honesty towards customers

Joined
Mar 26, 2000
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658
I know that this has been a hot topic and has been beaten to death BUT.
I have a customer that wants a raindrop / pool&eye paturn damascus hunter. So I give him a price including nice complimenting birdseye maple scales.
He wants a full tang knife with recessed scales to show of the damascus paturn and have a little file work around the handle. He loved the drawing and accepted my asking price with no qualms.
BUT:eek: :eek:!!!!
HE WANTS THE SCALE MATERIAL TO BE DIAMOND WOOD!!!
:barf: :barf: :barf: :barf: :barf: :barf:
How honest should I be with this guy!!!!!!:confused: :confused:
I used to believe that the customer gets what he wants,But.... This.....I don't know if I can....
 
I don't see the problem RD, maybe I'm missing something. If the knife is not complete, why can't you give him what he wants, and charge him accordingly? If the knife is already complete, then he should adhere to what you both agreed on, and pay that amount. If he still insists on the scales he wants, and the knife is complete, couldn't you charge him for the removal, cost, and replacement of the new scales?:)
 
Sounds to me like Robert is having a hard time deciding if he should tell his potential customer that Diamondwood is a poor choice for such a nice knife. Right, R? The question is, do you try to convince him to go with the Birdseye, or do you go ahead with his diamondwood and cringe as you put your name on the knife.

Although I don't make knives, I do sell them (MMHW). I've had a couple folks asking for "customizations" of certain models that, frankly, were really BAD ideas. If their changes to styles were just ugly, I'd bite my lip, but if it was going to structurally compromise the knife, I'd tell them what I thought.

So if you were to follow that logic, I'd say no- don't say anything. Give the guy what he wants.
 
Ah, I see now! I uderstand now, but you as the maker should tell him what you think of his idea, and try to make him understand why. I can see where your coming from though, because I'm sure when he shows that knife to everyone, you would like all the remarks to be compliments, and not jeers.<p>In the end though, its up to the buyer what he wants, even if it does:barf:<p>Good luck!:)
 
Oh No, Pakawood on a damascus knife :(.

I would find out why he wants the fugly plywood. Alot of folks like it because it is some tuff stuff and still kinda looks like wood. If that is his reason, tell him you will stabilize the Maple and that it will be just as tuff. If it is the color, dye the Maple to the color he wants. If it is cost, buy some Maple and send it to K+G and have them stabilize it for just a few bucks.

If he just really likes the way it looks overall, you decide. It is your art and your name going on it. You hold the last word when it comes to artistic license. Don't be afraid to say "no", and don't be pressured into turning out something you are not proud of.

Remeber the soup nazi (based on a real guy)? NO KNIFE FOR YOU, COME BACK IN ONE YEAR:D.

<A HREF="http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4292475489"><IMG SRC="http://www.imagestation.com/images/album/link/this_album_button.gif" BORDER="0"></A>
 
If you are making the knife you have the last say on it, but if he is buying it then you should apease him. If I were you I would explain that dymond wood will lower the value of his knife, and like was mentioned earlier you can stabalize or dye the maple to meet his needs.
Kyle
 
Hi Robert, I was going to write about some of the combinations of blade and handle materials I have seen, but before I did, I looked at your website. I can see why anyone would be proud to own one of your knives. This person is probably going to be double proud of theirs because they had a hand in the design of it. The excellence of your
craftsmanship will be evident, regardless of the handle material.("Dymondwood" is not an inferior product. I 'dont find it that attractive, but maybe they have a favorite gun, with a laminated stock, and this knife will be the companion piece.)
I think as long as it is a sound design, that you both have agreed on, you should go with what you state on your website.(maybe throw in a "Designed by _________" etching somewhere) Anyways, very nice knives. Best of luck, Greg
 
You're gonna put your name on it, right?
Don't put your name on anything you are not proud of.
I have no respect for an artisan that would compromise his craft for the whim of the customer. If he has his heart set on plywood, let the customer get the knife from somebody else. You will both be happier.
If you present this to him tactfully (no hints-I have no tact) and he is receptive, you may convince him to let you use your best judgement and again you will both be happier!
I have allowed myself to be talked into, and out of options by custom makers and have never regretted it.
Jeff
 
What a predicament!

On the one hand I can see giving the customer what he wants, but on the other hand it is your name going on it.


