Hi! I need some help please!

[Former_Member]

Okay, I have two people who have placed a custom order with me. Person number one ordered some items from me, and I made them and DIDN'T ASK FOR A DOWN PAYMENT. She still has not paid for her listing.
Person number two was all excited about her custom items but as soon as I sent her the link to her custom listing (I got smart this time around and told her that as soon as she had bought the listing I would get started on her items) she vanished, POOF!
I do have a if-you-don't-pay-me-in-14 days-I'll-re-sell-it policy, but am I suppose to report this issue to Esty as a no-pay or something like that?? And how would I go about doing that?
But what do I do about person number two? Delete the listing in 14 days? That's $0.20 down the drain! :(
Should I send out reminders? And how many?
These are my first two custom orders and as you can see, they are just not going well!
Thank you in advance!

[NettieArt]

Wow...what a bummer! ...sorry, I don't have any experience in that matter, but I hope someone will come along to give you some answers...I have wondered about doing custom orders myself...good luck in your endeavors.

[Former_Member]

Sometimes custom orders can be a blessing. Even if you don't end up selling them, other people will like them. Just remove the custom order from your title and sell it like a regular item. I wouldn't try and go after the no-shows, just go ahead and sell it on your shop like any other item.

[Former_Member]

Thanks guys! Would you believe it, person number 1 finally paid for her listing, AFTER I sent her a reminder message. The email I sent her before had been forgotten due to busyness, and so when I sent he a reminder she paid almost instantly! :D I'm still waiting for #2, but since I am not really out anything on that, it's less of a problem.
Thank you so much for your advice! :D

[atomiclivinhome]

There are many people who will ask about a custom order, spend time convo'ing back and forth and then vanish for weeks or months, only to reappear (perhaps when some issue in their life clears up) and want to go ahead with the order. Usually, if I create a custom listing and the person doesn't purchase it within a couple of days, I will send a friendly reminder. If they still don't make the purchase I simply deactivate that listing, in case they show up somewhere down the road. It is only $0.20 after all. :)

Robin ~