Should I even bother????

It appears I have 2 athletes or riders (racers) who have been giving me the run around about purchasing a collection of photos from last year. The problem is that that's all they mention to me whenever I see them after the race. Not sure about their motives. To drain my energy? To make me feel bad? To make themselves not feeling guilty? They are on my FB list. I gathered all the photos from my collection and asked them which one they want to purchase. With one of them (he has a relative shooting the local races as well but not up with the skills), I didn't hear from him after we talked about payment. He used to run a some sort of studio but things didn't work out. Guess purchasing photos from another photog may be appearing to be a lesser photog?

With the other one, I didn't hear from him after I showed him the collection of race photos last year. Yesterday after the race I stayed there for a while to do some works for another team, he mentioned about the photo purchase again. He asked me silly questions like if I accepted Paypal or I should hand him the photos on a CD. He knew he could pay me through Smugmug and I can give him the link to download all the photos from the collection.

Should I even bother with these 2? I used to manage a large retail operation, I know that if a customer wants something bad, they will ask you for it. I don't chase people to make the purchase.

How bad do you need these two purchases.. Soulds like you need it pretty bad by the way it is stated...at the same time frustrated that they are not making the purchase.

But, Its been a year, so move on. If they want them they will buy them. Let them worry about it. You cant chase down everybody who mentions they want to buy something. If they do then fine... if not move on to thoes that do want to buy. YOu will have spent more in time than you will make in money.

Mark1 wrote in post #14115941
How bad do you need these two purchases.. Soulds like you need it pretty bad by the way it is stated...at the same time frustrated that they are not making the purchase.

But, Its been a year, so move on. If they want them they will buy them. Let them worry about it. You cant chase down everybody who mentions they want to buy something. If they do then fine... if not move on to thoes that do want to buy. YOu will have spent more in time than you will make in money.

Do I need the purchase? I value any potential purchases. I won't waste my time and energy to chase after a purchase that may not happen. I am pretty sure they have no intentions to make the purchase. I have been playing the good PR and pretending I didn't remember about the deal. The thing is that that's the first thing that came to their minds when they see me after the race. It bugs me. I usually say something like "yeah, let me know when you about to make the purchase...." It gets bored after a while, you know.

Ok, yeah, I will just forget about them.

We differ a bit there. I hold no value in POTENTIAL purchases. I dont mean it as bad as that sounds but am short on words to describe it at the moment. Far to many people give you the "good PR" of "thats nice, Id like to have one of thoes". but never even think of reaching for the wallet. I have not become imune to it, but definatly jaded. If they have not paid in a few weeks, I have moved on.

While it sounds "nice" That you have forgotten about it too. It is a horrible business decision. Not saying you have to be a high pressure sale at all. I will give a "I have been waiting on your purchase." Then leave it alone. It lets them know what you expect from them (vs. a I forgot, so it is ok that you forgot too. and maybe I'll forget again) But dropping it after that statement leaves the ball in their court. Either they pick it up and run with it, or they wont.

Mark1 wrote in post #14116080
We differ a bit there. I hold no value in POTENTIAL purchases. I dont mean it as bad as that sounds but am short on words to describe it at the moment. Far to many people give you the "good PR" of "thats nice, Id like to have one of thoes". but never even think of reaching for the wallet. I have not become imune to it, but definatly jaded. If they have not paid in a few weeks, I have moved on.

While it sounds "nice" That you have forgotten about it too. It is a horrible business decision. Not saying you have to be a high pressure sale at all. I will give a "I have been waiting on your purchase." Then leave it alone. It lets them know what you expect from them (vs. a I forgot, so it is ok that you forgot too. and maybe I'll forget again) But dropping it after that statement leaves the ball in their court. Either they pick it up and run with it, or they wont.

Thanks. I will keep that in mind in case I will run into another similar customers....

A lot of bike racers are like that....trust me after racing over 25 years and working in bike shops through school, they sound like bike racers to me : )

Most likely they don't have the money or are looking for a handout or both.

johnb007 wrote in post #14119800
A lot of bike racers are like that....trust me after racing over 25 years and working in bike shops through school, they sound like bike racers to me : )

Most likely they don't have the money or are looking for a handout or both.

Hahahahah....not all of them. This is what I think is the problem with most local racing scenes in the US. There are too many teams that don't develop or expand. They always have the same riders racing years after years. Like a little boy's club. They don't recruit or to allow more riders to join. As a result, they don't see the need to promote their clubs using various media outlets (photography). I have done some work for an open team which gears towards attracting more new riders and new members. They are using shots I took from last year to seek sponsorships and to promote their club. Many other teams would be happy to have free photos with unrecognizable faces though. They don't see the need for photography beyond the Facebook.

I agree
I got a lot of parents who ask me to shoot their kids
and dont buy snit
It does get frustrating

but if I have one buy
I make for certain if I do their game again I get plenty of that kid

my philosophy on many things

When I leave my house in the morning and my car has a flat, I don't sit in the car waiting for the tire repair guy, I have to get my butt in gear put on a spare and then take the tire to the garage.

I chase no one, you provide a respectable decent service, then a reminder or two but after that don't waste your time waiting for the tire repair guy, because he doesn't make house calls! Time is money....

Mark1 wrote in post #14116080
We differ a bit there. I hold no value in POTENTIAL purchases.
. Not saying you have to be a high pressure sale at all. I will give a "I have been waiting on your purchase." Then leave it alone. It lets them know what you expect from them (vs. a I forgot, so it is ok that you forgot too. and maybe I'll forget again) But dropping it after that statement leaves the ball in their court. Either they pick it up and run with it, or they wont.

theres my tire repair philosophy explained.....

Tell them the date that all images will be deleted. Order before that date or they'll not be available