Fiddleback Friday Troubles

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Thank you all for your support. We are going to continue to strive to make better and better knives. Consider also that the Friday thread is how I help the apprentices build demand for their products. This is a very big factor in keeping it going.

Sorry Whitty.
 
For every one thousand customers that are more than thrilled with your product and never post a single remark, there will always be one dick with an entitlement issue who will speak out and try to soil your name. Welcome to the new generation of citizen in the United States. I have money burning in my pocket every Friday, but because of work, I never seem to be fast enough to score one of your masterpieces. I accept this defeat as a fault of my own and after I see that there is nothing remaining that interests me, I go over to your dealers and see if something is available that strikes my fancy. I have taken this route and I am more than happy with it. From one of those one thousand customers who never post their satisfaction... Thank you Andy for you and your team's hard work. Keep up your current status of fantastic work! It would be a shame to see another great small American manufacture of a great product fail because of both the general ignorance of the customer who feels they deserve their every desire and the system of current government practice they seem to worship.
 
It just dawned on me that this thread is worthless without pictures.

Trackrock%252020151-XL.jpg


Neither one was purchased on a Friday. Original Bone Hiking Buddy was from the Exchange and the second was from a Dealer.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1043778-FSOT-Original-Bone-Handled-Fiddleback-Forge-Hiking-Buddy

http://www.theknifeconnection.net/fiddleback-forge-andy-roy-custom-esquire-fixed-blade-knife-flat-tang-w-bone-handle-and-thick-natural-and-thin-white-liners-2/

The Friday Frenzy is but one of many ways to get yourself a Fiddleback and enjoy the community.
 
You just had to post a pic of that particular Hiking Buddy and taunt me Blaine! ;) I still regret letting that go but I had to sell it to pay for the contoured version Andy made for me. That is a cool HB with some serious Fiddleback historical value. Good to see it make an appearance. :thumbup:
 
A thought:

Someone mentioned the idea of an ‘auction’ process to sell the knives. I certainly don’t like it and I imagine few people do. However, perhaps it’s a good idea on a very limited scale. Each Friday Andy and the crew identify 1 or 2 of what will be the most sought after knives. Set a reserve (floor) price for those models. Then run an auction for those small number of knives for 24 or 48 hours. The premium above the floor price goes to the charity of Andy’s choice. That way everyone gets an opportunity to compete for the most coveted knives, and I can’t imagine anyone would complain about getting outbid under those circumstances. Maybe this is the model to sell the ‘sunset’ knife?
 
dedery said:
A thought:

Someone mentioned the idea of an ‘auction’ process to sell the knives. I certainly don’t like it and I imagine few people do. However, perhaps it’s a good idea on a very limited scale. Each Friday Andy and the crew identify 1 or 2 of what will be the most sought after knives. Set a reserve (floor) price for those models. Then run an auction for those small number of knives for 24 or 48 hours. The premium above the floor price goes to the charity of Andy’s choice. That way everyone gets an opportunity to compete for the most coveted knives, and I can’t imagine anyone would complain about getting outbid under those circumstances. Maybe this is the model to sell the ‘sunset’ knife?
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I really like your idea and in fact mentioned something similar to Ken a week or so ago on the Bushcrafter. This could be incorporated into the Fiddleback Friday event that will be held the Friday of Blade Show. That way the knife could remain on display at the Fiddleback table throughout the show "under heavy guard", and then be shipped out to the winning bidder the following week. With a knife of this artistry, this would be an amazing opportunity for Andy & Crew to build a charitable wrap around to support a great cause with a fantastic knife going to the winning bidder.
 
I like the auction Grail knife every week idea, it would be great for SuperBen, or whatever charity deemed worthy by Andy and Co, and it would be a blast to participate in.
 
