Where is Martin Swinkles?

H

Hondo_Lane

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I ordered a sheath from Martin back in January. His blog/website has not been updated since Feb. I have sent him several emails in the last 3 weeks and no response. Has something happened to him? Anybody here know or heard from him lately?
 
I was wondering the same thing recently, I hope he's ok.
 
Wow, I have a similar experience. I brought up an issue with my sheath that I didn't really notice until long after I got it. I emailed him about it several times, absolutely no reply. I just thought he was annoyed by it and didn't want to deal with it.
 
I have also had the same experience. I have a sheath on order and I have sent multiple emails dating back to February with no answer.
 
I ordered a sheath for my S1 Feb last year, I have to say he is extremely good at replying to emails, he always answered my questions within 1 day of me emailing him. He kept me up to date on progress, sent me pics of my sheath and the final product was excellent, albeit delayed by approximately 2 weeks after the initial 8 week estimate, due to some higher priority work (soldiers, I was OK with this). If he is not responding I would hazard a guess that something has happened, I don't think he is the type of guy to just up and leave without any notice.

EDIT: He has updated his blog (dunno if I can link here):

http://martinsheaths.blogspot.com/

Here is the post:

"Some of you already know, but last week I had a small accident, resulting in a severely cut indexfinger. This needs a couple of weeks to heal which means I can't do leatherwork during that time. I can't apply enough force, and working with water is not a good idea yet. Yesterday I started doing kydex again, and though progres is slow, I finished a sheath. So this week I'll be concentrating on kydex only.

To make up for lost time I'll stop taking new orders for the next 6 weeks or so.

I also still have problems with my provider, and not all e-mails reach me like they should. Sometimes only a few for days, and then the rest all at once. I try to answer them all, but I'm sure I missed some, so if I missed you, please send them again."
 
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Talked to Martin via PM a couple weeks ago. He's fine as far as I know, and he's been on the forum this week. He may be having email issues. I see you sent him a VM, so he should get that next time he's on.

ETA: Oz and I posted at the same time. Thanks for the info.
 
Hi Guys,

I've had a lot of troubles receiving e-mails. Some made it, a lot didn't. a few weeks ago I received a bundle of over 1200 e-mails, send to me from half januari till now, all kept by the server. I'm slowly digging through them, but for sure I can't answer them all.
added to this is the increased demand for my work, which result in an avarage of 20 requests per day I receive lately, and even with my connection in order it's impossible to answer all of them.
Connection seems reliable now as I received a steady stream of e-mails during the last weeks. My speed is up to par too again, so I'll be updating my blog soon.

Due to all kinds of circumstances my backlog has like doubled and I stopped taking new orders for the time being. First I'd like to fill all excisting orders or, if needed, refund down payments. I'll still need a few months for that. Meanwhile I will have to rethink my strategy for the future.

If you tried to contact me the last months and didn't receive a reply, please try again.
My e-mail: m.c.c.swinkels@chello.nl. I'll get back to you asap.

Thanks for your patience!

Martin


btw
The finger has healed perfectly, and I'm back to work now.
 
Kirk_Ferentz said:
Congrats on the success. Sounds like it's time to hire some people and bring in that cash.
Click to expand...

Agreed, it sounds like Mr. Swinkels is a victim of his own success. I can relate to the feeling of being overwhelmed and I hope you find the best way to deal with the incoming requests. You're a talented man and I know anyone who enlists Martin's services will be well taken care of.
 
Many thanks to H_L for asking the question; thanks to everyone else for getting Martin to come up and tell us he's okay, just swamped. As yet another client anticipating his handiwork it's nice to know Martin's issues are merely logistical but I worry that the bureaucracy of running a small business is getting in the way of his art. Surely somebody on this forum who lives in Europe could help him out with this?

best wishes to all,

J
 
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I've tried now 5 different time to contact you for a response. You've had my deposit since Jan 2011 and have not had the courtesy to respond to any of my attempts for a resolution!!!!

How about a response??
 
