Charging up front...More questions!

[Former_Member]

I do thank all the women who responded and gave me a little backbone about charging up front for custom orders. But now I have another ?? How do you go about charging before a sale? don't you have to create a listing? That would imply that something must be shipped, or does it? Can you just put up a listing for the item, shipping charges and all, get the money and then start making the stuff? And then re-list it for the customer for free? Sorry, I scratch my head, don't know how to make that work so that it conforms to Etsy policies. How do you do it?

[Former_Member]

I'm a little confused by your question. If you are making a custom order for someone, you just put up a new listing. When they purchase the listing that's the close of sale. You make the item, send it to them, sale closed.

Are you doing something local that doesn't require shipping?

[WoolWench]

Do you mean how to charge for the deposit? You could just send a Paypal invoice for the deposit, then you need an email address from your buyer. Or you could make a listing for the deposit, with 0 shipping charge. Not sure how that fits with the etsy regulation regarding listings needing to be for an actual 'thing' (ie not a service) but it seems to me it is a part payment of an actual item so should be ok? Downside is paying listing fee twice..

[Former_Member]

l am confused. If someone convos you with the details for a custom piece then you make a listing, they pay, you come up with the design, confirm with customer and then dispatch.

[Former_Member]

my shop is almost totally custom order based- keep up on the pre sale emails, it does take a little legwork to seal a deal- get a clear idea of what they want- with mutually understood specifics- then create a listing for reserved for them, in that listing- make sure the ramifications you had both decided on are included in the item description. Do not make anything before you are paid- this will end up being way too stressful- as far as an image goes- that doesn't really matter in the scheme of things. If I am making something completely new for a customer, and I have to list it without an image- I use found antique photos that hint at what I am making.

Good luck!

[Former_Member]

Suzy, that's the question I couldn't phrase properly. Everyone says to charge up front for special orders. But then it seemed to me that i would have to list that order twice, as you said. First, to get the deposit, second, to get it shipped after it's made. What you suggested made sense.
I don't blame Laura and Natasha for being confused. So am I. The issue is how logistically to get deposit money prior to shipping within the Etsy framework.

[Former_Member]

Rebecca, do you charge for the shipping along with the item in the listing? Thanks.

[AnneLondezGlass]

As far as I am aware, there is no mandatory shipping delay once the item has been paid for. Just make sure that you have clearly stated in your listing the item's fabrication time (and take a little margin) and mark it shipped when it is sent.

[Former_Member]

You can put up a custom order listing for the deposit and another listing for the final payment when the item is ready to ship.

You can also put up a custom order listing for the whole amount before beginning any work. I have bought custom work this way on Etsy and was fine with paying for the whole order up front.

[Former_Member]

Nearly all of my jewelry is made-to-order, which works similar to custom pieces. I put up a listing, including shipping, they purchase the listing, I make the jewelry and ship it. I mark the order as "shipped" when I actually ship it. Just be sure your listing is clear about the time involved to actually make the piece.

[Former_Member]

When I'm doing a custom order, I too charge a deposit. However, I do a listing for the item for the amount of the deposit with FREE SHIPPING. THen, once the deposit is paid, I mark the item as shipped. Once the item is completed, I create a second listing for the remaining price with the shipping attached to that listing.

[Former_Member]

Sounds like there are several good ways to do this so thanks to all of you for helping me out. I really appreciate it.

[SpinningMermaid]

This works for layaway's and custom items:

1- Put your listing at normal price
2- Bill the customer the amount of the deposit
3- Make the listing for the balance

Voila :)

[littledebrarae]

When I used to do plus sized fashion design (which was 'custom' ordered) I charged per measurements, fabric (as in type of fabric), time put into the design.

Yet I wanted to make that sale, but I had to have a profit too.

So I charged less for a lower cost fabric such as broad cloth, or a low cost Jersey knit. And charged more for any fabric over $6.00 per yard.

Maybe it will help you to make a list of what you do to get your order out.

Then write out a 'plan'. Then charge per that plan. And make certain you include cost of materials, when you do that.

I hope this helps.

[Former_Member]

I charge for shipping right away- I don't start working on any order until I am paid in full.