Terms & Conditions

1. The parties

These Terms & Conditions form a legally binding agreement between:

Throughout this document, "I", "me", "my", or "Crucible" refers to the Builder. "You" or "your" refers to the Client. "We" refers to both parties.

2. Definitions

Build / Commission

The custom PC I assemble for you, including the parts I source on your behalf, the assembly labour, testing, and delivery.

Brief

The set of requirements you provide describing what the machine is for and any constraints (budget, aesthetics, specific parts).

Spec

The list of specific components I propose for your build, agreed before any payment is taken.

Quote

A written total price covering parts, build fee, and delivery. Quotes are valid for 14 days unless stated otherwise.

Build fee

My labour charge, separate from the cost of parts. This covers spec consultation, assembly, testing, and post-delivery support.

Manufacturer warranty

The warranty offered by the manufacturer of each individual component (typically 1–10 years depending on the part).

Build warranty

My own 2-year warranty on the assembly itself — covering issues caused by build error or workmanship.

3. The commission process

A commission goes through four stages:

1. Brief. You contact me with what you want the machine for, your budget, and any preferences. We discuss until I have enough to propose a spec.
2. Spec & Quote. I send you a written specification listing every part, prices, total cost, and proposed timeline. The quote is valid for 14 days. No payment is required at this stage.
3. Build & Test. Once you approve the spec and pay the deposit, I order parts, assemble the machine, run a 24-hour stress and stability test, and document the build with photos.
4. Deliver. Final balance is paid before delivery. I deliver in person if you're within reasonable distance of Bristol, or ship by insured courier elsewhere in the UK.

You are not committed to anything until you approve a spec and pay a deposit. You can step away at any earlier point with no obligation.

4. Quotes & price changes

Every quote I provide is in writing and itemised — you'll see exactly what each part costs, the build fee, and any delivery charge.

Quotes are valid for 14 days from the date I send them. After 14 days I may need to re-quote because component prices change frequently — sometimes daily.

Component prices are particularly volatile in 2026 due to global supply constraints affecting RAM and storage. If, between you accepting a quote and me ordering parts, the cost of a component rises by more than 10%, I will:

• Notify you immediately
• Offer you the choice of paying the difference, accepting an equivalent alternative part, or cancelling the commission with full refund of any deposit paid

If a price drops between quote acceptance and ordering, I'll pass that saving on to you. The quote is a ceiling, not a fixed minimum.

5. Payment terms

Deposit

A 50% deposit is required to begin a build. This covers the cost of parts I order on your behalf. The deposit is non-refundable once parts have been ordered, but is fully refundable up to the moment ordering begins (typically 24-48 hours after deposit).

Final balance

The remaining 50% is due before delivery, after the 24-hour stress test has been completed and you've seen photos of the finished build.

Payment methods

I accept:

• UK bank transfer (preferred — no fees for either of us)
• PayPal (additional 3.5% fee passed on to you to cover transaction costs)

I do not accept cash for builds over £500. I do not accept cryptocurrency. All amounts are in pounds sterling (GBP).

VAT

I am currently below the UK VAT registration threshold and therefore do not charge VAT. If I cross the threshold during the course of a long-running commission, this will be communicated and prices for any unordered parts adjusted accordingly with your agreement.

6. Build timeline

Typical timeline from deposit to delivery:

Cast tier (entry)

2-4 weeks — fewer parts to coordinate, shorter testing.

Temper tier (mid)

3-5 weeks — more components, full stress test, cable management time.

Crucible tier (flagship)

5-8 weeks — water cooling, custom cables, leak testing extends the timeline.

These are estimates, not guarantees. The biggest factor is parts availability — if a component is on backorder, the timeline is delayed by however long it takes to arrive. I will keep you updated weekly throughout the build.

If the timeline overruns my estimate by more than 50% due to factors within my control (not parts availability), you may either accept the delay or cancel for full refund minus the cost of any parts that cannot be returned to retailers.

7. Delivery

Local delivery (within ~30 miles of Bristol)

I deliver in person, free of charge, at a time we agree. I will set up the machine, confirm everything works, and answer any questions before leaving.

UK courier delivery

For locations outside Bristol, I ship by insured courier (typically DPD or ParcelForce). Cost is added to the final invoice and is typically £25-50 depending on case size and weight.

Risk in the goods passes to you when the machine is delivered. If the courier damages the machine in transit, I will handle the courier insurance claim and either repair or replace the affected components at no cost to you.

I do not currently ship outside the UK.

