From what I've learned, anybody can buy a custom mold. Simply pay a $100 setup fee, supply a drawing, pay for the whole order and wait at least Six months.
What I'm trying to do is sell from inventory. I order enough molds in a batch that I don't have to pay the $100.00 'setup' fee. That fee is the same even after I've paid for the tooling. . .
So, anybody that's ordered molds from me is in the cue. Their mold is ordered and paid for at LEE. I never bill for, or accept payment for, any mold order until I can deliver. So, paying ahead wouldn't speed anything up. It would only tie up your money while you wait along with me. So, I'll do the paying and we'll wait together. As soon as I get a batch of molds from LEE I fill all back orders and then put the remainder in inventory. I've got a LOT of money sitting on my shelves, but that's my choice and my risk. I'm not asking any pards to take that kind of risk along with me.
Onlyist thing is, next time I hear some 'cowboy' grumble because I'm making a nickel, I'll let him know that I've got plenty of room for investors. . . .
DD-DLoS