recommended solution to resolving the condition underneath.

Superior Morning Jason,

Thanks yet again for one more outstanding presentation. I like your systematic strategy to matters. Tiny bites. Persistence.

If I ended up twenty yrs youthful, I would go back into the enterprise. I’m not much too previous, I’m also focused in my possess art job to have the time to commit to the promotion of other people in a gallery setting (and, I hated the funds movement!).

When I signed on for this webinar, I did not appear intently at the description (from previous encounter, I knew it would be good details). I believed you were going to talk about observe-up soon after the successful sale, massaging the customers for foreseeable future patronage. I was so intent on listening that I did not assume to check with the concern until eventually the time was up.

My other conundrum is uncomfortable and probably not exceptional. Through our studio tour final Oct, a friend and regional artwork patron was interested in two pieces. Keen to make the sale, I available to provide them for approval. He couldn’t make up his mind. Immediately after a couple days he told me he’d like both, but the cost… I reported, sure, make payments, and gave him a lower price for the pair. (What a dope, but artists are needy.) Full value, only $400. He created me the initial $100 payment.

Which is all I have received to day, even even though I have sent specialist statements and we see each and every other at regional arts gatherings. He even now has the paintings hanging in his city home.

I’m not really anticipating you to give me solutions for both of these situations, just views for future displays.

Many thanks yet again, Jason. I really take pleasure in our qualified friendship. Would like I lived nearer to Scottsdale.  We’d come to your openings.

Best regards,

D. Smith

NY

My response:

The predicament is a bit awkward and I would enjoy off of the awkwardness. Send out the client a take note alongside these lines:

Dear __________

This is a little bit awkward, but as you are going to recall, past Oct you obtained two items from me immediately after our open up studio tour, ______ and _________. At the time we agreed to a cost of $400 and you built a deposit of $100. I had predicted to acquire the balance over the pursuing months, but as of nevertheless have not been given any added payments. I am absolutely sure it is just an oversight or combine-up and would like to make preparations for the remaining equilibrium.

Make sure you call me at your advantage, or, if you wish, you may only send out the payment to me at the handle under.

Many thanks so considerably! Your ongoing patronage means the earth to me.

D. Smith

If the take note does not perform, give him a simply call and say the specific exact same factor. I am guaranteed he isn’t trying to consider gain of the condition and that there truly was just combine-up or he forgot. I suggest you ship a take note ideal absent. The longer it goes on, the a lot more uncomfortable it becomes.

Let me know the end result!

Jason

Have You At any time Been in This Problem?

Have you ever had a shopper not comply with through with a payment approach? How did you cope with the circumstance? Do you have any assistance for artists going through this concern? Go away your feelings and experiences in the comments underneath!