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A few more:

- When sending your doll abroad, put samples of your fillings (glass, polyfill etc.) for customs so they don't open up your doll

- Try your best to secure the package so the doll reaches its destination safely and in one piece

- Make sure your dolls eyes and eyelashes have been glued correctly

- With every doll you sell, you should give some instructions as in how to clean the doll, brush its hair, which products to use for its hair and which should never be used

- If experimenting with some new paints or products that have not yet been used on reborns, you should emphasize that when you sell your doll

- Always stress that the doll is not a toy for young children, and that is a small work of art that should be handled with care

- Respect your work, but be reasonable with prices. Don't overcharge or undercharge. While putting a price on your finished reborn, include the actual kit and parts cost, the rarity of the kit, exact shipping and handling costs and the actual hours you've spent making the doll.

- When you sell a doll at an auction, add a little gift or hand written note of appreciation to the package. Your customer will be very pleased and more likely to buy from you again. It's the little things that make us smile :)

- Make sure you answer all eventual questions from your potential buyers quickly and honestly

- If you usually don't ship abroad, and you have a potential buyer from another country, give her/him a chance. Some of the best dolls are unavailable to many serious buyers just because many sellers don't want to risk shipping abroad. And it's a shame, and one of the reasons reborning is almost unknown in many countries.

-- Edited by Friki Fimo on Friday 16th of December 2011 11:32:15 AM

It would be absolutely wonderful if there was a code of reborning and everyone played by the rules! I say woohoo and thank you so much for all the things you listed and also for the extra tips. I saw at least one of them that was mine lol. Glad someone is listening hahahahaha.
If anyone has any other suggestions that would be nice if you yourself were the customer and what you might like the seller to provide for you.

Good ideas hun.
As far as the "custom" reborns, 1 thing that will help to aleviate most complications down the road is a CONTRACT! Set into this contract (and it can be simple or elaborate) what each side agrees on, and what you will not do as far as requests. After the contract is signed and dated by both parties, make sure that you get at least 1/3 to 1/2 down. I prefer cash which aleviates buyers remorse check cancelling, and you can also have a clause in the contract that "buyers remorse" or some wording to that effect, is NOT good cause to negate the contract. Decide on payment terms, and don't start ANYTHING or make purchases until the end of the "3 business days to cancel" is past. I have known too many who have gotten into a bind because they jumped the gun and made purchases without giving enough time. With some clients, they seem to have to think about it after they have done it. lol.

As you said... totally involving the client in all aspects of the project will make them feel like they are right in the midst of it, creating it and bringing it to life which makes them less likely to request/demand a refund.

Sorry, maybe we should have a sticky for this and all these good ideas eh? I tend to get long-winded when it's something to do with legalities and contracts. :o

I like to work with a contract (written). These days honor & ones word doesn't seem to hold much water kwim?

Personally, I don't really involve the client in "what" the 1/2 down encompases, just that it's 1/2 down and the rest payable at the time of completion of the baby (1/2 down usually covers kit, paints, and everything I need to get started). I also have them list in their own writing, what they would like as far as the custom work, and I do let them know also that "they" are responsible for any and all Customs/VAT/ and other fees that I have nothing to do with. Once it leaves me and I have shipped appropriately to their country, then it's done. I also let them know that if there is an issue in Customs and I have obeyed all the laws, that it is no longer my responsibility and they will have to work out any issues on their end. Also that this would NOT be an issue that would concern me.
I save the shipping charges for the 2nd half of the payment, and DO NOT include any Customs fees so that alleviates me getting mixed up in that end of it. It can get quite complicated on occassion.
I give them a 3 business day right to cancel and I might state that a certain percentage of the downpayment is non-refundable (sort of a restocking fee if you will) like up to as much as 25% of the deposit amount. Of course you must work out the details, no matter how small, with your client before even committing to the work. If there are things you will not do, be sure to also list that.
EVERYTHING IN WRITING reborners! It can save a lot of pulling your hair out if issues do arise. I hope no one has any issues but CYB just in case.
If a perspecitve client wants to know... it's not a matter of trust, it's just good business practice to protect both parties. Nothing more, just a part of doing business with my company. :D

Hun, yes you are "eligible" to have customers put their signature on paper... any kind of contract can be written by and signed by anyone. You do NOT have to be "registered" as a business. Most reborners are not registered. They just do what they do, have their nursery names, etc. Even selling a car to someone can have a contract, and most people (not car dealers) are not a business. Same thing with the reborns. You are an individual artist... this entitles you no matter what. :D
You don't have to be registered, have a logo, a name for your biz, or anything like that because you are an artist selling your work. The only thing you would need is a tax id # (in the USA it's called a "sales and use tax number). I don't know what it's called in other countries.
I don't know of any artists/painters that have a license or register as a business to sell their paintings, do you? Art is art lol.
You might check with your local or state business authority to ask if a artist/painter has to be registered or licensed in your area to sell their work. I would be surprised if you have to do that. Its just the sales tax thing, they want their share hahaha

Too bad I can't change the topic name, "A Reborner's Code of Ethics" sounds so much better :)

Yaaaay! Thank you, Pat :) You're the best! :D