What has been your experience with manufacturers' billing practices?

Tony Falcone, Fast Buck Freddie's Key West, FL

There's been this sweeping new trend in the market where first-time orders are always done on a credit card. Most manufacturers, though, are pretty much 30 days. Some call us on the 32nd day of an invoice, others are much more relaxed. (Not that the manufacturers want to hear this, but at this time of year when I'm building inventory, if I have the check in the mail by the 40th day I think I'm doing fine.) When I have been overextended, most manufacturers have been incredibly supportive as long as I communicate with them, and let them know that the check is coming. At the summer shows, when we don't want our merchandise until much further out, people have been generous and offered us dating programs. It not only helps us, it helps the manufacturers because when we pay the invoice in November we often find we need to place another order.

Patti Renner, Renner's Invitations Akron, OH

Most companies seem to offer net 30 terms. Smaller companies prefer payment by credit card, or COD, which is understandable. We encourage all of our suppliers to work with us on net 30 terms. Most are very flexible. We've been doing online banking, which has really helped speed the accounting at our end. However, there's the delay of a few days waiting for the checks to be cut and mailed by our online banking service, and suppliers have been very flexible regarding that. We take advantage of show specials and dating specials. However, we don't hesitate to say no when there's a very high minimum on merchandise that we don't think would blend well with our product mix. We don't purchase on the basis of a good deal, we continue to purchase based on need. But if a good deal comes along with that, great.

Caren Sturm, The Lagniappe West Des Moines, IA

Our experience has been very positive. Vendors are generally reasonable, and if we have damage they're good about issuing credits or replacements. They bill immediately. Sometimes I get the bill even before I get the product. What I noticed at market last time was that more vendors will give you a freight allowance: free or a percentage or dollar amount off. I'm always amazed at how much I spend on freight, so I usually take those offers. I should probably do a better job of asking for better terms. If I've been a good client for years, some manufacturers will give us special dating or net 60. If you do a lot of that, though, you have all this merchandise that's not paid for. You get through Christmas and get hit with the invoices in January. It's nice to pay as you go, so more of your sales stay in your pocket.

Jill Wieder, Chelsea Galleries Cleveland, OH

We deal a lot with artists and not big companies, so they're somewhat unprofessional, though some are just terrific. Typically a business will tell you it's net 30 on the day they ship the merchandise. That's one of my pet peeves: It should be net 30 from the day we receive the merchandise. Some manufacturers offer a percentage if you pay within ten days. If more people offered that incentive it would be more attractive to pay sooner. When you're dealing with a new business, they say its got to be COD or a credit card up front. I once got shoddy merchandise and had trouble getting the money back. They charged my credit card when they shipped, and then it was unsellable. They were adamant about getting their money up front but they said they had to wait until they received the merchandise back before they would issue a refund. Everybody's taking a chance until a relationship gets established.