Posted: 8/28/2009 7:40:46 PM EDT
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Well, I need some advice. I ordered a handgun earlier this year from a custom handgun builder and upon receiving my deposit the builder told me it would take appoximately 14 weeks to complete. Alright, I naturally don't want to wait but at least I have a date that I can look forward to. Also, when I spoke to the builder on the phone he said that he would be in email contact to confirm final details such as grip style and such. Fast forward 14 weeks and I emailed him for the first time since I received his email confirming my deposit and order. When he emailed me back he said that they were a bit behind because of demand but they were working on my handgun and it would be about three more weeks. Ok, I would have appreciated a heads up, but I understand how things get missed when you're busy. That email was received July 31st and I haven't heard from them yet. What should I do? Email again or call? I'm getting a little frustrated with the whole situation. And at the same time I'm not sure if I'm being a little bitchie. Well I guess I just needed to vent a little. I'll probably call on Monday. ARnutt |
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Well, I need some advice. I ordered a handgun earlier this year from a custom handgun builder and upon receiving my deposit the builder told me it would take appoximately 14 weeks to complete. Alright, I naturally don't want to wait but at least I have a date that I can look forward to. Also, when I spoke to the builder on the phone he said that he would be in email contact to confirm final details such as grip style and such. Fast forward 14 weeks and I emailed him for the first time since I received his email confirming my deposit and order. When he emailed me back he said that they were a bit behind because of demand but they were working on my handgun and it would be about three more weeks. Ok, I would have appreciated a heads up, but I understand how things get missed when you're busy. That email was received July 31st and I haven't heard from them yet. What should I do? Email again or call? I'm getting a little frustrated with the whole situation. And at the same time I'm not sure if I'm being a little bitchie. Well I guess I just needed to vent a little. I'll probably call on Monday. ARnutt Well, is this builder reputable? Or just some bubba in a shop? We need a few more details to go on here. Clark's Custom Guns takes forever to do work, but they do great work. I live very near them and they still pretty much only call when they have something to say about a current job. |
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Quoted:
Well, I need some advice. I ordered a handgun earlier this year from a custom handgun builder and upon receiving my deposit the builder told me it would take appoximately 14 weeks to complete. Alright, I naturally don't want to wait but at least I have a date that I can look forward to. Also, when I spoke to the builder on the phone he said that he would be in email contact to confirm final details such as grip style and such. Fast forward 14 weeks and I emailed him for the first time since I received his email confirming my deposit and order. When he emailed me back he said that they were a bit behind because of demand but they were working on my handgun and it would be about three more weeks. Ok, I would have appreciated a heads up, but I understand how things get missed when you're busy. That email was received July 31st and I haven't heard from them yet. What should I do? Email again or call? I'm getting a little frustrated with the whole situation. And at the same time I'm not sure if I'm being a little bitchie. Well I guess I just needed to vent a little. I'll probably call on Monday. ARnutt Which builder? |
I dunno if this will help you any... One of the builders I know of says something like this... " you can have any one of the three. Good, Cheap, or Fast. " I've done three " sort of customs " for myself so far with two more projects on benches now. I'm a " hobbyist " so I farm out my machine work a'lacarte to reputable pistolsmiths who may or may not be back logged. I give'em the space they need no matter how hot under the collar I get for a project sitting in safe waiting for them to " get to it ". Patience Pays ". That said. I call after project due date weekly to get updates. Good stock (grip) makers are no different... 
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I dunno if this will help you any... One of the builders I know of says something like this... " you can have any one of the three. Good, Cheap, or Fast. " I've done three " sort of customs " for myself so far with two more projects on benches now. I'm a " hobbyist " so I farm out my machine work a'lacarte to reputable pistolsmiths who may or may not be back logged. I give'em the space they need no matter how hot under the collar I get for a project sitting in safe waiting for them to " get to it ". Patience Pays ". That said. I call after project due date weekly to get updates. Good stock (grip) makers are no different... Thanks That is what i was wondering. Like I said, I understand being back logged but I wasn't sure if i should be pressuring them or if this is relatively typical. Hah, I don't want to slow production down by keeping the builder on the phone all the time. ARnutt |
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They have time lines I just figured if they tell you 14 weeks you use the 1911 custom build calculation formula.
