…do you pay the full amount up front or when it's dispatched?

Just curious how it normally works.

Depends how long it's going to be before you get it.

Currently mid Feb

depends on if its being ordered for you.

if its a "special" order, then i would expect to pay full whack up front. But if its a standard "run of the mill" bike i would email the supplier letting them know you want to purchase 1 when there in stock and ask them to email you when there in stock.

Its a standard run of the mill Giant frame.

I presume that I would be able to cancel before dispatch?

Anyone else have any advice on this?

I've generally paid a 10% deposit and the balance on collection. I'd expect to lose the deposit though if I cancelled.

When I ordered my 853 frame I paid about 1/3 of the agreed price so that Andy could buy the tubes, balance paid on collection (oh, and got a 753 track tandem frame free as well). When I ordered my CR64 frame I paid a grand as a goodwill gesture – took 6 months to arrive. When I ordered my fro I just paid when it arrived after 5 months.
Do what you want, what does your LBS say? Why not just ask them?

What mamadirt said

Cheers for the replies.

It was ordered last week…I paid in full as I assumed that was the norm but just wondered and, not having loads of money, it might have been financially easier if had been some of the money and not all.

I'd be tempted to pay with a credit card too
not sure how you'd stand with the receivers if the LBS went out of business – I suspect it'd be knee deep in the crap

Usually pay in full on dispatch. Cotic don't take deposits for frames that they don't have yet, although 18Bikes did when I ordered a Chemeleon (about £50 IIRC).