I Reserve the Right to Refuse Service to Anyone !!!

I have felt that way and followed through a couple times.
But......it will usually end up biting you in the butt.
Now I try to step back, cool off and deal with things in a friendlier manner.
When I have a hard time cooling off I talk it over with my wife.
Sometimes hearing a different perspective can point out something you didn't think of and help you deal with things in a more constructive manner.
 
I Have many times.. I own a small painting business and I get some real pissy customers from time to time. Most often they have been ripped off by another contractor and they take it out on every other contractor they meet.

If the deal does not feel right. Sometimes the best jobs are the ones you dont get !! Good luck in your decision
 
Yep, I've done it a bunch in my day job, retail management. Twice on Monday! I've got a deal going with a potential customer right now that is beginning to snowball downhill and I am very delicately trying redirect the conversation and not squash the deal. Its a fine line, especially via electronic communications.


-Xander
 
Absolutely, yes. An accounting consultant I worked with used to say "you are your customer list" and routinely turned down business and fired clients so he could be identified with only the people he truly wanted to work with.

It is a shrewd move and makes a lot of sense in any economic environment, but must be done properly and for the correct reasons.
 
I allow payment in full after the customer receives the work, if he likes it. I require a small deposit to start a custom knife. If a buyer doesn't like my work, he can send it back-I can always sell it. However, I generally don't do business with those customers twice.
 
Once or twice in 10-12 years I've done that in my computer business.. but really not very often. Still, I can see where it would have it's merits.. I have just been lucky so far.
 
for the most part the knife community is pretty stand-up and legit but there are a few that leave me questioning their character from previous posts on various forums etc.. then these said people hit me up for a knife from time to time we email back and forth, they explain how they'd like the handle then bam!! no more emails,(after I bought the desired material) then months later more emails, " oh I want a knife" blah, blah, blah... I don't want to tarnish my name so I respond politely they can choose any knife they like when it goes up for sale, this somehow makes me a bad guy...

I've been self employed since '98 and have dealt with multiple types and there are some in the construction industry you simply run from, on the net selling knives however is a little different because they (the perspective customer) can run off to various forums and rant about how you've mistreated them and refuse to sell them a knife...

seriously considering a disclaimer in my sales ads... :D
 
I've enforced it a few times. Immediately afterward I make a copy of that section of the surveillance camera feeds so I can review it the next day after things have cooled down. I've learned over the last 15 years that some people will not be happy, no matter what you do. It's best to turn them down early, before the confrontation. You might lose a little business that way, but in the long run, there is no bad word of mouth other than "He refused to work on my computer."
 
My first 2 (and only) experiences commissioning blades here on BF went bad. Customer/s specified type of knife and

material, I specified price and time frame. I updated the customer/s regularly throughout the process (even when they did

not ask) and finished the project within the original specified time frame. At that point the customer/s ceased contact

entirely. I am convinced there are a few characters out there that commission blades from knifemakers just to see if they

will make the knife, but never have any intention of buying the knife. It has really soured me on commissioning knives or

doing business on BF in General. I have one more commission project and so far so good, but if it goes south I will

probably stop doing commissions all together.


As far as the original post goes, I hate turning away any work, but the

dishonest, rude and or entitled "customers" make a great case as to why it might be a good idea sometimes.
 
I think that's part of why I am a hobbyist and plan on staying that way. I like to have the freedom to pick and choose my projects and customers. So far I've been lucky with commissioned blades, and have mainly found some pretty stand-up fellas, but I've definitely refused to do business with people before in my other jobs. My current model of dealing with customers isn't really a business model, so I don't request or require payment until the blade is completed. Then, if they decide not to take it, I can just sell it on the market at a slightly higher price, or use it myself to do some tests of my designs. Listening to the woes of you full-time makers really makes me happy I have that freedom.
 
The best line I ever read was in a Vietnamese resturant. Not Pho, but other traditional vietnamese dishes.

The sign on the wall read, "We reserve the right to refuse friendly service to anyone!"
 
Dave Behrens if I were you I would not do orders... just make a knife and sell it here... don't let a couple bad apples spoil your experience on BF... I ordered some blue G10 for a customer who I lost contact with but you know what?? it may not be the most desirable material out there but I don't think I'm totally stuck with the slab as I recently sold 2 knives with it...

from the advice of many here I decided early on I would not take orders for custom blades, but I'm hardheaded and found out for myself after doing one... :) it was really a pleasant experience and the guy was great to deal with but it was really time consuming... I'd rather just make some and when they're available present them for grabs..
 
I have refused the old "Make me a Turkish Kilij that can withstand sword on sword contact."
 
MEJ said:
Hey i am actually interested in becoming a bartender to pay for college. Would you recommend it?
Click to expand...

That depends on a lot of things, mostly how much you drink and the type of bar you work at.
 
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