abbypanda wrote in post #16017692
Primarily I was thinking of like a "baby first year package" that included maternity, etc.
On something like this, you would not deliver the product nor perform the service in full. The service would be performed on a semi regular basis over the year along with acceptance of payment. No different than paying for a service at the gym, personal training plans, etc etc. Sure, someone can default, but at that point they are in default and in addition dont get the service.
For example, the Maternity is a 1 year plan: Set the cust up with an option to PIF or do a pmt plan. Pmt plan includes a down payment of X amount (about 20% of the total) and X amount monthly. You could schedule this to be paid on 6 or 12 payments, which leaves it paid timely with the rendering of services over the year.
The PIF option would be cheaper than the pmt plan option (when it's all said and done), and could be presented as a "pay in full discount".
If the cust puts 20% down and starts making payments on the pmt plan, you've got a good amount up front to justify to begin performing services (doing the maternity session, for example).
You do the maternity session, You could even provide some of that specific product, they keep paying monthly, and then you do the newborn pics when baby is born, 6 month pics at 6 months and 1 year. By this point, the cust is already paid up anyway.
I can think of a lot of ways you could use this option, even with pets (puppy's first year) or something else all together.
You could also present this for sr pictures, weddings, etc, in which people do not have the $ to PIF. You could, for example start the payment plan the JR yr of HS and then schedule the session at 6 months after once they have made a few payments. This would time expected delivery of all services in time with the final payments.
Same for weddings (I dont do them) but theoretically someone could advertise and start the plan when they are engaged. They make a down pmt of 20% and set up monthly payments. At that point you schedule the engagement shoot at around a month or so out, deliver the engagement shoot within the following month (at this point you've got 20% and at least 2 month's payments) and they continue paying, timing their final payments to end before or right about at the wedding date, so that all services are paid for prior to doing the "big day". Then you deliver the rest of the final product.
These are just a few examples I'm coming up with. I see some posts here and on other forums about people getting a session fee and doing all the work then the person comes in and dad or whoever has an objection and says "well we cant afford $1000 for a print or whatever. This might be a way to overcome it. For some people, a payment is easier.
Ideally you want the $ up front, but most people at the gym, it's a statistic, about 25% PIF. If we only ran on PIF, we'd have a problem. And our monthly memberships are in the $200 range and up so it's not as if we cater to dead beats who are broke, it's just that some dont want to or cant PIF at that moment, but they still can fully pay for the product. I'm thinking it might be easier on the wife to take home too maybe.
Think about it: "Honey, I want to spend $2000 on baby pics"
"Oh heck no, $2000??? you are crazy"
or this:
"Honey i want to get some pics of the baby's first year. It's only $399 down and $133 a month for the 4 sessions and x product over the course of the year.
Sometimes it just goes over easier.
I can see how collecting can be scary to some who have never done it, but It doesnt bother me. I do it now. Sure you have those who default, but if you arrange the sessions and delivery like I suggested you wont be totally out by delivering it all up front then relying on payments. And you could very well get a lot more people by doing it this way. I know with other services they do.
