Unclaimed Framing

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5th corner

5th corner

CGF II, Certified Grumble Framer Level 2
Joined
Aug 23, 2005
Posts
303
Loc
Australia
Hi,

Sam here,

Just a quick question on my coffee break,

What is the accepted practice of dealing with unclaimed framing?

I am in Qld Australia so am aware that different places have different rules. Are there any Australians out there that are aware of where to find this info. Used to know where it was but can't remember any more. Sadly the old OZ forum is dead and the brilliant thread with all this info is gone.

Would be interesting to know how the US deal with this issue as well.

Thanks in advance. :help:
 
We all get caught out sooner or later. It's not just the loss of revenue, you have to store the things as well. I think there is a set time limit in law before you can sell the work to recoup your expenses but not sure exactly what it is. And you must also be seen to try to contact the customer (preferably in writing) to inform them of your intention to sell or otherwise dispose of their work.
That's assuming the work has a resale value. You can always re-use the frame materials at any time.

But don't be too hasty.... I had a customer in just this last week enquiring about a repair job she left with me in 1990.

I wasn't too put out though. In all that time I hadn't actually got around to doing it.:icon11:
 
You can try searching for similar threads or looing for abandoned property threads. Your regional laws might be a better place to start. Every framer should attempt to make all and or any type of contact with the client, phone, letters, email, even sending a certified letter.
As soon as you get rid of it they will come in for it, maybe if you just take it home for a week it release enough pyshic energy to contact the owner. Kinda like when you step out of the shop for 5 minutes is when the only customer of the day comes in.

I had a good clinet drop off two prints one they framed the other they had me hold on to, a couple monthes turned into years. I sent them several letters. Out of the blue they came in looking for it, well we both forgot what it looked like.

I guess all I have to really contribute is to make sure when you accept a work, make sure it is identified and dated, and have a reasonable method of storing the work, that can be figured out by others if needed. I tend to squirrel things away in litlle nooks and crannys, old habits I'm try hard to break.
 
Must Write to the client

Hi All,

If anyone is interested the link below is what we have to do in Queensland Australia if we have this problem:

http://www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au/o...E4C4810807E6621A4A2570DC0010FFC0?OpenDocument

Finding a dark corner or pulling the art out of the frame and burying it in a draw and using the frame for floorstock to recoup costs sounds like a good idea after reading that, especially if the reglaze only costs $28 which is probably less than the cost to run the add in the paper.

Probably don't care if they pay up front but often it is the uncolleced that don't have any deposit.

Sorry I have answered my own question but all very interesting. I guess the rules would be similar in the USA right?
 
Last edited:
5th corner said:
Hi All,

If anyone is interested the link below is what we have to do in Queensland Australia if we have this problem:

http://www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au/o...E4C4810807E6621A4A2570DC0010FFC0?OpenDocument

Finding a dark corner or pulling the art out of the frame and burying it in a draw and using the frame for floorstock to recoup costs sounds like a good idea after reading that, especially if the reglaze only costs $28 which is probably less than the cost to run the add in the paper.

Probably don't care if they pay up front but often it is the uncolleced that don't have any deposit.

Sorry I have answered my own question but all very interesting. I guess the rules would be similar in the USA right?
Click to expand...

I won't wade into this mess again, because laws everywhere are different.

But I'll offer this thought on how to avoid abandonded work in the future:

Ask for full payment up front every single time. The magic words: How would you like to pay for that?
 
Wait six months then issue a second notice to the customer and every other person who has, or claims to have, an interest in the goods. The notice must state that the goods are ready for collection and must inform the customer of the trader?s intent to sell the goods if they remain uncollected for 28 days. If the trader is owed more than $110 for the uncollected goods, the trader must apply to the Magistrates Court for an order authorising the trader to sell the goods. In these circumstances, the trader must issue a notice of an intention to apply for an order rather than a notice of intention to sell.
Click to expand...

I would dig a little deeper.... to see if that $110 base has been raised. A simple call to the court might answer that in less than 5 minutes.
 
What FramerDave said.

And, if one were to look at all unclaimed pieces sitting around waiting for pickup, I'd bet that at least 90% of them have a balance.

I keep all unclaimed pieces indefinitely, in my storage area. And if they're really nice original art, they end up on my walls at home (I have 2 of those right now at home), till somebody claims them.
 
"I had a customer in just this last week enquiring about a repair job she left with me in 1990"

OK....it's $150 for the job---did you tell them it was some 216 months space rent---heck the space rental folks dont give it away either, right????????---at $20/mo for a total of $4320(is there tax on that???):shrug:
 
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