May Be Days of Chat, Metal and Stone

[#1]

As you were....

[LauraStasa]

Thanks for the info. I think I'm leaning towards sticking with my no layaway policy for now. I'm happy to reserve for a week or two but I don't want the extra work involved in keeping track and invoicing. We do layaway at the store and it can be a real pain. Most people have been great but I've had a few who wanted refunds after a year of not paying on their item. i've tightened my policy now and may do so again.

[PPennee]

I think even the K Marts of the world won't hold anything after 30 days if people don't pay.
To me layaway is no different than credit cards- it's a convenience for people. I try to b flexible with customer's needs, I'm in the business of making it easy to by from me.
To this day I am amazed how long it took Etsy to get on board with accepting the major form of on line payment- and how many sales I lost because they would only take Paypal- I used to get so many complaints.

[cgwhitfield]

Hope the hummingbirds brought their parkas, it's 21F.

[PureDichotomy]

I do layaway at my discretion. Two of my layaway customers have become collectors and repeatedly put things on layaway and Ive never had a problem. They own now probably a half dozen of my pieces each.

I tend not to do layaways for new customers, or customers who give me a bad / weird vibe - whatever that might be. I usually trust my instincts.

I don't hold items anymore on reserve without a deposit payment. Ive gotten burned way too many times on that one. you want me to reserve it for you, you gotta commit to buying it.

[PureDichotomy]

Anyone hear from Jen this morning?

[PPennee]

that's a good policy Wendy, I may have to add that one- deposit to reserve - takes away that "I'm just looking" factor - you're serious or you aren't

[prox]

I'm having a "tired day"
Have to go to a Dr appt soon, if the blood pressures up, little girl might have a scheduled eviction.

[PureDichotomy]

Good luck Jen.

scheduled eviction or not... she's already the center of attention!!

[GreenJeweler]

Jen may all be well and all shall be well for you both soon!
Thanks Dreia and Terri and CG for your insights they resonate with me.

R3: Soldering I like the pallions they don't seem to leap off the hot silver as much.

[PPennee]

I love wire solder- I do flatten, and I almost never add solder until my flux is dry from the torch- it seems to stick right away. I hate dancing solder

[ElfinWorks]

Good morning!

Hope your bp is OK Jen!

Laura, I don't do layaways, just too complicated and if someone is having that much difficulty affording a piece of jewelry, I am kind of uncomfortable encouraging them, or getting personally involved. I can't imagine asking to buy something non-essential on a layaway plan myself. But if the person sounds sensible and just needs to get their ducks in a row, I will often reserve a piece for a week. And a few times people have backed out. Unexpected vet bills seem to be a common derailer. But I can't imagine refusing to return someones down payment in a situation like that, so what's the point in requiring one?

[PureDichotomy]

Dreia my hope with that policy is to weed out the folks that are just impulse buying today and will change their mind tomorrow when they sober up.

If they have to put down cash if they aren't serious they will walk away before I reserve it. (at least this is what Im betting on).

---

I want to do NOTHING to day except listen to my birds and make stuff. and I can't. too much to do.

[SToNZ]

I have a dentist appointment.
Oh, goody.

Also, Dr. told my dad yesterday that he has a slow moving blood cancer.
I kind of knew, but this was the first time a doc actually used the dreaded "C" word.
I have not spoken to Dad yet today, but I am pretty sure he's freaking out.
Poor guy.
Though old age will probably do him in before this thing does.
Guy has a huge fear of death.
Not a good way to view things at his age.
Pretty sure if i make it to 90 I'll feel happy I've made it that far.

[cgwhitfield]

What Dreia says are exactly my thoughts on a layaway. I so rarely agree with anyone. Maybe I was infected years ago with something in the west coast salt water.

[PureDichotomy]

Aw Susan. and the worst part about the C word is how much a person's outlook and attitude play a part. I hope he isnt freaking out too much. stress isnt helpful.

good luck at the dentist.

[PPennee]

Only for covering yourself Dreia- if you say you don't refund, you still can, but if someone is really jerking you around and has used up a ton of your time- you can say, too bad, it clearly says no refunds. I never feel like I have lost a customer like that- thy never were my customer and if they are weird, I don't honestly want them as a customer

[SToNZ]

Thanks, Wendy.
He just called and sounds OK.
Sure hope he doesn't dwell on this.

[heartsabustin]

Awww Susan, that sucks. I'm so sorry.

I've got to get myself out of the dumps and go do something. Staring at the computer screen is not helping any at all.

[PPennee]

Aw bummer Susan- is it Pernicious anemia or a leukemia? Some are so slow but the tired feeling is awful- hope he hangs in a very long time and doesn't let putting a name to it get him down!

[MostlyStoneware]

Sorry you and your dad have another medical issue to cope with Susan.

I used to do a layaway or time payment plan with sets of pottery dishes. The initial deposit was non refundable. Never had an issue.

[Untwistedsister]

Sorry about your dad, Susan. We had an Aunt that lived well into her 90's with most of her mental faculties and no real health problems either. She used to complain that God must've forgotten her. She was actually ready to go.

I did get a bracelet order overnight. Happy dust to share.

[SToNZ]

He's got MDS. Same as Robin Roberts. Basically chronic Leukemia.

I'm having a tired day, too, but I am not creating a little human like Jen is, so I have no excuse.
Good luck, Jen. Hope that kid decides to have her birthday soon!

[PureDichotomy]

Susan - you have a convo

[ChrissiLynnDesigns]

Hello! Good Afternoon! Sorry to be MIA...big horse show last weekend has sucked up a lot of my time lately, along with a nice custom order and my niece's Senior high school activities. It's hard to believe they are graduating! Wow.

I see Jen hasn't had her baby yet...are we doing a new pool?

I feel like I have missed so much here. I'm hoping everyone is doing well.

Susan...I'm sorry to hear about your Dad. Keeping you in my thoughts. It's hard with older parents. DH's parents are in their late 70s, and we have been dealing with some health things with them as well. What makes it challenging for us, is that his parents still work in the office full-time every day.

[PureDichotomy]

Was thinking about you yesterday Chrissi - that weather you guys are having down there is worrisome.

everyone OK??

ww