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Payment-related Questions!
13 years ago
EDIT: Yay! Problem solved! I'm going to start sending invoices instead of giving out my paypal. :'D
Hey guys! I want to be really clear that this is not an angry, or a frustrated, or a negative journal in any way. It's not a rant. I'm not looking to customer-bash. I love my clients. <3
But I've been trying everything to make it very well known that I need payment in Canadian Dollars before each and every commission goes through, and I'm still running into the issue of people paying in American Dollars. I know it seems really nit-picky, especially if the dollar is at par, or if it is even worth slightly more than Canadian... but I lose a little bit of money on each transaction to paypal conversions, weird fees, and then at the end of the year when I add it all up, it can be a pretty large amount. I think the last time I checked, it was $100 in a year. Then come tax season, I have to calculate all my records twice. Once for Canadian Dollars, and once for American. It doesn't seem like a big deal, but when I'm tallying up a hundred or so transactions, and then making conversions, trying to account for fees... it can mean a lot of extra time spent because of payments being sent in the wrong currency. It's also difficult to explain to other people when they ask how much money I made last month, or what I charge, and I have to say "Well, I charge x amount Canadian, but sometimes it gets sent in American and then I make x.xx amount off of that job..." and they look at me like I have a third eye, and then we have to sit down and do all the math again.
So I'm putting all this out there so people will understand why I am so nagging and insistent about it. I usually keep this sort of thing firmly in the "behind the scenes" portion of running the business because it really shouldn't be something that customers need on their mind when they are buying from me, but I also don't like the idea of posting about this without explaining myself.
Now, again. I'm not mad! If you've paid me in American, it's no big deal, I'm not upset, and I promise I'm not holding it against you. I honestly can't actually remember who has and who hasn't paid me in whatever kind of money. I just remember what I drew for you and how our interactions went. But I really do need people to pay me in Canadian Dollars. I know sometimes American is worth more or the same and that's why people send their payment that way, and I appreciate the kind intentions! It's just really more important that I get paid the correct amount in the correct currency for my area.
So my question is: How can I make it more obvious and easy for people to see that I need payment in Canadian without appearing rude?
I state it every time I give my paypal address, and I state it when I give a quote. It's on my price sheets, in my TOS, and anywhere that I state any pricing. However, I haven't been refunding any payments when they are sent in the wrong currency, because I would rather not cause a big fuss over it. It's just getting to the point where I have to do something about it. Should I be asking people to resend it if it has been sent in the wrong currency?
I really want to avoid big bold obnoxious "I only accept Canadian Dollars." statements all over the place, but is that a better thing to do?
Ideally, I want people to be well aware, without feeling like I am attacking them.
Any suggestions or ideas are super appreciated! Thank you! c':
-Excess
Hey guys! I want to be really clear that this is not an angry, or a frustrated, or a negative journal in any way. It's not a rant. I'm not looking to customer-bash. I love my clients. <3
But I've been trying everything to make it very well known that I need payment in Canadian Dollars before each and every commission goes through, and I'm still running into the issue of people paying in American Dollars. I know it seems really nit-picky, especially if the dollar is at par, or if it is even worth slightly more than Canadian... but I lose a little bit of money on each transaction to paypal conversions, weird fees, and then at the end of the year when I add it all up, it can be a pretty large amount. I think the last time I checked, it was $100 in a year. Then come tax season, I have to calculate all my records twice. Once for Canadian Dollars, and once for American. It doesn't seem like a big deal, but when I'm tallying up a hundred or so transactions, and then making conversions, trying to account for fees... it can mean a lot of extra time spent because of payments being sent in the wrong currency. It's also difficult to explain to other people when they ask how much money I made last month, or what I charge, and I have to say "Well, I charge x amount Canadian, but sometimes it gets sent in American and then I make x.xx amount off of that job..." and they look at me like I have a third eye, and then we have to sit down and do all the math again.
So I'm putting all this out there so people will understand why I am so nagging and insistent about it. I usually keep this sort of thing firmly in the "behind the scenes" portion of running the business because it really shouldn't be something that customers need on their mind when they are buying from me, but I also don't like the idea of posting about this without explaining myself.
Now, again. I'm not mad! If you've paid me in American, it's no big deal, I'm not upset, and I promise I'm not holding it against you. I honestly can't actually remember who has and who hasn't paid me in whatever kind of money. I just remember what I drew for you and how our interactions went. But I really do need people to pay me in Canadian Dollars. I know sometimes American is worth more or the same and that's why people send their payment that way, and I appreciate the kind intentions! It's just really more important that I get paid the correct amount in the correct currency for my area.
So my question is: How can I make it more obvious and easy for people to see that I need payment in Canadian without appearing rude?
I state it every time I give my paypal address, and I state it when I give a quote. It's on my price sheets, in my TOS, and anywhere that I state any pricing. However, I haven't been refunding any payments when they are sent in the wrong currency, because I would rather not cause a big fuss over it. It's just getting to the point where I have to do something about it. Should I be asking people to resend it if it has been sent in the wrong currency?
I really want to avoid big bold obnoxious "I only accept Canadian Dollars." statements all over the place, but is that a better thing to do?
Ideally, I want people to be well aware, without feeling like I am attacking them.
Any suggestions or ideas are super appreciated! Thank you! c':
-Excess
Commissions are Closed while I catch up on my current Queue.
Standard Queue:
1. Mark - Large Sleeve Tattoo Design - 4/4 PAID - Painting/Finishing.
2.
barrakoda - Tank Girl Inspired trad. piece - PAID - Sketching
Standard Queue:
1. Mark - Large Sleeve Tattoo Design - 4/4 PAID - Painting/Finishing.
2.
barrakoda - Tank Girl Inspired trad. piece - PAID - Sketching
i paid you right, every other time...*Flails* URGHT VSRGN DX
Lemmie see if I can track down the step by step thing some one posted.
I'm going to double check to make sure this won't cost anything extra for my clients, and then I think I'll start doing every commission this way.
Oh my gosh, thank you. ;u;
Doesn't cost anything extra from what I can tell, it just sends them an email with a bill. I know a few people that do invoices.
as for making it obvious to the general public: again i personally would not be offended if you posted somewhere in underlined bolded text that you only accept canadian dollars lol. then again i can't speak for everyone. but i'm not sure why anyone would get offended if you posted that on your page somewhere or wherever you have your commission info.
it's important for people to do it right for exactly the reasons you explained <3 don't worry about offending people! lots of artists require different types of currencies other than USD. just cause you're in canada doesn't make this different lol!
YOU ARE NOT LIKE THIS. every time i've interacted with you or asked you a question or whatever you have never ever ever once come across like that. it's just not in your personality. so pointing out one important thing to people is probably not likely to make you seem like one of those people. i promise <3
I second the invoicing idea, btw. I‘ve had several non-Americans invoice me when I‘ve commissioned them, probably to avoid the exact same situation. I don‘t think it costs more, at least, I‘ve not been charged for it, and it helps you get paid in our superior Canadian dollars, which are both colourful and smell like maple.
The new 100s and 50s, no joke.
I SAW THE NEW BILLS. Oh my gosh. Nothing is more welcome in my wallet than cool future-money with nifty peepholes. This is the greatest thing Canada has ever done to money.
OMG OMG NEW TWENTIES!!
I wish I had the funds to commission you at the moment. The search for a new roommate has begun, and I may end up paying more until we find someone to help out with the bills. Oyy money issues XD
The guys I've dated have been bums, so like... when they left I had more money idk.
I hope you find an awesome new roomie! :D