How Do You Deal With Custom Delivery Problems Without Being An Insensitive Boor?

Guys, I agree 100% with what is being posted here. It is my sincerest hope that this maker contacts Jim and starts to get things back on the right track.

There comes a time when a maker has put off a customer so often that they no longer have the nerve to contact this customer with more excuses. They seem to think that if they ignore the situation it will go away. Of course, it won't. This will be disasterous to the makers reputation and as we have seen in cases like Allan Blade, it can be next to impossible for the maker to ever get his/her reputation back. It is my hope that this maker doesn't let things get that far.

Edited to add:

Jim, you were posting while I was thinking of what to say in my last post. It is great that he contacted you. He really is determined to get his life and knifemaking back on track.

You did not overreact at all. I think that your post here had a lot to do with his getting in contact with you. This is one time that GB&U showed the potential that it has in helping to resolve these types of situations.
 
Bruce Springsteen - Lost in the Flood ( Greetings from Asbury Park )

That pure American brother, dull-eyed and empty-faced
races Sundays in Jersey in a Chevy stock super eight
He rides `er low on the hip, on the side he's got Bound For Glory in red, white and blue flash paint
He leans on the hood telling racing stories, the kids call him Jimmy The Saint

:D
 
Originally posted by Keith Montgomery
It is great that he contacted you. He really is determined to get his life and knifemaking back on track.
Click to expand...
Actually, I called him and just happened to catch him while he was in (I've been trying to reach him periodically over the past few weeks, to no avail until yesterday). He acknowledged that he had received my earlier messages and e-mails…he just hadn’t been able to get around to responding to them :confused:. I’m not certain that he’s even aware of this thread. Still, I’m glad that the lines of communication seem to have been restored, regardless of the reason.
 
Hi, CAVEDWELLER -

I'm living in the north-central part of Oklahoma City for the time being...
 
Jim has been to my house for some knife transactions and in my opinion Jim is one of the finest gentlemen you will ever meet. What Les said is 100% on target and your experiance mirrors mine. Its too bad that so many makers feel they can operate on your money but their schedule but that is the way most custom makers are. I have orders that are over 4 years old with supposedly reputable big names that are no closer to being filled today than they were 4 years ago. I think I can guess the maker, but the sad truth is it could be one of so many...
 
Originally posted by Chief
Its too bad that so many makers feel they can operate on your money but their schedule but that is the way most custom makers are. I have orders that are over 4 years old with supposedly reputable big names that are no closer to being filled today than they were 4 years ago. I think I can guess the maker, but the sad truth is it could be one of so many...
Click to expand...

In my experience there has been occasions when I have waited a long time for a knife. Every time I was warned by the maker that it would take 2, 3, 4, 5 years or whatever. Also, none of these makers ever asked me for any money before the knife was ready (except to cover special materials. Chief, I sure hope you don't have money down with any of these makers that are taking so long to get you a knife.
 
(My apologies to Keith for not answering his question sooner…I haven’t visited this forum often lately and I didn’t notice his last posting until just recently. In any event, I didn’t have any news to report until this past weekend)

Season’s Greetings, Gentlemen (and Ladies) –

I just wanted to let you know that this saga has come to a conclusion…I finally received the knife. It is, in fact, a very nice blade. The maker’s skill was never really in question, and it’s apparent that he is a superb bladesmith. I wish that I hadn’t had to go through all of the rigmarole it took to reach this point, but I’m reasonably satisfied with the results of this transaction. I appreciate all of the support and advice you’ve provided throughout this process.

As for those who have maintained that I should have identified this maker: I agree with the idea that makers who deliberately mislead customers or engage in other unethical practices should be named in order to prevent other potential customers from being hurt. However, I am not certain that the lapses exhibited by this maker during this transaction rise to the level of intentional deceit. Poor communication and sloppy business practice, yes…but not anything that I could categorically label as unethical behavior. This, coupled with the personal trauma that the individual has gone through while this knife was being made, make me leery of taking any action which could compromise his livelihood (I’ll also admit that the lynch mob mentality that often follows accusations of maker misconduct is somewhat distasteful to me). I’m not sure that I could have handled things any better if I were in his circumstances, and I’m unwilling to condemn him on the basis of this one transaction.

The other point that has been raised is the idea that my unwillingness to “name names” unfairly calls into question the integrity of all makers. I had never considered this possibility, and it was certainly not my intent to impugn the reputation of any knifemaker (including the individual I was having problems with). I was simply trying to determine if I had legitimate reason for concern and to see if anyone could offer advice as to how to resolve the situation. Let me state for the record that I have dealt with many of the makers who participate in these forums and that, for the most part, they have been among the most honorable folks that I’ve had the pleasure to work with. My experiences with this particular maker should not dissuade anyone from dealing with custom makers, and I apologize if I’ve given anyone that impression.

I will stand by my earlier offer to identify this individual via e-mail or PM to anyone who is legitimately concerned about the possibility of doing business with this maker (as I have already done for several people who have written to me), but I ask that you respect my decision to not publicly drag his name through the mud at this time. I would not send this maker money prior to receiving a knife again (just one of many components of this transaction that I probably should have handled differently) but he has been very cordial in his dealings with me (when I could get in touch with him) and I bear him no ill will. He is a talented craftsman and I sincerely wish him well…I just hope that he is able to learn from this experience (as I did) and make some adjustments to his business practices.

Jim
 
One of the most difficult combinations to find are craftsmen that are also businessmen, in any field. Excellent craftsmen may not be the best businessmen, good businessmen may not be the best craftsmen. (feel free to read craftspeople and businesspeople for the PC crowd).
the combination is rare.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top