Daily Wire Tip Feb. 24: Taking Checks at Shows
Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip for
February 24, 2011
Question:
I’m about to set up a stand at my first ever arts and crafts event. Jewelry making is only a hobby for me, not a real business, as I am disabled and physically can’t put in a lot of time bent over beadwork. I would like to sell some of my work to pay for my hobby, plus no one person really needs 100 sets of rosary beads!
Some of my pieces are made of very expensive gemstones and lampwork beads as well as silver and gold. These items I am pricing between $200 – $300. This is not unreasonable, as I paid that much for a very nice rosary made of silver and amethyst years ago before I got into the craft myself.
I really can’t afford to lose that much money from a bad check, but that’s how most people pay at this event. What do you think about the risk of a check bouncing, as opposed to not selling anything at all and not even covering the cost of the stall? What recourse do I have if a check does bounce? Thanks.
-Deborah in Winter Haven, Florida
Answer:
First Deborah, Congratulations!! I am always excited when I hear about someone participating in their first show – especially with what sound like really lovely works.
Now, about taking personal checks at a show or anywhere else. Speaking from experience, most of the WS Faculty agree that people will bounce a check for milk, but not for jewelry. However, there are those few that could really set an artist back.
Myself, I will always take a personal check. I always get the buyer’s current home and cell phone number (also ask for their work number if you want to be really cautious), making sure that I also see their driver’s license (write that number down on the check too), and to make sure that their mailing address is correct. First off, because I take the time to get this information, the customer knows I am serious, and if the check should bounce, I will call and hunt them down!
Now, if you do not wish to have a check bounce and have to do the “hassle/hunt” thing, you could check with another vendor who is set up close to your booth, and ask if they accept credit cards. If so, you can ask if, in the case you have to save a sale by taking a credit card, will they process it for you. Most folks will say yes and charge you a fee (like 5-7% or whatever they need to pay for the processing and sales percentage fees that they will be charged by the credit card companies). You and they can decide if they will pay you cash in full (minus the fees percentage) or pay you 50% cash at the end of the show, and after the card charges clear, they will send you the balance. Usually this works well when you know the vendor, but it doesn’t hurt to ask!
Another venue for your particular work, rosaries, might be to inquire about consignment sales at religious gift stores or schools. Good Luck Deborah, I hope you sell out!!
Answer contributed by Dale “Cougar” Armstrong
Have a Question? Click Here to Submit Your Question
Click to Receive Daily Tips by Email
booth, business, check, checks, event, how to, sell jewelry, sell wire jewelry, selling, selling jewelry, show
Filed under:Daily Wire Jewelry Tips‚ Sales, Marketing, Shows, & Display
Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!
Blog
Twitter
Facebook
When I first started shows way back in the 80′s, I took checks, credit cards, and cash. I soon stopped taking checks. Because they would bounce and it just wasn’t worth it, with all the over charges.
Now a days you can have a laptop and have them use paypal to pay or cash.
Plus it is so easy to do layaway’s and send the piece to them once you have received full payment.
The only time I take a check is when I know my customer.
Julia, thanks for suggesting a ‘layaway’ plan!
Hi Deborah, I’ve done craft shows for several years. My prices range from $10. to about $250. I accept credit, cash and checks. If it’s a toss up between credit and checks, I opt for the check as there are no fees. Although there is a risk of the check bouncing, I’ve been very lucky, not one check has bounced. I agree with Dale, it isn’t likely that someone will risk bouncing a check for a piece of jewelry. Good Luck. Cheryl
I’m sitting here knocking on wood as I’ve never, in 7 years, had a customer give me a bad check. But, I also worry as does Dale–so I gather information from new customers. Lately most of my checks are from repeat customers at shows as I now accept credit cards.
Another venue for Deborah to think about is to offer the sale of the rosaries to a Catholic school/church as a fundraiser. She’d decide what percentage to keep and what to donate. I’ve found that prices can be increased to compensate for the donation and customers are willing to pay extra because it’s going to a good cause. This is equivalent to selling it on consignment at the same place–but is perceived very differently.
