Head, meet Desk

[Kanalah]

So the "why does it cost more just because it's bigger" lady from this thread is back again.

http://www.customerssuck.com/board/s...ad.php?t=76038

So she got back to me and let me know to go ahead and order the fabric and to send her a bill for $half.

I ordered the fabric, she sent her payment and I promptly got to work. When I finished the quilt top, I emailed her photos and gave her an updated timeline as to when the quilt would be finished, gently reminding her that the $otherhalf would be due when I finished the quilt.

And she flipped out. She told me that the top looked beautiful, just as she pictured/I told her it would look. But she repeated over and over that $half payment was supposed to be the total for the whole thing. She threatened to report me to Etsy and Paypal for 'ripping her off' and 'bait and switch'.

I guess she thought I'd just cave or something, I dunno.

I responded that I had records of all our emails back and forth about her order and I'd happily forward them to both Etsy and Paypal so that we could settle the issue.

She responding saying that she doesn't want the quilt anymore and to refund her money.

Since the theme/design of the quilt was generic enough, I went ahead and refunded her.

A week later I got another message from her asking if I had a larger quilt similar to 'Same quilt she wanted a larger size of in the first place'. I responded that I did, however it wasn't finished, and that it would cost 'same amount I quoted you earlier plus a difficult customer fee'.

I guess she thought that I'd be selling it for less or forgotten all about her earlier.

[Betweenshades]

OMG. I swear some people are in their own dimensions and have never actually set foot in our reality.

BLOCK!

[morgana]

I'm glad to see you added the 'difficult customer fee'. Any response from her yet?

[Kanalah]

No, It's going to take about a month for me to finish the quilt, so I'll have to see what happens when I actually list it for sale.

I guess she had a change of heart after finding out that I wasn't going to cave to her demands plus I didn't forget who she was when she tried to commission me again. The worst thing about it, is that she's supposedly commissioning this quilt for her son, who loved the original small one I made. I wonder if he already knows that mom is flaky?

I do so much enjoy having a difficult customer fee.

[bainsidhe]

And I do so love reading about self-employed folks telling bratty customers there is a difficult customer fee.

[SuperRTL]

Letting somebody know about the difficult customer fee is the best part. I had one client (actually working for him right now) who thought he could get out of it because he was cute. Apparently, I'm the only person he knows who'll take his design ideas and make them for any money. He tried to do without me last year. This year, I told him 100% of estimated costs and time up front with a bill due of anything extra before he gets anything. If he doesn't pay the extra, I have some very cool new costumes and pieces to sell.

[hinakiba777]

Whenever I read these posts I become so very envious. first, because you all get to have difficult customer fees and the like. Second, because my crafty skills are not up to par with my imagination of stuff I want to make. The gap between my plans and my skills is very large indeed.

Anyway, I love that she thought you would simply forget her and sell it to her for cheap.

[EricKei]

I do so much enjoy having a difficult customer fee.

Ah yes, Asshole Tax. If only every business would charge this, maybe it would curtail the SC instances somewhat >_> ... Hey, a guy can dream, can't he?

[Android Kaeli]

This is one of the reasons why I don't want to start selling any jewelry online, because I know that I'll get some sort of SC that'll go postal on the price. I use stuff that's not really overly expensive, but it DOES add up plus the time/effort putting into the pieces.

If I ever do, using 'difficult customer tax' sounds like a good idea.

[Tama]

Right. It's why I wait 'til I have a good amount of money to do anything with buying jewelry/whatever.

I know I will be picky, and I'm usually happy to pay a "difficult customer" fee.

[energyguy]

Why did you refund the 50%?

That was a deposit paid to ensure your work, if she refused to pay the remaining 50%, that does not entitle her to her first 50% back.

[Kanalah]

Well, I just made the decision to "fire" her, basically. The quilt she wanted made was cars and traffic signs, and I know it will be easy enough for me to sell it to someone else. It wasn't like a custom applique of some little known tv show character or anything.

Now because she's insulted my work if she does want this quilt, she'll have to pay a difficult customer fee on top of the regular price.

Sometimes people don't learn to play nice until you get them in the wallet, and even then sometimes they still don't learn.

[Kogarashi]

I'll admit, I'm still eagerly awaiting the day I get to be everything my managers in retail weren't when I get a difficult customer, like adding the "difficult customer fee" or firing someone from my business for being a jerk. So far I've just had one person who went totally deadbeat on the money she promised to pay after giving excuses (and after paying other people on Etsy after she'd already committed to pay me), and I haven't seen them since so there's no cathartic fees to be added on there. Everyone else I've dealt with has been neutral at the worst and an absolute peach at the best. I'll just consider myself lucky for now.

[Alpha Strike]

A week later I got another message from her asking if I had a larger quilt similar to 'Same quilt she wanted a larger size of in the first place'. I responded that I did, however it wasn't finished, and that it would cost 'same amount I quoted you earlier plus a difficult customer fee'.

I guess she thought that I'd be selling it for less or forgotten all about her earlier.

Ah yes, Asshole Tax. If only every business would charge this, maybe it would curtail the SC instances somewhat >_> ... Hey, a guy can dream, can't he?

Outstanding. Even better that you get to tell them upfront what the cost is for, instead of having to meekly accept the wasted time and abuse.

[Kanalah]

I never tell them it's a difficult customer fee...yikes! No I am always professional with my clients.

For example the first quote was $175. Then when she cancelled and then contacted me again, I quoted her $195. If she presses the issue that the quote price is higher I'll tell her it's a 'reservation fee'. I don't go up front and tell them I'm charging more because they're a jerk. I think that's bad form.

I try my best to be professional. You insult me or my work, then I will nicely tell you to shop somewhere else. Then I go and write it up here so we can all point and laugh. If you're nice to me, then I will bend over backwards to help you, or give you faster shipping or free pillowcases.