What do you think they expect?

[Will Leavitt]

The annual "ABS/Guild is the best/worst, who is the ABS/Guild" thread got me to thinking (yeah, it's an annual event also.) What do you think your customers expect from you? And conversely, what do you think your customers expect you expect from you? If you hold a rank/title/are a ninja monkey wrangler/sensei/or don't hold any of those I'd like to hear from you also and feel that your position has some bearing on this please feel free to add that bit of info.

I make mainly medium to small using knives. I prefer forging over stock removal but used to do stock removal on my SFC (keychain) blade. I forge because I like to forge and feel it's a better use of steel rather than looking at $10 worth of steel dust on floor and in my slump bucket.

My customers expect a hard working, attractive knife with quality materials. I use knives a lot and have my opinions on what make one design work better than another design. They expect a quick answer to their questions and a faster reply to problems (thankfuly few and far between.) They expect no chest beating or grandiose claims of "super ninja monkey death ray laser" blades.

I feel my customers appreciate my low-key, self deprecating and dare I say "humble" approach to the craft. Can I say I'm humble or does that make me not humble? I think they're attracted to my simple, no frills attempts at knife elegance. I'd rather make a simple and elegant knife than a blade with a bunch of "bling". I think the thankful attitude I have about a customer is appreciated. Even after all the knives I've sold I'm still amazed that people pay me for a knife. I find it very humbling that someone will pull money out of a dusty wallet for something with my name on it.

Anyways, I thought this might be a more useful departure away from techniques to something we can all appreciate, our customers.

 

[Robert Dark]

What do you think your customers expect from you? If you hold a rank/title/are a ninja monkey wrangler/sensei/or don't hold any of those I'd like to hear from you also and feel that your position has some bearing on this please feel free to add that bit of info.

My customers expect a hard working, attractive knife with quality materials.

They expect a quick answer to their questions and a faster reply to problems

I'd rather make a simple and elegant knife than a blade with a bunch of "bling".

Well Will, I don't hold a title (Unless you are talking about the one that my wife calls me.......something to do with ***holes), and at my age, I never will hold any other kind of "Title".

I am fortunate in that I am in a position to make what I want to make and if it sells, good-on-me, if not, then the grand-kids will have more knives than they know what to do with.

As far as customers (or potential customers) go, I spend an awful lot of time emailing back-and-forth and phone conversations in order to make sure, as best as possible, that I understand their wants and wishes.

I had an email exchange recently with a good customer and the bottom line was that if I can make a knife that makes a customer feels like he/she got the best-bang-for-the-buck, then I have succeeded.

My knives are not anywhere near perfect, but they are the best product that this old man can produce....... TODAY........ Tomorrow is another day altogether.

Enough rambling............... Robert

 

[nc_cooter]

Robert, my wife has anointed me with the same "title". You have described my knife making ventures to a tee. I will continue to make the best knives I can make as long as I can. My wife has a rule that she gets first refusal on any knife I make that is not specifically destined to a customer. So far she has claimed 9, ranging in blade length of a 3" EDC to a 14 1/2" butcher knife.

 

[Rick Marchand]

I expect that people expect I expect honesty.....

I give it and want it in return. I never ask for a penny upfront and never barter prices (dealers exempt) If someone really likes something I make but can't afford it, I will happily guide them in making their own, if they so chose. No trade secrets, no hocus-pocus blade smithing. If you don't like what you get, I'll buy it back, no matter what. I only work on pieces that I'm inspired to make. If you get something from me, you can be sure I put 100% of myself into it. Thats what I try to convey and that's what I hope folks expect from me.

Kinda cheesy , eh?:jerkit:

Rick

 

[butcher_block]

from me most want to see me push what a razor looks liek and still works well and to make kitchen knives that are hard to beat with a wide range of handle styles and materials at fair prices
it sure is fun to keep pushing myself to betterness both in style and finish