New Policy

Stomper said:
I would not take any payment untill knife is ready to ship. The way I currently do it is to email the customer a week before I start to make sure they still want the knife. If the answer is yes, I make the knife then notify them it`s ready to ship. I`m going to give him another week, then it`s off to GB&U.
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I think your policy is excellent. I hope this aggravation is just poor procedure on your customer's part, and he will realize he has to get around to paying you now.
 
Sorry to hear about your bad experience, John--hopefully things turn out in the end and you get your money, or get the knife back. I would say all of us agree that we don't mind paying for the knife before you ship it, so new customers should agree, too :)

~Noah
 
I don't think anyone who is legit and serious about buying one of your knives is going to have a problem with paying for it before it ships. I think that is a solid and completely reasonable policy.
 
Stomper said:
Although I hate to do this, I believe I will be starting to ask to receive payment from first time customers before shipping knife.
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I think this is a sound business practice and standard procedure with the several custom makers I have had dealings with.

Most makers have some sort of return policy which may relieve new buyer anxiety.

cv
 
John - I also suggest going to PayPal. Quick and easy way to receive payments as well as generate a history of transactions. If there are issues it's a simple way to prove that payment has not been made. Nobody can say "I sent the check three times, your dog must be eating it."
 
John, I think that taking a deposit from first-time customers makes perfect sense. You offer superb customer service and you are second to none when it comes to communication, so I don't think that asking for a materials deposit up-front would put anyone off.

All the best,

- Mike
 
I think it would be a good idea for a non-refundable deposit up front...enough of a deposit to cover the material & then as usual 1 week before you start on the knife E-mail the customer & let them know you are ready to start on the knife & if they still want it they need to send the final payment ! After you receive the final payment then make the knife & Ship ;)
 
Hi Stomper -

I think the following policy will serve your needs and will satisfy any potential buyer.

You agree to make a knife at a prescribed price with a customer. You then make the knife, and post up a picture of the knife ready to ship.

Then the buyer sends you the money for the completed and pictured knife.

Once you receive the money for the knife you send it to the customer.

Seems like a simple deal to me - and you do not have to bank customers monies before a sale.

I will be honored to be able to buy your works in the manner described above.

best regards -

mqqn
 
I can not imagine NOT paying in full before the knife ships, assuming the knife is finished and details/pics provided by the maker to the buyer.

I do feel however that it's not a good practice to pay up-front for a knife this is not even started, unless the buyer wants some custom scales for the handle or something that's not the 'norm' by the maker.

I'm a VERY patient buyer but I don't like to wait several months or even years for a knife from a maker in which I've already made a huge deposit or even paid in full. Likewise I can't imagine receiving a custom or production knife from any maker w/out paying in full prior to the maker shipping me the knife.
 
John,

As a first time customer I have no problems sending payment in full before the knife ships.

Thanks,

Brandon
 
I will pay in full before my knives ship...! I want it no other way.

When was the last time that anybody bought something over the internet/mail order and didn't pay in full prior to shipment.

Ski
 
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