Delivering Prints

[DeLeon]

For the last 3 years, I have been delivering prints to my clients. Amarillo is not that big of a city, and it has never been a big deal until now. I left this evening to go and deliver an order and stopped for gas. As i was filling up, watching my children's education being pumped into my tank (at 3.54 a gal.) I got a sinking feeling in my stomach. I'm not sure I can keep doing this.

Does anyone else deliver? are you charging more with the rising fuel costs? am I crazy for delivering in the first place?

[bondarnes]

We only deliver wall portraits that we are going to hang for the client. Other than that the client can pick up their order or we will send it to them for a shipping and handling fee.

[canoflan]

You will need to be sure you charge separtely for delivery and as best as possible estimate your costs.

I think that a good practice is to inform clients that want personal delivery what their costs will be up front, then don't change that estimate; however, this puts the burden on you to (in times of such radically increasing fuel costs) sandbag the amount 10% for any increase between the time you quote and the time you actually deliver. Therefore, give them an estimate of say, $20 delivery fee and this should include the sandbag factor of 10%.

One more thing, I am not sure what you mean by your children's education, but if you mean college, you may think about ways they can play a role in funding part of their education (i.e. scholarships, school loans on their nickel, part-time job, live at home vs away at school, etc...).

Just some thoughts and do with them as you wish,
Pat

[DeLeon]

Thanks guys. After sleeping on it, I don't think I am going to deliver any longer. I plan on having a studio location before the end of '08. Then I will not feel so bad about having clients pick up their orders. I don't mind as much as my clients seem to. They never seem comfortable coming into my home and just want to stand on the porch.

Patrick, I was joking about my children's education. We opened a savings account for my daughter the day she was born. She is now 3 and gets 3.00 a week for keeping her room picked up (I do most of the picking up, but she's learning). She has three piggy banks, one dollar goes into each of the banks, labeled Saving, Spending,and God. I'm not sure she understands yet, but hopefully we are planting a seed.