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

[ShortBBL]

I have a few holsters that I'm less than pleased with. You know.... a not perfect stitch job....or a finish that you are not pleased with.... oh yeah, and one that really bent my crank.... I made a really nice lined holster for a single action and I always sand the welt edge so the glue grabs good... and yeah, sanded the wrong damn side!! OMG! Was I Teeeee'd off or what? The holster looks awesome except for that dang blooper!

So do you guys sell "seconds" at a discount rate or do you cut them up and hide them in your trash barrel?

[Ferg]

I have a few holsters that I'm less than pleased with. You know.... a not perfect stitch job....or a finish that you are not pleased with.... oh yeah, and one that really bent my crank.... I made a really nice lined holster for a single action and I always sand the welt edge so the glue grabs good... and yeah, sanded the wrong damn side!! OMG! Was I Teeeee'd off or what? The holster looks awesome except for that dang blooper!

So do you guys sell "seconds" at a discount rate or do you cut them up and hide them in your trash barrel?

Not everyone agrees but I learned many years ago when building homes and doing many decorative items in wood plus other materials, you never ever let anyone

have ownership of a screwed up piece of work. That covers freebies or less than normal price points.

My .02

ferg

[Art]

What? The guy wants a custom holster and wants a discount? He shows it to all his buddies because of the great deal he got, and maybe he points out the flub and maybe not. They'll be coming in wanting a good deal on one of your top notch holsters, or even worse, think you are a ham handed maker because of the obvious flaw you let out. Either way doesn't help.

Just my opinion.

Art

I have a few holsters that I'm less than pleased with. You know.... a not perfect stitch job....or a finish that you are not pleased with.... oh yeah, and one that really bent my crank.... I made a really nice lined holster for a single action and I always sand the welt edge so the glue grabs good... and yeah, sanded the wrong damn side!! OMG! Was I Teeeee'd off or what? The holster looks awesome except for that dang blooper!

So do you guys sell "seconds" at a discount rate or do you cut them up and hide them in your trash barrel?

[Shooter McGavin]

Agree with the previous posters. I have a totally usable, but not quite up to my standards, subcompact Glock "Avenger style" holster that I made as a trial and error piece. I cut some corners, did some things out or order, skipped a few steps. While absolutely functional, it's ugly and misshapen, and will go no farther than my holster box for emergenmcy use by myself or my wife. Thought about selling it for half price, but that kind of bad publicity isnt worth selling it for 4 times normal price. JMO of course.

[troop]

afraid i have to agree with Ferg on this one. i would have to throw it in the scrap bin and start again. if i know my blooper is out there i'll never sleep well. there is enough crappy craftsmanship out there. i'm not gonna be one of em.

Tony

[Lobo]

Well, I am ready to admit that I make mistakes from time to time. I still buy all of my pencils with erasers attached, just to keep those handy.

I have orders for lined holsters, then my mind goes on "cruise control" in the shop and I produce an unlined holster. I have orders for brown holster, then I set up the dye stations and dip one into the black dye. I have holsters that display some degree of blemish in the leather that may not have been noticed during lay-out, cutting, assembly, stitching, etc, then became glaringly evident upon finish application. I have days that I make so many mistakes that I know it is time to walk away, rather than continue doing what I have been doing.

I offer 8 standard models with 4 common options, in 4 colors, for over 90 different handguns. This works out to over 11,000 possible variations. The chances of someone ordering one of my "mistakes" becomes rather remote, given all the variables. So they gather in boxes and on shelves, waiting for the opportunity to generate profit by making a customer happy.

Such is life for an old fart with nothing between me and the next mistake than my next random thought!

A couple of times every year I hold a clearance sale, offering all of my stock-on-hand at good discounts. These may be perfect, but not as ordered. These may be imperfect, but serviceable. If they are just plain bad I prefer to throw them away.

So, I advertise my clearance merchandise with full disclosures of any defects, price these down significantly, and most of them go away to happy customers.

Many customers demand perfection, and won't accept less. Many more customers want a good product at a reasonable price, and will accept less than perfection when the product meets their needs and budget.

One of the most legendary holster makers of the 20th Century (company name easily recognizable) ran a very successful side business offering his "seconds" at bargain basement prices. Each piece was clearly described so that the buyer knew what to expect. I see nothing wrong with this approach.

Yes, I sell my "seconds" and "irregulars", and the majority of buyers are happy to get these products at a reduced price. Quite a few of these customers will place orders for additional products, which is good (allowing me to make additional mistakes, etc, etc, etc).

Maybe one of these days I will get it all figured out, stop making mistakes entirely, and do nothing but first-class work every time. Maybe the sun will start rising in the west and setting in the east. Until then I will continue to make mistakes every day, and many of those mistakes will turn into sales while some turn into long-term business relationships that are good for both myself and my customers.

Life is just as good as we permit it to be. Don't let an opportunity pass you by.

[Dwight]

A few months ago, I was invited by a friend to bring some holsters, . . . sit at the gun show with him, . . . we'd chat and sell guns and holsters.

If I had taken only the top stuff, . . . I would not have had a good day. Most of what I sold was the "not quite perfect" stuff, . . . including one absolutely hideous looking attempt at making a kydex tuckable for a 1911. The guy that bought it, . . . only wanted a holster he could slide down on the bed rail at his house, . . . for a night time gun. I could probably have gotten three times my price if I had marketed it that way.

Anyway, . . . I'm in agreement with Lobo, . . .

