Its pretty standard to be asked for a deposit when commissioning a custom order firearm.

If a client is unable to pay the deposit it may mean the client will have trouble with the payment down the line.

Gunsmiths are commercial businesses and it isn't for free receiving and sending firearms. Most Aussie gunshops charge similar fees for sending and receiving firearms. The cost isn't just postage or freight cost, but the cost of picking up a firearm, unpacking it, assessing it, re-packaging it, arranging to re-send it, plus the postage or freight fees.

A lot of non-gunsmith businesses (eg camera repairs, all sorts of repair services) charge a minimum fee just to issue a quotation, which is payable even if the service is not accepted, but not payable if the quotation is accepted. There are reasons why businesses have a minimum fee for quotations.

On the other hand, while I understand the need for a deposit to ensure the customer is serious and also cover upfront costs, supplies, and some hourly work, I also think a schedule of payments based on actual work performed should be part of a job as well. It is ridiculous that most of these jobs take three to four years to complete. Sometimes even simple gunsmithing work it takes eighteen months to do. With most the time the firearm sitting on the rack gathering dust?

333Jeffery

Good luck with the "new" .300. I hope it works out for you.