Orders are getting on my nerves

Do you have a place where you keep a running list of finished orders? Might help get people moving, and would help guys not be nervous that they're missing emails. (Yep, I just checked through all my emails, even though I'm still supposed to be about 3 months out or so...)
 
xrgong said:
Do you have a place where you keep a running list of finished orders? Might help get people moving, and would help guys not be nervous that they're missing emails. (Yep, I just checked through all my emails, even though I'm still supposed to be about 3 months out or so...)
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I don't. And I don't think I'm going to implement one either. One thing that stinks about orders is how much overhead time it takes to manage them. Adding more spots to update wouldn't be in my plan. For one thing, orders are constantly changing. I get e-mails from order placers constantly updating or changing their orders. Some guys dont make any changes, don't e-mail at all, and it is easy to fill their need. But, the normal situation is constant changes to orders. I have some 3x5 cards that I have to staple a new one to the front because every square inch of the first card has been scratched out and amended. Don't get me wrong. I love y'alls passion for knives, and especially for my knives. But to go through the hours of overhead involved in taking an order, then to just hear nothing when the knife is ready is very frustrating.
 
One thing I would like to throw out there is that email is incredibly unreliable. Emails get lost, and can be blocked as spam without the user ever having a chance to see them. If spam is filtered on the server side, the customer might not have any clue if their spam filter blocked your email. I would say it would be a VERY good policy to require a phone number along with email address for any orders placed, and not play phone tag, but leave a single voicemail letting the customer know they have a certain number of days to get back to you or the knife will be sold.

At the same time, rough estimates of availabity time frames would help a lot - for example, I have absolutely no clue when my bow legged chopper and muk will be done, so it's difficult to plan for them financially ;)
 
In addition to my previous suggestion, I would personally require some form of non-refundable deposit along with every order. Something along the lines of $30 or so. This way you are at least compensated a bit for the time you spend in hashing out the knife details on some of the more time consuming orders. This way you're not acting as a bank, holding someone else's money, it's your money from the start. If the buyer comes through they would pay off the remaining balance. If they don't, well, tough luck for them, you keep the $30 and sell the knife to someone else.
 
what a bummer Andy.. sorry to hear about this... that crap would piss me off too...:thumbdn: if the orderer doesn't man up, i think i probably would wait a week to 10 days and them sell them..
 
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Sorry to hear this Andy. I know others hate the idea of putting a down payment on a knife, but to me, it's reasonable. If someone wants a $200 custom, there is nothing wrong with $30-40 upfront. For $1000 knife, maybe $150. I know it's not a straight percentage, but maybe add a sliding scale to help cover costs and make sure stuff gets sold.
 
Knowing a rough completion date would be helpful. That way people, myself included, know if they can safely use money they might otherwise hold on to "just in case".
 
Sorry Andy,

I guess I missed the e-mail for payment for the new 18" natural linen micarta Machete. Give me your paypal and I ll get payment out immediately!;);):cool:

Really though,
I think non refundable deposits would be extremely reasonable, and a grace period to claim and make payment. Then market it and sell it! maybe have a failure to pay sale page? OR once a month do a dead beat buyers auction?

I understand things come up and people gotta eat, but if you have that level of financial instability, that you can't make good on a $200? commitment and still feed your family; maybe you shouldn't be getting custom knives commissioned? Priorities Man!
Just my .02 worth.
Hopefully they come through and you still continue making custom orders. I can't make up my mind on what I want, so I haven't ordered one. But I love your work and hope when I finally decide on something, you haven't been discouraged by those who fail to pay up, and are still taking custom orders!
 
Duzzy said:
Knowing a rough completion date would be helpful. That way people, myself included, know if they can safely use money they might otherwise hold on to "just in case".
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Speaking from the experience of two knives ordered from Andy, he's a great communicator (not to be confused with The Great Communicator, but a good guy nonetheless). On both orders he let me know roughly when he would get to the knives, if there were any changes, and when time was getting near: a head's up, WIP photos, etc. I can understand being embarrassed if you no longer want/need, or can afford the knife, but step up and let the guy know. I know Andy's suspended orders in the past, I assume because of similar issues, and it ruins the fun for all of us. I guess an unfortunate casualty of getting bigger is the honor system.
 
That's a tough situation you are in. I sell parts and will not take any orders unless paid in full. I don't fully understand why makers don't take partial or even full payment in advance for orders, but i'm sure you have your reasons. However, you can protect yourself by creating a sales contract with the buyer. In my case i am unwilling to make a custom order from a maker unless he/she is willing to at least take a deposit, otherwise i have no assurance my order takes precedence. I know i would prefer to pay in full for orders since that is when i have the money and there is no guarantee it will be there in the future.

I hope you are able to recover from this frustrating situation without any loss. On another note, i can't wait until you get those machetes on sale, they are sweet.
 
Vege-Taco said:
Sounds like it's time to come up with a new policy for your orders. Something like, "If payment arrangements aren't made within 10 days of knife completion, the knife will be put up for sale to others." :)
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I sell a bit in the exchange, and I had a period where someone would post an I'll take it, then I would not hear for days about payment, if at all. Got to where I had to put this at the bottom of my for sales:

"You must contact me to make payment arrangements within 24 hours of posting an 'I'll take it'. It goes back on sale after that."

