One reason i don't think he should be knocked per se
fir wanting 100% up front, without knowing his reasons,
is that sometimes innovative products/services require
unconventional approaches if they are to work or get
off the ground.  Force everyone to deliver on the same
terms or like a long-time established business, and you
kill or chill the potential for innovation and thus for
neat products/services.  (We are, after all, dealing
with vans that have been out of production for 10
years.  Not exactly a huge market...like a generic body
shop has.)

This is one reason why the courts in the usa fiercely
protect freedom to contract, and generally strive to
honor/enforce the terms the parties agree to, no matter
how unconventional or even stupid they may be.  The
parties are in the best position to decide how to make
the transaction work, and allowing them freedom to
dictate the the terms ensures a healthy environment for
innovation and commerce.  Having said that, it follows
that contract terms are by their nature negotiable.  If
you don't like 100% up front, negotiate it!

Benjamin Tan wrote:
>
> In a message dated 5/31/01 8:28:54 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
> vanagon@VOLKSWAGEN.ORG writes:
>
> <<.... I think a 100% payment up front
>  would deeply concern me - ...>>
>
> Apparently, several people dealt with this guy in this manner w/o any
> unresolved problems. I personally would not feel comfortable with his way of
> doing business. He is basically using your money to buy and ship the engine.
>
> He is running a business with zero inventory and zero capital. As long as you
> are willing to put up with it and he delivers, it can work.
>
> BenT
> <A HREF="http://hometown.aol.com/bentbtstr8/myhomepage/index.html">Vanagon
> Cafe</A>
>
> all rights reserved/no portion of this document may be reproduced w/o prior
> written permission