Custom makers selling at shows when they are backordered.

I agree that a maker must attend the shows to keep his presence. This is where he will normally bring out the new stuff he has been working on. It gets attention if it is nice and maybe pictured or wrote of thereby keeping the orders rolling in. As Ray Kirk, {Hi Ray} said you must honor a price given reguardless of its delivery time.
My delivery time is approx 3 1/2 years on normal orders and depending upon the order. Could be longer as some limited pieces are sold for futher out. I do not give a firm delivery date as I have always honored military orders first. I do not let the order for them stand over 8 weeks. They do their part so I do mine. This causes delivery date problems.

As a result I came up with a newsletter that everyone on the order list gets free. The newsletter keeps them informed of what is going on in the shop. They will know if I am ahead or behind schedule. They will know if I am working on anything new, and if they want to change their order to the new item. The newsletter also lets them know before the genral public of anything I am doing. The newsletter also lets them know what 3 shows I am doing and what pieces I will have there. This has been a great benefit to them as sometimes they postpone their order for futher back and pick up one of the pieces at the show. This has been good for both clients and myself. fisk
 
I have to agree with Kit. My circumstances are similar to his, although I am only a PART TIME maker. I also have 2 small children, and, my schedule is such that I almost never get to things exactly when I'd like to. However, I DON'T take deposits, except whan a customer insists, and then, I'd still rather not. So, if I am late on a delivery, at least I'm not holding someone's money.
Also, I find it difficult to stay on a fixed and rigid system-sometimes, I get the bug to make a certain style of knife, so I do. And, some special orders require me to be "ready" to make the knife-I need to mull it over in my mind, and finally, when I am ready to make it, it comes out great. No matter what, knifemaking isn't just a process of cranking them out-your heart and soul has to be in the knife you are making, otherwise, you're just going thru the motions.
I hope that a customer would rather get a superior knife, late, than a mediocre one on time.

RJ Martin
 
Once I've agreed to the makers delivery schedule and placed an order I expect only that the maker will meet the expected delivery time (give or take a few weeks).

Whatever else happens in the meantime as far as show sales or military orders doesn't bother me as long as it doesn't affect the agreed upon delivery schedule. I figure that the maker should have factored in the other orders when making the delivery estimate.

In short, a deals a deal and if I agree to wait a given amount of time then I'll wait. I also anticipate possible delays and don't really mind as long as they're not too long and the maker is honest with me about them.

I would, however, be very upset if my knife delivery was delayed simply so the maker could make additional knives to sell at a show (especially if they were the same as the one I ordered). I think the "show knives" should have been factored in to the original estimate.

Delaying an order that you are holding a deposit on simply so that you can make extra knives to sell at a show is bad business. I would not order from a maker that did this.
 
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