Scabbards

[Sir Edward]

Well, this stinks. I thought I've been in Christian Fletcher's queue since March for a scabbard for my Albion Talhoffer. I contacted him today to see how close we were getting to my turn, and he replied that he never queued me since he didn't get a deposit. Well, he didn't ask me for one. The last exchange I had with him, he gave me a quote, and I said it looked good.

Well now he's willing to go ahead and squeeze me in right away, except he wants to charge me an extra $100 since he's revised his pricing since then. I'm not cool with that since I thought I was queued at the old price.

Not sure how to handle this now.

[Sir James A]

I wouldn't be happy with the $100 increase either, especially if you asked where you are in the queue, and not "Can I order a scabbard now?". It's frustrating to have such a niche market where artisans don't often have much email contact, and you don't want to bug them too often, but at the same time wonder if things were communicated right, too.

Sadly, I don't think you'll have much leverage, since his site (http://www.christianfletcher.com/Christian_Fletcher/Contact.html) says "No commissions will be taken without a deposit and a valid phone number.". Did you put a deposit on the scabbard(s) you ordered from him before?

[Sir Edward]

See, I didn't remember when I did the deposits, whether they were right away or when my turn was approaching. Different artisans handle it differently.

But he didn't ask me for one, and my last email to him basically said "sounds good!"

What I've done now is send him an email explaining the whole thing, and offering to split the difference ($50). We'll see what he says.

[Ian]

See, I didn't remember when I did the deposits, whether they were right away or when my turn was approaching. Different artisans handle it differently.

But he didn't ask me for one, and my last email to him basically said "sounds good!"

What I've done now is send him an email explaining the whole thing, and offering to split the difference ($50). We'll see what he says.

I think what you've asked is more than fair, worst he can say is no.

[Sir James A]

See, I didn't remember when I did the deposits, whether they were right away or when my turn was approaching. Different artisans handle it differently.

But he didn't ask me for one, and my last email to him basically said "sounds good!"

What I've done now is send him an email explaining the whole thing, and offering to split the difference ($50). We'll see what he says.

I think that's a fair request by you. It's always struck me as odd that somebody would need to put a deposit just to get on a list, rather than when their turn is ready (and they need the deposit for materials, etc). Seems like the "proper" way I'd do business is, you want on the list, you get on the list free. When your turn comes up, you get contacted, if you don't respond or you don't have the deposit ... next on the list. Paying to wait on a list isn't very fun, and if I knew I paid a deposit on something that was nowhere near being started, I'd be constantly thinking "don't shut down and run with my money".

[Sir Brian]

Well there ARE alternatives if you don't have to have a Christian Fletcher scabbard!

[Thorsteinn]

How odd that he never contacted you back to tell you to pay to get on the list.

I think you've made the right move.

[Sir Ulrich]

There are other scabbard makers, Jesse Bailey is making mine and his looked nice in person for around 265 dollars. Ron Johnson also makes scabbards and offered to modify mine for my practical Norman which I may do after I get my Albion.

[Sir Edward]

Well, he replied and very graciously offered to return to the original agreed price. So it's a go!

[Ian]

I think that's a fair request by you. It's always struck me as odd that somebody would need to put a deposit just to get on a list, rather than when their turn is ready (and they need the deposit for materials, etc). Seems like the "proper" way I'd do business is, you want on the list, you get on the list free. When your turn comes up, you get contacted, if you don't respond or you don't have the deposit ... next on the list. Paying to wait on a list isn't very fun, and if I knew I paid a deposit on something that was nowhere near being started, I'd be constantly thinking "don't shut down and run with my money".

In this particular case I wouldn't expect CF to run off with someone's money, he's well known and established.  I think deposits are fair when you're dealing with someone with that level of reputation (CF, DBK, Hedgecock, Wasson etc..)  When it comes to the typical SCA armorer who kind of hammers metal to resemble something medieval, then yes, fear for your money!!

Well, he replied and very graciously offered to return to the original agreed price. So it's a go!

Awesome!  I figured he would.  When I did business with him he was always very prompt with replies and very willing to help out.

[Sir Wolf]

cool

[Sir James A]

I think that's a fair request by you. It's always struck me as odd that somebody would need to put a deposit just to get on a list, rather than when their turn is ready (and they need the deposit for materials, etc). Seems like the "proper" way I'd do business is, you want on the list, you get on the list free. When your turn comes up, you get contacted, if you don't respond or you don't have the deposit ... next on the list. Paying to wait on a list isn't very fun, and if I knew I paid a deposit on something that was nowhere near being started, I'd be constantly thinking "don't shut down and run with my money".

In this particular case I wouldn't expect CF to run off with someone's money, he's well known and established.  I think deposits are fair when you're dealing with someone with that level of reputation (CF, DBK, Hedgecock, Wasson etc..)  When it comes to the typical SCA armorer who kind of hammers metal to resemble something medieval, then yes, fear for your money!!

Agreed, I was talking mostly generic "normal business", and not CF or anyone specifically.

Well, he replied and very graciously offered to return to the original agreed price. So it's a go!

Awesome! Very stand-up of him.

[Sir William]

He's a one-man operation so I'd allow a bit of leeway for things like this to happen from time to time; seeing as his site specifically states that a $100 deposit is required to get in queue, I don't see his response as off-putting...disappointing to learn, no doubt.  In any case, I'm glad he's decided to honor the old pricing for you, Sir Edward- and I know moving forward you'll be more diligent in communicating your intent. 

[Sir Edward]

Yeah, I didn't remember his policy on deposits, but I figured he'd have asked for one when I was agreeing to the original price quote. So from my point of view, if he weren't willing to at least meet me half-way (and if I needed to re-queue from scratch), I'd have walked. It was all a simple miscommunication, of course, but I thought everything was on-track until yesterday, and I was looking at a waste of 7 months that I could have been in either his queue or someone else's.

[Sir Brian]

Well Brett doesn't have a long que, think you can knock out a wood core in a couple of days and see what he can come up with?