No longer accepting orders.

Mitchell Knives

Mitchell Knives

Knifemaker
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Joined
May 21, 2000
Messages
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It looks like I'm going to have to stop accepting orders for the forseeable future.

My backlog has become longer than I feel comfortable with, and I really don't like making people wait.

Between making outstanding orders, work and everything else, I don't really have time to work on new designs.

While I'm extremely flattered that people are willing to wait for my knives, I don't want the quality of my knives to be compromised by an excessive backlog.

I'd rather make 10 great knives than 100 mediocre knives.

Anyone else stopped taking orders?

[youtube]x4nN-J4ZdoY[/youtube]
 
Hi Johnathan
Many of the top makers that I know have stoped taking orders for the same reasons, what they have done is keep a list of peaple interested in purchasing a knife from them and when they have one available they send a mass email to every one on the list with the Photo and specs and from then on it's a first come first serve affair.

Jim
 
Awesome video.

Congratulations on having the discipline to manage the business as well as the craft.
 
You gotta do what fits your situation. I have been at the point of saying no custom orders in the past, but am currently paying most of my bills with them and am grateful to have them.
 
Wish I had thought of that video! AWESOME job!! Do what makes you happy and keeps you sane, Johnathan. Once you're caught up, you can start taking orders again at a higher price point to try and reduce demand so you don't get as behind.

--nathan
 
Stopped taking orders also. I have a 3 year old son and my wife is 6 months pregnant. We just bought a new house and are getting moved in. With all going on it is just too much to try and keep up with an order list. Awesome video, that was very entertaining. -Burton
 
That video is KING, brother....

I took orders for the first 2-3months of business and gave delivery dates... then said screw this. I cannot work under the gun with orders hanging over my head. I have a waiting list now. I go through it one at a time and do my own projects alnong with it. It is really the only way for me. I have job management software and a written "master list" that I use to keep track of everything. I have had only a few folks opt out of getting one made when their number came up. It was understandable and I just went down the list until someone else interested in that model took it. At 2 knive a week, my software has me at a little under 1 1/2 years wait time.

Waiting lists.... No orders..... that's the way to go for a custom maker.
 
Yup, it's tough to make it work well for you and your customers. Rick, what job management software are you using for this? I've kinda been making a list on a spreadsheet, but I know there has got to be a better way. Thanks.
-M
 
That video was AWESOME!!!

I like your method Rick.....I might just have to adopt that method myself....
 
now THAT, is some funny stuff.
 
Very clever and very funny. The version of BMW vs Kawasaki motorcycles is also very funny.
 
Michael Rader said:
Rick, what job management software are you using for this? I've kinda been making a list on a spreadsheet, but I know there has got to be a better way. Thanks.
-M
Click to expand...

www.creativetrack.com

It might look overkill at first but once you fine tune your profile to what you need, it is just as simple as a spread sheet but with many more options and features. Plus because it is web based, I can access it from any computer and not have to worry about back ups.... other than printing off an updated list every so often.
 
Thanks guys!

Rick: Good suggestions and thanks for the link! The "waiting list" method seems like the way to go. Seems like a lot less stress.
 
That video was hilarious. With skills like that you would make alot more money making something other than knives:)
 
That was unbelievable. I made my wife watch it. Tomorrow, I'm going to make others watch it. I love this forum.

Good decision, Johnathan. Congratulations.
 
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