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Deposits are a complicated thing, but regardless of what some think, insuring the availability of raw materials, finished matericals and shop supplies & expenses, like sandpaper, varnish, rags, solvents, alcohol, electric bills, gas bills, etc. is definitely a factor in requiring a deposit. When you have a shop seperate from your home, like I do, where rent is due every month, then a deposit is part of what pays your bills until the rod is complete. Now, I don't know this particular makers situation or how he works his orders, but when an order comes into my shop, the cane is selected, split, pressed, straightened, readied for tapering, the reel seat wood is selected and rounded, the cork is selected and placed in a bag, etc.
Everything that will be used to build a rod is set aside, including making a cap and ring and for it.

At this point close to a day of work... LABOR... has been put on this rod. If an order is not cancelled within a few weeks, then the rod is tapered and glued up and hanged to dry for a couple of months... in a situation like this, then I hope customers understand the no refund policy on deposits. Labor and materials have been effected on a project that he may or MAY NOT be able to sell to another customer.

Most makers, though, will work with someone on this if they have special circumstances or a special situation to deal with, HOWEVER, this maker should have made his "no refund" policy very clear to you up front. If you don't know and trust a maker completely, have him send you an order form that you can fill out, that details all the aspects of your order.

If he didn't tell you up front that there was no refund on deposits, then I'd say you were treated unfairly. If he told you no refund, then things are as they probably would have fallen out with most makers, but if I were you, I'd still have him make the rod and figure out some way to pay for it... I damn sure wouldn't just let my $300 disappear.

As for how high is too high on a deposit??? I don't know... I charge a $250 deposit and I think that's fair. I've never had anyone complain about it. $100??? Hmmmm. I don't know, I'd blow a $100 on a horse race and not think much about it, and besides the fact that if he didn't immediately cancel, I will probably have a good day to day and a half of labor in his rod, not counting shop supplies and what the utilities cost for the shop. I don't think there are very many of us that want to work in a hot shop making parts, splitting, straightening, etc, for 12 to 18 hours for $100 deposit... Whatever the deposit, make sure the terms of the deposit are clear up front. Is it refundable? If so, does that refund period have a limit?

Bob

I absolutely agree that if a builder cancels, he SHOULD without question, return the deposit. This actually happened with me a few years ago. I had a moderate stroke and had a backlog of rods. I contacted each customer, returned the deposits to the ones that wanted them back and actually, had several wanting and willing to wait for me to complete rehab and make their rods. It was a very long time before I could do my work again, but I did, obviously, get back on the train. But, all the customers were happy in the end. That is how it should have been done, and I would have felt bad if I'd done anything else.

As I said, there are always, IMHO, reasons a deposit/down payment might be returned regardless of the timing. Every situation is different, and every situation deserves consideration. Hey, look at what I do for a living! If anyone knows about wanting something that has a long lead time, then anticipated income might not be there, I do! Rodmaking for a living is a sure fire way to get into that situation!!! The economy falls, the orders (and income) go in the toilet! The economy booms, I'm busier than a cat covering up %$#@. Still not going to get rich! One of the former Winston makers and I once had a conversation about rich rodmakers... he said the only rich rodmaker he knew, spent all his money making rods! Regardless of how many orders, you can only make so many a year without killing yourself! I had one year when I put out 47 rods. Now I know there are makers doing more than that, and more power to them. Almost killed me! (That was the year before I had the stroke, btw... connection??? I dunno...)

Anyways... I agree with the spirit of what you are saying. When work begins, and parts are purchased or made, that deposit becomes a down payment. Up until that time... well, ya know, I feel like everything is negotiable, and even after work begins, some things are negotiable, but then again, maybe that's WHY I'm not a rich rodmaker!