So I'm offering album credits now in my wedding packages, and I specify in my contract that if an album is not created, the $1500 credit is not returned to the client. In my bigger packages, I offer album credits for the main album and for both parents.
If I state that it is just that, a credit, and they don't use it, does that cover my liability? I don't want someone coming back at me saying, "Well, you gave us $3000 in album credits in our package, and we're not using it, so we want that $3000 back."
Anyone had any problems with this in the past? Anyone else handle their unused album credits the same way as I'm going to be doing?
Thanks,
Aaron
Full Version: Unused album credits
It's sorta like getting a gift certificate ... if you don't use it, it's your loss. An album credit is just that, credit towards an album!
Be sure the client understand this, and have it in your contracts.
Are you pre-designing an album for your clients after the wedding?
Be sure the client understand this, and have it in your contracts.
Are you pre-designing an album for your clients after the wedding?
I have this statement in my contract regarding album and print credits:
Neither the Print Credit nor the Album Credit may be applied toward future photography services and are not redeemable as cash or as a deduction from the package price. All purchases over the amount of included print or album credit will be billed to CLIENT. Print and Album Credits must be redeemed within one (1) year of the issue date of such credit.
Neither the Print Credit nor the Album Credit may be applied toward future photography services and are not redeemable as cash or as a deduction from the package price. All purchases over the amount of included print or album credit will be billed to CLIENT. Print and Album Credits must be redeemed within one (1) year of the issue date of such credit.
I offer a CD of the proofs in all the packages. They don't get it until they spend the $$$. that's an incentive!
That's a great contract clause, Jessica. 
Not sure how I feel about the time limit, since it isn't unusual for a couple to wait much longer to actually purchase an album. But the time limit does stress the necessity to not procrastinate. Hmmm.
If you are doing a pre-design, all the more reason to place a time limit, especially regarding accessibility to that online design presentation. My current album contract requires a fee to re-upload a pre-design that has been taken offline for lack of commitment to the album.
Not sure how I feel about the time limit, since it isn't unusual for a couple to wait much longer to actually purchase an album. But the time limit does stress the necessity to not procrastinate. Hmmm.
If you are doing a pre-design, all the more reason to place a time limit, especially regarding accessibility to that online design presentation. My current album contract requires a fee to re-upload a pre-design that has been taken offline for lack of commitment to the album.
I don't know how strict I would enforce the time limit, but I have a client who came back with an unused print credit from a couple of years ago, so that's when I started putting a time limit in.
Along those same lines, I also state in my contract that album prices are guaranteed for 1 year from date of event and print prices are guaranteed for 6 months from the date of the event and thereafter may change without notice.
Along those same lines, I also state in my contract that album prices are guaranteed for 1 year from date of event and print prices are guaranteed for 6 months from the date of the event and thereafter may change without notice.
QUOTE(jdelvecchio @ June 12 2007, 07:45 AM) [snapback]151062[/snapback]
I have this statement in my contract regarding album and print credits:
Neither the Print Credit nor the Album Credit may be applied toward future photography services and are not redeemable as cash or as a deduction from the package price. All purchases over the amount of included print or album credit will be billed to CLIENT. Print and Album Credits must be redeemed within one (1) year of the issue date of such credit.
Neither the Print Credit nor the Album Credit may be applied toward future photography services and are not redeemable as cash or as a deduction from the package price. All purchases over the amount of included print or album credit will be billed to CLIENT. Print and Album Credits must be redeemed within one (1) year of the issue date of such credit.
Well put, Jessica. That's pretty clear in legal terms.
Bruce: Thanks for describing it as a gift certificate; makes sense. I am pre-designing an album, and that's stated in my contract. I also have a 90-day time limit before I take it offline, and a fee to repost it.
Eric: I'm doing what you suggested already, so if they don't order the album, they don't get the CD of prints.
Thanks for the advice everyone.
Take care,
Aaron
QUOTE(Aaron LA @ June 12 2007, 11:25 AM) [snapback]151210[/snapback]
Well put, Jessica. That's pretty clear in legal terms.
Bruce: Thanks for describing it as a gift certificate; makes sense. I am pre-designing an album, and that's stated in my contract. I also have a 90-day time limit before I take it offline, and a fee to repost it.
Eric: I'm doing what you suggested already, so if they don't order the album, they don't get the CD of prints.
Thanks for the advice everyone.
Take care,
Aaron
Bruce: Thanks for describing it as a gift certificate; makes sense. I am pre-designing an album, and that's stated in my contract. I also have a 90-day time limit before I take it offline, and a fee to repost it.
Eric: I'm doing what you suggested already, so if they don't order the album, they don't get the CD of prints.
Thanks for the advice everyone.
Take care,
Aaron
I have no idea if something like print or album credits would "legally" be equated to a gift certificate...but if so, in California, gift certificates cannot legally have an expiration date...you pretty much have to honor them forever.
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