Bobby,
I agree with you for the most part. I have no problem with someone that wishes to wait umpteen months for a tool if that is their prerogative. Stamping Tools are the only product I was referring to. Saddles and any of your product I would wait a long time to receive, that is another type of item altogether.
Back to our family business: I buy several hundred carbide router bits every year, the best money can buy, as in $37.90 each, wholesale. Granted, these are made by machine, I wait 24 hours for delivery. If I had to wait a year or more we would be out of business. In this instance we are cutting a very abrasive material, cheap bits simply won't work BUT! I am sure there are makers of stamping tools that visit this forum who make close to the same quality as Bob with a lot less waiting time. Knives is another story. I would wait a year for them but I seldom do any stamping with them.
Please understand, all of you, I am not degrading Bob Beard or his work. I am simply saying that I don't think you should be making tools you cannot ship in a reasonable time. Several months doesn't normally bother me with stamping tools but come on, over a year? Don't get it. That is just coming from an old man that has been in business for over 60 years.
BTW: My inventory of fine tools and power equipment exceeds $350,000 easily.
ferg