[printchemist]

Well, a little advice for those who need it, NEVER trust anyone when it comes to business. Always collect a deposit or the full amount if you offer a product or a service. I have learned the hard way that no matter how nice, polite, or honest someone may seem dont fall for it! Thats my number one rule in my business.

Any input??

[mikepre]

I hear ya...never trust anyone because people will always try to screw you

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Originally Posted by mikepre

I hear ya...never trust anyone because people will always try to screw you

That seems like a depressing way to live life. However, I suppose you're less likely to get the wool pulled over your eyes.

[david90]

Originally Posted by printchemist

Well, a little advice for those who need it, NEVER trust anyone when it comes to business. Always collect a deposit or the full amount if you offer a product or a service. I have learned the hard way that no matter how nice, polite, or honest someone may seem dont fall for it! Thats my number one rule in my business.

Any input??

I don't have an input but what happened to you?

[OnTheWayUp]

Originally Posted by printchemist

Well, a little advice for those who need it, NEVER trust anyone when it comes to business. Always collect a deposit or the full amount if you offer a product or a service. I have learned the hard way that no matter how nice, polite, or honest someone may seem dont fall for it! Thats my number one rule in my business.

Any input??

yes what did happen to you? Oh by the way, since you posted earlier about advertising, how bout you take advantage of the free advertising and post your link in your signature? I woulda clicked it in this post, referring to the topic of this post!

[tazman9r]

Hope for the best, but plan for the worst.

People are people, anywhere you go. No matter how polite they my be, you must do the necesary thing to protect yourself, not because people are bad and want to take advantage of you, but becuase they will tend to take advantange where they can. The tendendcy to return a dropped wallet is hopefully still the rule, not the exception, but it only takes one instance of theft or fraud to jade a person on the whole lot.

[ADVERTISE HERE!]

Originally Posted by tazman9r

Hope for the best, but plan for the worst.

People are people, anywhere you go. No matter how polite they my be, you must do the necesary thing to protect yourself, not because people are bad and want to take advantage of you, but becuase they will tend to take advantange where they can. The tendendcy to return a dropped wallet is hopefully still the rule, not the exception, but it only takes one instance of theft or fraud to jade a person on the whole lot.

This is probably the best advice I've read on here. I hesitate to take a cynical view of the world, but instead just hope for the best and plan for the worst. Always get it in writing, pay attention to detail in contracts, etc.

[HarveyJ]

Sounds like you've gotten burnt in the past, printchemist.
I hear you though. I've had jobs in the past where I've had to get the lawyers involved to get my money back when the client didn't pay, and then it turned out that the lawyers ended up costing more than if I'd just given up on it.

I guess the thing to do is make sure that there are iron clad payment details in any form of contract you have if you're providing a service, and never accept payment for any period AFTER the delivery of the service, only beforehand.

[RLorenzen]

I agree printchemist. I've had a situation where a client wasn't paying us owed money. Never trust anyone and get it in writing.

[pboychuk]

I once had a supplier who I worked with for over a year. I had sent him up to 15k in one transaction of which he could have easily taken and ran. When he found out that I no longer needed his services he didnt send my last order, pocketed 4k$ and disappeared. One thing I have learned is that honesty is positively related to success. I value honesty in business first and foremost. Those who are dishonest may make the quick dollar, but they will never had a constant steady income. Also, they must live in fear of being caught or shot. I have also found that people who screw people, tend to get screwed themselves by falling for their own schemes.

[printchemist]

Well, my story is that I once did a vehicle wrap, for jackie-O, i dont know if you guys know her. She was a rapper from miami, her song did make it pretty big. Well, i did a vehicle wrap for her and the total was about $3,000. we collected a deposit for the art work but nothing else. When the vehicle wrap was complete I asked her to come pick it up and pay me for the rest of it. I had the van parked outside my office and she came, took the van without me noticing, and didnt pay. So i took her to small claims and all I got back was $300 because there was no proof that she didnt pay me.

Pretty bad huh? I mean its not thousands and thousands of dollars but it was still a lot of money