Sponsors "paying up". How to approach?

[bigbaitfisher]

I have several small time sponsors.  When I signed with one, I was offered a 10% commission on all new customers that I brought to the company.  I KNOW for a fact that I have brought 3 mom-and-pop stores to the company, but have no proof, as they didn't mention my name.  It happens.

What I do know is that I have set a business up with this company and the owner has done in excess of 100k in sales.  This translates into over 10 grand in my pocket.

I'm not desperate for the money (it would be AWESOME to help pay off student loans).  This only became an issue when I requested a few baits, maybe 100 dollars worth, and was asked for my billing information (billed at a drasticly reduced rate over retail).

Do I ask the owner for a commission check?  What is the proper way to approach him?  The company that I have proof of is in contact with me constantly, we've actually became very close friends, and I know he would not HESITATE to give me his sales numbers.  I help the company I am a pro-staffer out in many ways, writing articles, spreading the brand, etc and I feel that I am a very valuable asset to the team.  I don't want to ruin this and get kicked off, but at the same time, I feel free baits in lieu of a commission check is not a huge deal.

I understand in a rough economy, it's easy to forget commission based checks.  This is not my J-O-B so I don't need the check.  But what's right in this situation???

Please, any solid advice is REALLY appreciated.

[roadwarrior]

Well, you should have had documentation up front and a written

compensation agreement, but that's water under the bridge. Go

back to the customers you developed and ask them to verify your

involvement. If it were me, I would forget about the business they

have already done and try to get compensated going forward.

If you find a solution, use that as the basis for a (written) contract

with your sponsor(s). You really need to work with an attorney

to get this done right. That's money well spent.

8-)

[SirSnookalot]

RW is right !

I would like to add this, if one has sponsors they should consider themselves not only as fisherman but as businessmen as well.  In business NEVER refer to any customer as "small time" and never drop one because you may think you are too big.  Venting a frustration on an open forum is not wise, you just never know who may be "watching".

If I were an owner of a small tackle shop I may want to see what fisherman are talking about regarding tackle and baits and where better to get that info..........Bass Resource.

Just my $.02