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Artist guide to payments & payment plans on Bluethumb
Artist guide to payments & payment plans on Bluethumb

Payment plans > understanding & promoting Afterpay, Zip, Bluethumb Layby & Art Money

Kate Revill avatar
Written by Kate Revill
Updated over a week ago

Bluethumb offers buyers a variety of different ways to purchase and secure artwork, the intention here is to give all buyers the opportunity to purchase original artwork within their means and budget.

Before we jump in, keep in mind that you don't have to do anything, other than read through the details below to understand how it all works.

What can you do to take advantage of these services?

  • Learn more about how you can use Bluethumb and other payment methods when marketing your own websites, socials and portfolios. Promoting options to pay for your work in part-payments could open up a whole new buying market for your art - download and use the logo pack we've created

  • Include these payment logos in emails or newsletters to your followers so they know you're now offering alternative payment options

  • Understand more how Afterpay, and Art Money works. That part's easy; just keeping reading!

  • Take advantage of Bluethumb's extensive marketing and promotional reach by linking your Facebook and Instagram accounts, and website or blog to your Bluethumb profile (re-targeting and dynamic ads etc.).

Afterpay

Chances are you've already heard of Afterpay. Afterpay is a buy now, pay later lender that divides the total purchase amount into four twice-a-month payments, with no interest fees. Afterpay basically pays for the order at the time of the sale, then the buyer pays back Afterpay over a 8 week period.

Afterpay report having around 16 million users worldwide, with 3.3 million in Australia alone. So as sellers of art, the strength and size of their audience is a great opportunity.

Afterpay charge sellers a fee to use the service. For us it is 5%. This fee is split between the artist and Bluethumb relative to the commission split. If an artwork is bought using Afterpay they're shipped immediately with no delays, and payments to you will be made on time (7 days after delivery) as per normal. The Bluethumb 7-day Free Returns Guarantee applies as per normal.

Key Takeaways:

  • There is a maximum limit of $2000 with this option (there is no minimum spend limit).

  • Collectors can purchase and secure the work, placing the order instantly then pay it off over an 8 week period

  • Artist are sent an order notification at the time of sale and can ship straight away

  • Bluethumb’s 7-day Free Returns Guarantee applies as per normal.

  • The 5% fee is shared between the artists and Bluethumb. You can read the breakdown here in this article

Bluethumb Layby

This is Bluethumb's own layby plan, designed to be simple and risk-free for both the collectors and the artist. Its a great way for buyers who aren’t quiet ready to receive the work (they are moving or renovating) to secure the work and pay in flexible instalments.

There's no additional fee/commission to the artist when using Bluethumb Layby. The buyer just needs to meet the minimum order value of $1000 for this payment option to be available. They secure the artwork and agrees to pay in 4 x fortnightly payments or by the due date. During this period of 8 weeks, the artwork stays with the artist. Once full payment is received we will notify you, so the work can then be shipped to the collector. The Bluethumb 7-day Free Returns Guarantee applies as per normal with the artist being paid after the processing period. The plans are totally managed by Bluethumb staff, who regularly reach out the buyers to follow up on any outstanding payments, you don’t need to do anything.

Key Takeaways:

  • Minimum order value is $1000 (there’s no maximum)

  • Buyers secure the work at time of sale, but still need’s to pay for it

  • Buyers can not use discounts with Bluethumb Layby Purchases.

  • Artist is notified that the work has been placed into a layby plan and to hold onto it

  • Bluethumb staff manage the payments and will liaise directly with the buyer on these

  • Once paid in full the artist will be notified and the order can be shipped as per the normal shipment processes

  • Bluethumb’s 7-day Free Returns Guarantee applies as per normal.

Art Money

Art Money provides collectors with an interest-free payment plan (10x instalments over 10x months). You can read more on the Art Money website about how it works for collectors.

Art Money is gathering momentum with its strong presence at art events and high credit limit of $50,000 p/a. Bluethumb has been using Art Money for a while now, and as with any popular payment plan, we're finding it can increase both the quantity and value of sales.

Art Money is a free service for collectors to encourage buying, and they earn their income by charging sellers a 10% commission per sale. On Bluethumb, for each sale, we share this fee with the artists at the same rate as artworks are paid out at. Here's the detailed breakdown on payments.

Key Takeaways:

  • Minimum order value is $1000 (there’s no maximum on our side but could be with ArtMoney themselves)

  • Buyers can purchase and secure the work, placing the order instantly then pay it off over an 10 months

  • Buyers can not use discounts with ArtMoney Purchases

  • Artist are sent an order notification at the time of sale and can ship straight away

  • Bluethumb’s 7-day Free Returns Guarantee applies as per normal.

  • The 10% fee is shared between the artists and Bluethumb. You can read the breakdown here in this article.

Credit or Debit Card

Bluethumb accepts all major credit card providers including AMEX. Credit or Debit card purchases are instant and the safest and quiekst way to secure the artwork. Bluethumb absorbs all fees associated with card payments.

Key Takeaways:

  • Collectors can purchase and secure the work instantly.

  • Artist are sent an order notification at the time of sale and can ship straight away

  • Bluethumb’s 7-day Free Returns Guarantee applies as per normal.

Bank Transfer

Byers are also able to opt to pay via Bank Transfer, this is specifically useful for International, business or trade orders where the amounts may exceed credit and debit card limits. Bluethumb liaises with the buyer to arrange this.

Key Takeaways:

  • Collectors can purchase and secure the work but still need to pay for it.

  • Artist is notified that the work has been purchased via Bank Transfer and to hold onto it until further notice

  • Once paid in full the artist will be notified and the order can be shipped as per the normal shipment processes

  • Bluethumb’s 7-day Free Returns Guarantee applies as per normal.

PayPal

Paypal is an online payment system that allows users to send and receive money both domestically and internationally. When a buyer chooses to pay with PayPal the order is placed instantly securing the work and allowing the artist to ship it ASAP. Any fees associated with PayPal payments are absorbed by Bluethumb.

Key Takeaways:

  • Collectors can purchase and secure the work instantly.

  • Artist are sent an order notification at the time of sale and can ship straight away

  • Bluethumb’s 7-day Free Returns Guarantee applies as per normal.

Can Artist opt out of Payment Plans?

Im afraid not, all payment options are available to all buyers on all work.

Anything Else I should know?

One other thing to watch out for is Promotional Discounts. We do run sales from time to time or offer a buyer thats on the fence a discount to help nudge them over. The most discount we will offer is 15%, anything above this and we would seek prior approval from you.

Some payment option are excluded from receiving discount as mentioned above, but for all others discounts can apply.

To wrap things up

We will work with the buyers to find the best payment option for their situation, offering variety in payment options means we have more flexibility to offer the collector and hopefully secure the sale of that work for you!

We are always looking for new ways to help secure sales so this list could expand in the future.

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