Hmmmmmm. This does make for some interesting debate.
 
Well this is a strange thread. For the all the posts about custom v custom there sure are a lot of people who want to tell the customer not to get a "custom" knife.

As the maker, if you are to make suggestions, should probably be more in the design realm. Your shop is set up to only do so many things and most of those you prefer to do a certain way.

If a guy wants a Damascus knife with a Dymanondwood handle, then make it for him. Maybe he is one of these guys that is going to keep the knife forever.

The only problem he will really run into, which has been voiced here. Is from those who may want to buy this knife in the aftermarket. As a maker you need to be aware that if this individual tries to sell this knife, they will have a very limited group who will be interested in it.

Yes, as the maker your name is on it. However, as a business man (and other makers will understand this point of view), you have made a knife to meet a makers specific requirements. As a custom knife maker that is as it should be.

Who knows, maybe your knife will be the one that starts a new trend of fad.
 
Here are my 2 cents: first of all, just because you are a custom amker doesn't mean you have to compromise anything. If you are uncomfortable with the way a knife will turn out, politely tell the customer that you aren't the right maker for the knife and pass up on his business. You don't have to accept assignment on every case! The bottom line is that Dymondwood IS an appropriate knife handle material...if's just ugly and knife folks in the know connotate it with el-cheapo Pakistaini crap. Tell him your opinion, also tell him about the aftermarket value effect. Also, if you don't think the material will mesh with the Damascus or the sheath, then it doesn't work toward the knife as a whole, which is a problem. I would recommend some other handle materials and if he insists on Dymondwood, either suck it up and compromise your principles or turn down his business. Either choice is appropriate as long as it sits okay with you.
 
Robert, I've been there,I just make suggestions, explaining I want to be sure he'll be happy with the knife. Then I make what he wants.
I tell you, there has been some uuuugly knives, but when they get them, they are happy. So I know what you're thinking, but I say make what he wants.
 
I'm not saying don't give the customer a custom knife. There are plenty of folks out there who will give him just what he wants, and that's the way it should be. If the customer was the one asking, I'd say get what you want.
But since the custom knife maker is the one asking, I say again, don't put your name on something you're not proud of.
I think it is great to see a custom knife maker pushed a little out of his comfort zone, as long as it is "up" in the craft and not "down".
I'm not a custom knife maker but I am a business man. I'm very good at what I do and I know more about what I do than my customers. I'll do it my way or they can go somewhere else, and that is understood up front. Maybe my attitude doesn't transfer well to your professions- I guess y'all will have to decide that for yourselves.
I agree this is a strange thread, but even that is refreshing.
 
Just a thought...
What if you offered to put your mark/name on the tang UNDER the dw scales with the option to re-handle, re-mark (on the blade) at a later date?
Atleast nobody would see your name until the plywood was off.
or just tell him Les recommends jigged bone...
;)
Jeff
 
Well guys heres what happened today. Before heading to the base I grabbed an old boot knife that I found while fishing years ago, C/W diamond wood scales. Then I grabed a nice peice of birdseye maple and a couple other peices of wood and horn and some old knife magazines.
But I must inform everyone that I have and still do put diamond wood on knives that it is appropriate for. Hard workers that cosmetics don't really matter because the blade and handle are going to be abused and used every day. They are also lower priced peices and useally stainless of some sort.
Well the customer was pleased at some of the pictures he saw and the warm yet visually pleasing effect of a natural material handle on damascus.
After he admited that yellow or red micarta did not go good with damascus, I asked him what made yellow and red wood any better.
HE HAS decided to go with the natural wood, what yet we still don't know! But he now knows the benifit of contrasting or matching wood grains and patturns to the damascus itself. For this I have to thank every maker that has ever had a color picture of a damascus blade published.
BTW this guy is a top end scout leader and wants a knife to take to world jambories that people will notice when he takes it out.
Thanks to all for there input. I find the thread that this one spawned very interesting. This is a hard a delicate position to be in when every sale may mean anouther one.
 
R Dockwell,

It appears that you have more than one gift/skill.

You have very deftly turned what could have been a negative, into a positive. This experience will help you in the future I'm sure.

I am unfamiliar with your work, but I think that if you handle your craft as well as this situation, you will have even more success.

People that sell...do need buyers. :)


Steve-O
 
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