Makers referring customers to other makers?

Chuck Gedraitis Knives

Chuck Gedraitis Knives

Joined
Dec 10, 1998
Messages
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The thread about the waiting list got me thinking.

If a maker is no longer taking orders, but still has customers calling him for knives what does he do? Does he say sorry but I can't make you a knife? Add him to the list and know he'll never get to it. Does he say you'll have to take your chances at a show, buy on the secondary market or buy from a dealer?

What if that maker said I can't make what you want but I know this other maker who does top notch work, in a similar style and price range with a short wait time.

What if one maker called the other, made the referral and the first maker received a referral fee, say 20%?

Would you consider going to the other maker or are you paying for the name?
 
if i asked a maker to make a knife and for whatever reason he couldn't do it.....either too back logged....not his style....etc.....i would appreciate if he gave me a reference for another maker.....i have recieved great info from makers in similar situations.....all of the makers i ever talked to seem like they would do their best to make a good recomendation if they couldn't make the knife.......as for a referral fee i think that is between the two makers.....i would give someone a referal fee though for the business......ryan
 
Does a maker ever stop taking orders from his regular customers? I guess I assumed he would just stop taking orders from new customers?
Can't imagine if I have been buying knives from a maker for 10 years (via shows and special order) that he would say one day "sorry, no more". Unless he/she were retiring.
 
Kevin Jones said:
Does a maker ever stop taking orders from his regular customers? I guess I assumed he would just stop taking orders from new customers?
Can't imagine if I have been buying knives from a maker for 10 years (via shows and special order) that he would say one day "sorry, no more". Unless he/she were retiring.
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i wonder sometimes if this is really fair....of course repeat customers get better treatment and should but if a maker has a very long backlog and stops taking new orders......and then a regular customer comes along and gets a knife....is this fair.....what if i want to become a regular customer.....i never have the chance to?......ryan
 
I refer customers whenever they request something that is out of my skill level or something involveing materials i don't normally work in.
 
ryan9977 said:
i wonder sometimes if this is really fair....of course repeat customers get better treatment and should but if a maker has a very long backlog and stops taking new orders......and then a regular customer comes along and gets a knife....is this fair.....what if i want to become a regular customer.....i never have the chance to?......ryan
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That's the way of the world my friend. Businessmen and companies should IMO take care and give the best service to their best customers. Examples would be airline frequent flier, hotel points clubs etc.

There is a business trend however of big business doing anything to get new business but little to keep old business.
 
If a maker I highly respected was no longer accepting orders, and he recommended another maker, I would definitely be interested in at least taking a look at what that other maker had to offer.
 
i have no problem sending work to another maker if i cant handle it or its out of my style
no fees needed as i would not have made any $ on a knife not sold maybe one day another maker gets an order then cant/ dont want to work and sends it my way i would thank him and get to making knives
 
Kevin Jones said:
That's the way of the world my friend. Businessmen and companies should IMO take care and give the best service to their best customers. Examples would be airline frequent flier, hotel points clubs etc.

There is a business trend however of big business doing anything to get new business but little to keep old business.
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please lets stay on topic.
 
Kevin Jones said:
That's the way of the world my friend. Businessmen and companies should IMO take care and give the best service to their best customers. Examples would be airline frequent flier, hotel points clubs etc.
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I think it's exactly on topic. "New customers are silver; old customers are gold." If someone has been buying your knives since before anyone else knew how good you were, of course he deserves that extra courtesy.

If a knifemaker has the integrity to realize his backlog is maxed out, he's helping the customer by giving a referral to someone he trusts will do right by him. But he can still make the next level knife he's got in him, for an upcoming show, or for a friend, or for a valued long-time customer.

If it weren't for the people who have buying his knives all along, he might not still be in business. It isn't easy. Look how many have dropped out.
 
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