Digitizers as Storage?

Robert Young · November 8th, 2013, 09:27 AM

So a client has threatened legal action because we no longer have their files available to them on our website as we closed their acct for non payment. Yet every one of their designs they used to successfully complete orders. So at some point they downloaded the files and used them. Are we as digitizers also being paid to store clients' files?

Robert Young · November 15th, 2013, 07:10 PM

what are your thoughts? you contract a digitizer.. they provide you with the file, you run the job... months later you come to them to retrieve the file? years later? what do you feel is the appropriate time for your digitizer to store your design after you have run your initial job successfully? To me.. my job is to see you through the job on hand when you ordered.. but 10 years later? really???? what is YOUR limit as to what you expect? seriously.. most of my clients have not been around 10 years.. we are fortunate to have 24

minimalist · November 18th, 2013, 01:36 PM

Now you've done it. Stop emulating the latest adobe idea. Cloud services where you don't buy the software but pay a monthly fee to use it. If you don't pay, your work is floating up in the cloud with no access to it.

I see an opportunity here....a land based program called blackhawk to fly into the cloud and deploy HRA (hostage rescue app) to take your data back by force.

Legal action, for what? Let them try that one in court. I wouldn't offer any online storage for files. Too many problems with servers and hacking. Let the customer store their files. If by chance a customer has a complete crash then maybe offer a service to send a hard copy of the files by dvd or flash drive for a minimal fee based upon how good a customer they are?

inkman996 · November 19th, 2013, 08:56 AM

Most ASI suppliers we deal with have stipulations about storing art. Usually its one or two years anything after that get trashed. They are not obligated to store it nor are you. When they purchased your services and downloaded the file it is then theirs. If they lose it then boo hoooo. If I lose the title to my vehicle the DMV does not send one to me for free I have to pay for it because they have to regenerate it and mail it. Same with you, if your client loses the file you have to regenerate it and that is time and money.

inkman996 · November 19th, 2013, 08:58 AM

BTW I would assume they are bluffing you with the legal BS to get you to back off on collecting.

Robert Young · November 19th, 2013, 02:23 PM

For years we have used RackSpace managed hosting, they back up our files 2 times a day.. and we have hardware and software firewalls... but it runs us about $1000.00 per month... however that insures that our clients in good standing do not have to worry as their files are secure and available. ( remember we are saving over 208,000 designs at this point! with quite a few more on prehistoric memory storage devices.. lol ...) But when we have a client that has not used us in 6 plus months or owes us money I feel the ability to access those past files takes a different turn in each case.

I agree with Steve as well... with the affordability of cloud storage our clients should also take advantage of that as well.

jt72978 · November 20th, 2013, 08:47 PM

AS an embroiderer, I wouldn't expect a digitizer to hold onto my files for even a month after he/she completes the digitizing job. Storage of digitized designs, is the embroiderer's responsibility.

SunEmbroidery · November 30th, 2013, 10:00 PM

Digitizers should not be expected to store customer files. That's interesting about the storage time for artwork for ASI suppliers. I'm wondering how long most embroiderers keep digitized files and thread color information. We've been in business for 13 years and our storage is becoming increasingly limited. We have a file for every job but many jobs aren't repeated so there's a lot of space be wasted to store information that may not be used again. It's tempting to thin out some of the older jobs but every now and then a customer who hasn't ordered in a few years resurfaces. Would you expect them to pay to have their artwork digitized for the second time when they aren't expected to store their digitized file?

Robert Young · January 28th, 2014, 11:28 PM

so last week a client wanted to know why a design we did for them before we created our website.. so 2003, was not available to them ON OUR WEBSITE. Now this client ordered 6 designs from us in all of 2013... and they are requesting a design be available to them OR redone for free from 2003?
Luckily we had it on Zip storage devices (anyone remember them?? LOL) but really, we do a design and it is a one hit wonder... we make our 20, 30 , 40 bucks one time... they get to use it for every order, hats, shirts, etc... forever! their income potential is ongoing... WE get 1 time. yet we are supposed to store it? heck, they are lucky we are still around! Just my opinion but it happens every month! what do you think?

gnizitigid · January 29th, 2014, 02:05 PM

Interesting thread, i do not provide sewout because it cost me more. Due to flat price of $10 per design, providing sew out is not possible. but i wonder when some client says they will give business only if digitizer do sew outs, in that case what options u have