Customers who DON'T PAY
08-31-2010, 04:17 AM
#11
Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Georgia
Posts: 279
Hey hindsight i'm in Griffin too. Where do you teach?
08-31-2010, 04:38 AM
#12
Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Nicholson, Georgia
Posts: 134
When someone wants a Quilt I just tell them I'll teach you to quilt.
08-31-2010, 04:50 AM
#13
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: rural Maryland
Posts: 1,564
As a handquilter for hire I always give the customer a price sheet that tells how much per square inch for the quilting and brakes it down into various sizes etc. I also state that the closeness of the quilting raises the price. and also list those charges. I list charges for binding, marking if they have a particular pattern in mind, and my expenses for batting and backing if I provide those items. I also require a $50 deposit.
The only kind of quilt I would make for hire from start to finish is a wholecloth or preprinted panel.
My major customer was a lady who was also a musuem curator who now owns her own custom framing business. I finished at least 6 quilts for her that her grandmother had pieced the tops. She understood handwork and was more than willing to pay.
The only kind of quilt I would make for hire from start to finish is a wholecloth or preprinted panel.
My major customer was a lady who was also a musuem curator who now owns her own custom framing business. I finished at least 6 quilts for her that her grandmother had pieced the tops. She understood handwork and was more than willing to pay.
08-31-2010, 04:53 AM
#14
Banned
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,893
I had a friend ask me to do a quilt for her. She wanted it 100 X 100 with specific colors, and somewhat specific design. I told her I would work on the pattern or two, send her pics and after she decided which one I would give her a price. I also told her that she would have to pay me UP FRONT. She said that would not be a problem, she didn't expect me to do it for free.
I had done other work for her several years earlier and one piece I still have because she did NOT pay me. (It's a wood burn portrait of her grandson when he was just a few months old - he is now 7 or 8!)
I spent hours designing the quilt, more hours searching for the one fabric she wanted. I came up with a price once she and her DH agreed they loved the design, sent her the price which included having it quilted, ------ she hasn't talked to me since!
The general population does not understand the difference a quilt and a 'blanket'.
I'm glad I had not purchased any of the fabric for it. My DH was upset I was spending so much time just in designing it!
So - work done for friends or anyone ----- at least 1/2 the money up front to cover all my costs for large, time consuming, and costly items such as quilts.
I had done other work for her several years earlier and one piece I still have because she did NOT pay me. (It's a wood burn portrait of her grandson when he was just a few months old - he is now 7 or 8!)
I spent hours designing the quilt, more hours searching for the one fabric she wanted. I came up with a price once she and her DH agreed they loved the design, sent her the price which included having it quilted, ------ she hasn't talked to me since!
The general population does not understand the difference a quilt and a 'blanket'.
I'm glad I had not purchased any of the fabric for it. My DH was upset I was spending so much time just in designing it!
So - work done for friends or anyone ----- at least 1/2 the money up front to cover all my costs for large, time consuming, and costly items such as quilts.
08-31-2010, 04:59 AM
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Georgia
Posts: 375
I've had a few acquaintances ask for me to make them quilts and how much. I usually send them to my Etsy site to get an idea of prices. One person freaked out because a baby quilt cost $130.00. She did mention that the quilts at "Babies R Us" are much cheaper. Either people don't understand the difference between handmade and mass produced in China or I don't know what. I have learned to be very particular about who I give or make quilts for.
08-31-2010, 05:32 AM
#16
Super Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Boonsboro, MD
Posts: 2,670
My friend and I did shows a few years back. I had a really beautiful king size, my own pattern entirely, for sale $850.00. This man start looking it over back & front and finally comes up to me with about 5 other people standing around, says I'll pay you $500.00 not a penny more due to the poor workmanship. I asked that he show me what he considered "poor workmanship". He proceeds to show me two points , they were pointed one side slightly skinnier than the other, out of hundreds of points and then on the back two places where I had stopped and restarted and cleaned up to the point you had to be 4 inches away to see them. As luck would have it a lady walked up and said "I'm back to pay for this gorgeous quilt for the new library center. Here is $1000.00, we think you are undercharging for your work. The man almost fainted, but insisted he was there first and wanted the quilt. The lady said the price just went up if you want it but I was here earlier so I get it. That was the most exciting thing I have been through with my quilts.
