The one and only time I've been stiffed, I started a custom order knife for a gun dealer in Germany. He agreed on a price, but I had to leave on a reassignment back to the states before I could finish it. When I had it done, I called and asked if he still wanted it at the agreed upon price. My wife was traveling back to Germany to visit family and she carried it with her. The guy offered her half the price we agreed on "because the market in hand made knives has fallen off". I told her not to let him have it even at double the agreed price and to bring it back. I still send stuff before payment arrives and others do the same for me. Makes me feel good about society and I figure being burned once is just a "heads up" not a reason to give up on other's goodness.