Paid in Full upfront. Now wait 4 months or more?

I agree. In fact, 25% is plenty. 25% more when you are ready to be assembled. Balance on completion. Too many people getting jacked by irresponsible builders who are using the deposit as a source of income.

 

That sure smells. I've heard too many of these stories. While 99% of small amp builders are very reputable, that 1% can kill them by doing this sort of mess.

What incentive to they have then to make a deadline?

EP

 

Being a retail owner I can see from the cash flow standpoint that this practice is great for the business but a bummer for the buyer. 50% down should be sufficient since that basically covers the cost of components and probably the build expenses too.

 

Scott just wrote a long post about this. It's a sticky. I agree with him.

 

http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=342152

 

wow, that just sucks. glad you got your money back. jesus.

 

don't we (as customers) have the power to control this practice? if you don't like the terms, don't pay. set a limit of 50% upfront or buy elsewhere. no one's forcing you to do it.

(obviously a broken promise like the bosstone's experience is a different story)

 

+1. If you sign up to 100% terms, it's nobody's fault but yours. 100% payment removes both incentive and leverage, and practically guarantees a 100% loss if "disaster" strikes.

 

I generally don't take any money down to start a build, but I want it paid in full when I ship it.

rooster.

 

Occasionally I build kits for friends and acquaintances and require that they pay for the kit in advance, and charge for the labor upon delivery. I think that whatever the two parties agree to is fair, as long as both parties do as they promise. I have paid in full for amps in advance before, I dont worry about it because I have allways dealt with reputable builders.

Most of these boutique amp builders aren't making a whole lot. Even the greatest ones like Soldano, Egnater, Bogner etc...aren't making very much. I'll bet that those of us with excellewnt jobs are doing better financially than the builders who make our amps and instruments.

I looked into a career change b ecause my love of high end amps and guitars, and found that even if I was extremely successful, it would be difficult to make a 6 digit income. I say, we should cut these guys some slack, as they have to deal with quite a few flakes as well as the honorable musicians/customers.

I choose to be fairly generous with the builders that I have dealt with, and in return they all have been outstanding to deal with. Egnater is one of them who have bent over backwards to offer me great service. I almost had to force them to take full payment in advance for my Mod 50 as my financial circumstances at that time required me to do so in order to declare it as an business expense for 2007 taxes. It is the best amp I have ever owned. When a couple weeks ago my reverb unit stopped working, they sent me a new one without question. Thats great service!

 

cool. well, i hope your efforts with this thread have some impact on the issue. i, for one, will remember this discussion if i ever find myself in this position.

BUT,
i bet guys like Paul Cochrane and the Klon pedal maker (forget his name) will always get away with just about anything they want. as i understand they dont do this crap, but they probably could if they wanted to, having a unique and highly regarded product that is in great demand puts the maker in the position of power.

 

The underlying tone of his thread is that REGARDLESS, there is simply no reason to pay in full without a definitive delivery date. That goes to the heart of the topic here.

 

While not as expensive as an amp, I require payment up front, but I never have, nor will I ever, burn a customer.

The reason I require payment up front is because *I* have been burned by customers before. I do a lot of "one-off" stuff that other builders won't touch, because I don't work from templates.

When a customer orders something from me, then decides they don't wanna pay, I'm stuck with inventory I possibly can't sell, and DEFINITELY don't have room to store.

In addition to that, my time is more precious to me than anything. I have very little of it, and when I waste a bunch of it building a cabinet for someone who then decides they don't want it, materials aren't the only thing I'm out.

So here it is, the builders side of the story.