I expect the quality and value is probably on point here, but it's one guy who's really, really bad…read moreat communicating, trying to handle a lot more than one guy can handle.
Ultimately, after a month of back and forth emails (most of them containing the same exact info because he kept asking the same questions) and discussing the work he would do in great detail, being ignored for over a week twice, and providing my personal information 3 times, I was unable to get him to ever send an invoice.
I filled out a form on their site, providing all the necessary details. They responded quickly with a price that was extremely reasonable, but no additional info on how to move forward.
I responded with a picture, basic description, and said, "Where do I sign? :D" He responded asking for more pictures. I provided pics. He responded suggesting I buy a different style of the product I was after. I responded and said I'd prefer to stick to the original, he said he can get it, and he'll have to check the price difference. I thanked him.
I didn't hear back for 4 days so I responded again asking if there was any news, and I even floated the idea of also having him do work on a knife handle in a similar style. He responded: "Pic ??"
I provided some pictures. He never responded to them. I didn't hear anything from him for 12 days at which point I replied to the thread, wishing him well, and asking if he was still interested in doing the original job. I stressed that if he's busy I understand if the delivery takes a while, but that I'd like to conclude the transaction.
He responded with the pricing, and said that he would need payment upfront, he could send me an invoice and it would take a week to get done, apologized and said he was really busy. He asked me to reply with my personal info again "if I want it".
I responded, no worries, I understand being busy and there's no rush on the order, I just don't like being left in the dark. I gave him the exact information he requested, once again.
He responded with some info about the product but ignored my request for an invoice again. I responded, clarified everything AGAIN, and asked for an invoice one final time.
That was July 13. It's the 21st with no emails. I feel like I'm being jerked around, and I'm done. I responded, just forget it. He responded that he somehow missed my last email, and that he was waiting to hear back and to respond if I want it. Man, I've made it clear I want it in EVERY SINGLE EMAIL. At this point, I'm done.
Am I unreasonable and impatient, as Chris would have you believe? You be the judge. Personally I would've wanted to be able to get an invoice on the same day, and feel I was more than accomodating. I thought about just looking for someone else several times, and decided to keep giving him chances. Not sure how many times I was supposed to have to request an invoice before I'd actually get one.
At any point he could have said, I'm sorry, I'm just too busy to deal with this right now and it will be a while before I can get to it. Or he could have just invoiced me, as I had already made it clear I was not in a hurry to receive the product, just to get the invoice. Instead he lead me on and asked for the same details over and over...
Oh, and apparently this is all my fault because I used his website to contact him instead of his phone, despite never once stating a preference for phone communication until now:
"Considering my phone number is in every single email and I've never once received a call I have nothing to say ohh I'm sorry for. If you want a keybar I can and still will make it. Regardless of your review but at the end of the day I have nothing to be sorry for other than you being impatient about emails coming back to me. If you'd like to try calling a business instead of just going back and forth via email. You'd prob be a lot happier customer."
Funny how much precious time he had for back-and-forth with me today. First time I've seen him make full sentences, and faster too.
Anyway, I implore you to look elsewhere for your custom work.
