Am I being unreasonable?

D

d2k5000

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Some months ago, I put in a Pre-order from a maker for a mid-tech knife . Due to production delays, the knives are shipping out kinda slowly. I understand that delays happen, but I find myself getting kind of irritated when I see that they are now in stock at GP knives. I paid full price in advance for the pre- order, but it appears that it would have probably been faster to just keep my money and buy from GP knives.

I don't have a lot of experience in this. I would be curious to get another person's take on this.
 
d2k5000 said:
Some months ago, I put in a Pre-order from a maker for a mid-tech knife . Due to production delays, the knives are shipping out kinda slowly. I understand that delays happen, but I find myself getting kind of irritated when I see that they are now in stock at GP knives. I paid full price in advance for the pre- order, but it appears that it would have probably been faster to just keep my money and buy from GP knives.

I don't have a lot of experience in this. I would be curious to get another person's take on this.
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I don't think it's unreasonable to be mildly annoyed, but remember that GPKnives likely placed a significantly larger order either earlier or at the same time as you did. To the maker both of you are customers and, unfair though it may be, customers that place large, early orders on the regular are often going to see a bit of preferential treatment.
 
Insipid Moniker said:
I don't think it's unreasonable to be mildly annoyed, but remember that GPKnives likely placed a significantly larger order either earlier or at the same time as you did. To the maker both of you are customers and, unfair though it may be, customers that place large, early orders on the regular are often going to see a bit of preferential treatment.
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Unfortunately, this is true. If they are getting orders from GPKnives, Blade HQ and the like for 50 plus knives, be assured they will fill those first. This is why, NEVER pay a maker in advance for a knife order, PERIOD!
 
I can see how you may get irritated; but you almost have to assume that a major customer (GP in this case) ordering multiple units is going to get an order filled b-4 a single buyer.
 
d2k5000 said:
Alright thanks for the input guys. Guess I will know for next time.
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Who is the maker in question? Just curious. I understand if you don't want to say, but I can't see much harm in it--it's not like you're accusing them of something heinous.
 
Maybe I am really wrong with this, but I have never worked with any maker that required money up front...
(Maybe a small deposit to keep a place in line or something)

The only time I could even remotely see that as being a requirement is if you want something way out of the norm, and you are expected to pay for those pieces up front, and even that is rare.

I think a confident maker with integrity is one that never asks for money until what you asked for is finished.
 
JR88FAN said:
Maybe I am really wrong with this, but I have never worked with any maker that required money up front...
(Maybe a small deposit to keep a place in line or something)

The only time I could even remotely see that as being a requirement is if you want something way out of the norm, and you are expected to pay for those pieces up front, and even that is rare.

I think a confident maker with integrity is one that never asks for money until what you asked for is finished.
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I can agree fully with this. Generally makers don't take pre-orders for blades at price. Most times it's simply a small fee to reserve one's place in line. Upon shipment of the knife, the remaining amount is charged to your payment method of choice.
 
I don't think it is unreasonable to notice and even think you are not on the priority list.

However, if you are buying a mid-tech that is available at a well known dealer, why deal with the maker directly?

Express your thoughts to the maker and then request a full refund and purchase the knife from GP -

That sends the message to the maker, and it also helps GP sell their allotment. You have your knife, everyone wins.

Good luck - and best regards

mqqn
 
JR88FAN said:
Maybe I am really wrong with this, but I have never worked with any maker that required money up front...
(Maybe a small deposit to keep a place in line or something)

The only time I could even remotely see that as being a requirement is if you want something way out of the norm, and you are expected to pay for those pieces up front, and even that is rare.

I think a confident maker with integrity is one that never asks for money until what you asked for is finished.
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Unfortunately some makers ask for the full price up front, and they are the ones I avoid. Seems like all the maker that want up front payment are the ones that end up here in the GBU...
 
Interesting. The people who paid in advance; I'm assuming that the OP wasn't alone in ordering and paying early help to finance the makers ability to produce their products and the shop(s) that undoubtedly didn't pay in advance get the knives first?

Any maker that doesn't sell in the same sequential order they receive their orders sounds like a maker to avoid to me. If the maker has the means to make and deliver in quantity to dealers, they surely have the means to ship individual knives to the people that paid in advance.

No, you're not being unreasonable at all.
 
mqqn said:
I don't think it is unreasonable to notice and even think you are not on the priority list.

However, if you are buying a mid-tech that is available at a well known dealer, why deal with the maker directly?

Express your thoughts to the maker and then request a full refund and purchase the knife from GP -

That sends the message to the maker, and it also helps GP sell their allotment. You have your knife, everyone wins.

Good luck - and best regards

mqqn
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This ^^
 
I have seen thus same advanced and pre-order offer on books as well. It does make one think they will be getting one first before release to the general public but it seldom works that way in real life.
 
Many people want to buy directly from the maker.
Many people also know that great knifemakers do not make the best business people/customer service people. They are busy grinding, every time they need to deal with a customer, that is less time spend grinding, which means lower production.
Retailers buy from makers directly in order to get the item in the hands of the people faster than dealing with a maker. So it makes more sense to go through a retail channel. I can imagine that the orders for a retailer would and should take precedence over the onesie twosie approach as a long term business strategy. I mean, that is why makers sell to retailers, they say, here is what I've finished sell them while I grind out a few more.
 
In reference to paying up front; this subject comes up a LOT. I agree that full payment is crazy and much of a payment for a standard knife is not a good idea, however, I believe full customs are different. I have had a well respected, long term, guild maker do four custom knives for me over the last 8-10 years; all required 50% up front and the remainder upon completion. This should not be a problem IMO because all the knives were custom to MY specifications. What if I changed my mind (the wait for his work is around 4-6 months)? How long might it be before he can sell it, and can he get the price I was to pay? My guess is that most of you will agree with this, I just didn't want those who may never have dealt with full customs to feel there is something wrong with a significant deposit if they decide to in the future. Please pardon the length of this, and I hope it is not an inappropriate interruption; if so, apologies.
 
mqqn said:
I don't think it is unreasonable to notice and even think you are not on the priority list.

However, if you are buying a mid-tech that is available at a well known dealer, why deal with the maker directly?

Express your thoughts to the maker and then request a full refund and purchase the knife from GP -

That sends the message to the maker, and it also helps GP sell their allotment. You have your knife, everyone wins.

Good luck - and best regards

mqqn
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I agree as well.
 
I'm still trying to figure out the benefit for the customer to pre order and allow maker to use funds as a business loan and not get a knife ahead of anyone?
 
The only time I've pre-ordered is when the knife is advertised ahead of time as a very low quantity limited release, with 100% guarantee they will sell out the day they are released.
 
TOMBSTONE said:
I'm still trying to figure out the benefit for the customer to pre order and allow maker to use funds as a business loan and not get a knife ahead of anyone?
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The customer does not know they will not get their knife before the dealers. They think they will have some priority, and most often they do not. It's just a selling tactic for the maker, to sell his/her knives before they are produced. This guarantees that he/she will sell every knife made in that run, and have all the funds in advance.
 
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