Four Tips for Resolving Payment Conflicts with Buyers

Whether you specialise in artisan jewellery or hand-cut woodworking, owning a creative business can be liberating — and challenging. One issue that arises more frequently than it should is conflict with payment. Here are a few tips to tackle these issues and keep your profits up.

Avoid Working for Free

The notion of working for free is nothing new to artisans. We’ve all been there, haven’t we? We establish a skill, and soon people flock to us with requests. They offer to pay in exchanges, networking and even favours. But presenting your craft to the world as a valuable resource is what will make your business run. So, don’t get caught up in this.

Avoid Caving to False Emotions

Running a business on the internet means communication with buyers you’ve never met. While it’s a thrilling opportunity, not having face-to-face communication can open doors for problems, as well as scammers.

Sometimes interested buyers request mockups or custom orders, only to avoid sending payment. Be cautious. These buyers may show anger or frustration with you because their payment was not finalised, but don’t let their emotions sway you. Guilt is a tactic and scammers love to use. They aim to convince you that you owe them something. But remember, only the buyer can authorise the payment. If it is not received, it is no fault of your own as the seller.

Wait for Payment Confirmation

It’s easy to fall into the trap of beginning work before payment is finalised. Perhaps you’re excited about a project, or you want to believe the best in people. But it’s imperative to wait for payment confirmation to begin a service or crafting a product.

Your time is valuable. You should never work for free unless you choose to. There are a handful of issues that could prevent a payment from being finalised, and while some are simply holdups or real problems, many times a delay signals a scam. Much like you wouldn’t cash an unknown check in the mail, don’t rely on a pending payment to be successful.  

Talk it Out

If you’re having issues receiving payment for an order, keep the lines of communication open and honest. It’s best to give the buyer the benefit of the doubt, but still establish that a secure payment has not been completed. Iterate that you cannot begin work until you receive payment. Many buyers will understand and resolve any issues. The scammers will not.

Be smart, stay safe, and continue to unleash your creativity!