The wait... -- myArmoury.com

Robin Smith · Posted: Sat 24 Mar, 2007 1:14 pm Post subject: The wait...

I have recently ordered an Albion Senlac, and will be ordering a Reeve next paycheck. These will be my first Next Gen Albions (I own a 1st Gen Hastings already), so I am extremely excited. But I have been informed that there is a 16 week wait. I know that isn't long compared to most custom smiths, but its still long enough. Anyway, I wanted to know what other people do when they're waiting for new blades? Do you find yourself reading the site over and over again? Do you search the web for any passing reference in the forums about your new toys? What helps make the wait more endurable?

Edward Hitchens · Posted: Sat 24 Mar, 2007 1:30 pm Post subject:

Occasionally, I would email or call the maker and ask for an update. Every now and then, I would read forum posts that discuss whatever sword I ordered, though I'm far more likely to do this before I decide to invest hard-earned money into it; there's only so much you can do short of actually being able to "try before you buy."

If the sword is so expensive that I wouldn't feel comfortable paying for it in one lump sum, I would put a deposit down for it and then (while waiting) figure out how I'm gonna pay the remaining balance. Last August, I ordered a much sought-after sword (I think by now, we all know which one! Cool

) that I put a deposit down for initally. Over the next few months, I would send smaller payments to the maker to alleviate the remaining balance which had to be paid in full before the sword was sent to me.

Finding a place in your home to display it is always fun too. Happy

Hugo Voisine · Posted: Sat 24 Mar, 2007 2:23 pm Post subject:

Joe Fults · Posted: Sat 24 Mar, 2007 9:57 pm Post subject:

I'm aware of the wait, and deal with it by trying to schedule things to I get something new for delivery every few months, even if its not the thing I most recently ordered. Truth be told I usually find the anticipation great fun.

Joe Fults · Posted: Sat 24 Mar, 2007 10:08 pm Post subject:

An alternate hobby helps too.

Trent Stevens · Posted: Sat 24 Mar, 2007 11:07 pm Post subject: The wait~

The Wait sucks!!!

i know, not the most itelligent choice of words, but truly the best way to describe it.

I find that i order more blades when im waiting for others...its a vicious cycle. ive recently decided to just buy from the classifieds so they come quickly....

what ive found is most smiths get angry when you call and check on your order...even as polite as i try and be.

ive been waiting over a year for my sword from Gus.....he just keeps telling me next week..next week. Sad

i could just smack Pavel neuman from armart Eek!

Robin Smith · Posted: Sat 24 Mar, 2007 11:32 pm Post subject: Re: The wait~

Bob Burns · Posted: Sun 25 Mar, 2007 5:30 am Post subject:

Hi Robin, I have the Albion Vassal and the Berserkr and 10 swords from Arms & Armor plus 10 of their polearms and 4 of their daggers. So I understand all about the "Wait" and it's something that has become a very important element of this most passionate hobby for "me".
We live in this instant gratification society today, which is also known as a "throw away society". Order and receive these swords too quickly too often and before you know it, the whole value, especially the "spiritual value" will go down the drain. Especially, given the extreme high end quality production swords made by Albion and Arms & Armor!
What happens when we lose our appreciation of the high end craftsmanship of swordsmiths who love what they are doing, working in companies like Albion and Arms & Armor?
I sure would not want my sword made in a hurry! In a production shop, more than one sword at a time is going through a certain phase, there could be several. For instance, recently I received my Edward III Sword from Arms & Armor in early February I think it was, and the order was placed in September. Mine was one of five Edward III Swords being produced, though this particular sword takes longer than other swords on the production list as was told to me, therefore I knew this one would take longer than usual. Sure, I could have gone over to a very fine vendor near me and bought a Hanwei version of the Edward III Sword for something around $230.00, but I was by far and wide happier to wait four and a half months and pay $855.00 plus shipping to get a stunning and exceptional version of the Edward III Sword.
Just like I had to wait for nearly a year I think it was from the time the concept art came out for the Albion Vassal, until the time that my sword was actually produced and I believe that I got the very first Vassal made, because the owner of the vending company near me by coincidence had placed an order for a Vassal the very day the concept art went up on the internet! I've written a few posts on what the Vassal means to me and yes the wait was long and hard, just like it was on the Edward III Sword, but that "Wait" in the end, added to the whole spectrum of the value of these truly exceptional swords to me Exclamation

Patience is a virtue and the sword is symbolic of the virtues, so for me, the wait for a sword is truly character building!

I hope this helps. Please feel free to private message me if you want.

Sincerely!

Bob

As in the beginning I had a hard time with waiting, but as time went on, my patience and tolerance grew, thanks much to other members of this website who helped me grow! That's another important matter of substance, the incredible value that myArmoury and it's members have been to me!

Much Thanks To All of You Exclamation

Joe Fults · Posted: Sun 25 Mar, 2007 8:09 am Post subject: Re: The wait~

Bob Burns · Posted: Sun 25 Mar, 2007 8:35 am Post subject:

In following up on Joe Fults post, I should mention the "Vendor near me" is in fact "Kult of Athena"!

Bob

Robin Smith · Posted: Sun 25 Mar, 2007 8:44 am Post subject:

Micha Hofmann · Posted: Sun 25 Mar, 2007 6:11 pm Post subject: Re: The wait~

Chad Arnow · myArmoury Team

I'm not the best person to ask, as I have orders with a couple different makers, all of which are behind schedule. I'm a little frustrated. Happy

The wait is always more endurable if you're kept in the loop and have faith in the deadlines the makers set.

