When I first started building ukes, I learned early on what I would allow and not allow for the construction. Never build anything you don't want your name on. I made a few instruments to the specs of the client even though it was against my better judgement. I don't and won't do that again. Never let a beginner/player design the instrument they think they want. I won't build a super wide neck or add long necks on small bodies or small necks on big bodies.
That is simply against my standards and I have lost commissions because of it, but that is OK with me. I also have limited patience with those who continue to ask questions for a long period of time, because they can't make up their mind. I try to build quality ukes with quality woods using quality construction. I try to let the instrument speak for itself. I agree with Pete, good luck to those who want to experiment, but if you want to make a living doing this trade you are going to need more than luck. You have to find out what works for you and the market. If you can't make a wage, you're screwed.
Having people jerk someone around is understandable, no one wants that, but if you are dealing with someone via email, like how you just dealt with me, you have no idea as to why someone asks questions like I did with you.
People ask questions for various reasons, and if you are calling yourself a professional and dealing with customers, then you need to have patience, otherwise you should not be dealing with customers, and have someone work for you that has the patience.
People like myself ask questions to also get a feel of who we are dealing with, a relationship is an important thing, your building Ukes is more then that, you need to establish and maintain customers, that means keeping future customers.
Everyone makes mistakes, and you need to place yourself in other people's shoes when dealing with them too. Because someone might make things hard for you, and you loose out, maybe if you maintain your cool and professionalism with someone, you might end up making a great long term customer.
I've worked in sales to amount a life time, never try to judge any situation, because the truth is no one has a crystal ball to read the future or tell what's on someone's mind. A sale that is crap in the beginning can end up to be major success in the future.
I have personally worked in sales, selling high end art to rich eccentrics, who would drive you crazy for peanuts, then I'd make a measly sale, thinking what an extreme amount of time for nothing, but because I treated the person with the utmost respect, at a later time they came back and bought like mad from me, because I treated them right and took care of them.
I contacted Mr. BlackBear and only sent him 6 emails with questions and concerns and I was going to buy the Uke concert now present on his site for sale, but because of his lack of patience, whatever you want to call it, he told me I should look elsewhere locally to buy a ukulele, for my many questions and concerns he seemed to not want to be bothered by.
The truth is, I never did anything wrong and this is not being profesional, or considerate, especially how you can hurt people's feelings, just as you hurt mine.
I understand you might have a name for yourself on UU, but you don't know me, I just asked questions, and then you show me as a potential customer a lack of respect.
I don't think you realize, I love Ukes and playing, I have a little money, and if you would of just been professional, you would of had a customer for life! Oh well...
I guess as a business person, somewhere along the line you forgot the saying;
Do unto others as you'd want them to do to you!
ALOHA