Am I right to feel annoyed? (long)

db, the starting of this thread made some negative feelings rise up that I spouted off on here. I try to give people the benefit of a doubt and am giving this person every opportunity to DO the right thing. When I have had enough; you won't be annoyed with me (for this) any longer.

Thanking you,

Darby

P.S. Everyone please forget the 2 earlier post from me in this thread. I should not have said anything until I was ready to come forward. (another lesson learned) :)
 
Darby I wasn't singleing you out. However you and many othera have done this. I really think it would be more useful to all if the person/persons were named. To be fair sending them an e-mail so they can tell their side, or clear things up would get alot more done. I really think if this was done we would improve the custom knife biz as a hole. I think better led times and communication would improve. So there it is my opinion, take it for what it is worth.
 
Dave,
From what you've said it sounds like your maker has received your e-mails, and then again it almost sounds like he hasn't. Are you sure he has gotten all the communication you've sent him other than the few phone calls you've had. Did you make sure that he knows how you feel and how disappointed you were not only in his lack of meeting the specific deadline, but also his lack of communication.

I'm not sticking up for him nor am I wanting to criticize anyone, but the few times in my pre-knifemaking career that communications got fouled up were the ones where apoligies and "eating crow" were required even if there was no intentional lack of communication.

If the guy has in fact received all the communications you initiated with him, there is no excuse for his not communicating back with you,
as uncomfortable as it may be for him to initiate contact with you to tell you he can't live up to his original committment, he has to get over that and keep you apprised....tell him exactly that and how you feel...if that doesn't help, I'd find another maker and spend my hard-earned dollars elsewhere!

Good Luck!
 
Originally posted by db
What annoies me is seeing people come here and bitch about makers, and say the maker will never be in there collection, or I'll never buy from him again,etc. Then they will not name this maker and let the rest of us know who it is. This does nothing as far as improving the maker or helping a fellow knife buyer. Thanks alot guys. And yes I have had 1 bad dealling, his name was Allan Blade and I have posted as much after/during it.
Click to expand...

I agree, it annoys me too. It's not specific to this thread - most people are not really willing to communicate a name on a board. I think it's unfortunate.

JD
 
Well, I spoke with the maker today. He said he's been sick, but that I should have the knife in my hands within a couple of days. Guess we'll see.

John,
He says he received my email messages. I didn't bother getting into the lack of communication on his part. Maybe I'll send him a letter after I get the knife, letting him know that better communication would have improved the process (and, no doubt, expressing my extreme pleasure with the knife :)).

Joss,
I haven't posted the knife maker's name because this is merely a matter of my being annoyed -- I'm sure that there are many here who wouldn't have even given the matter a thought. As I said before, no blood, no foul.
 
@ dsvirsky
This just came to my mind: When you receive the knife and are really happy with it.....THEN tell us about it (incl. makers name).
Hopefully this will be a lesson for this maker and he tries to improve his communcation skills!
I am with you: No blood, no foul!
 
Guess you weren't that annoyed after all. This guy would have never seen a dime of my money. Around here, people make all kinds of excuses for knifemakers, as if brownie points are redeemable for knives or something, but personally, I've got no use for anyone who would play games with my money or time. You know what happens in "the real world" when you don't do your job, and don't deliver on time?
You get fired.
 
Owen, that's not true at all. Have you ever had a contractor do something for you? Chances are that they will be months late and come in over budget as well. These people seem to continue to get job after job.

It is totally up to an individual as to how much they are willing to put up with. Personally, I have no problems with a maker being reasonably late, as long as I am kept informed. As I have stated many times in the past, it is the lack of communication that I can not tolerate.
 
I don't beleive makers would have clients bail out on them if they were realistic with their time frames.I had original delivery dates on some knives but got injured and have been laid up for 6 months. My clients have stuck with me-- I've kept them informed and the folks have been GREAT! I have about a year waiting list with new work coming in.And these folks in my neck of the woods are NO different than anywhere else.
 
And this is exactly why I say that I have no problem with delays; shyte happens. The best-laid plans of mice and men go oft astray, and there can be many good reasons for delays. As long as I know what is going on, I will wait.
 
Communication breakdown, it's always the same, having a nervous breakdown, drive me insaneeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

duh na na na na na na na na na NAA NAA NA!
 
Originally posted by db
What annoies me is seeing people come here and bitch about makers, and say the maker will never be in there collection, or I'll never buy from him again,etc. Then they will not name this maker and let the rest of us know who it is. This does nothing as far as improving the maker or helping a fellow knife buyer. Thanks alot guys. And yes I have had 1 bad dealling, his name was Allan Blade and I have posted as much after/during it.
Click to expand...

