The Bad--pappy1959 - Tim Balda

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mikesknives said:
I am currently waiting for a refund to clear as soon as it does I will let you all know and as far as I am concerned the matter wil be closed.

Hoping to pass on the good news soon.

Mike
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I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you!:thumbup:

Tim, you had me until the rant about all the self-righteous forumites with no dog in the fight ganging up on you. Yes, I do not currently have any money tied up in your knives, but I have considered purchases a number of times. Your actions and words reflect poorly on your company and make me think twice about considering any future purchases. That's my personal opionion as a knife consumer, expressed bluntly. Nothing self-righteous or judgemental about it. No one is out to get you here. We just expect a higher standard from our members.

Also, as a member of this forum for more than a few years, I get upset when fellow forumites start complaining that they are being ignored by a seller. I've faced this situation too and I don't like it. I'm not afraid to express my frustration about the problem. You eventually showed up and tried to address the situation, for which I give you credit, but using stealth mode and only responding by email, until people start complaining publicly, reflects poorly on you and your company. Those who called you out for failing to send them purchased knives in a timely manner were 100% correct and I hope they are made whole.
 
Tim/Pappy.

One thing I'd like you to keep in mind here.

Every single member of Bladeforums is your potential customer. How you treat your actual paid up customer is directly related to how many of those potential customers send you money, and become an actual customer.

You are develpoing a reputation here that is not good.

If you are having difficulties managing the business end of things, ask your family to hep you, or ask a trusted friend to help you until you get things organized. Most of what you posted about your difficulties is something you didn't need to do, and no one really needed to know about. However, you seem to keep making excuses, not answering email, ect, and that casts doubt.

Stop saying you are trying to make excuses, and just get things handled so your reputation isn't damaged any further, and that you are honestly doing your best to get back on track. Answer the emails. Answer the questions honestly, and get back to business.

I wish you luck.
 
pappy1959 said:
I see other threads in this area of the forum where people have taken literally years to address a problem. Where they have fallen off the planet for months at a time. The numbers are just as big in terms of dollars. They are multiple "offenders" if you will. None of them have been called names. None of them have had their backgrounds pried into. In fact, they have been treated with much compassion and with offers of help and assistance to get things fixed. I'd sure like to experience a little more of that kind of thing.
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Could you direct me to those threads by providing some links. I don't remember having seen threads where people have taken years to address problems, and have disappeared for months at a time, that weren't taken to task for their actions.
 
pappy1959 said:
This guy is going on a year. He apparently has done things in the past. Where are rproctor, brownshoe and Elliott in this thread??
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The reason why I haven't gotten involved in those particular threads you referenced is because I had not read any of the posts involving the issues which were raised.

Believe it or not, I don't have time to read every post in every forum and there are some forums and threads I don't visit on a regular basis.

However, you, on the other hand, have posted numerous times in our Traditional Forum and also in the knifemaker's sale area and so I was privy to the tone, tenor, context and content of what you have posted in those venues and also aware of the issues which have arisen from those threads and posts.

As a result, when this thread showed up in this forum, I had both interest and reason to read what was afoot since you have often posted in a forum I co-moderate. And frankly, Tim, there is nothing that I have said in this thread which I feel is either inappropriate or inaccurate.

I have a very simple standard when it comes to dealing with folks I have entered a transaction with. I try to treat them as I would like to be treated and give them the benefit of the doubt until their actions (or inactions) show me different. I was taught that you don't buy what you can't afford, you pay your obligations on time, and when you give a man your word, (or handshake, literally or via cyberspace), you keep it or damn well explain in advance if there are any impediments to fulfilling your promise.

Had you followed that simple credo none of this would have been necessary imho. You don't like the fact that I feel this way, that's fine. But being a moderator does not preclude my having an opinion or taking a stance when necessary. My job on the forums is not to make you feel good. My responsibility is to the community of thousands who visit and post here.
 
pappy1959 said:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=477399

This gentleman won't pick up the phone, email or anything and has not been called a con man or a crook.....................

Roger Linger has been called just about everything you can think of.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=369762

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=560182

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http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=630139


This guy is going on a year. He apparently has done things in the past. Where are rproctor, brownshoe and Elliott in this thread?? In fact, I was impressed by the people that have offered to help this man get back on his feet and get things set right. Nobody called him names, postulated on his mental stability or dug into his background and spread misinformation...........

