ORIGINAL: SCALECRAFT
Andy, your a way bigger man than I could be in this case. I would have not let someone like this off the hook so easy. I would have looked for a settlement. Voluntary or court ordered.
If you send a model and hardware to someone and they still want money to assemble it, that's the tip off for me. No Deal.
My deposit is my stuff. No cash up front.
If I don't pay, give me ''Notice of demand for payment''. If no payment, sell my model take your costs and send me balance.
Fortunately I make my own stuff.
Steve
Like I said in a previous post, I build for others also. I have a small issue with some of your comments.
The part about if you send someone your "stuff" that should count as a deposite. Uh, no. Building an airplane might be considered a toy to the owner, but, to a builder its considered a job. If the job is going to take 2 or 3 months or more to complete (and some do if its a full build from plans) then sending someone "stuff" as a deposit dont cut it. Most builders require 25 to 50% up front. That covers expenses like the power that it takes to build your toy, the man hours it takes to build your toy and the extra materials to build your toy that wasnt included in your "stuff" like glues, sand paper, cutting tools, bandsaw blades, saw blades and the list goes on.
I would see a red flag if someone sent me a box of stuff and would not pay a deposit. No builder is going to agree to those terms. Now, I do have a very short list of long time customers that I do accept a job with no deposit, but if I need funds, its an email away.
I personally require 50% up front. Balance is due when the work is completed. Customer pays or furnishes all the parts (Stuff) for HIS plane. At the end of the day, I email pictures of my progress.
My time is just as valuable as yours. You dont work for a promise, why should I. And we all know, RC "Stuff" is like a new car, once its out of the box, and started, most wont buy it cause they want it done a certain way. So selling your "Stuff" might not cover my labor. And, I dont want to store your "Stuff" until I can find someone who can pay me what I have in it.
Just my opinion.
WBG