8. Warranty

Build warranty (mine)

I offer a 2-year warranty on the build itself, covering:

• Issues caused by assembly error (loose connections, incorrect installation, etc.)
• Workmanship defects (cable management failures, mounting errors)
• Free diagnostic support if anything goes wrong

This warranty does not cover:

• Component failures (these are covered by manufacturer warranty)
• Damage caused by user modification, drops, spills, or power surges
• Software issues unrelated to hardware
• Performance degradation due to dust accumulation if not cleaned periodically

Manufacturer warranty (theirs)

Every component I install retains its full manufacturer warranty. Typical coverage:

CPUs, GPUs

3 years from purchase date

Motherboards, PSUs (premium)

5-10 years depending on model

RAM

Lifetime (typical for premium kits)

SSDs

3-5 years or a TBW (terabytes written) limit, whichever comes first

Cases, fans, coolers

1-6 years depending on manufacturer

RMA support

If a component fails within its warranty period, I will handle the RMA process on your behalf at no additional charge for the first three RMAs per build. After three, a small administrative fee applies (current rate: £35 per RMA) reflecting the time involved.

9. Your statutory rights

Nothing in these Terms reduces or removes your rights as a consumer under UK law. In particular:

Consumer Rights Act 2015

Goods I supply must be:

• Of satisfactory quality — meeting reasonable expectations for the price paid
• Fit for purpose — capable of doing what we agreed it should
• As described — matching the spec we agreed

If goods fail to meet these standards, you have a 30-day right to reject and receive a full refund. Beyond 30 days, you have rights to repair, replacement, or partial refund depending on the situation.

Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013

Because every build is custom-specified to your requirements, the standard 14-day "cooling off" right for distance-purchased goods does not apply once parts have been ordered (this is a recognised exemption for personalised goods). However, you remain entitled to cancel before parts are ordered, as set out in section 10.

Manufacturer liability for components (6 years)

Under the Consumer Rights Act, retailers — not just manufacturers — are responsible for faulty goods for up to 6 years from purchase. This is why I keep detailed records of every part I source for you, so we can pursue the retailer if a component fails outside the manufacturer's warranty but within the statutory period.

10. Cancellation & refunds

Before parts are ordered

You may cancel for any reason and receive a full refund of any deposit paid. I will confirm the cancellation in writing within 24 hours.

After parts are ordered, before assembly

You may cancel, but you are responsible for the cost of any parts that cannot be returned to retailers. I will:

• Return any parts I can to retailers (typically possible for unopened items within 14 days)
• Refund the deposit minus any non-returnable parts and a £75 administrative fee
• Offer you the option of receiving the non-returnable parts directly, in which case the parts cost is netted against your refund

After assembly has begun

The build will be completed. You may not cancel a build in progress except in cases of significant breach by me (e.g., gross delay, failure to deliver promised spec). If you cancel anyway, you remain liable for parts costs and a pro-rated build fee for work completed.

Faulty build on delivery

If the delivered build does not match the agreed spec or has a manufacturing defect, you have a 30-day right to reject under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, with full refund or replacement at your choice.

11. My right to refuse

I reserve the right to decline a commission for any of the following reasons:

• The brief is unsafe (e.g., requesting parts known to be incompatible or thermally dangerous)
• The budget is unrealistic for the proposed spec
• The communication has become abusive or unworkable
• I do not have capacity to deliver within a reasonable timeframe
• The Client is reasonably suspected of using the machine for unlawful purposes

Refusal will be communicated promptly and any deposit paid will be refunded in full. I do not provide a reason in writing for refusal beyond what is stated above.

12. Liability

My liability under these Terms is limited to the total amount paid for the commission in question. I am not liable for:

• Loss of data — you are responsible for backing up your data before delivery and maintaining backups thereafter
• Loss of profits, revenue, or business arising from machine downtime
• Indirect or consequential losses
• Issues arising from your modification of the build after delivery

Nothing in this section excludes or limits my liability for:

• Death or personal injury caused by my negligence
• Fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation
• Any liability that cannot be excluded under UK law

13. Disputes

If something goes wrong, please contact me first. Most issues can be resolved with a conversation:

I aim to acknowledge complaints within 48 hours and propose a resolution within 14 days.

If we cannot resolve a dispute directly:

• You can refer the matter to Citizens Advice (citizensadvice.org.uk) for free guidance
• For amounts under £10,000, you may pursue the matter through the Small Claims track of the County Court
• For data protection complaints, contact the Information Commissioner's Office (ico.org.uk)

14. General provisions

Governing law

These Terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Any dispute will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions continue in force.

Variation

I may update these Terms from time to time. The version in force is the one published on this page at the time you commissioned a build, and is the version that governs that build through to completion.

No waiver

If I do not enforce a provision of these Terms in any particular instance, that does not mean I have waived my right to enforce it in future.

Force majeure

Neither of us is liable for delays or failures caused by circumstances beyond reasonable control — supply chain disruptions, postal strikes, illness, natural disasters, or similar events. I will keep you informed if such a delay arises.

Assignment

You may not transfer your rights under these Terms to anyone else without my written consent. I may transfer my obligations to a successor entity (e.g., if I incorporate Crucible as a limited company) provided that does not reduce your rights.

Entire agreement

These Terms, together with the agreed spec and quote for your specific commission, form the entire agreement between us. They supersede any prior discussions or representations not written into the agreed spec.

Questions?

If anything in these Terms is unclear, or if you'd like to discuss a specific clause before commissioning a build, please get in touch.