GCU Forum - Weird email?

Avis_134613

Gold Member
artist

Posts: 758

Weird email?
Apr 8^th, 2011, 9:17am

Got this in the mail yesterday. I've sent a reply already saying I'm not interested. But thought I'd post it here in case any of you know of this person?
Please read below.....

I am a soon-to-be small business owner. I found an image of yours on zazzle.com (I tried to first contact you through zazzle but the delivery failed...I found this link in your zazzle store). It's exactly what I've had in mind for my logo. It was a business card titled Perfect Home Realty. Would you be interested in some free advertising in exchange for my use of the image?

Thank you,
Lee Boggs

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Norma_133903 Senior Member artist Posts: 485	Re: Weird email? Reply #1 - Apr 8^th, 2011, 11:43am Don't fall for it! Do you know how much he would have to pay to get a logo designed? Tell the cheapskate that you work for money not free advertising. Would he ask a plumber (or dentist etc) to work for nothing?
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Avis_134613

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Posts: 758

Re: Weird email?
Reply #2 - Apr 8^th, 2011, 12:26pm

Yes Norma....I agree! Wink

I told him that it was a copyrighted image and I would not consider letting anyone use it in exchange for "free advertising"....is he kidding me? Roll Eyes

The email came through the GCU store feedback. I haven't heard anything back since I replied to him, and I'm sure I won't. But I thanked him for asking...(as opposed to just stealing the image that is!)

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Avis_134613

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Posts: 758

Re: Weird email?
Reply #3 - Apr 9^th, 2011, 6:27am

Well today Mr. Boggs got back to me, short and simple...and polite. I had told him no thank you as I said, but thanked him for at least asking to use the image. His reply.....

"Not a problem, Avis...I appreciate you letting me know. Take care."

I've never licensed an image, and don't know much about the money side of all that, and really didn't want to get into it, so I'm leaving it there.

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Doreen_137017

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Posts: 5273

Re: Weird email?
Reply #4 - Apr 9^th, 2011, 7:52am

Good for you Avis and I'm glad he was polite

There is no cut and dry answer to licensing art. There are far too many factors involved. For use with credit of one of your images it could have been anywhere from $50 to $500. It's the where, how long is the use, what is it being used for that has to be factored in. Greeting card companies often pay no more than $50 to $150 flat rate for your image...meaning they get the rights to use it on their cards forever with no royalties for that price and that's the norm. Another reason GCU is so wonderful.

I just licensed 2 of my Christmas Teddy Bear photographs for gift wrap in Europe (excluding the U.K.) for 2-years (I won't say what my fee was because it's not the same type of deal) but this gentleman would not have offered you any fee so you made a great decision!

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Pamela_135500 Gold Member artist Posts: 1945	Re: Weird email? Reply #5 - Apr 9^th, 2011, 8:01am Nice compliment on your work that he asked about it though Avis! Congrats on that Pamela
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Avis_134613

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artist

Posts: 758

Re: Weird email?
Reply #6 - Apr 9^th, 2011, 8:38am

Thanks Pamela and Doreen!

Yes, I guess it was a compliment in a way...but really? "Free advertising" who is he kidding?

Thank you Doreen for spelling out the licensing thing....but as I said, I don't know enough to even go there. Maybe I'll take some business courses, or photography and learn about that stuff one day?
The other thing of note with this fellow is his use of the term, "I am a soon-to-be small business owner." Soon-to-be? Cool

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Peggy_137160

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Posts: 760

Re: Weird email?
Reply #7 - Apr 9^th, 2011, 5:49pm

Looking at it from the other side ... after running a non-profit for 8 years, I've learned that "it never hurts to ask" - and I've applied that a lot in my own life now, too. If someone tells me "no, thanks" then I'm no worse off than before I asked .. and there's a good chance I'll get a "yes" many times! A VERY successful doggie artist on the PODs is donating the use of some graphics for when I create a web site for the kennel I'm associated with (credit for the images will be given to her, and a link back to her main storefront). You never really know if you don't ask (and ask nicely - LOL!).

I too see it as a compliment to you that this person reached out, and not a slap in the face ... congrats, and nice way of handling it!

PS - "soon-to-be" - he sounds like me ... I get an idea for my look, my logo and my name before I start on business plans - LOL!

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