Client tried to pay me with his old action figures | Freelance Survival

Adam Nguyen · 2026-03-03T18:41:47.086714+00:00

Did a logo for a local shop. Owner loved it. Time to get paid, he hands me a box of toys. Claims they are vintage and worth cash. I said my rent needs actual money. We agreed on half the fee upfront. Now I have random action figures on my desk.

logansmith7mo ago

Had a client try something similar with old baseball cards. Told him I'd list them on eBay for a month, any money made goes toward his bill. Set a clear date to settle the rest in cash. He paid up quick once I laid that out.

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nora3117mo ago

Barter deals turn into a tax headache real fast. You have to figure out what those toys are worth and claim it as income. Cash keeps everything simple and clean.

3

davidw147mo ago

But you got half the cash upfront, right? Doesn't sound like a total loss.

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