Are custom slip joint maker's payment policies reasonable?

[Markesharp]

I've bought many customs, and have never been asked to pay one cent upfront, nor would I if asked to if a normal order.

I think paying upfront is fine if one odered an add on that would make the knife hard to sell if something did come up. The knife in my avatar for example. It has my mother's birth and death dates stamped on one liner, so no one else would want that. I wasn't asked to pay anything upfront, but I would have in such a case.

If it is a normal order a good maker will have no trouble at all selling the knife if something did come up.
Just post it up here, and someone will be happy(and lucky) to get it with no wait time, or just contact a buyer on down the waiting list and they may be happy to get a knife sooner than they thought.

 

[OilMan]

:thumbdn: Did you eat a lot of paint chips when you were a kid? SMH.

Extremely uncalled for. And Fanglekai is probably right.

 

[S.R.B]

Unless what I requested was unusual and the maker stood to lose his investment, I would not consider up-front payment, Ive seen it cause too many problems in the past.

 

[Fanglekai]

:thumbdn: Did you eat a lot of paint chips when you were a kid? SMH.

What did I say that warrants a reply like yours?

Let me spell it out for you. I'm complimenting his work. I've watched him post knives in the for sale section for years. They rarely stay available long. The last one he offered #1100 was a gorgeous swayback in mammoth ivory for a not insignificant amount of money. It was gone in 6 minutes.

IMO he doesn't need to accept payment up front for knives that follow his usual work, because they will sell on the forum. His reputation for producing high quality slipjoints is well known. Over the years I've watched him post knives for sale, every single one sold, many within a few minutes of being posted.

Unless the knife has special engraving or is outlandish, it's pretty safe to say he'll be able to sell it even if someone backs out. A materials deposit isn't out of the norm and I think that's a policy he might consider instead of his current one. If he doesn't want to consider anything anyone else says, that's fine too. It's his own business. This is the feedback section of a forum he sells knives on. This is nothing but unsolicited advice from someone who has watched his knives for years. He doesn't have to change a damn thing nor was I telling him to. I offered an observation for him to consider if he so chooses.

Your post was rude and uncalled for.

 

[tleav61]

You're insulting me for complimenting his work?

Over the years I've seen his knives for sale they rarely stay available long. The last one he offered was gone in 6 minutes.

Your post was rude and uncalled for.

I dont know why this had to turn ugly, and I agree with you. I knew it was just a matter of time, before someone would start insulting. It's too bad.

 

[STR]

My two cents are this. Its really a personal issue. If one is comfortable with the risk of taking money up front it is fine until it isn't. Many good intention folks with well earned good reps do it. The problem is they don't often give it the true assessment that it deserves to understand the ramifications of the risk.

Its really about risk management incorporated into your business model. When you consider the average cost of your product per month based on number sold, and the average number of knives per month or per 90 day cycle or however you pay yourself is calculated. If that number is 12. Lets say that typically each month you take x up front for your promise to make.

This is paid and used of course. Now after all is said and done weighing the risk of the amount that x of dollars comes to with how it would affect you to refund it all in the event you, oh I don't know lets use real life scenarios and say the maker cuts off a finger on the band saw. Or cuts to the bone with a mishap on the grinder belt install. Or spins a blade in and around the lathe throwing it into his leg sticking there to be surgically removed!

Now how would taking it up front for 'x' look. Is it still worth the risk? You make choices and you live with them. Many good rep folks have come and gone here over $. There is the risk. Some are more comfortable with a little more weight on their shoulders and that is fine. Know the risk tho. Dont' be naive.

I take money up front all the time for my clips. $35 and $40 items and it makes me nervous. Fortunately I never ask for it until it is done most times but many many many just pay knowing by my rep I'll do it. In the event something happened to me, say I dropped dead one day at the grinder and fourteen clips are there paid for think of the mess it leaves my wife! Think I want to leave that in her lap when she already has to deal with losing my adorable self! ? Think again.

STR

 

[WRGreen]

So, what we've learned here is communication is the key, the market supports what it will, and an agreed balance between buyer and provider can be reached on an individual basis and broad sweeping generalizations are usually best left to people promoting anxiety, you know, like politicians, preachers, and newscasters right?

 

[Ken44]

You may want to try Google Translate if english isn't your primary language.

 

[Markesharp]

You may want to try Google Translate if english isn't your primary language.

Ken,

Google Small Business
Google the percentage of successful small businesses that make it in today's economy.

After doing the research, ask yourself if you can take the risk of quitting your job (assuming you have one as opposed to being retired, disabled, etc.) and making a go at whatever it is you feel you could do, production or retail wise, to make a living.
If you feel you can, you should have no problem paying your mortgage, utilities, food, gas, etc.

If you become successful you then have a right to tell people how to run a business.

Best of luck.

Also Google "Master Craftsmen"........... a whole new level of success only few can achieve.

 

[Ken44]

Ken,

Google Small Business
Google the percentage of successful small businesses that make it in today's economy.

After doing the research, ask yourself if you can take the risk of quitting your job (assuming you have one as opposed to being retired, disabled, etc.) and making a go at whatever it is you feel you could do, production or retail wise, to make a living.
If you feel you can, you should have no problem paying your mortgage, utilities, food, gas, etc.

If you become successful you then have a right to tell people how to run a business.

Best of luck.

Also Google "Master Craftsmen"........... a whole new level of success only few can achieve.

Thanks, but I don't need to. I know how most custom makers operate.
And I have never told anyone how to run their business.
I do have the right to give my opinion.

I just thought you were having trouble reading my post, hence your use of the confused smiley.
Sorry for the misunderstanding, and sorry I confused you.

 

[bandaidman]

No one is telling anyone how to run their business. Their personal risk taking in starting their business is irrelevant to the subject at hand.

A potential buyer asked if a "pay up front policy" was reasonable. Most experienced custom knife buyers (and established makers) would advise against pre paying.

Caveat Emptor

 

[Sonnydaze]

I have one on order at this time. Maker said I will receive the knife and THEN send him full payment if completely satisfied. I think the maker is pretty well protected, as he should be able to sell any custom knife on the Exchange as a last resort.
That assumes it is a decent product, of course.