No plans exchanges.

Post by **jacquesmm** » Fri Mar 26, 2004 2:08 pm

We begin to receive more requests for plans and exchange and want to reaffirm our policy: we do not exchange or refund plans.
This clearly stated at BoatPlans-OnLine.com:
http://www.boatplans-online.com/orderinfo.php
where we write:
"Plans can not be returned, sorry. We show sufficient information to avoid any confusion or mistake about our boats and methods."
We repeat that statement on the order confirmation by email.
All designers have that same policy.
On that same page, we mention a restocking fee but does not apply to the plans. We accept returns of kits and books but not plans.
No exceptions, sorry.

anonymous · Post by **anonymous** » Fri Mar 26, 2004 2:20 pm

Jacques,

When did this policy change? I was planning to trade my D15 flans for XF20 as soon as I get home next week. I was under the impression that plans could be exchanged for the difference in cost plus the shipping.

John West

Post by **jacquesmm** » Fri Mar 26, 2004 2:27 pm

There is no change in policy. That statement is on the order information page since the web site exist.
We made the error of accepting a few exchanges lately but we can not do it anymore, sorry.

CMP · Post by **CMP** » Sat Mar 27, 2004 9:26 am

I see absolutely NOTHING wrong with that policy, folks. JM is in business and since it is VERY easy to reproduce a plan he sends to someone within minutes of receiving it, accepting returns would be foolish. Keep the faith, JM...

CMP

anonymous · Post by **anonymous** » Sat Mar 27, 2004 1:31 pm

Why not own plans for two boats!

Buying the plans is a good way to fully evaluate a design. I've bought several sets of plans knowing that I won't end up building them all. I add that expense in as a part of the overall cost of building a boat.

Think about what you'd be paying for a custom design, and then it doesn't look bad at all.

The cost of plans is a small part of an overall boatbuilding project. Let's give our designers incentive to keep doing a great job.

anonymous · Post by **anonymous** » Sat Mar 27, 2004 2:53 pm

It's also nice when you consider a lot of designers will charge you just for the study plans let alone the actual build plans.

MadRus · Post by **MadRus** » Sat Mar 27, 2004 5:20 pm

Am I crazy, or am I the only one who buys the plans for the plans sake? I just like looking at the work that's gone into them, and getting ideas from them for the boats I do build, and if I get around to building them all someday, great. I've got six sets, and I've only built one boat. Keep 'em coming!

-Dave

LarryA · Post by **LarryA** » Sat Mar 27, 2004 5:45 pm

MadRus wrote:Am I crazy, or am I the only one who buys the plans for the plans sake? I just like looking at the work that's gone into them, and getting ideas from them for the boats I do build, and if I get around to building them all someday, great. I've got six sets, and I've only built one boat. Keep 'em coming!

-Dave

You and me both - actually got to the point that I auctioned some off on ebay - although I think my ratio is better than 6:1, more like 3:1 (2 sets of plans for every boat I have built).

anonymous · Post by **anonymous** » Sat Mar 27, 2004 6:45 pm

Check with Jacques to make sure the license accompanying those plans is freely transferable when you sell them on ebay. My plans explicity state that the buyer (that's me) is authorized to build one boat. My understanding of licensing is Jacques owns the plans, and I have a license to use the information on them to build a boat. The way I understand it I don't "own" the plans, therefore I can't legally transfer the license. Jacques may not mind, I don't know. But remember, when you resell plans you could be depriving him of a sale.

The best way to keep these guys designing these great boats is to ensure they get a decent return on all that time that goes into making plans. Gosh when I look at my Maia plans, it's frightening to think of all the time and expertise that was required to do that. In some people's minds (mine included) these plans are a work of art. In fact I have one sheet on the wall in my office because I love the design and it's great to look at during the day.

I can't imagine the designers are getting rich off this, so let's help them out!

anonymous · Post by **anonymous** » Sat Mar 27, 2004 6:57 pm

And let's not forget about the expense of running this site and forum and the time the designers spend responding to questions. What I've learned about boatbuilding on this forum over the last year and a half is astounding. Questions are answered, and the archives are freely searchable by anyone. Well worth the price of an occasional purchase of plans.

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