"Family and life issues"?

M

Metal Made Fox

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Hi everyone, before anything I would like to say that I am very thankful that all of the transactions I have had on BF were nothing but stellar.

With that being said, lately I have taken a keen interest in reading and browsing the threads on here in which people have been scammed out of their money, knives, (or both) by knife makers, pimpers, and sellers in the exchange forum. One important factor I have noticed about almost all of these threads I have read is the fact that when the accused person is called out he immediately or lately claims that he is having some sort of issue with his family or in his life. There are literally hundreds of threads out there in which the accused person uses these certain excuses and regrettably in most of these threads the victim remains a victim without ever seeing his knife or money again.

I understand that life can knock you out and kick you while you are down sometimes, and yes I do believe that in some cases they are telling the truth. However it just seems strange that in almost all cases the accused person claims these scenarios are happening to him. These excuses have become so frequently used around here that I myself have developed a strong and immediate feeling of distrust and skepticism anytime I hear someone claim this. Does anyone else feel the same way?
 
Family and life issues, aka "Procrastinated for a while then blew it off completely."
 
+1 bob W, another translation if you will : "I was lazy and never should have taken the job, I am a failure." A good business person does the work regardless of his or her personal issues.
 
I would have to agree that there is just no excuse for failing to come up with what was promised. I always tell folks up front if there is something going on and it might take a little longer and if that is a problem I will let them know when I'm all freed up and always let them know a time in which the items will be finished and always follow though, usually before the promised day. So far this year I have had my mother in law pass away, my father hospitalized for almost 6 months, moved states and had a host of all kinds of other problems and have had no trouble following through with my commitments toward my customers. I hate hearing stuff like that and it does nothing but rub me the wrong way.
 
Basically, everyone on the planet has "family" issues and it's just not an excuse. If you can't be a man of your word/work then why even bother?
 
exactly redbeard-- if you have a real issue you say something right away and offer a refund, don't think anyone has a "its ok to flake on your word" card regardless of our individual circumstances.
 
I typically like to give everyone the benefit of the doubt as once in awhile someone genuinely does have family issues. Typically though, yes--when a lot of these knifemakers take on more than they can handle, they fall back on the excuse of family and health issues with the only credibility being their word. It is usually a bunch of crap. A lot of individuals can be good craftsmen, but when they want to sell their craft they need to understand that they're running a business period. If you are unable to properly run a business, keep your work as a hobby rather than an income source.
 
In other disciplines the people tell you : "I had a family Emergency" It is code for "I didn't do what I was supposed to do and don't want to tell you why"
 
What I don't get is almost all of these threads there will be a poster that says: Victim, you are impatient and things happen, just wait. Check out the DDR negative threads, people still defend that company when they are clearly at fault.
 
Excuses that draw sympathy and time to maneuver are usually used. Scammers and troublemakers always play on people's sense of decency and their empathy. The world is filled with these people...Luckily there are just as many good honest people out there.......
 
If you get a job and commute to work, your home life and job can be miles apart, and completely different attitudes toward people. If your job is a home-based business, the overlap can mess with your mind. Linger over breakfast, take a break on a nice day, help your neighbor move a new couch in.

Not good. Isaac Asimov was a prolific writer. He rented an office away from home to go to every day and write, write, write like it was his livelihood. Nothing else to do in the office but write, no distractions.

We had one pimper who recently got banned for not meeting his obligations. One time he was questioned about what was taking so long and him posting pics on Facebook of him having fun. He said he had a life ... not a word about he had a business.
 
Life issues do occasionally come up.

However, if the maker never accepts money up front, then it's simply a matter of cancelling or postponing the order until things return to normal.

The real issue is that some makers accept payment, then get lazy.
 
esav is right, it is very very easy for a person who works from home to be complacent about work ethic-- I live right beside my business, and was complacent for years-- funny when I stopped being complacent I started making money, is a good feeling.
 
Not to mention the age old "My laptop is down, so I'm suddenly unable to receive or respond to emails for several months." Knife-makers have some of the most fickle laptops I've ever seen. LOL
 
You aren't the only one who's noticed, Fox. That's for sure. It just seems like the same song and dance from pretty much every member of the "Bad Knifemakers to Avoid" list. Contact dries up, and then when you finally get ahold of the guy (after having to find alternate means of communication like finding their Facebook, Twitter, or whatever other page, or their phone number), it's always the same excuses. It's always:

1. "I was deathly ill and couldn't meet my obligations. Therefore I disappeared from all communication for a period of months with no explanation until now."

2. "Someone in my family was deathly ill, and so I disappeared from all communication for a period of months with no explanation until now."

3. "Oh man, my shop computer broke and since I don't have access to (see list below), I wasn't able to respond to any emails for a period of months with no explanation until I've have now been called out on a forum full of possible future customers, and thus need to do immediate damage control."
3a. a cell phone with a data plan
3b. another computer and/or tablet that I own
3c. a friend or family member's computer
3d. a friend or family member's phone or tablet
3e. a computer available at my place of primary employment (some knifemakers are part timers)

4. "I had some mysterious circumstances come up which I will only hint at without disclosing, so as to make them appear to have been some matter of great import by which I can use as an excuse for pulling a disappearing act for some months until I was tracked down by the sleuthing efforts of multiple people I've burned."


It's always the same story.
 
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Hey there Quiet...I would like to add one other place where they can check emails when their computer crashes...their local library...and it's free!!!

This is a great thread and let's folks vent about the experiences that many of us have had in this crazy world of collecting. On the flip side, I've sent knives to some makers for repairs/tune-ups and the knives are sent back fixed in a week's time..there are some really awesome folks out there for sure. I just can't understand why some makers choose to kill the proverbial "goose"...amazing!!!


Quiet said:
You aren't the only one who's noticed, Fox. That's for sure. It just seems like the same song and dance from pretty much every member of the "Bad Knifemakers to Avoid" list. Contact dries up, and then when you finally get ahold of the guy (after having to find alternate means of communication like finding their Facebook, Twitter, or whatever other page, or their phone number), it's always the same excuses. It's always:

1. "I was deathly ill and couldn't meet my obligations. Therefore I disappeared from all communication for a period of months with no explanation until now."

2. "Someone in my family was deathly ill, and so I disappeared from all communication for a period of months with no explanation until now."

3. "Oh man, my shop computer broke and since I don't have access to (see list below), I wasn't able to respond to any emails for a period of months with no explanation until I've have now been called out on a forum full of possible future customers, and thus need to do immediate damage control."
3a. a cell phone with a data plan
3b. another computer and/or tablet that I own
3c. a friend or family member's computer
3d. a friend or family member's phone or tablet
3e. a computer available at my place of primary employment (some knifemakers are part timers)

4. "I had some mysterious circumstances come up which I will only hint at without disclosing, so as to make them appear to have been some matter of great import by which I can use as an excuse for pulling a disappearing act for some months until I was tracked down by the sleuthing efforts of multiple people I've burned."


It's always the same story.
Click to expand...
 
Bob W said:
Furthermore, "I may get to it some day but if I already have your money, probably not."
Click to expand...

Precisely what I was thinking. Knife makers and pimpers should NEVER ask for all the money up front. They should ask for a small deposit first and then send pictures to the buyer when the work is finished. After the buyer should send them the rest of the money.

Sadly, I see too many people just giving their money away all at once and never receiving their knife. If a knife maker/pimper ever refuses to accept a reasonable deposit from me, they will not get my business, no matter how much I like their products.
 
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