Odd question from customer

[AlyssaErnst]

The other day I got a customer request wanting to buy the artwork from my design. She wanted to order invitations and buy the clip art so she could make signs. I offered to create something for her using the artwork, but she kept asking if she could just buy it. When I told her it wasn't for sale and explained it that it wasn't allowed per the commercial license, she asked me to tell her where I sourced the graphics so she could buy them. 

This just really hits wrong for some reason and I can't think of a professional reply other than "no."

Any ideas on the best way to handle this?

[CrazyMermaid · Accepted solution]

Just tell them it is not available and stop there. You are under no obligation to tell them you purchased the graphic or explain anything else about your business plan. I would have made a sign using the clip-art and sent her a link to it, when I said no. Sometimes they just cave and buy it!

[Pixelan]

I think that's a good way of looking at it.

[Maura]

I agree that stating it's not available is sufficient. I have had two people ask to buy my hand drawn artwork and I said it's not for sale. You never know the intention of the people who are asking but it's very bold especially since they are shopping on a print on demand website.

[Cat]

I second @CrazyMermaid's  idea of just making a sign for them using the artwork & send her a link. Maybe make it available for instant download? Not sure how you feel about that, but that way she could access the artwork and make the sign(s) herself. Or maybe that wouldn't work if you don't actually own the artwork... I don't use licensed artwork so I'm not sure how that works with digital downloads. And I'd just ignore the questions about where you sourced it, or just include a note when you send the link saying something on the order of "Sorry, but this is the best I can do for you - you're free to customize this poster yourself or I'd be happy to do it for you." Good luck - I wonder if customers realize how awkward and inappropriate some of their requests are!

[Barbara]

Situations like this always make me wonder if the person constantly asks others to give them something for free. What happened here is yet another example of some people's amazing sense of entitlement.

Colorwash's Home

[CrazyMermaid]

It's not that they want something for free or feel entitled. They are more than happy to pay. Most are not aware that Zazzlers use licensed art or how Zazzle actually works. Heck, many think we are making the products in our basement. These kinds of requests are common in the invitation niche and custom work is quite lucrative. 

[Barbara]

Given that I don't design invitations other than those suitable for postcards, I guess I wouldn't run into this sort of situation. I guess there are folks who don't understand that business on the internet is a version of how it works on Main Street. Maybe as time goes on, there will be fewer and fewer of them.

Colorwash's Home

[waterart]

I wouldn't tell the customer that the clipart is not available because that wouldn't be honest and the customer already knows it's been sourced. I'd just tell them that you don't disclose from who you license the clipart, and going forward I wouldn't give an explanation of why you won't sell the clipart if you get a similar request.

[Cat]

I think that's a good idea - just keep it vague. "I'm sorry, I don't sell stand-alone artwork. But I'd be happy to make a sign for you that you could customize in any way you like." And then include a link to a generic sign that they can customize.

[AlyssaErnst]

Yes, I already told her both of these things, and that's when she  asked where I got the artwork. It's similar to asking a chef at a restaurant for his/her recipe. 

[Cat]

Lordy! My answer to that would be simple "I painted it myself and it's not for sale except on the products I create." But I'd just ignore her question and send her a sign template. Or you could say something like "sorry but that's proprietary information." Sheesh!

[Maura]

I totally agree with you about the comparison with asking a chef for their recipe! This is someone's livelyhood. I was asked twice by customers in the chat if they could buy my artwork that I drew by hand. I said it's not for sale. I also mentioned to one of them that this is a print on demand site, and the response was that she knew that but she just had to try. Protect your designs whether drawn or bought clip art, they are your designs. A short response sounds good to me, simple and to the point and professional as others have said.

[J32Design]

If she wasn't happy with you creating something for her using your artwork, then wanting a sign was likely just an excuse to get the graphics. I've had a few requests like this over the years and if I don't have them digitally available for sale, I just say that I don't offer this work as a digital product at this time.

Sometimes you will get determined people with sob stories about a kid or a sick relative etc. and if the answer is still "no" people stop being nice fairly quickly. Just don't fall for it.