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Jul 2016

Does anyone else think there needs to be a cancellation fee for customers that commit to buy and back out after shipping is added? This happens to us a lot and it’s really frustrating to spend time on what is supposed to be an order and it doesn’t go through.

  • created

    Jul '16
  • last reply

    Aug '16
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Hi 3dprintingally,

I would also think that that is a good idea, as we spend time and money to print something and then not even ship it…

Best Regards

Max Moors

Can you add the shipping in advance.

I am in the US, and can calculate shipping by zip code, size, and weight, and add the shipping in advance of accepting the order.

There shouldn’t be any loss to you except your time to look over the request and respond. Unless you start printing before receiving payment.

Time is money. If we’re spending time on an “order” that isn’t going to be produced that’s time we should be spending on something that adds value to our company.

Well thats how running a business is. Its like selling cars or having a booth in a craft fair. There is always gonna be someone that checks it out, asks some questions and doesnt buy anything. But just because they dont buy something doesnt mean we charge them a fee for looking or asking questions. They might come back later and become your best customer you ever had.

If you find it isn’t worth the hassle you pack up and leave and figure out a different method.

I agree - that is how a customer goes from ‘owner’ to ‘promoter’, you go above and beyond for every customer and word gets around.

I would like to point out there is a significant difference between trying to something on a stall, or sell a car, than someone backing out of an agreed order! for example, if you buy a car then do not pay for it, it will very quickly be taken back lol.

So to have an initial discussion with a customer on here about a job, about its printability etc I would class as a sales talk, and personally I always do this before I accept any order! once they are happy to proceed and we have both agreed then I accept the order and expect payment. As at that point I have to start the real work Slicing/getting materials sorted, adding custom support, (if req) etc etc.if they then back out I would say there should be an admin fee!

Well you can mitigate this issue by not starting any of the actual work until payment is made

It’s unlawful to not tell someone the whole price and have them committ to buy.

This is true, but to hit dead lines you sometime need to, and I will often schedule other peoples work in after, or not accept another jobs completely due to having accept another, so if the customer then pulls out I have not just lost one job but 2!

Or maybe they have to pay a non refunded deposite! it doesn’t need to be a lot, even 50p, its something so that you know they are a serious potential customer. just an idea…lol…

26 days later

The hubs ranking takes a hit when the customer cancels an order.