I think it would be entirely fair for you to have a policy like that. Everyone knows up front.
 
Dylside said:
That's a million dollar idea right there. I'm sending out an email now to all my folks to this effect!

Edit: I just sent the email out. Everyone gets 10 bidness days to pay and claim their knife. I think that's a fair time frame.
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It might take longer then ten days. I'd say ten days after notification of the completed knife with no communication from the buyer then stick it up for sale.
 
wintermute said:
Speaking from the experience of two knives ordered from Andy, he's a great communicator (not to be confused with The Great Communicator, but a good guy nonetheless). On both orders he let me know roughly when he would get to the knives, if there were any changes, and when time was getting near: a head's up, WIP photos, etc. I can understand being embarrassed if you no longer want/need, or can afford the knife, but step up and let the guy know. I know Andy's suspended orders in the past, I assume because of similar issues, and it ruins the fun for all of us. I guess an unfortunate casualty of getting bigger is the honor system.
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I was really speaking in general. This is my first time dealing with Andy, but I've had issues in the past with other custom shops. If I order a $200.00 product, and know I have roughly four months wait, I can put away $50.00 a month instead of sitting on $200.00 for no one knows how long.

I'm not making any judgments, just agreeing with the idea in general. It makes sense.
 
Call me old fashoined, but it seems to me that if you don't have the money to buy something now DON"T order it now? The prudent and responsible thing to do would be to save up for 4 months, then order the product when you are ready to pay for it. Not gamble that you will actually be able to save $50/ month and then not make it, and cave on your commitment to pay when the time comes. Sitting on money is pretty easy if you realize it really isn't really your money, it belongs to whomever you promised to pay upon completion of their part of the deal.

("You" being the non paying party, I am not pointing any fingers or wanting to step on toes here; Just stating the way things should be done the right way. Unfortunately alot of people were never taught the "right way" or have just chosen to forget it)
 
Yep, you commit to buy, then buy. If you can't afford to keep it, then turn around and sell it on your own. But communicate! I know from selling firearms periodically that most sellers wouldn't really mind if a buyer backed out, as long as he communicated clearly! Don't just start ignoring attempts to reach you. Thankfully, Ive only had it happen a couple of times.

And 10 days to receive full payment should be plenty, especially if Andy gives people a headsup when he's getting close.

Maybe I should apply for Fiddleback dealer status, then I wouldn't have to worry about not being able to order customs!! :)
 
jnich005 said:
That's a tough situation you are in. I sell parts and will not take any orders unless paid in full. I don't fully understand why makers don't take partial or even full payment in advance for orders, but i'm sure you have your reasons. However, you can protect yourself by creating a sales contract with the buyer. In my case i am unwilling to make a custom order from a maker unless he/she is willing to at least take a deposit, otherwise i have no assurance my order takes precedence. I know i would prefer to pay in full for orders since that is when i have the money and there is no guarantee it will be there in the future.

I hope you are able to recover from this frustrating situation without any loss. On another note, i can't wait until you get those machetes on sale, they are sweet.
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Do a search on here for Allen Blade, or Dale Chudinski. Taking deposits is the fastest way to get run off the internet.
 
I feel your pain Andy, Sounds like you have no other choice. Like you said your bills don't stop comming just because you can't get paid for your work. Tell that to the electric Co. while you are sitting in the dark.

10 days, then it goes up for sale, sounds more than fair.

Best of luck,
Paul
 
Andy,

Sorry to hear about your collections problems.

I think part of the problem may be the 8 month wait for a custom order. Circumstances change and customers loose interest. However, even setting aside the maker's anti-deposit culture for a moment, I can understand not wanting to take a deposit with that kind of lead time. The accounting problem alone would be nightmarrish.

On the other hand, you can't reasonably be expected to go into your own pocket to build a custom order either. Especially since you can't count on being able to sell it later to make yourself whole if the customer doesn't come through with the money -- what if there is no market for what the customer asked for (regardless of how well you executed it)? Your basically stuck financing somone else's design at that point.

Would it be appropriate (and acceptable among makers?) to protect yourself by contacting the customer when the order comes up to be made, confirming the details and whether there are any last minute changes, and requiring a non-refundable payment of say 50% of the quoted cost of the knife (to offset the cost of materials, etc.) prior to your commencing work? At least that way you will know if the customer is "real" before you commit time and materials. If you can't reach him or her, and/or do not receive payment, you just move on to the next one. Also, to the extent you weed out bad orders, you'll probably be able to shorten the wait time for better (read: "paying") customers.

By the way, . . .ahem . . . in the interest of full disclosure . . . . I have a Guardless Ladyfinger on order, scheduled for delivery sometime around Christmas, so I'm both calling in fire on my own position here, and also being admittedly a bit self-serving ;) I'm enjoying the Blue Terrasaur I snapped up a couple of weeks ago, in the meantime, btw.

Hope the show goes well!
 
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