Deposit on custom items

[my-auction-now]

I get a lot of request for custom items that I make. We agree on price and how to make it.

After I make it buyer says can I get a better price, or You know I really do not need it after all. This has happend to me 2 times this week alone. Ebay policy doe not allow me to charge a blank sale because I have to ship it with in one day. Takes me at least one to 2 days to make item. I cannot have customer send me a deposit because I have not sold the item yet, so no way to get a deposit. I would think that Ebay could set up a deposit system on a listing and apply the deposit to the item when sold.

If buyer changes their mind they forfit the deposit and I get it less Ebay fees. Is their any way to get a deposit on items before making them. maybe I missed this .

[richard1rst]

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@my-auction-now wrote:

I get a lot of request for custom items that I make. We agree on price and how to make it.

After I make it buyer says can I get a better price, or You know I really do not need it after all. This has happend to me 2 times this week alone. Ebay policy doe not allow me to charge a blank sale because I have to ship it with in one day. Takes me at least one to 2 days to make item. I cannot have customer send me a deposit because I have not sold the item yet, so no way to get a deposit. I would think that Ebay could set up a deposit system on a listing and apply the deposit to the item when sold.

If buyer changes their mind they forfit the deposit and I get it less Ebay fees. Is their any way to get a deposit on items before making them. maybe I missed this .

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If it takes 2-3 days to make it then set your handling time to 4 days. Then do it as a straight sale with payment in full in advance before you begin to make it. And advise your buyer that cancellations will not be approved.

The problem you have to consider is, if the buyer does change his mind, he can file a Not as Described complaint and force a return and refund. And you won't have any defense.

It's risky.

[12345jamesstamps]

You can change your shipping time frame...quite a bit...

Custom items require more time...

So just set up an extended shipping time frame for those custom orders.

[gurlcat]

I don't think eBay has any kind of set up for deposits but maybe someone will chime in with some kind of alternative idea that you could use. 

Just looking at your listings, I can't imagine how anyone could be such a cheapskate as to try to pay less than the already cheap prices you have on such BEAUTIFUL real leather/reptile accessories, especially if you make them to order!!  I don't know, maybe I have the wrong idea about how much these things should cost but these are gorgeous, they serve both a 'function' and 'fashion' role, and they look like they'd last centuries if well cared-for! 

But here's where I do have notes -I don't understand what is customizable about them.  The sheaths I mean.  They all state in the title they are for some specific kind of knife, so it sounds like their size and shape is already determined.  So what custom work can buyers request?  Monograms?  Different kinds of leather?  Or what?  I don't see any of that in your descriptions, nor do I see anything like how long the custom work will take to complete, suggestions for buyers to contact you before buying or .... anything about customization other than the word "Custom" in the title. 

Also (just looking at this one listing) the top of the page says $6 shipping, but the description says $5.  -You should never have discrepancies like that.  It's the kind of thing that repels good buyers, and attracts scammers.  Give them an inch and they'll take a mile. 

I this is where you are probably going to need to do some work, putting more clarity in your descriptions, especially stating what your buyers' expectations should be, and what you expect of them. 

[luckythewinner]

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@my-auction-now wrote:

Ebay policy doe not allow me to charge a blank sale because I have to ship it with in one day. Takes me at least one to 2 days to make item.

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You are mistaken.

There is no eBay policy that says you must ship within 1 day. 

You can set a handling time up to 30 days if you want. 

[dryophelia]

@gurlcat 

It might be the rattle snake headbands. There is an ‘option’ to add a snake head for an extra $20. 

@my-auction-now 

One would have to know a rule was being broken if the contact information is shown outside it’s standard presentation. 

[chevymontecarlo88]

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@richard1rst wrote:

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If it takes 2-3 days to make it then set your handling time to 4 days. Then do it as a straight sale with payment in full in advance before you begin to make it. And advise your buyer that cancellations will not be approved.

The problem you have to consider is, if the buyer does change his mind, he can file a Not as Described complaint and force a return and refund. And you won't have any defense.

It's risky.

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@my-auction-now 

Use the advice that @richard1rst has posted above. Your listings look fine and just understand anything can be returned if a buyer states it is not as described. With these types of transactions, you may want to communicate more often/clearly with the buyers (messaging) before you ship out or start producing your items. 

-Good luck

[pickapaper]

@my-auction-now 

I understand you say your items are custom made but that two buyers bailed out after placing orders.  But if the items are not monogrammed, why can't you just go ahead and sell them outright?  

[fbusoni]

@my-auction-now 

If I were you, I'd offer the customizations privately -- outside the eBay framework -- only after the item has been delivered and the return window has closed.

You can arrange to reimburse the buyer for shipping the item back to you for the customization.  And to sweeten the deal you can offer to ship the finished item back to them on your dime.

You could indicate all this in your listing.  Say something like "Customizations to this item are available; please contact me for more information."  (Of course, you then need to be prepared for the likely preponderance of mindless inquiries from buyers who have nothing better to do than pester you.  Maybe have a canned response prepared that you can copy and paste.) 

I suspect that using this method, you will deter those cheapskates who ask to save $1.47 to "get a better deal."  

You have really beautiful things, by the way.

PS: to reinforce what @gurlcat notes:  make crystal clear -- in your titles and multiple times in your descriptions -- that the knife shown in the photo is NOT included.   This, for the benefit of those who reflexively see a picture and immediately press "buy now."

[kalyoth]

International sellers have extended handling / delivery times somehow programmed into the system for buyers to know in advance. However, ebay is a place for pre-existing manufactured goods. It is not a place for theoretical, made on demand goods. It actually violates rules to sell items you do not possess prior to the sale. You could possibly approach it in terms of a preorder item as there are rules in place for doing that as well. Just change the preorder street date each time you relist it.

[dhbookds]

You can offer personalization:

Customizing your item when selling with Buy It Now

In some categories, you can offer personalization of the listed item. For personalized items, buyers have a free text field directly above the Buy It Now button where they can enter the information about the desired personalization.

Here's how: 

1. When you create your listing, go to Optional item features. 

2. Select Personalize when creating your offers.

3. Provide information in the free form text field for your customers to tell them what you need in order to be able to personalize the item. Keep it short and clear. You can use up to 200 characters.

Note: If you choose not to leave instructions for your buyer, an auto-text will be displayed instead.

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/listings/selling-buy-now?id=4109&st=3&pos=1&query=Selling%20with%2...

Or?  don't know if this is possible.......but could you set up a variation listing with customization/s as  variation/s? 

[chevymontecarlo88]

@my-auction-now 

One thing you can do immediately that could help minimize any problems is to make sure your first (Featured) picture does not include the knife. (unless included) I would put that picture (with knife) as the last one. There is no reason to remove that picture as long as it is not featured as the first picture. It is valid to say some may think the knife is included but if you communicate with your buyers, this should not be an issue. 

Editing your photo order is quick and simple.

-Good luck

[my-auction-now]

No they ask me to make them a custom knife sheath. We agree on price and style. then after I make it and list it they say nice sheath, but I really do not need it now. I need a way to get deposit once they agree to have me make it. 

[my-auction-now]

In order to keep my top rated seller , I am required to ship 1 day. Also hard to pre list a knife sheath that is custom before I can take pictures of it. So they can say not as described since no pictures. 

[my-auction-now]

I can try, but these customers have special knives, that they want a leather sheath made that fits that knife. I cannot just sell that sheath to anyone with a knife. Now you see the problem.