Some people

[Bills Custom Calls]

This is the 2nd time I have had this happen

A person will contact me through my website and ask me to make a call that looks like the call in row 5 pic 4(or whatever) in the deer calls,and after several emails back and forth I agree to make this call,and tell them it will be done by such a day.I finish the call and email them a pic and payment info and never hear from them again

Here is the call this last person asked me to make for him

[KySongDog]

There's nothing wrong with asking for the money up front, IMHO.  Send you the money, you make and send the call.   

[Bills Custom Calls]

I know Semp put I always like to make the call send the customer a pic for their approval then ask for payment it just seems fair to the customer.
The least they could do is tell me they don't like the call or they have changed their mind and don't want it

[FinsnFur]

I agree with Semp, asking for payment up front is pretty much routine anymore. But I can fully understand you decision to have them approve the call before asking for payment.

You feel like your pulling something on them if you ask for the money ahead of time. I'm the same way with a lot of these sites I build.

Being the second time this has happened to you isnt bad though.
It's probably HaMeR jerking you around.  :roflmao:

[KySongDog]

One more thought.  ( I only have thoughts one at a time anymore)  Get the money upfront,  build the call,  send the customer a pic,  if the customer has a legitimate complaint and says he doesn't want it,  you can then send the money back.   


Unless its HaMeR, then you should keep the call and the money.   

[alscalls]

I had this happen just the other day........Fella said when ya get a couple made.....send me a pic.....I would like to buy two.
I sent him a pic of a bunch of em so he could choose what he wanted....
Two Weeks went buy and he finally sent me an E-mail saying.......Sorry I just aint got the money right now........
That would have been fine.....if he had told me a couple weeks sooner......

[Todd Rahm]

I roll the other side most of the time on this issue, because, and it might just be the customers eye, but I learned a long time ago, If I see a call a maker has made and I like it, and ask for one just like, 70% the time the call that is finished is not like the first one I did like. 

Plus a lot of the time its the grain of the wood that makes the call, and that can't be duplicated. It can be close and thats super in most cases, but some call makers will put out a highly grained cocobolo call with some killer color contrast in the wood, and ya fall in love with it, but the one ya get is just a flat brown hardly any grained call (No flare so to speak)

Thats why, when a call makers says I can make ya one just like it if ya want? I always reply "You don't need to, but if ya do another like it shoot me a pic. If I like it I'll take it."

I could be as a collector I'm different and average Joe call buyer might not be that particular. 

AND

On the other hand, I know there's a hand full of call makers that can give ya a real close call to the original.

Besides your making the customer  a custom call, if he don't like it and you already have his money are ya gona let him send it back and refund his money or make one that he does like? (If ya do it like Bill does ya just saved yourself a trip to the bank (Maybe twice), two first class postage bills and several trips to the post office for all involved)

Exclude from this post is the call buyer that is a repeat offender with a call maker or makers that orders calls, but doesn't follow through with them.

But........with times tight like they are, you might see it more. I have the money today, forget about the call, spend said money on food for the kids, and oops here comes a call pic in the email asking me for the cheese and roni I just put on the table.  (poor planers) Seems calls aren't moving like they usually do this year.

[Hawks Feather]

I guess I can see both sides of this topic.  I have had a couple of people that "want a call" and then you don't hear back from them.  To me, it is not a big problem in that I figure that someone else will want the call.  The exception being something that is made with exotic woods and in that case I just sell it to Todd.      While I have never heard back from the people in the past, I think I would remember their email if one showed up again.  In that case I would ask for them to send the money since the last time they wanted a call I didn't hear back from them.  When I get an order for a call I try to let them know that "this wood doesn't grow in the grocery story" and every piece will be different.  Even Dymondwood will be a little different from one piece to the next - so no "I want one with an eye just like that one on your site" because it probably will not happen.   For the most part I am not all that worried about someone not deciding to purchase a call.  Now if someone orders a dozen and didn't take them I would be upset, but again figure I would be able to sell them or at least find a home for them.

Jerry

[Bills Custom Calls]

This is the 2nd time this happened and it is not by the same person.How well I know sometimes shit happens,but the person that ordered the call should have the common courtesy to say

I know I placed an order from you and the call you built for me is nice/or I don't like it
but some things have come up and I just can not pay for the call at this time

Thanks for understanding
Customer

My reply would be something like this

Customer

I am sorry to here of your problems and do not concern  yourself with this and if you ever want to place an order with me in the future just let me know

I hope all get better for you
Thank You
Bill

Semp I do understand about having 1 thought at a time and sometimes they come once a day 

[alscalls]

Yea that putting ya off crap by just not getting back aint right.....
I gave away the calls that were not purchased from me and if he ever asks do I still have them..... Nope I gave em away...
It aint about the money at all .....If I were trying to make money at it I would find something else to do.....
I just make enough to buy parts and maybe go hunt Ohio.....
I turn cause I like it.....I know Bill likes it as much....
I have met enough really good people doing this that a problem is no big deal.....
Being rude and not getting back to someone is annoying to just about anyone....

[HaMeR]

   That's the last time I trust Jim & Semp with a secret!! 

:roflmao: :roflmao:

I've had that happen on pens too. It sucks but you just gotta move on. Which I know you will Bill. That's a nice looking call right there & I'm sure it will sell. 

[1123coyote]

dont think you'll have much trouble selling that one its a sharp looking call looks like the guy missed out

[Bills Custom Calls]

Thanks for the nice comments on the call fellers

I will give him another day or 2 and if I get no response from him then I will either sell it or give it away or maybe keep it for myself

And yes it is Ebony and Osage Orange

[pitw]

Thanks for the nice comments on the call fellers

I will give him another day or 2 and if I get no response from him then I will either sell it or give it away or maybe keep it for myself

And yes it is Ebony and Osage Orange

Hey Bill I think I'm one of the guys Todd is talking about    As you know I need another call and if this one don't get sold then send it up instead of turning another.   I like to look at them some but I like to blow them more and it's kinda/sorta fun having you guys along on my coyote calling foray's.  I will agree that not getting paid sucks big time but maybe you could use a page from my book on collecting. 
  I went over to see a fellow a couple years ago that had begged me to come kill his grass hoppers and he hadn't paid for the job in 6 months[found out his dad had taught him everything he knew about this kind of business].  He said in his house that he couldn't pay me right now[BS].  I simply said "thats fine I'll just sleep on the couch watching your TV and eating out of your fridge until I figure I have recovered my money".  He wrote a check before I even got comfy .

[Bills Custom Calls]

Barry
I have that Cocobola deer call going in the mail for you in the morning,are you still needing another one  if so I will shipp them together

[pitw]

Bill I'm giving one each to the Icelanders[I want them to have a good call from good people to hunt with], I fell in love with the one so send that one up too cause I'll find a home for it.

[Bills Custom Calls]

Thanks a bunch Barry

Your Good people also