Gravelface/Jason got his butt handed to him in another thread as well.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=585448

These are two examples I saw the other day.
Again, I see in the second one where folks were trying to help.
Neither guy gets called a crook, mentall ill or a con man.
The criticism is there and the concern for other forum members is there.
Absent is the venom that has come primarily from brownshoe, rproctor and in part fed by Elliott. That venom is what I think is not appropriate. IMHO
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You didn't do nearly enough research into what has happened to those other people to be making claims that they weren't handled in a manner similar to what happened to you.

Whatever the case may be, you shouldn't be concerned with the treatment that others have received. Your concern should be in righting your ship and then in keeping your business on the right path. That's the only way to get people on your side. You will find that the folks on this forum are very supportive of people that have screwed up and then gone on to become stand up members of the community.

Anyway, I wish only the best for you, but it's all in your hands. You have taken care of the people that got the poor service from you, and I commend you for that. If you do decide to stay in business, you have to keep from having another episode like the last couple. If you can't handle the business end of things, find people that can.
 
pappy1959 said:
Elliott,

I am not interested in anybody making me feel good.

You said you did not read the posts. As a moderator, you hold a position of influence and you should indeed read the posts before you comment. As a mod, you are by function held to a higher standard.

It is my humble opinion, because you did not read the posts, you used information from another time and another place to form your opinions. You even said this in the post above. The net result was that you spurred on brownshoe and rproctor in their needless attacks and name calling. That's my opinion.
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Read what I wrote again, Tim. I said I didn't read the posts in the other threads you referenced about other makers. That is why I didn't respond in them. Is that clear enough now? I don't have a responsibility to excuse myself for not making posts in threads I haven't read. :rolleyes:
 
Mr. Balda, what you say makes no difference. You just bellow noise.

The facts speak for themselves.

Concerning the buck case...Fact, court record, your suit was dismissed. Your case did not hold water.

Concerning your business being ruined by others not paying you...Fact, court record, you have many courtcases and a recent 70K judgement that shows you are not paying your bills. YOU are putting out of business those you are not paying. You have gall to complain about anyone doing that to you as your unpaid notes litter the court in your county.

Concerning how you are treated compared to others on this forum...Fact you had $4500 of one persons money and $1000 of another's. That's a total of $5500. This in no way compares to any other "problem child" on this forum other than the infamous Allen Blade.

By the way, sassing mods is a bannable offense. Misrepresnting yourself is a bannable offense.

I reread some of your discussion here about how your knives are constructed, and really wonder what makes your knives custom. Per your description, you had a factory, lost your employees and are cobbling together what is left by yourself with some help from other people. Your "custom" knife does not seem to be in the same league as those made by your brother knifemakers in the Knifemaker for Sale forum. Their custom knives are sole authorship. From your description, your product is neither custom nor factory but some type of "frankenknife". No need to explain, after your demonstrations here, I cannot see why anyone would even take your word as to the type of blade steel.
 
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brownshoe I think the term you are looking for is "midtech" and there are lots of people using the same techniques to make perfectly acceptable knives. As with all things the edges blur in places and this is one of them. "Frankenknife" seems to be a derogatory term just because the production techniques don't fit neatly into a little box. And quite frankly an uncalled for slander.
 
mikesknives said:
brownshoe I think the term you are looking for is "midtech" and there are lots of people using the same techniques to make perfectly acceptable knives. As with all things the edges blur in places and this is one of them. "Frankenknife" seems to be a derogatory term just because the production techniques don't fit neatly into a little box. And quite frankly an uncalled for slander.
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Mike, just as a point of information, "mid-tech" knives shouldn't be offered in the knifemaker's sale area:

Knife Maker's For Sale Area A place for custom makers and bladesmiths to sell their products, as well as pick up supplies and materials.
 
pappy1959 said:
My customers are taken care of.
That is the only fact that matters.
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If you are definitely not going to continue your business then you are correct, that is the only fact that matters. If you are planning on keeping Amherst Cutlery as a going concern then there are many other things that matter.

By the way, I noticed your website is down. Is it really down because it is being reconstructed, or have you decided to shut everything down?
 
I’ve received a few e-mails regarding this thread. I’m surprised and disgusted by the latest “Bladeforums Trial By Internet”.

I’ve known Tim personally for about two years. I have friends who have known Tim for much longer. I say with no reservation, Tim Balda is a good person whom I trust. I know other people who will also vouch for Tim. I know he has made literally thousands of business transactions that went well. This is why Tim is well thought of by knifemakers.

