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Post by Brendan Olszowy on May 6, 2014 16:46:57 GMT
@ 14th - I'll be doing another Heron mark soon, I've got some cool ideas for this one too. It will be a cousin of yours'. I'm sure we'll do business on something at some stage. But yes, be glad you didn't pay what I now charge for such a piece.
@ Psychochink - haha, at least the price hike helps to protect my previous client's investment if they choose to sell second hand, or at least to know their value is assured; when it is known that a couple of years later it now X% more to order a similar styled sword, though as you know I don't replicate past swords, another protection for my client's investment. I even advertise on my site that swords are likely to cost $3000 to $5000 (present info). That gets updated as things change. Just rest assured that I can't afford to own a Fable Blade either. The only one I have is #1 - my Falchion.
But the biggest upside is, I'm still available for business, which is good for everyone. :-)
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Post by Lonely Wolf Forge on May 6, 2014 18:08:44 GMT
sadly this is what happened to me as well :oops:
on another note, i recently got with Rob Miller about a custom sword, he told me the wait list was 11 months, took down the details and my contact info. No money was requested and i was added to the list. Thats a professional way of doing it...same with Brenno, ive never heard a bad thing about Brenno and his customer service...and even though my blade making is on a Microscopic scale compared to Brenno, i try to handle it like he does and give my few customers constant updates....if i toutch their blade today, they get progress pics tonight. If i dont toutch it for more than a week i email them and let them know why.
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Post by Jussi Ekholm on May 14, 2014 13:53:14 GMT
It's getting so frustrating that I need to let some steam out regarding this matter. I feel for you who have waited custom orders way longer than I have, it's just so frustrating when you hear nothing about the other party. I've currently waited 1 year for a tsuka... Even though we did not agree on set finishing time, I just find the lack of communication really annoying. I agreed that the project might be on hold for several months due to his other projects before it's started but I sent my sword and other blade that was partial payment in last May. This is a direct quote from last May. Well I'm a patient guy and I waited 6 months to early-mid December before asking about it, I wanted to give some time without putting any pressure. Then shortly after that I got a go ahead that work on my tsuka will be started in mid December. Along with first pics of the progress. So it's now been another 6 months from that and I haven't heard a word since that email in December... I know there was a small update in late January-early February but I was never told about this progress, I found it out by accident... I was kinda puzzled why I wasn't kept up to date with this? And in my opinion it makes things worse that there are constant updates by the company, it just seems like my project isn't getting any further... It's kind of hard to believe that this is very well respected company in the production sword field. And I have had some contact with this company prior to this project, but most likely I will not have after this project. I'm just bit puzzled how much will I be able to use this negative project in the forums as an argument of their customer service? I don't want to slander the company but after this project I think quite negatively of them. And I think they are now in my list of companies I cannot recommend to people anymore. I'm not wanting to constantly flame them or anything, but I am quite pissed about how things have gone with this project and how I've gotten treated by the company. And I am pretty sure the company did know before taking the project that I would be telling on various forums how this went. So there was a large chance of positive marketing, but it has now turned into negative... Lately I've been just wanting my sword and fittings back, with or without the darned tsuka. But I've still given them the time to finish it but I think after starting making it, 6 months should be enough time for a tsuka? Guess I'll have to email again in the summer and just ask my sword and fittings back. End of rant. Like William, I most likely won't be commissioning many custom projects in the future, as I seem to have quite bad luck with them in general.
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Post by Deepbluedave on May 24, 2014 21:13:02 GMT
Thought I would give an update on a couple of swords I have been waiting on. Rick Barrett Katana, this project just passed the two year mark so I emailed him with my concerns over the delay, it is now completed and in the mail. Arrived on the updated schedule Longship Verrimus was due at the end of last year, so with a delay of six months it was just starting to be a concern but this too is now completed. Hopefully this trend continues and I can get back to ordering that Earl I want.
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Paul
Member
Senior Forumite
Posts: 1,771
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Post by Paul on May 24, 2014 22:12:55 GMT
Great to hear Dave, you might also have to invest in another cabinet I often look at the earl and want to order, that hollow blade is something special.
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Post by honjo7 on Mar 17, 2024 15:50:59 GMT
Perhaps I shouldn't revive such an old thread, I was just looking for somewhere to vent and stumbled upon this one. Based on a post on the first page, the wait time for an Albion or Arms & Armor back in 2014 was only 3 months! Blimey. Folks didn't know how good they had it. Current estimates from Mike are 18 to 24 months for an Albion, and A&A told me it was at least a year, back in November of 2023.
I'm currently waiting on a few orders for wooden training tools and steel blunts. Every order I have has long since passed the estimated completion date. It's very frustrating, particularly when you want to train but can't, because you haven't got the right equipment. I suppose it's time I build a little armoury so I don't find myself in this situation again in future. Lesson learned.
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Greg E
Member
little bit of this... and a whole lot of that
Posts: 1,296
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Post by Greg E on Mar 17, 2024 16:42:58 GMT
This thread resurrection is timely considering a commission I am going through. I am not sure about others, but this is my first custom sword commission. During the initial contact and order process, communication was great. I was given a quote of 16 months with half the money up front. There was a bank payment process that I was unfamiliar with and I sent payment. Didn't hear anything and then asked if they had received payment. They responded that yes they had. That was in April 2022.
Then in typical impatient fashion I asked in Aug 2022 just to inquire about the process. 2 days later they said that they were busy but would get back to with more information. Well.... not hearing anything... I waited till Feb 2023 to ask about this 'information'. Nothing.. A week later I asked again. They then replied and told me that I ordered in April of 2022 and it was 16 months commission and there were other orders placed before mine. Fair. Only 11 months into a 16 month commission. So I wait.
16 months into the commission, August 2023, I send off a note just asking if he is doing well and asking about the commission, just any info and to be ready to move money around for another transfer. Nothing.... November 2023 I ask again, basically the exact same note. They respond, apologize for delays mentioning health problems, that it should be finished in the the first 3 months of 2024 and I would get contact a month before the finishing of the sword. So now into the 2 week of March 2024 I am contacted about the sword being 3 weeks away from finishing and to send address to get shipping quote. I sent address, they send total payment amount left, I send it in. Quick, concise communication. Send payment via Bank transfer process, send note telling that I sent and asking for confirmation of receipt of payment. Have not heard back yet. But I did see a Facebook post of the sword, that I assume is mine, being made. So crossing my fingers...
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Post by pellius on Mar 17, 2024 21:13:51 GMT
I only have one outstanding commission atm. I took it over from another member who wanted to move on to other things.
Dunno how long the commission went before I stepped in. Considering that “finishing up” the scabbard is approaching the six month mark, I suspect that the member was very patient, and that I’m still in for a bit of a wait.
Promised updates, photos and timeframes have mostly gone unfulfilled so far, which is rather out of character for the maker. Still, I don’t really mind, since I’ve been wanting a piece from him for quite a few years. I am confident he will finish it up eventually.
It kinda gives me something nice to look forward to.
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Post by eastman on Mar 17, 2024 21:16:53 GMT
only did one unique commission. Said backlog was about a year in September of 2022. Started working on it late September of 2023 and delivered late October 2023 (a little delayed because I wanted the leather parts green). I will order from this maker again.
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