PSA: A stranger posing as a event planner took my sample bouquet and never paid

This person came by my shop last Friday asking for a custom sample for a big party. They promised to return with payment but left and blocked my number. How do you protect yourself from folks who take samples and run?

3 comments

3 Comments

noah_walker161mo ago

Ever consider a sample deposit that turns into a discount on the final order? It keeps things fair. You get paid for your work, and a real client gets a deal later. The freebie hunters won't bother because they have to pay something now. It turns a sample from a giveaway into a first step in a real sale.

kevin_carr1mo ago

You gotta charge for samples upfront... learned that the hard way myself.

rowan_black1mo ago

The "learned the hard way" part hits home. What I never see mentioned is how free samples actually attract the worst kind of customers. The people who chase free stuff are rarely the ones who turn into real buyers. Charging a small fee filters out the hobbyists who just collect samples and never commit. Serious clients expect to pay for your time and materials, they don't blink at it. You end up wasting less energy on people who were never going to buy in the first place.