Communication......

338375

338375

Joined
Nov 4, 2006
Messages
19,374
After collecting production knives for some years, I decided the next logical direction was customs....

I have been in contact with several makers, and have had very poor comunication from them. I know these people are busy, but is this the norm with custom knife makers?
In the past I have dealt with numerous custom rifle makers, and over time I weeded out the bad ones, and had built a good base of people to deal with.

I guess I am not off to a good start. I do not have the desire or patience to have to continually try to contact people. This is supposed to be fun.

Sorry for the rant, just a little frustrated.. Any suggestions?
 
I have never had this kind of thing happen with a maker I was in touch with. I think (just as you said) that it is about finding those who are reliable and weeding out the others. The few makers I contact have always gotten back to me with in the same day or the following day. Just keep up the communication.
 
I have run into a couple of makers that were very poor at communicating. For that reason a decision was made on my part not to deal with them. It is easy to find makers that will get back to you in a timely manner, because that is what the majority of them will do.

Sometimes a lack of communication is caused by situations beyond the control of the makers: Illnesses, family emergencies, vacations, away on business, etc. It is always a good idea to try to make contact a few times, and if email doesn't work, give them a call. If this is something you don't have the patience for, keep trying until you find makers that get back to you in what you consider a reasonable amount of time. They aren't hard to find.
 
If you are just getting involved with the area of Custom knives, it is a good idea to try to visit some knife shows whether large or small so you can actually view and handle custom knives before going the "order from the maker' route. The largest custom knife show available is happening the last weekend of this month in Atlanta GA. If by chance this is an opportunity you can persue, it would be of utmost interest to you to attend Blade 2008.

check this link http://www.blademag.com/bladeshow/

Also read the thread in BF related to the newly formed Custom Knife Collectors Association and attend its inaugural meeting at Blade.

other show information can be obtained here

http://www.oregonknifeclub.org/ and then look at the show listings.

also be sure to read the threads in this section of BF as there is lots of great info available.
 
I tried calling Matt Lamey just to shoot the shit and find out if he was the kind of guy I'd buy a knife from. I just got his answering machine and let him know that I'd call him back sometime or drop him an email. I didn't leave my number, as I didn't want him to feel obligated to return my call from across the continent and over an international border. I had at that point no intention to try and acquire a knife from him in the foreseeable future.

Imagine my surprise, when the phone rang a half hour later or so with Matt Lamey on the other end. We talked for quite a while and on his dime.

Well, the result of that communication from Matt Lamey was a knife sale. I hadn't intended to buy one from him, as I have been saving for a few months to have Burt Foster make me one, (I guess I'll have to start over:cool:). I'd often admired the work I've seen of Matt Lamey's in BF, but hadn't really thought to look him up.

Well, I'm sure glad I did. And it could have ended there, but Matt Lamey has been so generous with his time and so open with me about his opinions, which I've grown to respect quite seriously, that we now have ourselves a lasting relationship. I will be a life long customer, and that's what it's all about.

P.S. My using Matt Lamey's full name is purely intentional, as I am now a loyal customer committed to promoting his brand:D:thumbup:
 
Attending a big show is a good idea. We have a decent show in Eugene every year that draws a fair amount of makers. I wasn't able to go this year because I had just had surgery :mad:...
I would really like to go to Blade but it's not going to happen this year.
Hopefully time will allow it next year. In the mean time I will continue my learning curve, and do a lot of research...
 
If you're not getting responses, try contacting some of the knifemakers who participate here. They may be the more communicative ones generally.
 
I'll tell you what, there is something I often hear from my new customers, especially those who contact me for the very first time with an inquiry.
What I hear is this, "Wow! Thanks for getting back to me so soon."!
I guess I don't understand that.
I check my email every morning and ANSWER what is there.
Then, I check it mid-day, and ANSWER what is there.
Then, I check it at the end of the day, and ANSWER what is there.
Then, I check it before I go night-night, and ANSWER what is there.
I'll bet most makers work right at home with-in 100 feet of their computer.
There is absolutely no reason to not communicate with clients in a very timely manner.
 
I am with Karl on this one. I check emails all day long till I go to work at 4 in the afternoon, then once i get home about 10:30 or so I am on the computer till like 1 in the morning. I have had customers tell me thanks for getting back to them so quickly and now i guess I understand why. Doug
PS If someone calls I do hope they leave a message as I might not hear the phone if I am grinding.
 
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