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What are your thoughts about paying people who refer you that end up being commissions? I very recent commission has led directly to 2 more. (The redwood bubinga bariton.)
I was joking about giving him a commission and that he should become a builders rep.
I haven't really given much thought to this. What do you guys do or think about it?

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"An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is an adventure wrongly considered." G. K. Chesterton.

Steve! Bite your tongue! You'll have all your clients thinking they're going to get finders fees!

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

I am with Waddy. I would suggest that a 6 pack of fine Belgian Ale, or the like, given as a present should assuage any feelings of obligation you have to your referrer.

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"Building guitars looks hard, but it's actually much harder than it looks." Tom Buck

I like that idea. It shows appreciation in a tangible way, not too cheap, not to expensive.

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"An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is an adventure wrongly considered." G. K. Chesterton.

If you put a good guitar in a clients hands they'll brag on it. No referal payment is necessary.

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I didn't mean to say it, but I meant what I said.
http://www.brackettinstruments.com/

I agree that it would be nice to give the person something . A nice gift cert to a good restaurant or something not unlike a tip . It won't hurt to have regular guys telling praises of your wares.

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

I like the tip idea better. That way you control the amount. With a referral fee you are stuck with a percent. If I'm not mistaken, guitar builders are not exactly rollin in the dough on these builds, no?

I'd say if you did something it would only be good for credit on their next build or a discount to the referred build but no cash payments. Everyone would assume you are charging them extra so you could give cash to the guy who recommended you....


Then again Hmmmmm might be a great idea

A different slant is what do you do when you have a guitar in a store and the customer plays it, finds out about you, the store owner talks you up, and then a custom build is commissioned privately. I have been giving the store a commission in situations like this.

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It's not what you don't know that hurts you, it's what you do know that's wrong.

I'm in an entirely different profession, but if someone sends a client/work my way, I make a point of expressing my thanks in a tangible way. A bottle of good scotch. A bottle of wine. It's not a commission, it's a gesture, and to my mind, simple politeness.

Steve

I believe that quality guitar building (or quality service, for that matter) is bound to generate more work, so I don't think of fees or referals. A sincere "thank you, I'm glad you're happy with the guitar" should be more than enough, even in this economy-driven world of ours.

I agree, a gesture of appreciation is ...well its just that ...its appreciated.

However an offer of a commission is something else.

I would honour my spoken word and learn from this to bite the toung of joking generosity.

What is left of a beings honour if his word is offered in jest?

Pay the dude his commision. For like the musician who is always worth his hire, so are the efforts of the sales / referal person worthy of their payment, would you not argee.

If you have troubles with this concept, then put yourself in that persons shoes and walk around a bit... see how it feels to be on the receiving end of a commisionoutomy.

Pay the dude, and be sure to thank him too.

Blessings
the
Padma

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Audiences and dispensations on Thursdays ~ by appointment only.


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