Placing an Order
Submitting the order form or the generated order details is a request for a custom order and the start of our consultation. It does not constitute a binding order at that point. After submission, we will discuss the specifications, materials, pricing and other details together and finalize the specifications and the quoted price. Once these are confirmed, I will ask for a down payment of 50% of the build cost. Your order becomes final once the down payment has been received. On receipt of the down payment, I reserve a build slot and the materials you selected, such as your top wood.
Payment is made in two installments: a 50% down payment after the specifications and quote are confirmed, and the remaining 50% after the instrument is completed and before it ships. When your instrument is finished, I will send you photos of the completed guitar and request the final payment. The instrument ships once the final payment has been received.
Payments
You can pay by Square invoice, bank transfer, or PayPal.
Square: If you would like to pay via Square, I will send you a payment link for a Square invoice, which you can pay online with a supported credit card or other supported method. Square invoices are issued in Japanese yen (JPY) as a rule.
Bank transfer: Payments are accepted in USD or JPY. Transfer details are listed on the invoice. Any bank or intermediary fees for domestic or international transfers are the customer's responsibility. For international transfers, please instruct your bank that fees are to be paid by the sender (choose the OUR option, not SHA). If you request an invoice in JPY, the JPY amount is fixed based on the exchange rate at the time the invoice is issued.
PayPal: If you prefer PayPal, please let me know in advance. Where a currency conversion is involved, PayPal's own exchange rate and any fees charged to you by PayPal may apply.
Production Time & Shipping
Production time is typically 8 to 12 months from the receipt of the down payment and confirmation of the final specifications. The completion date may shift depending on the build details, specification changes, the availability of materials and parts, and other unavoidable circumstances. Once the instrument is complete and the final payment has been received, it will normally ship within 3 to 7 business days. Shipping may be delayed by final setup work, packing, carrier availability, or other unavoidable circumstances.
Specification Changes
Changes requested after the specifications have been confirmed are subject to a specification change fee of USD 50 per change. This fee covers the change itself only; it does not include any material costs, hardware or parts costs, additional machining or labor, or other actual expenses arising from the change. Any such additional costs will be invoiced separately. Depending on how far the build has progressed, some changes may not be possible. Specification changes may also extend the originally estimated completion date and delivery time.
Natural Materials
Wood and other natural materials vary from piece to piece in grain, figure, color, shading, small knots, pore structure and similar characteristics. These natural variations are part of the character of each instrument and are not considered manufacturing defects as long as they do not affect normal use or structural integrity. The color of the finished instrument may not exactly match photos, samples, or renderings due to variations in the wood, finishing conditions, lighting, photography, and display settings.
Cancellation Policy
Each instrument is custom-built to your specifications. If an order is cancelled for reasons attributable to the customer, I will deduct from the amounts already paid, to the extent permitted by law, the cost of design, build, and preparation work carried out up to that point, the cost of materials and parts purchased, ordered, or reserved for the order, and any other costs or losses normally arising from the cancellation. Any remaining balance after these deductions will be refunded. Depending on the progress of the build and on parts already ordered or dedicated materials, these costs may amount to the full down payment, in which case no refund will be possible. Cancellations for the customer's own reasons are not accepted once the instrument has been completed. Nothing in this section limits your rights in cases attributable to 962 Woodworks or any other rights you have under applicable law.
Returns, Exchanges & Cooling-Off
All sales are conducted as distance transactions (online / email). Under Japanese law, the statutory cooling-off period does not, as a rule, apply to distance/mail-order sales. As every instrument is made to order to individual specifications, returns and exchanges for the customer's own reasons are not accepted once the instrument has been completed.
If, on arrival, you find shipping damage, a manufacturing defect, a clear discrepancy from the order, or any other problem, please contact me within 7 days of receiving the instrument, including photos where possible. After reviewing the issue, I will address it by repair, adjustment, replacement, or another appropriate remedy. Manufacturing defects or non-conformities that could not reasonably be identified on arrival will be handled in accordance with applicable law.
Governing Law & Jurisdiction
These Terms of Sale are governed by the laws of Japan. This does not exclude the application of any mandatory consumer protection rules of your country of residence that cannot be waived by agreement. To the extent such an agreement is valid within Japan, the Otsu District Court or the Otsu Summary Court shall be the court of first instance with agreed jurisdiction for any dispute arising from or related to these terms.
The Terms of Sale contain important information regarding payment, production time, specification changes, cancellations, returns and exchanges. Please review them before agreeing. For details on how your information is handled, see our Privacy Policy.
