contact with knifemakers

Marcel54

Marcel54

Joined
Jul 30, 2005
Messages
1,857
Normally I have a very good contact with knifemakers from all over the world, they are friendly, respond to my emails and know what they are talking about. So I'm mostly a happy collector. Recently I had some other experiences I would like to share. In the last couple of months I contacted two rather well known and excellent knifemakers about commissioning a knife. The first one mailed me back (after a long while) that he would contact me as soon as possible about my question. Until today (six months later) I haven't heard from him. The other maker didn't even bother to reply to my mails.
Although I took my business elsewhere and happy with the other makers' work (like my two knives from David Brodziak) it still bothers me that the other ones didn't treated me as they should have and I realy feel neglected :( :( .

Any similar experiences someone?

Marcel
 
Not all knifemakers are good e-mail correspondents. Not all knifemakers can respond to an e-mail without help from their teenage kids. I can think at least a couple whom I would call, rather than e-mail, to discuss existing or future orders. I sure wouldn't wait six months for a response to an e-mail if I were really interested in pursuing an order.

Plus, there's the whole lack of absolute reliability of e-mail delivery anyway. I recently had a maker (with whom I have an excellent working relationship) call me up because I hadn't responded to an e-mail of his for two weeks or so, and he knows that I generally respond promptly. Turns out I never got the e-mail. Turns out other people hadn't been getting all of his e-mails either.

Roger
 
Another issue with this is that lots of people are now using spam filtering for obvious reasons. This can trap good email and if you don't go look at what got trapped then it may never been seen.

I got caught with this a couple of times trying to email clients. My filtering was blocking any hotmail type accounts, after five emails I wasn't getting their's anymore. On the other end I've had mine filtered to a junk mail folder they had setup.

I have since turned my spam filtering off so that I know I'm getting everything that makes it to my mail box but this can still be an issue for many people.

Sean
 
Marcel:
Some very good knifemakers are very poor businessmen. If you are genuinely being treated poorly as a collector, you made the apropriate response by taking your business elsewhere. This, in itself, will weed out the makers who will be successfull business people. If there is a knife you cannot live without, you may have to deal with an unpleasant transaction. Just remember that there are really not very many knifemakers in the world, and we are a quirky bunch. Your imput like this is helpfull to make the whole market a better place to do business, and to raise the bar on professionalism overall.
Best of luck, and happy knife hunting.
Adam.
 
Email is not always the best way to go. Now, if I called a maker and got snubbed I'd be pretty pissed.

I have a small list of makers I could just call up to chat with or ask a question to. Those guys are good folks, and most makers are that way if you get to know them.
 
You don't say whether or not you communicated by e-mail. However, in the US, for many people, an e-mail is the most impersonal way to contact someone. If you are going to invest money in a project, you should call them on the phone. Make sure the person you are dealing with gets to know you and what you want. Mutual respect is the foundation for success.
 
Thanks for the comments guys. First of I allways use the "read receipt" function just for the purpose of knowing whether or not the mail is received. I use e-mail normally as a first contact because due to the time difference it is a bit difficult to reach the makers in the States or Australia. And yes I use the phone with those (e.g. Don Polzien who is doing a project for me right now) who "hate" all those modern inventions or after we have made the "first contact" or if the project needs it :)

The point I was trying to make was that some makers, although they have read my e-mails and uses e-mail on there website as a means of communication, didn't even bother to make any further contact. Because there are so many talented makers out there I can spend my money easily elsewhere with someone who does keep communications flowing.

Marcel
 
Im one of the worlds worst with communications and freely admit that... something im still working on.

Its always worthwhile (if possible) to follow up with a phone call. There are times i may not get to the computer for months for varios reasons, and i know other makers that are the same.

Theres gotta be a better way, just wish i knew what that way was.

Ive also been on the opposite end of the spectrum, ordering knives from makers (some nearly 10 years ago) and not hearing anything from them at all.
 
Marcel
You are not alone.
In the last 3 months I've had 2 no response. I'm not taking it personnal as just went elsewhere. In regards to phoning difficult with time differences as said. I aknowledge there are legit reasons for not responding ie computer down or not checking emails often. The thing that annoys me the most is you know that the person has been on the compter as they have posted more knives for sale on various forums after your email but no response to email I think that's just bad manners!
I must point out in the last 12 months I've bought alot of customs from the US & only had 3 bad experiences. Most makers I have found to be gentleman & couldn't do enough to help
 
In the NEW custom knife world, two things are very apparent:

  • A maker needs to have exceptional quality to stay abreast or ahead of the market.
  • A maker needs to have good communication skills and good service in order to stay abreast or ahead of the market.
Hard fact: This is now a very competitive industry. The market is saturated with quality knives from MANY knifemakers.

Quality workmanship now only gives a maker the interview. From there, they need to sell themselves. Communication and followthrough is paramount to this.

If one or the other is lacking, that maker will recede into the has-beens.

There are good and bad examples surrounding us. Makers not willing to turn on the computer often or spend time answering queries? Well, they are not willing to invest in their future--it's plain and simple to me. Move on.... There is another maker happy to engage, and with similar quality.

Coop
 
I'll add my thoughts on this as a relative newcomver to the custom knife world. A couple years ago, I got in contact with a knifemaker and we discussed specs and prices for a piece. Email replies took a long time (1 week+) and they were not very informative. However, my understanding was that my knife was now enqueued to be made. However, I never heard back, even though I emailed about my knife a couple times as a follow up. I didn't get the knife, and the whole experience soured me for a while on getting a custom knife made. I understand that immediate turnaround on email is unrealistic, but I don't think it is unreasonable to expect at least a short reply within 24 hours during the work week.

