Getting Old Stuff Picked UP

[HB]

I have a problem maybe someone can help me with. Somehow we managed to do a few sizeable framing jobs for different customers a year or two ago without getting their addresses. We tried their phone numbers which never get answered or are out of service. The items are non-sellable personal stuff. Any ideas? Also - thanks for your replies to my advertising query DTWDSM, Bob, Bill, John Janet, & Betty- much appreciated!

Brian

[HannaFate]

If it has been over a year, I would say your best bet is to do what you can with the frames, and stash the "art" in a dusty corner for another year before throwing it away. It's amazing what people will abandon. We did some Spring cleaning, and turned up some stuff that was ten years old. I gave everyone one last call (two people picked up!) and put it all out for sale. The photos of odd relatives I put in one pile, with a sign, "Instant Ancestors!"

Another possiblity is hanging a certificate or photo up with a sign, "Do you know this person?"

[Merlin Framers]

This goes back to another thread vis: Did the customer pay in advance.
We tell all our customers who pay a deposit for the work, that if it is not picked up within six months, then it belongs to us.
I have seen another frame shop over here put the item in the window with a sign over it saying "Do you know who this could belong to" then two weeks later "Uncollected item.. make me an offer"
Not sure what the outcome was though..
Yes it has happened to us and we just put the artwork to one side and re-use the frame and accessories..

[DTWDSM]

I don't know if this is possible in Canada but here are two other things that we do to try and track people down.

Go to www.anywho.com, (http://www.anywho.com,) look up thier name and if they have a phone number that is listed under their name it should be there.

The other thing that we do is go to our county assessors web site and look up their name to see if they own any property in the county, if so there should be contact info there, it is all public information. If the county assessor does not have a website you can call or stop in the office and get the info.

If we still can't find them and it has been over 6 months then we usually put the item on our sale wall and sell it at our COG. All of our customer copies of the order say that we are not responsible for items left over 60 days, we still don't do anything with orders until at least 6 months.

[PurplePerson]

We also have stuff that has been at our place, maybe 3 years or so. Most have paid deposits and some have not. Every so often one of us calls them all. Some don't seem to live here anymore, some answer and don't come and some do pick their stuff up. We have always just kept it for them.

Maybe, we will some creative things to do with them here. The lost photo thing in the window and the instant relatives are good ideas.

[lauralisa]

Hi Brian,

I don't know what the laws are in Canada, but sometimes these things can get tricky....

I used to work for a great guy in Baltimore, MD who had WAY too much stuff waiting to be taken home... some as old as seven years.

I wanted to "clean up" so to speak, but my boss told me that even with the 'not responsible for work left after 60 days' disclaimer, one still had to post an ad in the local paper notifying the public that such an item was to be sold if not picked up in X days.

The legal reason was to 'protect' the interests of any heirs (!) who may file a claim against the shop if they were not aware that their (deceased) relative had estate items laying around in various local businesses.

Wow. Too much work for me, so I un-fit most of the older stuff, packaged up the art/photo/whatever very nicely, labled and filed it, broke down the frame/glass/etc. and reused any that I could.

Believe it or not, some items WERE actually remembered even though they had been there for years. It was exciting when a customer mustered up the courage to come in and finally pay/pick it up - we were happy, they were happy.

I always wanted to charge a fee for "storage" *smile* but my boss was one of those wonderfully natured people who could just let stuff slide... he is adored by his customers because of his generosity and non-judgmental carefree attitude.... I learned a great deal from him !

*Moral of story: Always get a deposit...!

lauralisa

[ERIC]

Moral of story: Always get a deposit...! After the customer agrees to the price I say "Do you want to leave a 50% deposit or pay for it in full today?", making it clear what the only options are. It took me a while to get comfortable saying it, but it works like a charm! 30 - 40% of my drop off's are paid in full compared to less that 10% when I started.

In the mean time, check for your equivalent of our Standard Commercial Code. It will tell you what you are obligated and liable for.

[PurplePerson]

I was also uncomforatble with asking a customer for half of the money or all of it. When I acted so uncomforatble things did not go well and I would be wishy washy and maybe say "Well, that's OK, we will get it all when you pick it up."

One day, I decided to look them in the eye and just say it, simply, nicely and without wavering or saying anything else at all. The customer had to speak next. They quit playing games with me and told me one way or the other.

I discovered that if I said, "Would you like to pay falf of this or all of this?", I most likely got all of it. If I said "Would you like to pay all of this or half of this?" I most likely got half of it. It seems that whatever I say last, is what they remember and do.

If we have had a very good day that day, I go for half of it to improve another day. If it is a slow day, I go for all of it.

[John Gornall]

Of course the best way to get owners of the old stuff to show up tomorrow is to throw their framing away today. Works every time I've tried it.

[ERIC]

Good for you PP! Doesn't it feel great when you take charge of a sticky moment? I know that if I'm having an off day, my delivery will be a little weak, and it makes a difference in how the customer reacts. It's all in the delivery. :D

[Curly Grumble]

Originally posted by PurplePerson:
It seems that whatever I say last, is what they remember and do.
Purp, why not say "Would you like to pay for All of this or Double the amount?"

It MIGHT work! Give it a try and let us know! :D