Fine Line Printing

The Business was contacted on Wednesday 9/10/14 in reference to completing an Obituary for a friend. The owner [redacted] met with the wife of the deceased in reference to collection of facts and pictures for the obituary. Once this was completed she committed to me ([redacted]) that she would prepare an estimate before the services would be rendered. On Thursday I did not hear back from her. She called on Friday morning at 10:00 am asking for the phone number of the deceased wife. I again asked her for the estimate. She said that they would run around $2.00 per obituary for a total of 300 obituaries. I then explained to her that I would be taking care of the expenses as a friend and that price would be to expensive and we could not afford that amount. She explained that she understood and she would work out a better deal. The next time that I heard from her she had already printed 350 obituaries and she delivered them to the Funeral Home without my knowledge, proof reading, (there were typo errors) or consent to print. We had not committed or mutually agreed upon a fee which resulted in her printing them thus creating confusion with the services. She stated that she needed payment in full due to her using an outside printing company which I have not been provided any proof.Desired SettlementI would like a partial refund.Business Response On 9/10/14 (at 2:10 pm) I was contacted to complete an obituary for a friend. [redacted] asked me to meet with the wife of the deceased to collect the information and picture for the obituary. Once I met with the wife I immediately started putting together the program she wish to have (She like the booklet style and originally wanted between XXX-XXX programs. That same night 9/10/14 I spoke to Mr. [redacted] and advised him on the information collected and a estimated cost of the program ($2.00 per program) at that time he said he would have to see what he could do. That Thursday morning about 10 am I contact Mr. [redacted] because I had left my note pad with the wife's number at home. At that time I informed him on how much I drop the price of the program to $1.60 a program and I would do 300 programs - Mr. [redacted] said that he world be paying for the services and that was too much for him to handle. He also said that he would talk to his lodge brothers to see if they would help - I also said at that time I would do what I could too). I continued to receive information from the wife to complete the program on Thursday, 9/11/14 (I also informed the wife of the cost and advised her that Mr. [redacted] said that was too much for him to handle, she said that she would contact one of her husband friends to help with the cost). I continued working and sent the wife a rough draft of the program (not once I was asked to send a draft to Mr. [redacted] - He said take care of her). The wife and I continue to email and talk back in forth until late in the evening. Once everything was to her liking, she said I am ready to print. Since this was a rush job, I had to have it to my partner printing company that night because we usually don't print booklet programs at the last minute (especially in 48 hours), but since this was a friend we did. I did call Mr. [redacted] Friday morning to inform him that the programs will be done and delivered to the funeral home for the wake. I also included in the deal 250 wake cards and drop the price down to $1.43 a program. Hoping to see Mr. [redacted] at the wake to give him the receipt and collect payment. I dropped the programs from with the funeral director, gave a copy to the wife and the wake cards. I also texted Mr. [redacted] informing what I did and the final cost (since I quoted him $1.60 a program last - then changed it to $1.43). I never hear a response from him that night, and he spoke briefly with me the next day at the repast. He said that he received my text and he will get back with me later. Well, on Monday - September 15th I finally got a call from Mr. [redacted] stating that the obituary were professionally done, he know my work and I was dependable. But he didn't intent to pay $500 for obituaries. Per Mr. [redacted] - "I also did not want the wife of someone I considered a dear friend to have to worry about how they would be paid for." Which I understood this, but once I delivered a programs, paid out of my pocket for supplies, services and do not receive my money within 48 hours or have not agree on a payment plan. I have a problem. On Tuesday again I informed him that I had his receipt but I would not give a paid receipt until my services were paid for. On Thursday, September 18, he asked for me to email him the receipt at 12:03 and he viewed. He said I would be paid in full. He said he had a Tax exempt number. I immediately informed him that I thought this was handle by him, not a business. In the end, instead to meeting with me to receive my payment for service rendered, he gives my payment to a family friend, then take taxes out for taxes exempt, then take $14.00 out for gas to take the money to a family friends home instead of given it to me, because he didn't want to see nor speak to me. As for the complaint, I feel its invalid because everything for the program was approved by the wife, she and her daughters looked it over. Programs were delivered on time. Programs didn't cost $2 a program, but $1.43. Due to not following up on his verbal part of our contact, resulted in problems in receiving my payment and creating confusion with the customer.