Any idea if or when the custom shop will open back up?

David Lennon said:
I assumed the Custom shop did different work separate from regular orders and production knives. Some makers offer limited customisation on preorders etc and they would be considered smaller companies with a couple of months wait time but still make money out of it.
If you were to get down to the dollars and cents of it, production mass volume anything is probably more profitable, but sometimes less profitable services add an unseen value and experience to owning anything. Still love my Busse's but would like this option at some stage.
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There is more to it than just adding a few custom touches...Example I have to charge $30 an hour to break even that's $240 a day and might sound high, but have to consider all the hidden expenditures...Health Care Coverage, Unemployment Insurance, 2 that most people never think about...Turning on the Lights, and Power Consumption by Tools adds up QUICK, Taxes, Now lets get to how much you Pay an Employee per hour, and Sick Leave time, Paid Vacation or Time Away, You have to set money aside to pay an employee if they have to serve on Jury Duty...Now you see there are some Cost Items that no one considers when they think oh how much can it be to add liners....For instance 2 hours @$30 that is if there are no hidden issues so $60...How much is Profit???

Way different than Assembly Line work, and it's still 8-12 weeks....I mean 2 weeks!!!!
 
UNRL Ghandi said:
Haha, not a rocket doctor but if Busse did something like this I'd spend all the bank's credit like I was! :D
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Unfortunately I think those days of A Custom Busse are behind us...When they were open I floated a couple Ideas by Garth, but never came to fruition because the books were loaded and then they shut it down:( BUT Perhaps someday, hope springs eternal:rolleyes:
 
Busto said:
There is more to it than just adding a few custom touches...Example I have to charge $30 an hour to break even that's $240 a day and might sound high, but have to consider all the hidden expenditures...Health Care Coverage, Unemployment Insurance, 2 that most people never think about...Turning on the Lights, and Power Consumption by Tools adds up QUICK, Taxes, Now lets get to how much you Pay an Employee per hour, and Sick Leave time, Paid Vacation or Time Away, You have to set money aside to pay an employee if they have to serve on Jury Duty...Now you see there are some Cost Items that no one considers when they think oh how much can it be to add liners....For instance 2 hours @$30 that is if there are no hidden issues so $60...How much is Profit???

Way different than Assembly Line work, and it's still 8-12 weeks....I mean 2 weeks!!!!
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I understand the overhead aspects. I own a small business. The insurance, overhead and compliance costs are exuberant. Just seems with the Busse brand equity they could turn anything into gold considering their prestigious reputation and following. I think a lot of us collectors view off brand custom work to usually negate value compared to having the custom work performed be manufacturer as adding value to the item. Ultimately wish in one hand and #### in the other.... lol.
 
Busto said:
There is more to it than just adding a few custom touches...Example I have to charge $30 an hour to break even that's $240 a day and might sound high, but have to consider all the hidden expenditures...Health Care Coverage, Unemployment Insurance, 2 that most people never think about...Turning on the Lights, and Power Consumption by Tools adds up QUICK, Taxes, Now lets get to how much you Pay an Employee per hour, and Sick Leave time, Paid Vacation or Time Away, You have to set money aside to pay an employee if they have to serve on Jury Duty...Now you see there are some Cost Items that no one considers when they think oh how much can it be to add liners....For instance 2 hours @$30 that is if there are no hidden issues so $60...How much is Profit???

Way different than Assembly Line work, and it's still 8-12 weeks....I mean 2 weeks!!!!
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I totally understand overheads my thinking is you charge accordingly to cover the costs and it's up to the person themselves if they think it's worth it.
It would just be a nice option. Just my opinion
 
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954Ink said:
I understand the overhead aspects. I own a small business. The insurance, overhead and compliance costs are exuberant. Just seems with the Busse brand equity they could turn anything into gold considering their prestigious reputation and following. I think a lot of us collectors view off brand custom work to usually negate value compared to having the custom work performed be manufacturer as adding value to the item. Ultimately wish in one hand and #### in the other.... lol.
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I totally understand wanting the "Extras", but it Jerry felt it was feasible at some time in the future it could happen. However I think that they spend their "Custom Shop" time on in house builds to be offered during Grab Bag and Gaaanzzza Events which makes sense for Blade Stock they have on hand and fills in any time gaps during production runs. If Jerry announced the Opening of the Custom Shop it would be swamped overnight with probably Looooonnnngggg Wait Times!!!
 
It seems to me that some degree of simple 'spa' work could be assigned to newbie/junior shop staff. Scale swaps, liners, maybe some limited refinishing. Full blown bespoke Customs probably don't make sense, as they can instead have the senior creative staff just knock out cool stuff and easily sell it in 'Ganzas and Grab Bags with less hassle.

But what do I know? I don't run a successful knife business. o_O
 
I see what you did there.....

Though I do like the no whine policy. I'm also curious about those mystery handle colors.
 
I think this is as close as we get to custom shop. This and Gaaanzas. I would love to just order the layered micarta or the tiger, but so would too many others. Other than 3 or 4 of those options, I would gladly pay a little extra for the custom handles. I can’t believe I am going to gamble $800 and maybe end up with purple g10. It is going to be stressful and fun.
 
I guess this will be the first time being colorblind helps me lol. I could get the gray all day.
 
I ordered a Custom Choilless Boss Jack with Ram's Horn probably at least 5 years ago, still wondering if it will ever come to fruition? Who knows, would be absolutely amazing surprise if it is in the queue to be made.

I have no email record (I deleted my folder of old Busse related emails when I left the forums for what I thought would be forever, ... regrets I suppose.) or anything on paper from ordering, but remember talking with Garth over email about it specifically.

I still can't help but wonder if this is how these things work or not? Seems without having a receipt in hand for the work order, I'd wager I never see or hear anything... oh well it was a nice thought anyways. Maybe I'll catch a break and my long lost Grail will come home...
 
No idea. I didnt have the money for the custom shop when it was open.
 
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