Ordering from Scott Cook?

Buddy, your post was extremely insightful from a generic standpoint, and it's too bad it's lost in a post regarding a singular maker. I have saved it, along with a lengthy post from Mike Snody about why he doesn't take orders.

Both models have uncommon validity.

As a 'knife' businessman myself, I am aghast at any communication issues. It's a paramount response for me. :confused:

Coop
 
This may be over-simplifying things a bit, but I interpret a knifemaker's unwillingness to communicate reasonably as more than just indifference to communicate with the client. It taints a knifemaker. If a knifemaker doesn't care about communicating with the client (and I am not talking about developing any kind of relationship here, but just talking), then how can I believe they will care about the quality of materials or the level of skill they use to make my knife? What about when I need my knife sharpened, cleaned up, or fixed? Will they care???
 
I've been following this and thinking alot about how I do business. First I gotta say,
communication is the most important part of being a custom maker.

What most here don't understand is a maker can get overwhelmed at times. If he gets very popular, very quick and produces a lot of knives in the lower price range. Too many emails and phone calls can be very hard to keep up with and drive one crazy.
Still this is no excuse to not communicate.

I enjoy communicating with knife folks. I do get behind occasionally but for the most part return emails and calls the same day. But I'm also not in the same boat as the popular tactical makers.

I don't know Scott but it seems he's one of the 'popular tactical makers' and produces and sells alot of knives.
He is communicating with somebody! ;)
 
Don Hanson III said:
I've been following this and thinking alot about how I do business. First I gotta say,
communication is the most important part of being a custom maker.

What most here don't understand is a maker can get overwhelmed at times. If he gets very popular, very quick and produces a lot of knives in the lower price range. Too many emails and phone calls can be very hard to keep up with and drive one crazy.
Still this is no excuse to not communicate.

I enjoy communicating with knife folks. I do get behind occasionally but for the most part return emails and calls the same day. But I'm also not in the same boat as the popular tactical makers.

I don't know Scott but it seems he's one of the 'popular tactical makers' and produces and sells alot of knives.
He is communicating with somebody! ;)
Click to expand...

Don, you are the definition of a maker communicating well with his customers. :thumbup:
I don't think I have ever called you when you didn't answer the phone or have I sent an e-mail that wasn't replied to within a couple hours.
 
Kevin Jones said:
Don, you are the definition of a maker communicating well with his customers. :thumbup:
I don't think I have ever called you when you didn't answer the phone or have I sent an e-mail that wasn't replied to within a couple hours.
Click to expand...


good info KJ. The fact remains however that me and others have needed warranty work done and were ignored by scott.
 
A short time after Scott updated his site that he was accepting orders for the Owyhee hunters, I emailed him a request to be added to the list for a small Owyhee with bolsters. This was in June of '08. I also asked a question about handle material with my email order. I received no response. I suppose I could have telephoned him but I did not see a phone number on his site, only an email address. Not long after my email I saw another older thread here on BFC about Scott and communication problems with him. As much as I want the Owyhee, I just wrote it off.
 
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Kevin Jones said:
Don, you are the definition of a maker communicating well with his customers. :thumbup:
I don't think I have ever called you when you didn't answer the phone or have I sent an e-mail that wasn't replied to within a couple hours.
Click to expand...
Thanks Kevin!
 
Thomason said:
A short time after Scott updated his site that he was accepting orders for the Owyhee hunters, I emailed him a request to be added to the list for a small Owyhee with bolsters. This was in June of '08. I also asked a question about handle material with my email order. I received no response. I suppose I could have telephoned him but I did not see a phone number on his site, only an email address. Not long after my email I saw another older thread here on BFC about Scott and communication problems with him. As much as I want the Owyhee, I just wrote it off.
Click to expand...

Don't think this thread is about customers needing their hand held or coddled with a lovey/feeley ongoing communication relationship with a custom maker.

Don't think this thread is about wait times.

Don't think this thread is about maker quality.

My experience was similar to Rob's, but more than a couple emails went unanswered over a longer period of time.

The question remains, based on what many posters here have experienced, how would any follow up be if there was an issue with a knife in hand?

I too, went elsewhere.

Truly, what would it take to either hire someone 3 hours a week to answer e-questions or simply post on his website "Don't expect me to reply to any questions directed at my given contact info in a timely fashion, if at all" ?

:D

IOW, why give out your email on your business site if there is either no intention or likelihood to use it?


Would I still buy one on the secondary market if the timing was right and all things being equal?
Probably. :)
 
hmmm interesting .. in the past 8 months, I did send some emails to Scott (around 6-ish) and did get all replied by him (and helpful too). The last one was November 2008.
 
Thomason said:
I suppose I could have telephoned him but I did not see a phone number on his site, only an email address.
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I have an order for a standard Lochsa from Scott from early 2006. The last time I tried to call Scott regarding that order, about a year ago, I discovered his phone was no longer in service.
 
For all those that are waiting on knives from Scott, have you given him any money yet?

With such a long wait list, does he require full payment up front, or just a deposit?
 
It is a valid question as some knifemakers do request payment in advance. Scott, however, does not.
 
The_Guide said:
For all those that are waiting on knives from Scott, have you given him any money yet?

With such a long wait list, does he require full payment up front, or just a deposit?
Click to expand...

Scott requires neither payment in full up front nor a deposit. You pay when the knife is ready, and then he ships it to you.
 
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