May God bless,

Dwight

[DuaneBallard]

If it's not perfect cut it up and toss it. If only perfect work goes out then your the guy that only does perfect work. Not hit and miss.

A few months ago, I was invited by a friend to bring some holsters, . . . sit at the gun show with him, . . . we'd chat and sell guns and holsters.

If I had taken only the top stuff, . . . I would not have had a good day. Most of what I sold was the "not quite perfect" stuff, . . . including one absolutely hideous looking attempt at making a kydex tuckable for a 1911. The guy that bought it, . . . only wanted a holster he could slide down on the bed rail at his house, . . . for a night time gun. I could probably have gotten three times my price if I had marketed it that way.

Anyway, . . . I'm in agreement with Lobo, . . .

May God bless,

Dwight

[Shorts]

I sell cosmetic screws ups. I'm upfront about what and why. I will not sell a functionally compromised holster however. Those do get thrown into the holster box.

[Shorts]

If it's not perfect cut it up and toss it. If only perfect work goes out then your the guy that only does perfect work. Not hit and miss.

You build and sell enough that one's reputation speaks for itself.

[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.

[DaltonMasterson]

If they are still of a decent quality and useable, I will sell them. I went through a time when I would put a 2 on the back of a holster that was not up to perfect standards, but have discontinued that. I do put dates on all of mine, and find it interesting to see the old ones show up once in awhile. Most of the old ones would have been seconds today.

BUT, I will tell the customer that it is sold as defective/used/bad dye, etc. Then it is their option to buy it as is, for a reduced price.

These are only sold at local gunshows, and are never mailed out to a special ordered customer or without a customer handling it for himself.

If it is a simple flipped pattern problem, or wrong color/ barrel length etc, I sell them as stock items on my table for regular price. No need to discount them because you made the wrong holster.

DM

[talon]

I'm glad I saw this thread! I've always wondered about what to do with cosmetic blem holsters. I've only sold one and its always been in the back of my mind, just knowing that its out there and it has my name on it. The customer did love the holster and has even referred a few sales to me. I've just been worried about hurting my brand. There are times, however, when I feel wasteful when I throw out a perfectly functional holster because I know there are some people that legitimately can't afford a quality holster, and so they are carrying with a $15 nylon special.

I'm liking the idea of marking rejects or seconds so they are identifiable, hopefully preserving the brand. What method would you guys suggest to mark a blemished holster?

Thanks,

Clay

[JohnBarton]

I have a few holsters that I'm less than pleased with. You know.... a not perfect stitch job....or a finish that you are not pleased with.... oh yeah, and one that really bent my crank.... I made a really nice lined holster for a single action and I always sand the welt edge so the glue grabs good... and yeah, sanded the wrong damn side!! OMG! Was I Teeeee'd off or what? The holster looks awesome except for that dang blooper!

So do you guys sell "seconds" at a discount rate or do you cut them up and hide them in your trash barrel?

As a firm believer that everything has a use and in an attempt to not waste energy I try very hard to make sure that every case I make that is functional finds a home. That said I have to draw the line when I think that something I put out there will result in negative advertising.

The way I see it is that the person who matters most is not the person who is getting the item and who is aware of the imperfections but instead the person who inspects the work only having heard of our brand but never having seen an example of it. This person could form a negative opinion based on what they see. So what I generally do with the "oops" cases is to rework them until they are satisfactory to me and then I will see if I can sell them as they are with no need to disclose the mistakes because the mistakes were corrected or covered in such a way as to not matter.

I think that mistakes give us the opportunity to be even more creative. One thing I have learned is that there is no particular way that it's "supposed to be" other than well crafted and durable. Any time you see us do a black or dark brown cue case that wasn't pre-ordered then more than likely it started life as a lighter color and for whatever reason didn't turn out right. We have taken cases where we did the name wrong and simply cut the name out and made an inlay with carving and turned a mistake case into a great piece that brought more money than we got from the original order.

My rule of thumb is that if I would be disappointed in the case regardless of price then it doesn't go out. I just really really really hate to lose work and will do everything possible to recycle everything I can on a piece to be able to sell it.

[JohnBarton]

+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.

This is true and some of the best relationships with my customers have been started with them calling in and asking if I have any seconds laying around that I can ship immediately. In the past four years I have sent out maybe about four or five cases on that basis. In every instance the customer called back to tell me that I am too critical and that they were pleased with the case and proceeded to place an order.

I think it goes both ways. I know cue makers who bandsaw their work if they make the tiniest mistake. They charge accordingly. Other cuemakers send out cues with imperfections and consequently they don't get to charge as high a price for their work.

[marine mp]

ShortBBl,

I do sell my irregulars and boo-boo's!!! As Lobo, Dwight and others have said, this is a business where mistakes are made regularly and if your not making mistakes, your not making holsters or belts or etc. To me, it is a work of art (sometimes my art is pretty bad!!!) but each is handmade and if a stitch is out of place or a pencil mark shows thru or whatever else can be done to call it a "mistake"..it is still a functioning piece of leather that shows it was handmade. Yep, I sell them and the customer is usually happy, mistake and all. Besides, this "mistake" will be mostly stuffed inside someones trousers or under their shirt or jacket. Have you seen some of this crap coming out of mexico and other offshore countries for $19.95 that people are buying!!!!! Those are mistakes all over from the git-go, and people buy them up. So...yes, I do sell them at a discount and do tell up front that there is a flaw, but not with the functionality. Semper-fi Mike