Bladeforums has a problem. Lots of knifemakers refuse to participate. Banning Cliff Stamp took too long. Tolerance of Cliff was not tolerated by lots of knifemakers. Many knifemakers know and like Tim. When they read this thread they shake their heads and go to other forums. They know the comments directed at Tim are out of line. Why would they want to participate when they read comments they know are wrong and the comments are not moderated? Why do some posters get to make personal attacks and others don’t?

The personal information Tim posted is not complete. He is an optimist. He only posted part of the information. I know more of the story and it is much worse. I would never make comments about Tim or the way he manages his business. Before anyone asks for more of the story I say, Kiss My Ass. You don’t need to know. I'm impressed with Tim's ability to pushing forward and not give up.

Brownshoe continues to step in shit and keep his shoes brown. I’ve been surprised for years that he has not been banned for his personal attacks. He does not contribute anything except negativity. He too cheap to pay for a membership. Too bad the reputation points are gone. When the system was in place people could see what others thought of his contributions by his negative rep points.

Why would anyone try to make a psychiatric diagnosis based on forums posts? There are two possible reasons for this:
1) They don’t know anything and are blowing smoke out their ass
2) They have the license to make a diagnosis but should lose the license for exposing their stupidity and lack of professional judgment

Why do some posters think they are the “Bladeforums Prosecutor” whose questions must be answered? If a customer wants to ask a question I think they should post it. All other questions just add noise and confuse the issue.

To the people who are giving business advice, do you own a business? It is easy to give advice when you work for a big corporation or the government. It is much different when you have to make daily decisions that determine the survival of your company. I can tell you as a business owner, some days you have to do triage to determine which fire to put out. Until you have experienced the stress for yourself, don’t give business advice. It only exposes your ignorance.

Do we really want to get into the MidTech discussion? Who is going to monitor every knife from custom knifemakers to determine if any of the parts have been outsourced? Do I have to post a list of knifemakers who have purchased our pivots made by CNC? Where is the line drawn to define MidTech and custom? This issue has done tremendous damage to The Knifemakers Guild. Why risk similar problems and backlash here at BladeForums?

There is so much in the knife community that is not known, unethical knife companies, knifemakers who are convicted felons, purveyors who are dishonest, etc. Tim’s mistakes pale in comparison. Tim admitted he was wrong and is working to resolve the problems with his customers. In the past people who admitted mistakes and made amends were congratulated here. What else do you want him to do? Why is Tim being singled out?

This internet “Trial” should end.
 
Chuck, the reason that I bring up his business is that he thought it was something that we needed to know. It was him that posted about hating the business part of the knife business and that he wasn't very good at it. When it was Tim that started the whole thing about his business it doesn't make any sense that no one should be able to reply to his comments. Though I do not own my own company, I was a part of the small business my wife had for many years. I do know what is involved in running one.

I understand that things have been very bad for Tim, and I really do wish him the best. I have always liked what I have seen of the knives that come from his company. It would be a shame to see Amherst Cutlery go out of business.
 
Chuck Bybee said:
Do we really want to get into the MidTech discussion? Who is going to monitor every knife from custom knifemakers to determine if any of the parts have been outsourced? Do I have to post a list of knifemakers who have purchased our pivots made by CNC? Where is the line drawn to define MidTech and custom? This issue has done tremendous damage to The Knifemakers Guild. Why risk similar problems and backlash here at BladeForums?
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You bring up good points, Chuck, the effects of which I have witnessed firsthand especially during the years I would attend the Guild Show.

That said, you'll notice that the knives ordinarily offered for sale in the "Knife Maker's" area are knives offered by an individual maker. (Whether or not he has his parts water jet cut or receives parts from elsewhere is beyond my ability to track down for the most part as I rely on the integrity of the maker until and unless I learn otherwise.)

The Amherst knives that I am/have been aware of are not sole authorship knives. If they are not made by Tim Balda (and I am not professing any particular inside knowledge on this topic) then it would seem to me that he would be more of a "dealer" than a knife maker. Now, if that has changed, so be it, that's not my concern. I know he has stated that he has done embellishment work.

Mid-Tech knives are regularly offered in the "Production Knives For Sale" area of this site. (You can easily see that by putting "midtech" or "mid-tech" as search terms within that forum.)

Lastly, I only brought up the mid-tech matter as a point of information in regard to a post by Mikesknives addressing another member.
 
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