- Joined
- Feb 28, 2002
- Messages
- 13,348
I don't solicit a deposit unless for pricey materials. I have had a customer pay in advance without my asking them...he got his knives. I don't like taking money up front because too much can happen. I don't want to take an injury and have to pay someone deposit money back. If I was injured there would be plenty else on my mindMoney could get tight and I'd be bound to make a knife that was paid for...this is where the hardest knife to make is one that's paid for. In the situation described in the OP a deposit would totally have been in order. Even with a deposit the maker could still be getting stuck by a back out, especially if the knife wasn't easily marketable. I personally don't see the need for a deposit to place an order. I like to finalize everything before starting the project. That way price, materials, and any changes the customer might want are accounted for. If they cancel at that point I really don't worry about it.
Agreed, Ben. An email just before you start working on an order is a good idea - and something almost all the makers I work with will do as a matter of course. If there have been any changes in circumstances which impact the customer's ability to see the project through, that would be the time to say so and avoid any negative impact on the maker. Or if there are any design changes to the original plan. Heck, in quite a few cases my order has been "Let me know when you are ready to make a knife for me, and we can figure out what knife that will be at that time."