Feedback and valuable advice for knifemakers

WhiteH2OWoman · Jan 19, 2009

Just got a nice new fixed-blade damascus with mammoth-bone scales last week.

However, there were 3 problems, and most knifemakers can learn to sell more knives if they follow what I'm about to say...

Knife was shipped USPS Signature Required. I live out in the country, at the dead-end of a 1.4 mile private road. USPS doesn't come up here (but UPS and FedEx do), so I had to spend $225 of my time to drive 18 miles round-trip into town on slow country roads and stand in line to pick up a $150 knife. ASK your customer how THEY would like to have it delivered, and then do it. It's called "customer focus" and is used widely in other industries.
Corners at the tip of the handle butt were sharper than an ex-wife's tongue! Guys, c'mon, think about the customer and consider taking the extra time to round off sharp edges where you KNOW they're going to poke someone in the ribs when placed in a sheath and put on a belt!
Knifemaker asked me if I was lefty or righty, which I appreciated...but we both should have gotten clear on what that MEANS. Since I carry my carry gun on my left side, that means I carry my belt skinner knife on my RIGHT side. Ask them which SIDE they want to carry that fixed-blade knife on if you intend to make a sheath for it.

Hope this helps y'all!

Bill Siegle · Jan 19, 2009

On #1 and #3 YOU could have easily mentioned these things to the maker when you weren't asked. Most makers will work with you on carriers if you ask. Otherwise you get what you get and you can't through a fit

I would consider the left or right question to be "which hand are you using the knife with?" as did your maker. Again, if you had mentioned you are lefty but carry in the right I am sure the maker would have taken care of you. You can hardly expect a stranger/maker to know all the little nuances of your life to better serve you. Now I don't intend to make this be an "attack" on you, but you must see where you bear partial blame for the two issues(#2 is definitely not your fault).

MORIMOTOM · Jan 19, 2009

1. it cost you $225.00 to drive 18 miles?

i disagree on the shipping complaint. you know where you live, and what shipping methods work best for you, the maker doesn't. nor should the maker just assume that their standard shipping method is not satisfactory.

and how would the maker know you carry a gun unless you specify this?

j williams · Jan 19, 2009

Seems like all of this could have been solved with better communication on your part. Altering of design to soften the edges, shipping methods etc.., should have been asked for by you. How is that maker supposed to know about where your house is located? If a circumstance like that is known to you, YOU should have brought it up.

#3? Cmon. If someone asks you lefty or righty, what could that have meant? Again, you cant expect him to know what you mean unless YOU ask him.

They arent mind readers, and every one I have dealt with (alot) are very good at giving the customer what they want, and are very easy to deal with. All you have to do is ask.

Enjoy the blade, it sounds great!!

225.00 for 18 miles? Sheesh!!

John T Wylie Jr · Jan 19, 2009

Bill Siegle said:
On #1 and #3 YOU could have easily mentioned these things to the maker when you weren't asked. Most makers will work with you on carriers if you ask. Otherwise you get what you get and you can't through a fit I would consider the left or right question to be "which hand are you using the knife with?" as did your maker. Again, if you had mentioned you are lefty but carry in the right I am sure the maker would have taken care of you. You can hardly expect a stranger/maker to know all the little nuances of your life to better serve you. Now I don't intend to make this be an "attack" on you, but you must see where you bear partial blame for the two issues(#2 is definitely not your fault).

agree 100%.

If I see " left handed sheath " that means it is set up for left handed carry aka left side for a left hand draw.

Shipping...if you have special needs it is up to you to let the maker know.

so I had to spend $225 of my time to drive 18 miles round-trip into town on slow country roads and stand in line to pick up a $150 knife.

$225 for an hours time ? hour and a half ?

2brothers · Jan 19, 2009

How many areas did you post this in? I just saw this in the General Forum.

mike

T.K.C. · Jan 19, 2009

Bill Siegle said:
On #1 and #3 YOU could have easily mentioned these things to the maker when you weren't asked. Most makers will work with you on carriers if you ask. Otherwise you get what you get and you can't through a fit I would consider the left or right question to be "which hand are you using the knife with?" as did your maker. Again, if you had mentioned you are lefty but carry in the right I am sure the maker would have taken care of you. You can hardly expect a stranger/maker to know all the little nuances of your life to better serve you. Now I don't intend to make this be an "attack" on you, but you must see where you bear partial blame for the two issues(#2 is definitely not your fault).

I agree with Bill 100%.

MORIMOTOM said:
1. it cost you $225.00 to drive 18 miles?

i disagree on the shipping complaint. you know where you live, and what shipping methods work best for you, the maker doesn't. nor should the maker just assume that their standard shipping method is not satisfactory.

and how would the maker know you carry a gun unless you specify this?

I also agree here on the shipping complaint. $225 to drive 18 miles????

atakach · Jan 19, 2009

being a man of my word and standing behind my work, i must chime in as the seller of this knife and at the risk of sounding like an attack(it's not) i just want both sides of the story to be heard. i will admit we both should have done things a bit differently. before i continue i want to make note the matter between the buyer and myself was discussed through visitor messaging, and was addressed and ended in an absolutley positive way. i feel she's not attacking me, and i consider the matter a closed case.

here was my response:

"dear ****,

sorry for the inconvience, I regret mailing that way now, I went to ups, but the little local yocal ups place we have in town, isn't much of a place, and the lady there was about 80yrs old, and really making the whole thing complicated, telling me she couldn't guarantee that they would deliver to door.

She told me it would depend on the property / drive way layout, on wether or not they would bring to door, so i went to the us po, and they said if i shipped deliv. conformation, they'd leave a slip in the box with a number that you could call and schedule it to be brought to the door at a time of your convience. I thought that would have worked for you.
Truley I am sorry, and as for the sheath I didn't ask if you were left handed, I stated that I offer sheaths in left or right hand. i have heard of others doing the same thing when carrying a gun, mine's in the small of my back always, so i seldom think of that senerio, unless the buyer points it out.

the sharp corners, well i kinda new they were, but didn't think they were that bad, or i'd have rounded them. i never tried the sheath on my belt, to see how they felt against the body, i just didn't want to take away from the crisp look of the butt of the knife.

for what it's worth im happy through all of this you are pleased with the knife, and hope that we can do business again some time."

sincerely
andrew takach

P.S. IN NO WAY AM I TRYING TO TURN THIS INTO A BATTLE BUT I FEEL THE NEED TO PUT THIS DAMN ISSUE TO REST, I WAS NEVER IGNORANT, NOR WAS I LOW-BALLED ON THE PRICE.

THE KNIFE WAS $150, AND HERE IT IS

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THE FORSALE THREAD CAN BE SEEN AT: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=608315

AND THE AFTER SALE CONVERSATION CAN BE VIEWED IN MY VISITOR MESSAGES WHICH ARE PUBLIC FOR ALL TO VIEW, AS WELL AS MY FEED BACK FROM OTHER BUYERS WHICH I'D URGE YOU TO VIEW IF YOUR GONNA COMMENT ON THIS ISSUE.