My Reasoning for Not Taking Orders

Fiddleback

Fiddleback

Knifemaker
Moderator
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Oct 19, 2005
Messages
19,797
Folks, I have gotten more feedback about taking orders than I expected. In response I want to address the reasons that I do not take orders. The basic truth is that in my experience and opinion it is bad business policy to take orders. This is a policy I moved to over 5 years ago and it was the best business decision that I ever made. Below are my original 5 reasons not to take orders. They are quoted from an old dead thread I posted in Shop Talk. I will provide a link, so that you can read the discussion, which was excellent. But please be warned that posting in old dead threads in the Shop Talk forum is a no no so please post your responses here and not there.

(Also, while it is a no no to post in old threads there, I happen to love it, and encourage it here. Dredge up all the old threads you want over here.)

This is the first post in the 5 Reasons I Stopped Taking Orders thread.

Fiddleback said:
1. I am not good at it. Seriously, I loose customers taking orders.
2. I have twice or more the overhead (time) in an ordered knife than one I make on a whim.
3. An ordered knife is delivered at next year's skill level and this year's price.
4. Accepting an order quenches a consumer's demand immediately.
5. It takes longer to collect $ on an ordered knife than one I simply make and sell at BF.
Click to expand...

The thread is linked below and it is one of my favorites, for discussions on the topic.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...sons-I-Stopped-Taking-Orders?highlight=orders
 
I hate trying to decide what I want anyway, and sometimes I just don't know what I might like until I see it.
 
I certainly understand it - just make more Bog Oak anything and I'll feel like you made it for me !!!
 
Regarding special orders...More often than not I have no idea what I really want so I'm usually no more satisfied (often times, less satisfied) with a special order than I am with a purchase of a 'spec' knife. I love the Friday sales and the variety that they afford us. I'm very happy with Andy's current business strategy in that regard.
 
I am 100% happy with your current business model. Although I sometimes have to wait, I have been able to get every knife that I want from Fiddleback. I look forward to buying my next knife soon!
 
I think the way you're doing it is perfect. I enjoy waiting to see if that one knife I want is going to show up on the Fridays. It's a bit of a rush to purchase a knife on the Friday threads. :thumbup:

I thought I knew what style of knives I preferred but getting to look at a ton of nice knives here every week has changed those preferences a bit. I also enjoy going back through Friday threads and looking at different configurations.
 
It definitely ups the process that has to be monitored, controls the timelines, stifles creativity, and on and on. I totally get it and think it's an absolutely astute business decision based on your business model.

And yes, I remember the time long ago when you took orders for the Bow Legged Chopper, you were horrible at it (see reason 1 above.) However, even though you lost my order in the shuffle, you kept me as a customer-- mostly because you promised to offer me the next Bow Legged Chopper that you made, should you ever decide to make them again...:)
 
Last edited:
I am of the mind that it's your business Andy to run how you choose that best cares for those who work at the forge and for your customers. Personally, I like the model since it exposes me to configurations I otherwise would not have thought of and for the excitement it generates every Friday.

I also suspect that an order model would take away some of your creativity and enjoyment in making knives, which is a loss for everyone.
 
Indeed it is Andy's business, but it takes two to Tango, for it to be a business. Somebody makes and somebody buys. If you're just making to suit you, its a hobby. Some may have construed a comment or two I made in the appreciation thread a week or so ago as promoting custom orders. That was not my intent. Andy has described his belief that the workplace is more fun when the crew is free to create, whatever... In fact, isn't there middle ground? When you sell everything you can make its a bit hard to know, what the market prefers. Listening to what customers say when they call in and watching the comments on the Forum surely helps. As the number of SKUs has grown, now 65 models, (I believe is being reported), x the blade steel types, x the blade thicknesses x the handle materials it makes for a very large potential pool of knives to be made by 10 guys each week. So what're the chances most customers are finding what they want in a reasonable length of time? How many get frustrated and wander away? Is this one reason, (other than general market trends), why some knives have been in dealer stocks for weeks? Is it possible that certain models just work best for most people with certain blade types and thicknesses? I believe there's a bit of intel that says the Bushcrafter sings for most with 5/32 TT as an example. Or the Nessmuk, based on several interactions with Andy of late, suggest it sort of lives up to its traditions in 1/8 or thinner. So why not focus production on things like that? Theres still a huge array of possible choices to have fun in the making. And theres all kinds of handle choices for we buyers to have fun with. Might such a reduction in variation, yield more models being produced, that more folks want to buy. Could this be a middle ground?
 
Andy, it frankly pisses me off that you have received so much feedback that you felt compelled to post your reasons for a business decision you made over 5 years ago.

Your business, your policies. No need to debate it.

If people want a custom knife, there are plenty of custom makers out there who would love their business.
 
Andy, this model seems to work just fine and i think your reasons make perfect sense. From a personal standpoint, i like it as well because it produces a constant stream of beautiful new materials combinations and form factors beyond those i would have thought up if i was ordering something. I can't always shark them on the first try, but eventually it will come around and i will just practice delayed gratification until then (as well as adding to my list of "i gotta get that"s.)
 
I think it's awesome to take a different approach. Maybe a poll would help to find out what the top sellers will be. Either way, I love the knives and that's what it's all about.
 
Many of my favorite makers make what they want, when they want, and it sells immediately.


You do what you want. Your knives never seem to languish or stay up for long.
 
As an aside, it would be cool to see one or two customs offered up annually in an auction or lottery format. $800 minimum bid. Half to Super Ben. Maker pre-selects options. This is just a fun fantasy idea, not in argument in any way :pirate:

Also, Swonut, back off that chopper :D
 
Kirkwood said:
Andy, it frankly pisses me off that you have received so much feedback that you felt compelled to post your reasons for a business decision you made over 5 years ago.

Your business, your policies. No need to debate it.

If people want a custom knife, there are plenty of custom makers out there who would love their business.
Click to expand...

Amen to that..

TripleT said:
As an aside, it would be cool to see one or two customs offered up annually in an auction or lottery format. $800 minimum bid. Half to Super Ben. Maker pre-selects options. This is just a fun fantasy idea, not in argument in any way :pirate
Click to expand...


Thats is actually an awesome idea. Some can get their sought after custom and Ben gets a little more of what he so dearly needs
 
The variety is cool, the chase is fun. I can see it not being for everyone, but your knives continue to sell.

Do your thing, sticky the reasoning for not doing the opposite and continue forward.

Here is a fun idea, raffle/auction off a custom order slot once a month or quarter within the proceeds going to Super Ben, or wherever. Winner gets the slot and right to pay for what they want given available material
 
I fully understand your decision, but at the same time I'm very happy to have managed to get some orders in before you stopped taking them ;)

Happy belated birthday btw :D
 
TripleT said:
As an aside, it would be cool to see one or two customs offered up annually in an auction or lottery format. $800 minimum bid. Half to Super Ben. Maker pre-selects options. This is just a fun fantasy idea, not in argument in any way :pirate:

Man - What a great idea :thumbup::thumbup:
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top