Buy the process and remedy in writing, not just the finished object. There is no market-wide deposit percentage established by this research; negotiate the actual supplier’s terms.
What belongs in the commission agreement?
| Item | Minimum buyer question |
|---|---|
| Contracting party | Who is legally selling the garment, receiving payment and issuing the invoice? |
| Specification | Which cloth, construction, style and service category are included? |
| Fittings | Which stages are included, where, and with whom? |
| Payment milestones | What triggers the deposit, later payment and balance? |
| Changes | What can be changed before cloth ordering, before cutting and afterward? |
| Cancellation | What happens to the deposit at each stage? |
| Delivery | Is the commitment collection, dispatch or arrival? |
| Local alterations | Who approves the work, who pays, and is reimbursement cash or credit? |
| Remakes | Who decides necessity, what is the deadline, and what happens if cloth is unavailable? |
| Logistics | Who pays outbound and return shipping, clearance charges and any repeat-entry costs? |
| Unsuccessful correction | Is there a further attempt, partial refund, full refund or no additional remedy? |
| Records and privacy | How are measurements, fit changes and photographs retained, used and deleted? |
These are negotiating questions, not assertions that any particular remedy is legally mandatory.
How should you divide responsibilities?
Fill in one named contact per row:
| Responsibility | Name/business | Authority that must be confirmed |
|---|---|---|
| Measurement | ___ | Can explain and reconcile the measurement method. |
| Cutting and pattern changes | ___ | Can authorize structural changes before completion. |
| Making and quality control | ___ | Can confirm specification and production status. |
| US assessment, if used | ___ | Can inspect and report; may or may not approve remedies. |
| Remedy decision | ___ | Can approve spending, remake or refund. |
| Shipping and customs coordination | ___ | Can provide documents and resolve carrier queries. |
If the workshop and fitter are separate businesses, request joint written acknowledgment of this allocation. Do not leave the buyer to discover their disagreement after delivery.
Can you rely on a credit-card chargeback?
No. Ask your issuer about the specific overseas custom-garment transaction before paying. CFPB guidance describes billing-error notice deadlines generally running 60 days from the charge appearing on the statement, and separately describes conditions affecting the right to withhold an unpaid balance. A long production schedule makes it important to check deadlines early. (consumerfinance.gov)
Regulation Z distinguishes goods not accepted or not delivered as agreed from a dispute about the quality of goods already accepted. Do not treat a credit card as an unconditional fit guarantee or assume the same dispute route applies to every problem. (consumerfinance.gov)
Practical rule: use a traceable payment channel, retain the agreed specification and calendar issuer deadlines. If the seller requires full payment before shipment, recognize that your remaining leverage is the agreed remedy and applicable payment protections—not an unpaid balance.