Does anyone have any other ideas on how to get a hold of Martin Swinkles. He has had my sheath deposit since January 16th, 2011 and will not answer any of my emails. I have tried another 4 times since his response to this thread on 4/29 and zero responses. Is anyone else going thru a similar issue with him?
 
srady,

You're not the only person interested in hearing from Martin Swinkels.

From Martin's own admission his problems are logistical: keeping track of his commissions; payment; shipping; and communications. That's not what artists do, it's what business managers do, and I can imagine it's hard to wear both hats at once. His IT/email problems are acute. Having experienced similar plagues I'm sympathetic and have half a mind the next time I'm in the Netherlands to come by his house and volunteer to clean it up.

Let me be clear: I won't make excuses for Martin's delays. But I knew going into this that he was an artist, not a factory, and that artistic work is subject to an artist's quirks. Like you, I've had a project in Martin's hands for some time - several months longer than you, in fact. Unlike you, he has apparently finished my commission (see the sheath and firesteel pouch for a TOPS Alaskan Harpoon in his gallery). I've not received it yet, mostly because I've asked him to delay shipping until I'm back home.

If you can't wait and want your money back I think the best thing to do is send yet another email with your name; the refund request; and the amount. If you sent payment via the Paypal system, you might wish to try through that. Of course, he doesn't respond again after a week you could initiate a dispute through Paypal and/or your credit card issuer. It's a nuclear weapon but I'm sure it will get his attention. I hope it doesn't get to that. Martin is a known quantity to Bladeforums folks, it is extremely unlikely that he would abscond with your deposit. Seriously, you must have seen some of his other interesting customers? Do you think he would want to look over his shoulder for the rest of his life over a few $k?

Hopefully, Martin can get both his books and his workbench equally straight soon so that we can all look forward to using the product of his craft.

IMO, anyway.
 
I finally got thru to Martin a week or so ago. It took several emails before he finally responded. I too put a deposit down for a sheath back in Jan 2011. He said he it would still be a few more weeks. I'll update again when I can.
 
Jifry/Hondo_Lane,

Thanks for the response. I just got back in town after a lengthy business trip and although I had sent him several more emails prior to leaving, he is still not responding. I talked with a Pay Pal representative directly and they will be trying to contact him for a response. Realize that since more than 45 days have passed since I sent him money through Pay Pal, I cannot submit a resolution through their automated system, these type requests are automatically closed due to the 45 day time restraint. Believe me, I hate to go this route but simply have no respect for any individual that takes my money and then drops off the planet. Hopefully I can just get my money back and be done with this mess. It's not the money, it's the point!

Thanks again for taking the time to address my concerns
 
What's up with this email thing? Call the guy. This is a bit off subject, but in my job I get between 100-150 emails a day. I can't get to them all because I'm actually doing work. People assume that as soon as they hit the send button, their email is in the hands of the recipient, has been read, and should be responded to immediately. Get the guy's number and call him...if he doesn't pick up, then email and call him, if he doesn't respond, then call him 2x each night. Just my thoughts...

.
 
I am a longtime customer of Martin and consider myself a friend. I've visited him at his home many times, spent long hours talking about knives, life and whatever. I've also recommended him here many times, so I feel a bit responsible.
I just left a voice mail on his cell. If all goes as planned I will try to visit him after the weekend, to see if everything is ok. He is just not the kind of guy to drop off the face of the earth like this.
I will let you all know how I'll fare.
 
Hang in there, srady, Martin will get you taken care of and the sheath you receive will be beyond your imagination. His top level of craftsmanship doesn't lend itself to fast turnaround and it sounds like he has some connection issues. As one of his oldest customers and a long-time cyber acquaintance, I consider Martin Swinkels to be of high character and very accountable. FYI, he gets a TON of orders from European military and he puts those about to be deployed ahead of those in line, even if they've made a deposit; yes, he served in his nation's military and has high regard for those who also serve. But he will make yours!

I can't imagine answering 1200 emails! I know it can be very difficult when someone is holding your money and not responding, I had the same experience with Scrap Yard and it took nearly as long to find resolution. It gets old hearing it over and over when you're being ignored, but stay patient and good things will come.
 
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