Would You Sell Your "not-So-Perfect" Holsters?

[Frank]

I can see and understand everyone's point of view on the subject. I as well have a few "seconds" and I do sell them at a discounted price and I advertise them as such. The reason being: there are people out there that do not have the extra cash for a full price holster. Those are the ones buying the cheaper mass production gun leather. If you introduce them to custom leather...even "seconds", they'll start saving their pennies for only custom leather. It also gets them in the door to buy a matching belt later on down the road. I have had them come back a year or two later wanting a belt for a holster they purchased from me...after they saved up enough money.

Frank

[Lobo]

I can see and understand everyone's point of view on the subject. I as well have a few "seconds" and I do sell them at a discounted price and I advertise them as such. The reason being: there are people out there that do not have the extra cash for a full price holster. Those are the ones buying the cheaper mass production gun leather. If you introduce them to custom leather...even "seconds", they'll start saving their pennies for only custom leather. It also gets them in the door to buy a matching belt later on down the road. I have had them come back a year or two later wanting a belt for a holster they purchased from me...after they saved up enough money.

Frank

+1 on everything this gentleman has said.

Remember, boys and girls, the difference between a business and a hobby. A hobby is intended to provide personal gratification. A business is intended to generate profit. The best method known for building a business is building relationships with customers.

Best regards.

[gregintenn]

Great question and discussion!!!

[Frank]

Thanks Lobo!

The way I see it besides what I stated before, is that seconds are still great items. They are not perfect but still great. Everyone started out making stuff that looks like it came out of the south end of a northbound steer and we all sold that to get started. Seconds are nothing compared to that. If I had my druthers, I'd take back the first 20-30 items I ever made!!!

Frank

[Shorts]

Exactly. There's money wrapped up in that blemmed item - sell it!

[troop]

Jon, look what you started...hahaha

Tony

Edited December 31, 2010 by troop

[ShortBBL]

Jon, look what you started...hahaha

Tony

Yeah no kidding!! I really did it this time! ha ha

I've sold several holsters in the past at reduced prices and showed good pictures of the "error's" and once the buyer got the item, every single one commented on how great they were and the quality of my work etc. So yeah, even though they had some messed up finishes or one had a belt loop that I had stitched wrong and then pulled the stitches and redid it... looked like heck on the back side but they loved it and loved the price.

I like to at least get some of the pay for the hard work and leather costs etc. So..... I think I'll keep selling them as long as I keep making them dang mistakes!! Man... it can get frustrating some days!

[BIGGUNDOCTOR]

The Jelly Belly Candy Co prides itself on making beautiful jelly beans, but we sold the irregular ones as Belly Flops. They were heavily discounted, you paid more for the perfect ones. I have also seen tires that were sold as blems due to cosmetic defects (the name didn't quite fill out in the mold, etc). If it is functional , sell it.

One way to do this would be to have a friend take them to a gun show, and sell them with no provenance-from and estate sale, auction, whatever. Just don't have your maker mark on it, if it bothers you. There is time, and money tied up in that dead inventory, get some of it back.

Blems don't bother me as long as the piece is functional, whatever it is. Like the one guy, there may be a customer looking for a good holster for a non traditional use, or really rough use, and doesn't want to mess up a really nice one. Bed holster, truck holster, who knows. With the tight economy everyone is looking to save a little, or make a little more.

We can be our own worst critics. I have had people really go nuts over things that I thought were not so good. So, many people may think that your blems are perfect.

[Warpe]

One thing to remember: We, the maker, are the worst critics out there! ESPECIALLY of our own work. Just because a blemish "glares" at us, it has no meaning to the average buyer. They don't care that a stitch was off by 1/32 of an inch, or that the leather had a small grain imperfection, or that the dye was not blended correctly. They care that they have a custom made holster that functions perfectly. Those buyers that do care will not buy the second, but will have you build them a perfect one.

It boils down to the customer.

Just a couple of weeks ago, i was talking about a prototype holster I was working on to a co-worker. "Make it fit a CZ and I'll buy it".

There was NO WAY i was letting a mistake-ridden prototype out of my shop, but he did not care. He knew that coming from me, it would not fail him. He didn't get it. He got a brand new one made for him.

Cold Steel Knife Company has a seconds program. The knives are clearly marked with a 2 on the pommel. They can't keep them in stock!

Bottom line, in my opinion, don't sell yourself short on "seconds". They maybe exactly what a customer is looking for.

Warpe

[$$hobby]

of course.

i sold some of my ooops holsters. They were either made for the wrong hand (forgot to flip t he pattern over) or were a tad too tight. btw, i didnt ask an arm or leg, but like they were used. i couldnt use them, but maybe someone could.