We have to protect ourselves from the modern world of Internet fraud and the unfortunate side effects of cyber selling, while ensuring quality customer care and the safe delivery of our products. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LET'S GET ONE THING OUT IN THE OPEN! There will be no nickel and dime techniques! Retail Price Includes Shipping, Tax, and Insurance! There will not be any extra charges... no hidden fees. No matter where you live, the price is the same... unless you are on Maui, and pick it up in person. That deserves a discount, I am sure you would agree.
This is how it works. After contact via e-mail, at ravensart@ymail.com we exchange phone numbers to speak in person. You describe what you want; we decide exactly what woods, features, options, etc. you'd like, and come to terms on price and a loose timeline for delivery. This process of choosing your custom made instrument will be very specific. You get to pick any or all of the features available to you, even take a look through my wood supplies, or I can try to order exactly what you want if I don't have it on hand. Every detail is thoroughly discussed top to bottom. There are a multitude of options... from woods to inlay, to "one of a kind creations" that only you have thought of, and want to bring to life. As the day nears when construction begins, we will ask for a deposit to secure the sale. This deposit usually is 50% of agreed price. Common forms of payment will all work... Bank Transfer, Personal Check, Cashier's Check, and rarely, Cash in Person. If, during the 1-2 months of building time, suddenly you no longer want what you have custom ordered, we will refund one half of the deposit, but you lose the rest, one quarter of full price. This would cover the wood and hardware costs, and the many hours of planning and communication.
During construction, it is normal for us to give timely updates, including pictures and discussion via phone, text or e-mail... we don't leave you wondering about the status of your order. The building process can go as quickly as 5 weeks, with an extra ten days for the lacquer to dry completely, as a minimum. So, maybe 2 months later, it will be ready to ship. No guarantee that the time frame will be that short... it is only the minimum. Realistically, only the first in line on a very quiet year would get an instrument almost immediately... I am sure you understand that magic is not used in lutherie very often.
So, when the lacquer is dry, and buffed, the setup is near perfect, and it's ready to go; the remainder of the full price will be paid and a short period observed to make sure that payment is safely accounted for. And when it's all in line, this Labor of Love will get on a jet, and be sent directly to you with a trusted carrier such as Fed Ex, UPS, the USPS, or whomever gives your area the best service for a reasonably competitive price. No products will be shipped before full payment is received.
All efforts are made to safely insure that the product will arrive undamaged. We provide a 'good' quality case, but not a super cool custom one. And an oversized box well padded and protected, marked clearly as fragile. AS STATED PREVIOUSLY : Shipping Costs are INCLUDED Insurance during shipping is INCLUDED Hawaii State Tax is 4% of Retail, and is INCLUDED Total Price will include: Not Only the Cost of the Instrument, but also shipping, insurance, and tax. There are No Extra Costs!
Upon Delivery, you have five days to declare that the instrument is unacceptable. After that time, we can assume that it arrived safely, and that any defect is probably your accident. The most common defects are over heating the instrument, by leaving it in your car... and damage from banging it, or an accidental drop. At about 1 1/2 lbs. for a Tenor uke, it's a very delicate instrument, so treat it well and don't let dogs and small children play with it! However, all efforts will be made to keep the customer happy. We're not here to sell disappointment. Word of mouth is the greatest advertisement. In the event that your instrument needs repair in the future, many Luthiers would be qualified to do so. If you want us to repair it because we know it best, we would open a discussion as to the costs of shipping and repair. Unfortunately, the shipping can be a crippling factor on an Island deep in the Pacific. We are on the most isolated land mass in the entire World.
Of course, if you just happen to be on Maui, you can thoroughly inspect your instrument in person, and simply put it in the overhead compartment of the jet on your journey home. We'd love to meet our clients... it's a great joy to share the creative process with friends. And besides... no shipping or insurance costs... are worthy of a discount, and everyone likes a discount! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On a very different note... Somewhere in here I feel obligated to thank my dear friend Michael Gilbert for believing in me and pushing me towards being a full time Luthier. It was he who set me up with a display at the Grand Wailea and let me exhibit at The Na Pua Gallery. As a seasoned and trusted member of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel chain, and an internationally recognized artist and curator, his advice, counsel, and friendship has been beyond words. Without him, my art and passion for lutherie may have languished in the shadows until the end of time. Mahalo, Michael for the impetus to reach beyond my boundaries to take hold of my dreams. If for no other reason, those dreams grow larger each day and more close to reality. Some day...
