Production times. Perspective from another market.

[tslex]

I've found a thread or two complaining about long lead times on pipes ordered form small makers. While every company needs to do a good job job of managing and meeting customer expectations, I don't find long lead times themselves to be a problem.
One reason may be this - I'm a lifetime shooter and a daily gun wearer. And -- curse of curses -- I shoot left-handed. Like everyone who carries daily, I've got a box of holsters I DON'T wear, gone through while looking for the perfect EDC holster. In buying custom holsters, or even regular line holsters, you are often dealing with a one- or two-man shop. Nearly every left-handed holster is a special order. Wait times of six months are not unheard of.
Sure you can order from Blackhawk and get something shipped that day. But if you want what you want and expect an actual human to make it -- one at a time -- in his small shop, you wait.
So with pipes. Want a Peterson or Dr. Grabow (not to compare the two) ad you can order it online and have it in a week, or visit your B&M and have it that day.
But it's good for pipes and pipe smoking to support these small makers. Even if it takes six months to get the thing. So I think we just need a different attitude and expectation when buying form them

 

[expatpipe]

I agree, but there has to be a limit somewhere too. Everyone has their own. After waiting for six months, as some have stated, I can understand their frustration.

 

[nemrod]

I think many wouldn't complain if the maker is completely honest about the time it will take. If he clearly states that "yes, I can make that kind of pipe for you, but it will take six months", then you either buy it or you don't. If the listed waiting time is one month and it takes six, then they've got a right to be disappointed and annoyed. My two cents.

 

[tslex]

Nemrod, Bully: I don't disagree. In most businesses the key is to manage client expectations well -- under-promise; over deliver. And a promised 1 month that become 6 is problematic -- altho good communication and 10% discount can often help.
That said, many small makers really are just a guy at work bench, and his back office (shipping, fulfillment, accounting) is his wife helping out in the evenings. I want these guys in the industry, because often the innovations come from them, and when I buy their pipe I have a one-of-a-kind piece of art.
The cost of a pipe being "on my books" for six months before delivery isn't going to break me. So I make allowances.

 

[pstlpkr]

T, I'm right handed and have a box full of holsters that I never use... for the same reasons.

No high-jacking... commenting.
Now back to your regularly scheduled discussion.

 

[portascat]

I am right handed, left eye dominant, and have a safe full of handguns that I never carry. And a .44 Special Charter Arms that fits perfectly in a half holster made for a S&W Model 66 that gets taken everywhere.
And I get pissed when it takes more than a week for my Ebay purchase to arrive.

 

[schmitzbitz]

I think you've nailed the crux of the issue there; communication. Time and time again, the second line of the thread is "I've emailed/phoned/sent smoke signals to (x) company 912,837,283,938 times and they've yet to send a response." I don't care how small your firm is, as an entrepreneur, part of your job is to talk to your customers. If I didn't contact my clients over a six month period; I wouldn't expect to keep them as clients. In fact, I would be subject to discipline from my regulatory body.

Manufacturers of fire-arms accessories, of course, would never try and pull this - cause lets face it, they know we've got guns! :P
By the way, lefty shooter here, too. Isn't it awesome how pretty much everything is built without us in mind? (Enter Infernus...)