I find the news of all this complaining a bit odd, As I have found Fiddlebacks easier and easier to get hold of in the past 3 months.
Dealers are getting regular shipments, including some very fine examples, I have sharked a few myself.
There are also the new models that the regulars are going after freeing up some of the oldies for the newcomers.
The three knife limit helps as well.
 
johnnyraggs said:
I find the news of all this complaining a bit odd, As I have found Fiddlebacks easier and easier to get hold of in the past 3 months.
Dealers are getting regular shipments, including some very fine examples, I have sharked a few myself.
There are also the new models that the regulars are going after freeing up some of the oldies for the newcomers.
The three knife limit helps as well.
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^^Agree^^

There has been more on the exchange lately.


Chris D.:D
 
I vote for 2 great ideas to make things more interesting.

The weekly auction within the friday framework, this adds a little more effort for your team, whether you use the friday thread or a seperate one. (One knife above retail on a 24 hour timer)

A monthly custom build.
This is added effort:
Lottery to pick the winner
- random pick of gold member entry
(avoiding multiple entries)
(avoiding the vanishing customer, hopefully)
(drives membership)
- one week per month entry window
- entry is for a knife 30 days out
(Set rules to avoid long lead materials)
- price premium per model known upfront
- Winner selecting style and material
- Material procurement
- Knife build
Payment
 
MajorD said:
You just had to post a pic of that particular Hiking Buddy and taunt me Blaine! ;) I still regret letting that go but I had to sell it to pay for the contoured version Andy made for me. That is a cool HB with some serious Fiddleback historical value. Good to see it make an appearance. :thumbup:
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That particular knife represents a love-hate relationship for me.

The worst part is that I'm the third owner. The best part is that I'm the third owner... I'll give you two previous owners first dibs should I ever decide to part with it. Here it is from a different angle, be sure to notice that exquisite example of an African blackwood fire striker that I turned last night:

Trackrock%252020152-XL.jpg
 
The lottery pick idea .. grrr .. no thanks. :thumbdn:

I've been wanting to buy a J.Oeser knife for well over a year now. Their lottery format drives me nuts! They even do it when a private individual decides to resale. No thanks.
 
bonafide said:
The lottery pick idea .. grrr .. no thanks. :thumbdn:

I've been wanting to buy a J.Oeser knife for well over a year now. Their lottery format drives me nuts! They even do it when a private individual decides to resale. No thanks.
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I agree with your assessment Bud on the lottery idea, as for the custom build idea, while interesting, this unfortunately will go against Andy's business model and really complicate the process of managing the request. He has stated repeatedly that FF is not a custom knife shop.
 
Swonut, it was great to meet you at Trackrock! Its always really nice putting a name with a face. The firesteels Swonut makes are most excellent!
 
For the most part, I really do not understand 90% of the posts in this thread.

To me this is simply about Andy and his business and the direction he wants to go, with the resources he has available. There are a couple of options;

-Do nothing and keep on keepin' on
-Adapt and change

I think there would be a lot of support either way.


I also think it is extremely shortsighted of this community to claim entitlement as some sort of blanket excuse or explanation, when, regardless of your opinion, and what YOU think other people should think\feel\do, people ARE getting turned off and ARE taking their business elsewhere. It's the people who have bad experiences that speak up the most and the loudest. (this thread is evidence) Alienating your customer base doesnt work if you want to grow.

The talk of a boycott is concerning, but not just for the reasons previously discussed. Remember, as Andy has noted, this is Capitalism. The "shark feeding" isnt limited to the Friday threads. Everyone is a shark and FF is but one company to support. (sorry for the poor? analogy) Regardless, people vote with their dollars, and to deny or to complain about their right to do so doesnt seem productive. Use this as an opportunity, fix the problem (as you see it Andy & FF), face it head on, and please dont ignore it.

Reputation is king. (something Andy clearly knows by reading his past posts)

To dismiss ANY concern like this as not credible, and means to justify not changing, is a mistake, imho.

truly good luck here
 
bonafide said:
The lottery pick idea .. grrr .. no thanks. :thumbdn:

I've been wanting to buy a J.Oeser knife for well over a year now. Their lottery format drives me nuts! They even do it when a private individual decides to resale. No thanks.
Click to expand...
Agreed. This seems like more work for the crew.
 
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