One item on order is from a production (not custom) maker. The item was ordered in September. Sometime in November, I was told it would be ready by Christmas. That obviously didn't happen. Now, it's hard to get any estimate on when it will be done. 6 months wait (at least) for a non-custom item isn't my favorite...

I have a pending order from a custom smith, too. That delivery date will be missed by more than a month. Of course, a missed date of a month or so on a custom item is not the end of the world, but the trend of makers missing deadlines they set gets old after a while. Had they let me know before the deadline that the deadline would be missed, I would have been okay with it. But I had to email them after the deadline to learn that my items were not on their way to me.

I ordered a cheaper production item from another company also. They told me it would take three days to get from the warehouse. It took at least a week. Again, we're talking a delay to me of less than a week. However, missing deadlines is a rampant issue throughout this industry.

I have some other things in the works, too, that are held up waiting for various things.

I don't like to have this many things outstanding generally. If the makers had all hit their deadlines, I would have received an item here and there and wouldn't have had to worry about coming up with final payments for several items in the same month, like I do now. While late March/early April will be chock full of new toys, it's not the best for my wallet to have so many things come due at the same time.

I would love for makers to set deadlines and meet them more often. Many of us mentally add some length of time to what a maker quotes because we're so used to delays. That's sad that we've come to expect broken promises.

The relatively minor delays listed above probably wouldn't bother me if they were isolated incidents. However, the longer you're in this hobby the more you see it and experience it. These aren't my first delayed orders and I'm sure they won't be my last.

While I wait, I do to go the maker's sites and look at the items forlornly. Happy

I also take the time to read up on the originals (if applicable). I may also check out reviews of the items. It helps pass the time. Happy

Patrick Kelly · Posted: Sun 25 Mar, 2007 8:45 pm Post subject:

If a maker routinely misses delivery dates and doesn't exercise good communication I don't care who's "sword god" they may be, or how talented they are. They won't get repeat business from me. (that isn't really the topic of this thread, but since it's skewed that way.....) I currently have three orders in-progress, two custom and one production. So far everything is going as planned. Whie waiting for an order I'll usually take the time to educate myself on its design, time period, etc. This way if it's something new to me I'm at least semi-informed when it arrives.

Other than that, I simply act like a grown-up and have patience. Wink

S. Clare · Posted: Mon 26 Mar, 2007 12:42 am Post subject:

I have been waiting for this thread. It is really funny because I have found myself doing the described repeated checking of the website, ocassional e-mails and calls to the company, and lately checking myArmoury to see if others have similar situations.

And what do I find tonight? That others are waiting as well. I can take some comfort in that at least. In the meantime the wait continues. As was said earlier, it is good to have other hobbies, even if they do need reloading.

Cheers,

Robin Smith · Posted: Mon 26 Mar, 2007 6:36 am Post subject:

Gary Venable · Posted: Mon 26 Mar, 2007 7:00 am Post subject:

Change the background of my computer at work to the sword in questions.

S. Clare · Posted: Mon 26 Mar, 2007 12:20 pm Post subject:

Tim Harris · Industry Professional

I'm spoiled rotten as regards The Wait. As a custom maker, if swordlust gets too much, I have the luxury of being able to make things for myself. Educational and fun.

That said, I sympathise with HAD ( let's make it catch on) sufferers.... which leads to some points Chad and Patrick made.

I detest having to tell a customer that the delivery date I had stated has to be revised. Earlier is great, but later is not. For me, there is no small measure of honour involved in being able to keep my word. I loathe having to make excuses.

I work on a per-order basis, and keep little in the way of stock. I am not swordsmithing full-time either, so it is all done in whatever time I am able to make. I allow for this with delivery dates, but life does have an occasional tendency to throw up other things, which have to be dealt with at the expense of production time. When third parties are involved, the potential problems multiply. For example, at the start of this year, my heat-treaters were still on half staff until February. A few sword blades are going to be way back in the queue for a commercial operation.

When such things happen, I sometimes find myself having to make the dreaded call or send the email that says "Look, I know I told you such-and-such a date, but...". Most of my customers understand this, but I still dislike having to do it when it becomes necessary. I know there will be other customers who have different expectations, which is why I have virtually no social life (hey, I'm making swords, so I'm not complaining).

On top of all that, there is a factor that has become almost axiomatic for me, and if other makers have the same problem, please let me know I'm not suffering this alone... everything takes considerably longer than you think it should. Perhaps I set myself impractically high targets. I dunno.

I'm not saying any of this as a blanket justification for lack of communication and tardiness. I'm just putting in my own perspective.

I am a solo operation. If I had a shed full of sooty urchins to do the repetitive stuff, things would be different.
"Here's a crust and a pile of emery paper. Polish all these until you could see your horrible little face in them... if you weren't half blind from flying sparks".
You can't get urchins these days. There are laws, apparently...

Cheers

Tim

Robin Smith · Posted: Mon 26 Mar, 2007 9:05 pm Post subject:

Tim: So why not as a maker add a 25% fudge factor to any completion date? If I was a maker I'd add alot more time then I needed, that way when it was done without the fudge factor considered, it would seem as if you got it done early. I know as a customer I'd prefer to hear a long initial estimate and be pleasently surprised, rather than a good initial delivery date and be disappointed...