Customer Designs

JK Knives

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Mar 6, 2001
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I welcome customer designs, but I need to start a new policy of payment in full before starting any work on them.
 
I like the paid in full idea. If someone is serious about commissioning a piece from you, since you are committed to the labor, they should be committed financially.
 
I would suggest a deposit. I am weary of paying in full for something custom. Why? I've had a bass cab ($1200) as well as a custom bass($2650) have had issues. Charge a deposit that covers your materials and some time. That way they have skin in the game.
 
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I would suggest a deposit. I am weary of paying in full for something custom. Why? I've had a bass cab ($1200) as well as a custom bass($2650) have had issues. Charge a deposit that covers your materials and some time. That way they have skin in the game.

The reason I'm thinking full payment is who else might buy someone else's personal design? From the time it's paid for until it ships is one to two weeks, I don't think that's too long of a wait. I would not take payment when it's ordered, just right before I start on it.
 
I think it's a fair policy to require payment in full before starting customer designed knives. I also think it's fair to require a non-refundable deposit (to be applied to the purchase of the knife when payment is due) when orders are made to hold a spot in the que. Exceptions can always be made at your discretion, but it should provide you some condidence in the validity of the order and will help cover your time in correspondence should the order be canceled.
 
You've been considering this for years. I think it's a good strategy. I've got no issue with it, plus, everyone knows you're a great guy, good communicator, and that you'll do right by them.
 
Yeah, I'd pay up front. You've been around for a long time, I'm pretty sure that money is safe. Now about that forged kephart!!
 
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