I guess I'm guilty of some of that, more because I didn't want to alienate myself from the forum, by making negative comments about a kifemaker, who I know is very popular on this board, or at least a lot more popular than I am. I found him impossible to get a responce or a strait answer from, despite never quibbling about price, being very flexible with respect to the steel used, the handle material, handle shape, the blade shape, etc... I've called him at least five times, each time he promised to check on somthing and call me back with a quote in a couple days. I waited at least a week each time, somtimes two, before calling him back. When I'd get him on the phone again, he had forgotten all about it, and hadn't checked on anything. I've sent him numerous emails, wich he told me on the phone, that he had recieved, but hadn't gotten around to answering. I never got a responce to any of them. After several months of trying to get a quote and an estimated delivery date, I just finally gave up. I recently agreed to buy one of his knives used, from a third party, so I guess I'll soon see what, if anything, I've been missing out on. I just hope the quality of his work, isn't as bad as his customer service. If it really irritates you that much not knowing who it is, email me, and I'll say privately.
 
Originally posted by Keith Montgomery
Owen, that's not true at all. Have you ever had a contractor do something for you? Chances are that they will be months late and come in over budget as well. These people seem to continue to get job after job.

It is totally up to an individual as to how much they are willing to put up with. Personally, I have no problems with a maker being reasonably late, as long as I am kept informed. As I have stated many times in the past, it is the lack of communication that I can not tolerate.
Click to expand...
I don't know about Owen, but I have had many contractors. If any have done what you have said it would be their last job with me. In fact I have tossed one off the job before it was done because he was too slow and holding up the whole project. He still sends me quots and they go right into the round file. :)
Back to knives. I also can understand things coming up and knives being pushed back but come on let us know. I have found that most makers are straight up with what is going on and about how long it should be. The ones that aren't should realize that some people don't like getting jacked around and they will not change unless people are willing to puplicly name them and tell this. Just my op.
 
I don't think giving a name is necessary at this point in the game. I would have done the same thing, being annoyed I don't always think with perfect clarity so having the opinions of others can be of great help. I recently was emailing several people some about knives for trade and a custom maker. Not getting return emails I was getting annoyed and wondering what the deal was especially since I knew for a fact that one the custom maker had great customer service as I had dealt with him in the past. Decided to call my internet provider and problem solved. The problem was on my side. I didn't think it was because I was getting some replies from other people. I even found out from my internet provider that some other internet companies were blocking mine for awhile. Don't always count on this technology and give it a chance. That's one thing I have had problems learning about computers. Most of the time it works well giving me a false sense of security. dsvirsky, he may have received some of your email but not others and thinking he had he might have told you he got them all but in reality he hadn't. My wife accidentally blocked one of my friends email thinking it was junk. You may also be able to set your emails to send you a receipt that your email was displayed on the individuals computer but this is still not a sure thing. If you want to be sure use the phone. Just giving my .02
 
Here is the way I see it.

If you as a knifemaker have a lot of orders, you have to decide to either continue to take orders, or not. If you do decide to accept orders, then you have automatically accepted the RESPONSIBILITY of handling those orders in a professional manner. Professional means that yes, sh*t happens and you can fall a little behind, BUT, you STAY in touch with the client, that is the one thing you MUST do if you make the decision to accept an order. If you are too busy to respond to a few emails, or spend a few minutes on the phone with your customers keeping them reasonably informed, then you should NOT be taking orders, and you have already taken too many. You should not take any order that you cannot handle in a professional manner. Part of taking the order is making a committment to keep your customer reasonably informed, and to repeatedly ignore emails, or be unreachable on the phone is unacceptable, in knifemaking, in any business, in LIFE. Its called common courtesy. Im not saying that all or even most makers fail at this, but we have certainly heard of it happening far too often. If youre one of the makers who makes a reasonable effort to keep the customer informed and to answer emails and or the phone, you have my respect, if youre a maker who feels that being a knifemaker somehow means you arent subject to common courtesy, then you do not, and you dont deserve any customers, no matter how talented you may be. Talent isnt enough, look at Allen Blade.

Rant over. :)

By the way, in about 550 posts, this is my first rant ever, sorry, but anytime i see a lack of common courtesy and consideration, it infuriates me and it prompted me to write this post.
 
Well, the knife finally arrived today. A cynical man might note that, in his profile over at CKD, the knife maker indicates his wait time is generally 4 to 6 weeks. Personally, I consider 4 to 6 weeks very reasonable -- or even the 7 weeks that this actually took -- but not when I'm quoted 1 to 2 weeks.

That same cynical man might point out that my credit card was billed on February 12, the day after the knife maker promised that the knife would be in my hands within a few days, but it wasn't mailed until February 20.

That said, the knife is just what I was looking for when I ordered it. Fit and finish are good, although not quite at the level of the other knife I have from this maker. It was the outstanding work on that first knife, relative to the price (the two knives are in the same price range), that led me to order the second knife.

Bottom line, would I purchase another knife from this maker? At a show or from a dealer, sure. But I don't think I'll be asking him to build another one for me.
 
OK, don't tell us his name, but how about posting a pic of the knife - not to bust the guy out, but just to show off your new pride and joy?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top