On Approval

Post by **John** » Fri 20 Apr, 2007 9:02 am

I was speaking to a framer recently who often lets customers take her gallery pictures home to see how they would look in their own environment.

She never takes a deposit, and in the three years since she started this practice, has never been 'stung'. Only once has a customer returned an item, and that was to exchange for something more suitable.

She believes that it is a great sales technique, and now I'm wondering how many sales we could have closed by doing the same.

kj · Post by kj » Fri 20 Apr, 2007 9:14 am

we always encourage people to take home paintings ,especially large abstracts , for trial . we take a credit card number ,phone number and address ,and if the customer decides to buy ,we just do a "customer not present sale " and post their receipt and card counterfoil to them . Also we would encourage they take more than one item with them ,"for comparison ". this often leads to a second , or even third , sale. never stung in 5 years
keith

markw · Post by **markw** » Fri 20 Apr, 2007 9:59 am

I do the same as KJ - Have to say though that I don't advertise the fact that I allow pictures out on approval and I only offer to people who I know are not sure if they want to buy or not. generally these are the ones who have spent ages looking - they keep coming back and obviously want the pic - just cant make their minds up. The only awkward one I 'v had is where a customer damaged a frame on a returned pic.

ross · Post by **ross** » Fri 20 Apr, 2007 12:13 pm

Your lucky to have customers still taking an interest in framed images on the wall!!

I thought they were a dying breed

Actually have never been placed in this situation - had I not read these posts don't know if I would have comtemplated letting any framed unit go out on consignment.

Thanks for the advice - will now be prepared if asked in future

Ross

Framer Dave · Post by **Framer Dave** » Fri 20 Apr, 2007 3:03 pm

I've done the same quite a few times. If you can get the artwork in the home it's a far easier, due partly due to lazyness. Some people just don't want to drag it back to the store.

One word of advice though: Make it a policy that artwork cannot be taken out on approval over the weekend. Too many people "borrow" it over the weekend for their big party and then bring it back Monday morning.

Post by **John** » Fri 20 Apr, 2007 8:35 pm

markw wrote:The only awkward one I 'v had is where a customer damaged a frame on a returned pic.

So how was this resolved Mark? Did you just grin and bear it?

markw · Post by **markw** » Sun 22 Apr, 2007 7:54 am

John - I suppose its a risk you take - customers are told that the picture has to be returned undamaged - I wonder how many buy the picture having damaged the frame?

In my experience very few customers really appreciate just how easy it is to damage a frame.