2nd worse comment you can get on a commission

I did get a tip! Gonna blow it all at Starbucks.

Dick Coers

Can you get a Christmas coffee for $5 yet?

Re: I did get a tip! Gonna blow it all at Starbuck

David Walser

Tipping is always tricky. A lot of people believe it is inappropriate to tip the owner of a business (that's what I was taught). The theory is that owners set the price for their services and benefit from the goodwill generated from doing something above what was expected. On the other hand, employees generally receive a salary (or an hourly wage) and don't directly benefit from the goodwill they create by going the extra mile.

Of course, some of us who were taught not to tip the owner still want to make some gesture to show we were extra pleased with the work. In that case, we tend to compromise and give "something", but not nearly as much as we would give an employee.

I'm not saying any of that is right or wrong. I am saying I've always felt uncomfortable offering or accepting a tip.

Re: 2nd worse comment you can get on a commission

Vince Welch

Sounds like she did not get to spend enough of her money with you! Perhaps at the beginning of the next customer transaction you may want to ask a few more questions including ... "so what are you looking to spend" just to try to insure you are able to completely satisfy your customer. The first time is not your fault but the second time...well.... lol. Congrads on your sale.

my worse comment

john lucas

I was showing some work to a lady I worked with and she said, This is so good you should sell it at Hobby Lobby. This was a hollow vessel of exotic burl with 3mm thick walls. I had just come from Hobby Lobby and they were selling ugly wooden vases for $19.00. I said thanks and then went my way.

Yup, it was a Pier I comparison for me

Dick Coers

I always smile at those who talk to me about selling. They all imply I can do really well, but I'd guess 95% of them don't buy anything.

I did have a good holiday season with smaller bowls this year. Usually just the small items and jewelry do the best. But several in the $125 or less range moved this year. I was very grateful since many of these were made a few years ago. Down about 40% from last year though. I fully expected it with Caterpillar announcing another round of layoffs before the end of the year. Merry Christmas! They were a $63 billion dollar sales company when I retired, they expect to do $30 billion in 2017.

Re: 2nd worse comment you can get on a commission

Ed Davidson

My worse happened just a couple of weeks ago.

Lady commissioned a custom yoyo with photos of her and boyfriend embedded into the wood. She chooses the wood, the finish, the shape and sends me the photo I'm suppose to use.

Couple days later I finish the yoyo, send her a photo of the finished piece, and her response is: "I don't like the photo of us, should have chosen another, guess that's on me, never mind".

Stories like this are why I do not do commissions

So did she....

Brian Roberts

expect to get her deposit back when she cancelled?

Re: Stories like this are why I do not do commissi

Ralph Lindberg

We have a rule, no Christmas commissions after Thanksgiving..

Well, this year the DW said, they (friends of ours) are just here from China for few weeks.

So we took the commission, she was going to make it since it was one of her items

Only, while I was chatting with the husband the wife and my wife changed the design.

To something my wife seldom does.

I preped a blank and my DW had a failure.

So, I preped another and I made it and delivered it yesterday.

No commissions after Thanksgiving.

Re: Yup, it was a Pier I comparison for me

Ralph Lindberg

Mine was a thrift-store comment

"We can get a wood bowl for $5 at Goodwill"

Re: So did she....

Ed Davidson

On small dollar yoyo orders like that, I don't ask for anything up front. Guess that made it easy on her to walk away. No worries...I'll re-work the finished piece and sell it to someone else.

BTW, here's the non-customer and her boyfriend. I do have to agree with her...not a good picture.

Re: Yup, it was a Pier I comparison for me

john lucas

I had a good friend who practically lives at Goodwill. He bought a couple of wooden bowls for $2 and then turned them real thin with some nice beaded designs and sold them at his craft booth for $30 each.