Photos of custom ordders?

[MakeOrBreakStudio]

When you make a custom ordders , do you always send a photo after you finish your product?
Customer ordered a custom headbands, and paid. I'm wondering whether to send her a picture after I've finished making the items, or just send them?
I sent her a sketch and have agreed on everything, and she loves it all.
I do not want to be a spammer ..
What should I do?

[lippybrand]

If she already paid and she did not ask for pictures it does not seem needed. I always tell the customer I will send a picture for their approval before sending. So thats what I do. But maybe I will stop in the future because it does make the process take longer. Sending pic, then waiting for them to look at it....

Enjoy your memorial day!

[HausofAriella]

I think it depends on how customized the order is. Is it just a change in color or some other minor variation of one of you other products, or is it something completely different? If it's just a minor change, I wouldn't worry about it unless she asked, but if someone wanted something very different from my other products, I'd probably send a photo before shipping just to make sure it's what they had it mind.

[Studio463]

Great question that i often ask myself too! If the customer ordered a custom piece I often photograph and email a picture for them to view to make sure I got the colors, spelling , etc. correct. It definitely adds time to the process but if it catches me from sending an incorrect item it ultimately saves me time and money in the end.

[Former_Member]

I usually send a photo before posting a custom order, partly because it means there's less likelihood of a return or of a customer not being happy if you've checked it first.

I usually okay that with them before the order goes ahead as it can really delay things (especially if they don't check their email very often!), and give a rough timescale for the order, stating that that is providing they respond same day or next day to emails. Then they can be geared up to check their email later in the week.

Usually even if they want it quickly they tend to say to send a photo but not to wait for a response before posting it.

I don't think anyone would think you were a spammer for sending an email/convo with a photo, even if it was 'unsolicited' I think the term spam only really applies if you are trying to solicit for more business or promoting your shop in some way. I'm sure if you send a photo your customer will be pleased!

[MakeOrBreakStudio]

Thank you all!
I will send her the photos.

I prefer the customer will buy the item first, because I've had several cases that I bought the materials of started making the items, and the customer disappeared.
So for me to buy before I start making is the customer proves he is serious.

[AnneLondezGlass]

I always send pictures before shipping and wait for the ok of the customer. I think it's good business practice. When I buy I hate sellers who don't communicate !

[AnneLondezGlass]

Oops sorry, I hadn't read your last message before I wrote mine. One thing that I never do is start on a custom order withouth up front payment. It's in my policies and there's no way around it. Helps you get rid of the not serious customers !

[Former_Member]

It might save you both a headache to send pictures so that you can make any modifications that need to be made without having to worry about already having paid shipping. Also, the customer gets her items exactly the way she wanted them the first time!

[Former_Member]

I always send sketches of the before, pictures of the process and put "final" pictures on the listing. I don't want my customers to have any bad surprises :)