Do you value Money Back Guarantees?

[iArtist]

I am still new to the world of cartooning so to encourage more takers I was thinking of offerring a 100% money back guarantee. If the client doesn't like the pic (through no fault of theirs, ie. it follows the brief) and after tweaks they still don't like it, they get their money back. Or is that fool hardy on my part?

I don't feel that it's fool hardy as most peeps so far (of the few I've done for paying clients) have been very happy. I think therefore a money back guarantee is a sign of confidence in the end product as well as a protection fail safe for the client.

So the question is, do people still value money back guarantees?

 

[CSBob]

In this day & age I would say it's more important than ever, especially with 'quirky' products (i.e. something you may like to try but are unsure about for some reason) - into which category I think your offering would fit. It could make all the difference to some people.

How much of a risk it is, only you could really determine that based on the percentage of unhappy clients in the past, but by the sounds of it I would suggest that you could gain far more than you stand to lose.

A trial period wouldn't hurt.

 

[arfurd]

It's not really money back, it's more of a no commitment thing.

The way it sounds is, you pay me money, I do the work, if you don't like the work I'll give you your money back.

I would say that if after an initial idea has been agreed and further tweaks are needed you need to be compensated for your time.

I say to new web clients, I will design you a site for x amount of pounds. I then design them a site and post it on my site as an image. If after they have viewed this they wish for me to tweak it further I get them to commit to it otherwise I could be tweaking for a while. If they don't like it, they don't have to go any further. (generally in web design I do give them a couple of samples)

 

[Astaroth]

If your aiming at the business market then I imagine it is a fairly low risk strategy. Wouldn't be as sensible if targeting private customers, especially if in a volume offering

 

[indiemandm]

Sounds like a good idea, and if they decide not to go with it you can aways try to use the design for another client/as an example to a potential customer so you wouldn't have wasted your time. As others have said, if you have always had happy customers it should be a low risk. Maybe a time limit would be an idea to put off chancers?

 

[iArtist]

Taking all these very valid opinions into consideration I will consider a trial period. I see this as a win - win situation. If they genuinely like the work then that is fab, meanwhile rejections would provide me with a valuable opportunity to improve. At the end of the day I want to get better and that won't happen if everyone just tells me what I want to hear.

I have a few freebies for friends to knock out and then I'll sort something out re this.

Many thanks all!

Leah

 

[smbchamp]

I would say that offering a money back guarantee (as you already decided to go with a trial period) is worth it.

But there are scammers who would gladly take your design and run off with your money. It depends on what kind of people you target.

 

[garyk]

Well you can certainly test it Leah, it could certainly boost sales!

I was working for an accountancy software consultancy that used to look after a high end accounting system for one of the main shopping channels. I recall that with money back offers they could increase their sales by 30% with an attrtion rate of only 5%.

Now heres what I think, it works better on big bulky items. Why? simply because people cant be bothered to pack them up and send them back. So charge more, do it on a large canvas and send it to someone

Gary

 

[iArtist]

I would say that offering a money back guarantee (as you already decided to go with a trial period) is worth it.

But there are scammers who would gladly take your design and run off with your money. It depends on what kind of people you target.

I think a large 'copyright' watermark across the image would prevent that..hope so!

 

[smbchamp]

I think a large 'copyright' watermark across the image would prevent that..hope so!

Yeah but when you deliver the final output you must make sure you watermark it. I have heard of softwares that are able to erase watermarks, but not sure if it works as promised.

 

[iArtist]

Now heres what I think, it works better on big bulky items. Why? simply because people cant be bothered to pack them up and send them back. So charge more, do it on a large canvas and send it to someone

Gary

I'm more keen on them being happy with end result than being reluctant to return it.

 

[Dawg]

Do it.

Take a punt on the fact that your customers are unlikely to be chiselers and low grade fraudsters: really what real value is there in ripping off a cartoonist to your average plonker?
I'd be amazed if the sort of person who paid for a cartoon would be the sort who whined about it later, altho there are always exceptions.
If you lose a few customers or quids you will gain more, (although this will be hard to verify), and it is a great selling point. Just do it, jump in, draw a cartoon for your site that says 'money back for whingy old lizards' (or something), and get on with working.

 

[Matt1959]

agree theres some trades/ professions where the customers are actually really nice people and if you do a great job, why would anyone want their money back:|

 

[J-Wholesale]

Wouldn't be as sensible if targeting private customers, especially if in a volume offering

I don't find this to be the case at all. I offer a 30 day money back guarantee for a downloadable software product I sell, if the customer is not happy. Anyone asking for a refund gets one, no questions asked. The guarantee is very visible on the payment page, and there is no way for me to check if the software is still in use afterwards.

It's a £25 product, sales run to about 60 a month, and refunds are less than 1%, and many of those are for genuine reasons. Most people are honest most of the time. I know that's hard to believe when all we hear about are dishonest customers and PayPal disputes, but the bad customers really are the exception to the rule.

Having said that, when I switched off the money back guarantee for a month, there was no decrease in sales. So while it may demonstrate confidence in your product, that doesn't always translate into more sales.

 

[iArtist]

Just do it, jump in, draw a cartoon for your site that says 'money back for whingy old lizards' (or something), and get on with working.

Haha, I like this idea!!!



Meanwhile it occurred to me... (better late than never)

I already offer to do the draft cartoon...FREE so they get to approve the characters and image etc. before shading commences, so a 100% money back guarantee kind of makes that offer pointless doesn't it?

Which is preferable, doing draft for FREE or money back? I don't think it is practical to be doing both.

Meanwhile what I do need to do if I decide to continue free draft scenario is highlight the fact more prominently as per your suggestion here!

( Off topic - 'Miserable old Lizard theme' fits in nicely with my 'V' obsession. Can't wait till that series starts Monday. Woo hoo!)

 

[thecyclingartist]

Actually, I think a double guarantee - free draft and 100% satisfaction guarantee will be even more reassuring to a client. When commissioning artwork especially people can be hestitant. It is actually repeating the same thing but it's all psychology to a customer! I think it shows you really stand by the quality of your work, value your clients' needs and judgement, and sets you apart. However, I do also know that a free draft is extremely unusual for established illustrators, but it can be a policy you rethink over time.

My work is different - fine art and primarily to private individuals - but I offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Partly this is to overcome the fear factor with buying art and because some of my large-figure buyers are overseas and can't see the work in person first. That is scary! NO ONE has ever returned an item in over 10 years. For commissions there is no obligation either, though in my case (abstract seascape paintings) commissions are still within my usual style range rather than very personal to the client so I can always sell and exhibit them elsewhere whereas you probably do have lost time if your work is rejected.

Tina.

 

[iArtist]

Hi Tina

That's very helpful thank you. Good to have feedback from fellow artist too.

 

[stephanielarry]

I would say that if, after an initial idea has been agreed and some adjustments are necessary you need to be compensated for your time.