Order update

Jarrett Fleming · Feb 27, 2016

I hate to do this, but I am closing my books. It's the best decision for me right now. Some of you have been waiting on orders for nearly six months after being quoted for less time which is totally unacceptable to me. The good news is my new heat treat oven came in, and I also fixed my old oven. Those of you who placed orders back in September your knives are in progress and should be finished soon. I have a small batch that will be posted by tomorrow and a few more that should be completed by the end of the week.

I will be finishing all remaining orders. I know that some of you have sent materials for future builds that aren't in the books yet, and I will make those knives too.

I can see that taking orders the way I have been isn't going to work for me. I just simply don't have the time to keep up with them. Shop time is unpredictable so ETA's are literally impossible. I have an idea which is open to discussion to deal with this issue. When I reopen my books I plan on limiting orders to 5 knives a month. Once a month is filled up you can still place an order, but it will be on the next month's list and so on. All other knives made will be posted for sale. What do you guys think of this?

Thanks for reading and I hope you all have a great afternoon!
Jarrett

LukeTheSpook · Feb 28, 2016

I think the way fiddleback sells their knives might work for you. Have a certain day every month or week and put them up. I think they'll sell quick and you can control how many knives and how much work you're doing.

I'm pretty sure you know the boys from fiddleback anyway so maybe their model is worth trying out.

Triton · Feb 28, 2016

I think Luke might be onto something, make knives, post knives, sell knives might be a better business model for you if you are doing this as a hobby job. Alternately, you can do customized versions of your knives with a wait list but only if you aren't taking any up front money or materials. No matter what people say they tend to get anxious if you are holding their money or materials and they are sitting around month after month on a wait list.

Here's how it works best for me with my hobby job:

1) You let me know that you want to be added to my wait list. There is no cost or obligation. I add you to the list.
2) Your name comes to the top of the wait list and I notify you via email as well as provide you with a worklist to fill out and return.
3) I build the item to your specification.
4) I notify you that the work is complete and provide you with an itemized bill.
5) You send the payment
6) I package item and ship back to you

My waiting list is absurdly long and sometimes when I ping the next guy on the list he no longer wants the project. No harm no foul, I cross him off the list and move on to the next guy. Everyone is happy, no one is anxious and I've been doing it for about 18 years now.

Personally based on what I've seen you can mostly make what YOU like and people will still buy it. It really just depends on if you want to be a knife maker or a custom knife maker. In general I think knife makers make more money because it is easier to figure out materials costs and shop rates and bill accordingly then it is to bill custom pieces.

Jarrett Fleming · Feb 28, 2016

Thanks for the feedback guys. I never take money up front and never plan to I've heard the horror stories. I do allow people to send mats for builds though and haven't had a problem so far.

I might just try making what I want and selling them. It sure would be less stressful, but one of my favorite parts is interacting with my customers and orders are a big part of that.

adequacy · Mar 2, 2016

I think it seems like a fair solution. Custom orders are just such a difficult conundrum. I think your customers will understand!

mgam · Mar 2, 2016

I think your idea of opening books just to get enough custom orders for a month at a time sounds like a good idea. You can take first five on post replies to a thread or do a lottery for five post replies to get on books. You can limit options if getting a lot of different materials becomes hard to manage and/or costly to maintain.

I don't like to see makers move completely away from full customs. I know it is easy for me to say when it is the maker that has to deal with the extra work involved. It just seems like a tradition for makers and I think it demands great respect for a maker when that maker can just work with whatever requirements are given and produce amazing work.

rcartmell3 · Mar 3, 2016

I like that you take custom orders. It really doesn't matter to me how long it takes for you to finish the knife. I know that I will have a high quality knife to use in the end. I support any decision you make and I will continue to buy and order knives from you as long as you make them. I love your style and quality of work. You can tell that you take pride in your work. The idea of opening your books a month at a time sounds like a good one. Thanks Jarrett!!

trestle · Mar 16, 2016

I think you have a great idea with the monthly limit on customs and making some of your own design for sale. It still provides the one-on-one interactions and relationships that are the backbone of the industry yet allows you to be artistic with some ease of pressure. Of course I'm supporting this for selfish reasons as I hope you don't close your order books permanently but it's still a good idea. :thumbup:

Kick74 · Mar 25, 2016

Jarrett, I think your work speaks for itself. You are a fine craftsman and every knife I've seen of yours clearly shows that. Personally, I'm glad you are still gonna do the custom pieces. I like the fact that I can have a knife that nobody else has and that I had a say in how it came to be. And that relationship you feel with the customer goes both ways. We like that you give us options on the knives you make. I can only imagine how stressful it is for you taking on custom orders; but I know for myself, that once I get that knife I may have been waiting months for, it is worth the wait in the end!

I think you have a good idea going. Keep up the great work!