Gayle, thanks for the fund raiser suggestion – great idea!
I have never taken a bad check. I do post that I will charge a $30 fee for bad checks. You can accept credit cards yourself. Do some research on accepting credit cards via mobile. There are many companies out there. Shows are my full time job and I would never accept a credit card for someone else. Oh also about the check thing, go with ‘gut instinct’. Another thing to remember about doing your first show have lower price items that you can sell quickly to pay for your booth.
Deborah,
I think that Dales’ advice is good. I would also suggest that you look into the state laws so that you have the required information to allow criminal charges to be pursued. I learned the hard way (employer required me to pay for the bad check when I failed to obtain the necessary information) that if you do not have the required information then you cannot pursue criminal avenue.
You always have the option of small claims but that requires fees upfront to the courthouse and for service. There are specific rules about where you can file the suit. Then if win, you still have to collect the money which can mean more court and an order for $20/month payments. Unfortunately small claims in many states is NOT like Judge Judy.
You might want to look into credit card services through your cell phone.
Good luck at the show.
Deborah, thanks so much for adding your valuable, legal insight for Deborah.
There may be a slight problem with having someone else take your sale on their card. One of my friends who had done this for me was told by her accountant that there is a new law that requires credit card companies to send her sales info the the IRS, assuring that she will be taxed on all sales registered. Therefore when she took my sales for me, I not only paid her the card fee but also the equivalent of her income tax on the items she “sold” for me. It was still less than most galleries charge, but basically dropped my profit from retail to wholesale. I would love to get another ruling on the problem.
Interesting Mildred – thanks for making us aware of this situation.
I always take checks and have never had a bad experience. My personal opinion is that people who purchase jewelry at art or craft show are sincere and honest. Until proven wrong, I’ll continue to take checks! I do not take credit cards at this time. There are reasonable options out there, but it is an added expense. I’m only part time, so it isn’t worthwhile…yet!
I have been selling my jewelry for 5 years going into my 6th year and have only had one bad check. What I did was eat the cost my bank charged me and then I called the bank that the check was drawn on to see if there were funds to resubmit the check. I gave them the account number and the the amount of the check and they told me that it would clear so I redeposited it and it went through. The bank did not give me any more information than I had from the check I got, so privacy of the client was not breached.
I have been doing art/craft shows for over 15 years and as a general rule the people who’s checks are no good tend to purchase clothing and jewelry.
There are new laws on the books that limit the amount of information you can get from a customer and write down on their check to verify they are who they say they are.
You might want to call or go to your bank and ask them what your best approach to be assured the check you are taking for your art piece is a valid piece of paper. It might be as easy as calling an 800 # to verify the check is good when the customer is still in your booth.
Another good suggestion – an 800 approval number for check verification. Thanks Linda! (Gotta love all of you!!)
I have had a couple of bad checks in 7 years. They were finally made good, but it was a hassle and did not cover fees charged by my bank. I knew the people and did not expect checks to bounce in either case. It is important to collect information and taking a picture of ID & customer with your cell phone is a good idea. It lets people know you can contact them and that is good. If it is an order, always collect some or all of the money in advance. Good luck.
Cell phone photo of ID – awesome idea! Thanks Char!
I never had a bounced check but with items in that price range I would try to get a credit card account. People can change their minds in the time it takes to write a check, but it seems people are quick to pull out the card. Good luck.
Wow, ladies you are a wealth of information here based on your own experiences. Thank you so much!!!
I have had only 1 bounced check in over 20 years of doing shows. And believe it or not, it was from a good friend for a custom knife I had done scrimshaw on. This was a $700.00 purchase and it rattled me be big time when the check came back on her. Needless to say, a phone call and a transfer of funds and she settled the overdraft refund to me, etc. But, it was still a scary thing to go through, especially with someone you knew.