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Unread 03-07-2018, 02:26 PM   #21
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Marty K.
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Dean, That is a wonderful thought and I applaud it ....But if we were talking about a couple of mistakes or a miscommunication this thread wouldn't have even been started. There has been months of promises, poor communication, excuses, guns that have gone back and forth multiple times. There is incompetence even though some of the work is exceptional. Believe me I wanted this to be a happy experience and it has been nothing close ..but one of the guns did come back beautiful after much pain. I could go on and on as I believe Mark could, but I am not going to do it.

FWIW I have run my own business for 45 years dealing with the public and at times things can get out of control with a customer. Things can snowball and get ugly. It happens to every business but there comes a time when enough is enough.
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Unread 03-07-2018, 02:33 PM   #22
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Marty,
I totally agree with your comments. I also am currently experiencing similar problems with probably the same gunsmith. I am crossing my fingers that the gun comes back as requested.
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Unread 03-07-2018, 03:33 PM   #23
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Harumph! Harumph!

I truly get Dean's point and his posture resonates deeply with me and I identify with what he said when possible. It is hard enough to find good people to work on stuff, much less do a real quality job at a reasonable price, but we should never settle for over-promise and under-delivery, that dog never will hunt. Gunsmiths that know how to work on old shotguns is truly a cadre industry in decline. True we have become far too much of a disposable society, but that point probably resonates here more than anywhere or we would not be talking about working on and maintaining old guns. Whatever happened to TV repairman? Its even worse if you have a good pair of s hoes that need fixing. Count yourself lucky if you have a good shoe cobbler or can find one that does good work at a decent price. BTW next time you see him go give old Brian and Brad and other favorite gunsmiths give them a big hug for working on your guns, they are not a commodity, but skilled craftsmen. Obviously some are different than others. Maybe like comparing Norman Rockwell to Picasso.

I also think we don't know all the facts to form an opinion or jump to a conclusion with question posed, but did notice Marty provided a little more followup insight to basis of qualifying his position to Mark's question. All I know is that obviously you have quietly tried to work it out but are feeling less than satisfied and still have a rebuke and lack of a reasonable restitution. So we here at the court of public opinion awaiting your testimony, or not. Again it boils down to how pissed you are and if we should break out the stocks and start collecting rotten vegetables.

Last edited by Todd Poer; 03-07-2018 at 03:56 PM..
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Unread 03-07-2018, 03:48 PM   #24
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This is an interesting discussion and it is now on 3 pages. I understand Mark has an issue, but the work requested is not in the thread. The gunsmith or company must be well known, but not given.

Yes, there are different points of view between the customer and the shop. However, is the board too politically correct to not provide some details?

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Unread 03-07-2018, 04:25 PM   #25
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ken Hill View Post
This is an interesting discussion and it is now on 3 pages. I understand Mark has an issue, but the work requested is not in the thread. The gunsmith or company must be well known, but not given.

Yes, there are different points of view between the customer and the shop. However, is the board too politically correct to not provide some details?

Ken
I would think if done respectfully, we are all adult enough and reasonably minded to handle what comes. P.C.card is now almost like a muzzle, or similar to pulling a gun on someone yelling some "ism" at you that does not exist. Nothing wrong with civil discourse if handled correctly, but a lot of people have lost an ability to communicate that way. Nothing wrong with treading lightly but doing it in way that makes a strong valid point without throwing someone under the bus, and that's probably the crux of the issue.

I think one of the the greatest gifts Jesus may have ever given mankind was his demonstration of empathy as the cornerstone of his teachings and miracles. Yup its a simple rule but tough to live by this loving one another business.
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Unread 03-07-2018, 05:50 PM   #26
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Even the best craftsman have problems.
The fact is, it’s not the problem.
It’s how the craftsman handles/resolves the problem.
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Unread 03-07-2018, 07:19 PM   #27
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"Even the best craftsman have problems.
The fact is, it’s not the problem.
It’s how the craftsman handles/resolves the problem."

In my case it is the problem since nothing can be done by anyone to resolve it. That is why I thought I had "The Best" gunsmith doing the work and being charged like it was "The Best" quality possible. No excuse.
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Unread 03-07-2018, 07:34 PM   #28
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Mark, without calling out the name of the shop, could you detail for us what the scope of work was and the resultant issues.
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Unread 03-07-2018, 09:14 PM   #29
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Perhaps the best thing to do would be to post pictures of the work in question, maybe not give your opinions of the workmanship up front but let the discussion form its own opinion.

My philosophy on having work done by any craftsman is that I expect it to be done better than I could do it myself. That being said....I have sent Parkers to a large well known shop and paid a premium for work that I was immediately disappointed with. I got a quote for a proper fix, after I waited my turn and paid the high price, I received the gun to find a half assed fix and was told that was the best they could do. They went for the easy fix, rushed through other parts of the job, and failed to even address another issue. The only thing that was as promised was the price.

I'm glad to share my experiences with my friends, but I'm hesitant to announce it publicly. On the other hand, I would certainly like to know if anyone had a bad experience with a smith before I sent a gun to them.
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Unread 03-07-2018, 09:27 PM   #30
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Allen and others,

I could give you a very good play by play of my experience. But that is really not the point of my post. The details of my particular experience while important to me are not intended to be the focus of this discussion. Please forgive me if that was not conveyed.

The point I attempted to make (and I recognize I may not have written it properly) was along the lines of...... If we are only in the habit of leaving positive feedback about our repair/refurbish experiences on this forum - we could be leading our forum friends to believe all repair/refurbish experiences with a given shop will be positive. This was the point my friends the repair specialists I mentioned earlier were making. If there is a difference in quality between shops, but no one feels comfortable saying anything negative, even if a job did not goes as intended, and they were 'ultimately disappointed" with the results, how is the group properly informed.

Please understand, I actually empathize with this and every other Gunshop. Yes, I was/am disappointed. But I too, own a small business. We fix trucks and transport refrigeration machinery. I tell you that only to tell you this...... My company has disappointed our fair share of customers too. Lack of help, too much work at a given time, poor management in a given store..... the list is endless.....but recognize when that happens in my world, we are called out. The industry, like all of us, is connected through forums and social media. When we drop the ball, we hear it, and I believe it makes us stronger and drives us to not drop the ball.

I am friends/aquaintances, as many of us are, with many of the owners of the prominent repair shops we usually refer to on this forum. They are all good people, with families and problems and ups and downs just like the rest of us. I don't personally begrudge any of them. They have all worked hard to build up their business and become prosperous. We all attempt to do the same. With that said and understood I hope to stay big picture focussed with this thread.

The big question remains....should I/we say something on this forum if we are "ultimately disappointed"? ....or is that better left unsaid - an let the buyer beware?

Thanks all for the thoughts and feedback.
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