Recently, I met JP Holmes at the '05 BAKCA and ordered a knife from him. During the process, JP was extremely responsive to my emails and made sure that I was informed of his progress. Having JP be so responsive with emails made the whole experience much more enjoyable and has removed the sour taste from my previous experience. To do the knife justice, I'll post more about the knife itself later when I have more time,
 
Speaking for myself, emails are the preferred method of contact. Not that I don't want to talk to my customers personally but email leaves me a written copy of all the details of the discussion and provides a way of going back and forth with sketches and such.

Timing is also better with email, I can respond first thing in the morning or late in the evening after the workday is over. This is when I have time to think out my replies fully.

Like Roger says though many makers do not like computers and others are out and out hermits who are impossible to pry out of their workshops. After all we are artists and artists are known to be "different" at best.
 
I agree with George about emails. I'm not very good at remembering something unless it's written down. Confirmed orders by email are kept in a folder for reference. I do enjoy discussing details personally on the phone. I try to update each customer as to the progress of their knife. I also would email pics if it's a customer design but right now my imaging program is acting up.
Scott
 
Adam I didn't know I was quircky I thought I was just wierd ha. On the other hand I have had people order knives and when you try to contact them they never respond.I always answer my emails when I get them.
Reggie
 
I've had several similiar experiences. In one instance the Maker would reply (after about 2 weeks) almost always with a very short "workin on it" or later with some excuse (to further delay the knife). Months and Months go by and one day the knife shows up on my doorstep (with a $50 Shipping charge attached :eek: even though it was late).... not at all what we had discussed so I sent it back (got my shipping back to) and went elsewhere!! Best decision I ever made.

Some makers are smart enough to recognize they do not have the time or inclination to check or respond to email so they just close their email account. Those that do have email should answer, in a timely manner. I've learned that Makers that do not even respond (or are habitually late in responding) are better left alone!

You did the right thing. :thumbup:
 
I do think makers that have email addys and/or websites should answer them. If they want to sell knives as a business, then act like it. If they prefer snail mail or phone calls, specify that. Nothing turns me off faster than a maker or sheath makers or whatever who mainly got their start (not all of them did, but many) due directly to the internet and forums and then treating email like a pain in the butt.

Even worse is when a maker will not respond, but is on the forums and posting, then others make excuses like "oh, he might not talk to you, but he sure makes nice knives" or the "they are artists, lets cut them some slack" :barf: Or "he is so busy". Well, we are all busy. Maybe they are busy, but its probably due to CUSTOMERS.

Sometimes talking to a maker or asking about a knife you have on order can be like talking to the phone company, you wait and wait and wait and when you FINALLY get an answer, it has almost nothing to do with the question.

On the other side though, you do have makers that set aside times to answer email witha timely response. Those are the ones that realize the customer is why they are in business in the first place.
 
I always like to contact a maker by phone whenever I can. The internet can certainly be a good way to make contact, and, as several makers in this thread have pointed out, a good way to have a written record of what has been discussed, or ultimately, decided on, but a phone call is spontaneous and allows the speakers to "feel each other out". The makers I have contacted have all been great, and we've often branched into areas other than knife making.

I recently called and left a message for Dan Burke. I just wanted to ask him a few questions about a little tortoise handled gentleman's folder that I had recently acquired. In the message I even stated that I'd picked it up on the secondary market (Nordic Knives. Great folks!), and didn't know much about it. He called me back in about an hour, and we spoke at length about everything from cars to children to, well, all sorts of things! In the end, I asked him to make me a knife! I had no intention of doing this when I'd called; it just sort of happened. Now I can start putting fifty bucks away each month for the next three years (!) and I'll be squared away when the knife is ready.

Oh, guys, when we were talking, he said that he was in his early 60's, was about ready to tone things down, and wasn't sure if he wanted to take any more orders. I said, "Um, how about one more?" If you want something from this incredible artist, you'd better jump! Really nice gentleman.
 
If a maker doesn't respond to my emails, I give them a phone call. If I don't get the right feeling from the phone call, I move on. There have been very few times that I decided to move on.
 
;) Hello knife enthusiasts! As a knife maker I like to keep in touch with the people that order knives. Sometimes they change their minds, want different handle matieral or the grind on the knife or they get in a position that they cannot buy the knife. And it happens. I have made knives for people and after I called them I never hear from them again. And some have sent me money and I never hear from them again. I like to spend time with the customer and let them know at what point they can change the knife or they can't change the knife. I like to make the knife just the way they want it if possible. The problem is that we knife makers get so many emails from "tire kickers" or from someone that is asking for a design that is not suited for the job, we can't tell serious inquiries from casual. When I'm busy I tell them to let me know in a few months if they are still interested. I could go on but this band wagon is tipping over. Thank you for reading this and thank the people who have had good luck in ordering knifes and keeping in touch with the makers.
JP Holmes
 
I'm an email kind of guy. Not only is it way more convenient (for me), but I also feel that it lets the knifemaker answer my questions when he/she has the time -- plus, I'm really uncomfortable calling people I don't know. However, when I do order a knife, whether in person at a show or online, I provide my phone number, snail mail address, and my email address as the preferred method of contact.
 
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