Taking Deposits?

Chuck, since you decided to go public about our dealings in such a way as you did I think it proper of you to explain the complete transaction as agreed by us at the time of order. You could have done that in your last posting, rather than just saying thanks for calling. I ask you to please come back on here and clear this up. And don't worry; you're not just going to get your payment as agreed or just the block of wood back. You are going to get both back. I cheat no one and if $32 that you told I need not worry about until I needed the wood is worth it to you to slam me here - well, good for you I guess. You might also mention that I paid you A.S.A.P. for the three blocks I originally ordered and that the fourth was an offering of yours for later payment and not to worry until a customer requested it. I don't mind being slammed pertaining to thread subject matter but joining in on the eating frenzy just for the sake of it is something different.

rlinger
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rlinger said:
Chuck, since you decided to go public about our dealings in such a way as you did I think it proper of you to explain the complete transaction as agreed by us at the time of order.
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I SWORE I wouldn't reply to this thread again.......However, there are 2 things here that need to be said:

Chuck, he asked you explain the complete transaction, and you owe it to us all to do so........."on the Good, Bad, and Ugly Forum!" Not here, please.
Start the thread, and post a link. You claim you are the injured party.

Number 2 thing: A buyer risks some money (sometimes hundreds of $$) when making a deposit. A maker risks it All by taking a deposit...........his career, his reputation; which is worth a great deal more than simple money. (at least to 99.99% of us makers here).

When you bring a maker's reputation into play, be sure to have your ducks in a row.........If he's a bad maker, we will help police it up. If your facts are suspect, we will eat you alive. (at least most here will).

At least that's my position. But this thread is dead, PLEASE.
 
EDIT: Mikr/Bodfish I think you can close the thread you started by using the thread tools if you want it that way. At least I know I can on any I start so I assume being a knife maker that you can also. Maybe you know this already though but it might be my platinum membership that does it I can't find where to look that up at the moment.

STR
 
Well, i had to jump in on this..I am a hobby maker...Doing about 15 to 17 per year....I make knives because i enjoy it.....period.....A maker once said that he would continue if he never sold another one.........i agree...My greatest enjoyment is hearing how one of mine did on an elk or whitetail...My best one is mounted over an elk rack of mine......Great discussion...carl
 
I am on the side of keeping this a hobby and not take the fun out of it. I tried myself with armour. From now on, I make stuff that I feel like making and after they are done I may sell them or may not. That is, if you want to keep this a hobby.

Pad
 
Many wrecks await the knifemaker who choses to take a deposit, AG has seen them all.

Another wreck can be trades, you can soon find yourself years behind in knives you trade for equipment, guns or what every catches your fancy. A trade for a knife you have not made is the same as taking a deposit.
 
rlinger said:
As a hobby it might be okay not to if you know you can recover your time and cost elsewhere. Trust me though, taking deposits keeps the customer interested. Times will come when your hard work is finished and ready for delivery and for some mysterious reason no one seems to have any money now. As a full time maker, I know from experience the electric company does not care if you get paid. They only care if they do. Making two or three or four knives for one customer with no deposit is danger. You have obligated yourself and it is only fair he do the same.

rlinger
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How true! I always accept the deposit. The one time I wasn't offered a deposit, I got stuck with some hard to use for anything else certified Holy Land olive wood when the guy got a short work layoff. I think I will just use it for a gift knife, but not for the guy that cancelled.
Come to think of it, I did get stiffed by another customer that didn't place or offer a deposit several years ago. He still owes me half the money.
 
In the last 7 years I have been laid up and could not make knives three times, two of them very serious. I was very grateful that I had taken no deposits and owed knives to no one, I was free!

When I take an order, my only promice is to make it as soon as I can - rarely do I commit to a date.

I consider my freedom an asset to be protected and cherished.

I look forward to seeing you in Atlanta AG, I well remember the time we shared over a meal in New Jersey, the thoughts shared remain.
 
For the makers that take deposits, is the deposit non-refundable if the customer choses to back out of the deal? If this was a policy stated up front, this would seem like a fair practice. It would also seem like this would be a wise practice for a maker doing commission work or the one-off special order. What knifemaker wants to be stuck with, oh let's say for the sake of discussion, a yo-yo shaped knife that they made for some jackleg that changes their mind. :D

There clearly are some knifemakers that make taking deposits work for them. If that is working for you and you are following sound and honest business practices, who can argue with the success of that.

With the ability of disgruntled customers being able to ruin a reputation faster than you can type "knifemaker Joe Schmoe is a crook!", taking deposits seems to be a risk amplifier. A new knifemaker starting out in this business would be wise to take the advice of the esteemed veterans of the business who have posted in this thread. I appreciate their willingness to stick there necks out and go on record about this subject.
 
I don't take deposits and its not because of business practise, its for my own piece of mine. For me if I have a deposit on an order it makes me real anxious and uneasy until I get that knife done. I like to make them like people suggest, then if there not happy with the completed piece then they don't have to buy it. If someone wants something really odd ball, that I feel won't sell if they decide they don't want it upon completion I won't take the order. I can be making a knife I know will sell, so why take the chance and contend with the headache of making something your not comfortable with.
To each their own, just do what your comfortable doing.

Bill
 
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