HI there!
I have been on Andreas’ waiting list for about six months and have decided to cancel my order for a C set. Jens who handles Rogge’s order has told me that as materials have been purchased I will not be refunded any of the E620 or so I paid as deposit. However, he suggested if I find someone interested in ordering a set, they can take my place on the list and save themselves 6 months, and pay me the deposit.
Any takers? ( apologies if this is an innapropriate message for the forum but i guess people should be aware of this policy if they are considering placing an order) 
I think it’s a great idea to offer your place in production.
How long are orders currently taking?
Was there anything different about your set that the materials couldn’t be used for someone else?
I ordered his standard C set which you can check out on his website, we had not yet got to discussing specifics or details. The waiting list is three years usually. So I assume anyone interested in ordering on of his C sets can take up this offer and save 6 months. the total cost is E3200 i think, again this is on his website, but if you are interested i will get the exact figures from jens.
It was actually E3090 for the half set in C. the deposit was 20% = E618.00
I guess one should learn whether or not a deposit is refundable at the outset and time of placing an order. I did not know this was his practice. If the wood is there and the pieces have not been altered from their initial state then I can’t see why he would not refund your money. I’d suspect that most legitimate pipemakers would have no problem finding a buyer for a set, even if nearly completed, and am surprised that he would not offer a refund at the time the set was ultimately sold to someone else.
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A deposit confirms the order and (legally) places the customer on the books. For many companies, it also pays for the materials used in the job.
Sometimes, the work is repetative in nature or the materials can easily be used for other customers orders. It would seem unfair if the entire amount were kept by the company. However, it’s up to the company as to how much of the deposit gets refunded and how much is kept to cover administrative costs.
He’d be entitled to the materials, in any event.
Who’d be? Perhaps Rogge can send the materials to the customer. Why should Rogge keep the materials and the money?
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It’s appropriate and typical for custom manufacturers to ask for money in advance. This allows the Seller to make purchases for parts, as appropriate, to satisfy the order.
Six months into a 3 year wait sounds like a stretch, though. If, indeed, special, individual purchases were done, then the Buyer is entitled to less than the full deposit or the parts that were secured.
anyone know andreas website address?
thanks
RORY
This is Andreas Rogge Web page www.uilleann-pipes.de
When I was placing orders with Andreas Rogge he always asked for a 20% deposit but didn’t asked me for deposit for my last order D plumwood chanter which I have now.
All the best
I don’t know what the system is in America but in Europe it is normal for a deposit to be paid on most things and is a contract between yersel and the supplier.It is a commitment and the deposit is not normally refundable.If Andreas failed to keep to his side of the bargain then it would be fair to ask for the deposit back,but as the customer failed to keep to his side of the bargain then tough.
Andreas is trying to run a moderate business and pay two members of staff..have ye thought of that before ye have gone off on one??
All this shite about asking for the materials or warning people of"a practice"
If it was me ye were whining to i would say"how many g’s are there in bugger off!!"
ps.Have a nice day 
Maybe letting people make up their own minds about if this is an ok thing to do or not is a good plan?? 
Agreeing to the contract and paying the deposit is where the individual accepts and acknowleges the contract and its rules.
There are three g’s in bugger off (don’t forget the stupid git at the end). 
djm
Uilliam, you’re so easy to work with sometimes.
So you think it’s OK for a vendor who can easily re-use the materials on the next job to keep the entire deposit… end of story?
Was there a contract spelling out all delivery dates and penalties? Were materials secured by the Seller toward the order more than 2 1/2 years before delivery (and 2+ years before work commenced)?
I am surprised to hear about this policy. I would expect this customer to get the deposit back. Appropriate would be 15% off the deposit as an administrative fee.
i wonder if there would be extra charges if you change your order from ebony into snakewood? not that i want that.
but i’d sure consider myself a fool if i would argue about it with andreas. for me he’s the best.
Other costs are accrued by the maker, such as sourcing and purchasing the materials and making sure they are of good quality. It is just about impossible to get some types of wood sufficiently cured to be ready to work. That means storage in a place that the maker has to pay property taxes on, etc. Lots of different costs involved in running a business. I agree that the maker’s full policy must be known up front, but once the contract is made and the downpayment given, the seller should not whine about changing their mind later and not expect it to cost them something. That is capitalism.
djm