08-31-2010, 05:35 AM
#17
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Tennessee
Posts: 1,214
Originally Posted by ghostrider
Is this right?
A friend asks if you'd finish a quilt she started.
You give her an estimate, discuss what she wants, and start working on it.
You then give her a firm price of $250 because you will have to buy backing.
She balks and is rude to you, in your opinion (we cannot hear her tone of voice remember, it could easily have been sarcasm).
Now you are confiscating her quilt, plan to sell it and keep the proceeds for yourself.
Is that all a friendship is worth to you? Nine hours of doing something that you say you love to do anyway?
Return it to her, as is, and chalk it up to experience. All you have lost is time. Never again do business with someone before you have a written agreement in hand.
A friend asks if you'd finish a quilt she started.
You give her an estimate, discuss what she wants, and start working on it.
You then give her a firm price of $250 because you will have to buy backing.
She balks and is rude to you, in your opinion (we cannot hear her tone of voice remember, it could easily have been sarcasm).
Now you are confiscating her quilt, plan to sell it and keep the proceeds for yourself.
Is that all a friendship is worth to you? Nine hours of doing something that you say you love to do anyway?
Return it to her, as is, and chalk it up to experience. All you have lost is time. Never again do business with someone before you have a written agreement in hand.
I must agree, I can understand the hurt and frustration on the broken agreement, but if you have not been out any money on it I would return it and not agree to do anything else for her.
08-31-2010, 05:36 AM
#18
Power Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Ohio
Posts: 17,068
Hobo, I love your story!!! Now it will be appreciated by so many people!!!!!! Instead of that cheapskate :D:D
Kudos to you! !!!!
Kudos to you! !!!!
08-31-2010, 05:40 AM
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Nevada
Posts: 581
Originally Posted by Granna of 5
Originally Posted by ghostrider
Is this right?
A friend asks if you'd finish a quilt she started.
You give her an estimate, discuss what she wants, and start working on it.
You then give her a firm price of $250 because you will have to buy backing.
She balks and is rude to you, in your opinion (we cannot hear her tone of voice remember, it could easily have been sarcasm).
Now you are confiscating her quilt, plan to sell it and keep the proceeds for yourself.
Is that all a friendship is worth to you? Nine hours of doing something that you say you love to do anyway?
Return it to her, as is, and chalk it up to experience. All you have lost is time. Never again do business with someone before you have a written agreement in hand.
A friend asks if you'd finish a quilt she started.
You give her an estimate, discuss what she wants, and start working on it.
You then give her a firm price of $250 because you will have to buy backing.
She balks and is rude to you, in your opinion (we cannot hear her tone of voice remember, it could easily have been sarcasm).
Now you are confiscating her quilt, plan to sell it and keep the proceeds for yourself.
Is that all a friendship is worth to you? Nine hours of doing something that you say you love to do anyway?
Return it to her, as is, and chalk it up to experience. All you have lost is time. Never again do business with someone before you have a written agreement in hand.
I must agree, I can understand the hurt and frustration on the broken agreement, but if you have not been out any money on it I would return it and not agree to do anything else for her.
That is what I was thinking. She started it, she must have bought some of the materials. If you are wanting some kind of payment for work/labor done, take her to small claims court.
08-31-2010, 05:42 AM
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 462
Same story, second verse: In my younger years, I used to make wedding cakes as a hobby because I loved doing so and I wanted to participate in the happy events. I did this only for people in my church and/or brides I knew personally. I finally stopped making cakes after several mothers-of-the-bride complained about my prices which covered ONLY the price of ingredients. Now when I go to a wedding, I think about the going price for cakes and am so glad that I am not involved in the entire process.
There's no way I would quilt for money for the reasons discussed here. I want to keep the fun in my quilting projects.
There's no way I would quilt for money for the reasons discussed here. I want to keep the fun in my quilting projects.
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