14(W+M+F) = D W = Weight of builder in kilograms M = Magnification of his glass F = Fingers missing on his hand D = Days till completion of pistol You must factor in backorder on any parts if that comes in play... |
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Email or call to inquire about the status of your build. But make sure whatever you do it is respectful and throw in some stuff about how you are so excited to be getting this custom gun. When you get a response ask if there is anything you can do to get the delivery date moved up. But keep in mind that it is a custom gun. It has to be built just for you, that alone should make you feel better about having to wait.
I work for a company that makes a lot of custom networking stuff. It is amazing to me what some customers call and demand. "I want this $20,000 cabinet built and shipped by Friday"..... Uh, OK, do you realize that you are the only one that wants this config and it will take 3 weeks to get the parts from our suppliers........... These customers usually fall to the bottom of the list because the sales people are humans too. They don't like being abused. Now, if this were a fly by night custom builder you should feel free to unload on them (but it probably would not help). |
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Email or call to inquire about the status of your build. But make sure whatever you do it is respectful and throw in some stuff about how you are so excited to be getting this custom gun. When you get a response ask if there is anything you can do to get the delivery date moved up. But keep in mind that it is a custom gun. It has to be built just for you, that alone should make you feel better about having to wait. I work for a company that makes a lot of custom networking stuff. It is amazing to me what some customers call and demand. "I want this $20,000 cabinet built and shipped by Friday"..... Uh, OK, do you realize that you are the only one that wants this config and it will take 3 weeks to get the parts from our suppliers........... These customers usually fall to the bottom of the list because the sales people are humans too. They don't like being abused. Now, if this were a fly by night custom builder you should feel free to unload on them (but it probably would not help). I agree with the bold part. My problem is that it is some times difficult to not sound pissed off when using email. I mean really just about any email you get can be taken two different ways depending on what tone of voice you read it in[assuming you read out loud]. Now as far as the wait goes; I really don't mind waiting it's just that I was given a finish date and it was change once and already passed the second time. But now that I understand how the industry works I'll cut the guy some slack. I work retail and we always give ourselves alot of cushion room when making promises. So I ASSumed that everyone else would. Again, now that I am informed about what to expect it isn't such a big deal. Thanks again for all the replies. ARnutt BTW: no i'm not going to out the builder. this has been pretty petty stuff that isn't an end all botch up. |
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I dunno if this will help you any... One of the builders I know of says something like this... " you can have any one of the three. Good, Cheap, or Fast. He's not asking for "fast" he's asking for something vaguely similar to on time. First rule of business, under promise and overdeliver. I'd call. |
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Phone call is best, but an e-mail shouldn't be too hard.
"Hi, I have been very busy with *insert whatever takes your time* and time as flown by for me. I am trying to plan my finances for the next month and know the delivery-date of my pistol is sometime soon. Can you give me a rough update on the time-table I am looking at so I can be sure I have the *insert amount* on-hand to pay you promptly when my pistol is finished?" Respectful. Polite. Making sure that HIS interests are looked after as well. I don't think anyone would interpret that as rude, if they did, it would be by a rather large stretch and take some seriously warped personality to do so. |
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I've had a couple of 1911's built from reputable builders. It's been my experience that any time frame they give you should be disregarded, no matter if it's 30 days or a year. It simply won't be done on time. You best bet is to be the respectable "squeaky wheel." A phone call or email is appropriate but don't expect it to work miracles.
The good part is when I've received my order I always conclude that the wait was worth it. I guess Smiths just work with a different clock than us mortals. |