Turned Down An Order

[TwinOaks]

Ditto the advice to let it go.

However, there's another side to turning down a job/order -

Last weekend I had potential customer contact me about a holster. He's going to take a borrowed S&W mod. 60 (snubbie .357) to Alaska as a bear gun, and wear it ON HIS WADERS while fly fishing. It's currently carried in a nylon one-size-fits-most holster with the little nylon strap. I told him that sure I could make a holster, but he'd be better off modifying the one he has, then told him how to do it. There's nothing difficult about making a suitable holster for a mod. 60.....but it would be an unnecessary cost for a gun he wouldn't be keeping.

A couple of things occurred to me as problems with the job - liability for a lost gun if the holster got drenched and lost all retention ability, and liability for making the holster so secure he couldn't get to it IF he needed to. Of course, I didn't say all of that to the customer. I just plain out did not want the job, but I gave the customer a really good reason for HIM to decide not to get it. We talked fly fishing a few minutes and he stated that he'd just use what he has (with modifications), and use the money he would have spent on holster for more fly gear. In the end, we were both happy, and I have no doubt that he'll be back in touch to get a holster when he buys his own gun. I guess the moral is to tactfully turn down jobs (if at all possible) without turning down the customer.

[Ken Nelson]

I agree with everyone else......let this one go. A customer comes to you for your expertise. If they feel it's necessary to coach you through the process you will never satisfy them because they have no respect for what you have to offer. Sometimes "passing" will save you time and money!!

Bobby

This post is so well stated, I wish I had written it. You, sir have said it better than anyone I have ever heard respond to this situation, PERIOD. Thank you very much. Ken

[shtoink]

Looks like a verdict has been reached...

Also, I am agreement with all that has been said, but that should have been obvious.

[Chief31794]

I think it's pretty much a concensus. I do custom work so I expect some questions like, can I have this carved or that, can I have a different color, could you do this to it, can you stitch it instead of lacing or vice versa. You have to tolerate that to some extent but I won't agree to do anything I'm not comfortable with and then once the design is set, that's it and always get your money up front.

Pretty much agree, leave streaks in the parking lot on this one.

Ken

[George B]

Thanks to All that responded, now I don't feel so stupid.

To update. He called again and just cannot understand why I don't want to do his order.

I put it to him as simply as I could. "Without a clear idea of what he wants I cannot make it and right now I am so busy I do not have time to do research or a lot of face to face time with him unless he wants to pay me for the time."

Now he wants "Billy The Kid", even though there is not a clear consensus on exactly what the rig he used looked like, so far I have found 3 that all claim to be exact and all 3 are different.

I left it at, "you bring me a pic of what you want, we'll both sign it, no changes, pay up front and no refunds if you change your mind".

Haven't heard anything since.

[robertmeco]

Good for you I think you made the right choice

[dirtclod]

I gave a order back to guy earlier this year. He had wrecked his motorcycle and messed the saddle bags up. Another guy brought them by for him and when i talked to him on the phone it was the price is to high then it was their going to be perfect right. Though to myself nothing i do is going to make him happy so i took them back to the guy that brought them. I needed the money but not the headache !

Edited August 3, 2012 by dirtclod

[Lobo]

My primary business is holsters (79% of all orders), belts and pouches (21%). I offer 11 holster designs, with or without 4 common options, in 4 finish colors, for 138 different handguns, in both left-hand and right-hand versions. This results in over 48,000 possible variations. I still receive requests for others almost daily.

I think that somewhere out there is a place called the "Holster Genius Academy" turning out a new crop of graduates every week or so, every one of them convinced that he has the "perfect holster" plan in his head, all he needs is someone to make it for him.

Custom work and special orders require a huge amount of time, as compared to production of standard products to established patterns. Having introduced 3 unique holster designs over the past 4 years I can tell you that it can take months of design work, pattern production, prototype production, prototype testing, adjustment of patterns, etc, before the design is ready to go into production. I have spent between 6 months and a year on each new product development.

A single custom order might take 5, 10, 15, or 20 hours to complete. For contrast, producing standard products to established patterns, and working in batches of 10 to 12 pieces at a time at each stage of production (cutting, assembly, stitching, edges, dyes, finishes, hardware), I average about 47 minutes per completed product.

The customer demanding control over design and production at every step of the project needs to understand that (1) all time, materials, and shop supplies must be paid for, (2) the moment that the money runs out his project comes to a halt at that point, and (3) since the design is HIS the results belong to HIM, not the producer.

Most of us have had potential customers wanting a convertible OWB/IWB with adjustable cant and ride height, with built-in triple magazine pouch, handcuff case, tactical light carrier, and iPod or MP3 player, all of which is expected to provide comfortable and discreet concealed carry with Speedo's and undershirt. For those that accept such orders I suggest that the customer will never remember that it was his lousy idea, but he will always remember that the holster maker failed miserably at making his dream a reality.

This business provides plenty of opportunities to just say "NO".

Best regards.

[talon]

I think you made the right choice, I had a problem with a customer about a year ago. He emailed me detailed drawings of what he wanted, then he actually told me that since he had shown me the drawings, if I ever produced it on a larger scale he expected royalties! Seriously? The best part is that his "unique" design had been on the market years prior, and while produced by a number of custom holster shops, never succeeded because of comfort issues.....

I didn't even charge the guy a fair price because I was new and looking to get any bit of business I could. I would certainly stay clear of people like this. A customer who really values what you do will understand that you know a lot about holsters and will seek your advice and judgement.

Good Luck!

[DoubleC]

I have one I wish I'd turned down. Someone I know and like that wanted a dog collar. With pyramid spots. And all silver colored hardware which is ok. Except I've never done spots. And he wanted it in black which I don't do because I had a really bad experience with USMC once. Anyway I ordered the spots, buckle, black oil dye (worked damn good) dee rings, edge kote and intended to back so the metal wouldn't touch the dog. But I didn't have any black so he told me to order it and I did. I charged him a whopping 10 bucks for my time but I'm having trouble getting the money for the supplies now and he's completely forgotten I ordered the pig lining just for him. And I got it wholesale and a great deal on it but I had to pay for shipping on all this stuff and I'm still just trying to get 20 bucks from him because I got the wrong Chicago screws and wrong size Ds. I GAVE him the leather for the strap. I don't have the money to order the rest of that for him. I'm not charging him for my mistakes, or the full price for a 10 pk of Ds or Chicago screws, or the whole pig I ordered but come on, 30 bucks for a lined 1 & 1/2 inch collar with spots? I've accepted I'll end up make 8cents an hour for this, LOL but I WANT my 8 cents which I won't get until he pays for the supplies. And he wants a matching belt. It will NOT be 30 bucks for setting all the spots I'll need for that. He's a sweet kid that just found out he has a baby on the way so how in the hell do you strong arm someone like that? I thought it would be good advertising locally but I wish I'd run an ad instead :-)

I'll just stay here while you all like up to slap my forehead with your palm. Cheryl