I posted this on another forum but thought I could get more input here, thanks.
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I am wondering how many of you have done this in the past. I got a call a while ago from a fellow interested in having a rifle built. He was referred to me by another maker who deals mostly in gas guns. Anyway after talking to this guy he tells me what he wants but don't know what caliber, 30-06 or 300 win, "but it has to be light and extremely accurate". I tell him I don't guarantee accuracy but he will be satisfied when he gets it. To make a shorter story, he changed his mind twice about the caliber and three times about the stock, then he tells me he wants a recoil brake added and a mercury recoil reducer in the stock; also, he's gonna put a 50mm scope on it; light weight he wants? A day later he says he wants a stainless barrel and a different finish, etc. etc, and can I make the action stainless? Okay, the final straw was when he insisted on a test target after it was done and it had to be sub 1/2" groups. After I told him (and please don't chastise me for this) I don't break in barrels and therefore don't test fire because I insist on having the barrel broken in correctly, I tell him I would have to charge 3 days wages just to work up an accuracy load and break in the barrel, not to mention the fact it is a 45 minute drive to the rifle range. He then proceeds to tell me how much he spent on his "Ed Brown" rifle and about his test target he got with it. (You gotta wonder if these are really shot at 100yds and how much of the price was for testing)

That was it, I sent his deposit back via priority mail and thanked him for his interest. I do admit I am a bit of an ornery bastard but rather than get pissed off further on down the line, I decided to cut my losses and run.

Anyone interested in a brand new, Rem 700, 7mag, LH, BDL?

Jim

It sounds like this guy was changing his specs based on either replies he was getting on the 'net, or the latest article in some gun rag.

You would have NEVER been able to satisfy him, because he was never sure of what he wanted.

George

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He was referred to me by another maker who deals mostly in gas guns.

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Jim, what did you do to piss this guy off??

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Just tell Blue to decide what he wants and at what price and write it all down...

Paybacks are a bitch Homosley!

If I were even closely related to Blue I would have to kick my own ass.

Sounds to me like you read this guy as a trouble and a pain in your a** for a customer .

Your in business to make money and put food on your table . Not to work for free for some snifling ,thankless, confused, cheap a**, that trys to jew you out of your money.

Good decission.

My customers are building contractors. I get alot of them that think they can scam me out of money by complaining about everything. Or are just to much of a hassle too work for, Or just some that will not pay unless I do a mechanics lean and take them to court.

Im real picky who I work for. There is plenty of "good" customers.

Who would stick up a Lawyer?????? NOT I

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Originally posted by GSP7:
There is plenty of "good" customers.

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Got that right. Some people you just can't afford to work for.

well: you are an ornery bastard!!!!!!but being a bit worse I probably would have done worse.

I've heard from horror stories from contractors where you go with what the client wants, then they decide they don't like it and stick you with the bill. It must be tough trying to weed out the ones who might try that on you. Howard has told me about a few winners that he did jobs for. No way could I handle dealing with ppl with that mentality day in and day out.

-Mike

this experience is all to common i found. you did the best thing as you had never a chance at pleasing that fellow.

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Originally posted by Jim Kobe:
I posted this on another forum but thought I could get more input here, thanks.
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I am wondering how many of you have done this in the past. I got a call a while ago from a fellow interested in having a rifle built. He was referred to me by another maker who deals mostly in gas guns. Anyway after talking to this guy he tells me what he wants but don't know what caliber, 30-06 or 300 win, "but it has to be light and extremely accurate". I tell him I don't guarantee accuracy but he will be satisfied when he gets it. To make a shorter story, he changed his mind twice about the caliber and three times about the stock, then he tells me he wants a recoil brake added and a mercury recoil reducer in the stock; also, he's gonna put a 50mm scope on it; light weight he wants? A day later he says he wants a stainless barrel and a different finish, etc. etc, and can I make the action stainless? Okay, the final straw was when he insisted on a test target after it was done and it had to be sub 1/2" groups. After I told him (and please don't chastise me for this) I don't break in barrels and therefore don't test fire because I insist on having the barrel broken in correctly, I tell him I would have to charge 3 days wages just to work up an accuracy load and break in the barrel, not to mention the fact it is a 45 minute drive to the rifle range. He then proceeds to tell me how much he spent on his "Ed Brown" rifle and about his test target he got with it. (You gotta wonder if these are really shot at 100yds and how much of the price was for testing)

That was it, I sent his deposit back via priority mail and thanked him for his interest. I do admit I am a bit of an ornery bastard but rather than get pissed off further on down the line, I decided to cut my losses and run.

Anyone interested in a brand new, Rem 700, 7mag, LH, BDL?

Jim

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Alvin, great quote from a fantastic movie.

Jim, you did what I would have done, but probably a lot sooner. It is hard probably because you know that the person might bad mouth you. But I couldn't handle somebody like that constantly changing their mind. you want clients that KNOW WHAT THEY WANT, or are open to your input, not guys that change their mind every time they fart.

Not to mention, anybody that knows that little about what they want in a gun won't be able to shoot a group that size anyways.

Red

Jim, how did you resist sending this guy's deposit back for so long! You are a patient man!!

Is there a "ignoring this user" feature on this new board?

I would have done the same but much sooner. I am working up a rifle in my head and on paper right now and I will not call a builder<s> until I am sure what and how I want the gun.

Stories like this are another good reason not to take orders.

John

NO! It was not blue. And dammit Alvinmack, don't trun this into a "Blue-bashing"

Oh yeah, and another thing. I have never made a mistake in my life except one time; I thought I was wrong but I was really right.

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Vapodog & Alvinmack

Looks like you two are starting the year off right by getting your digs on me as soon as possible.

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blue, my apologies...nothing personal here...just having a little too much fun I guess.....I'm from Minnesota and like to harass some of the folks there from time to time.....all good natured I assure you.
Vapo

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Originally posted by blue:
Vapodog & Alvinmack

Looks like you two are starting the year off right by getting your digs on me as soon as possible.

Everybody else.

The fellow Jim is talking about is NOT ME.

Blue

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Yeah Blue lighten up would you. Anyway the cat is out of the bag. Yes we know you and Alvinmack are related and he is your nephew and all this "bashing" is just an attempt to get attention. We also know Jimmy223....well I am not going there.

Hey I ain't going to no party with you and Alvinmack...........I don't trust you two.

Jim, you made the right choice, just wondering what took you so long. As to the test targets, I asked H-S Precision this question and could not get a direct answer about breakin..

Amack and Howard, I have to be good for 4 more days to "win" the bet!!!!!!! Then watch out

Jim,
I've been self-employed as a bird dog trainer for over 25 years. I'm always suspicious when I get a referral from another pro. They're usually getting rid of a PIA. You did the right thing. I do the same thing. I tell them if they know more about training the dog than I do then they should do the training. I have a couple of friends in the gun building business. Their big gripe is guys just like that. He probably can't shoot anyway and it will be your fault when the gun doesn't work.

knobmtn

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Originally posted by Howard:
Hey I ain't going to no party with you and Alvinmack...........I don't trust you two.

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And I wouldnt trust you around Swamp. You both are as queer as a $3 Bill.

Jim count yourself lucky to get away from the guy.

Last night I handled a custom gun at my gunsmith's shop that was built for an insane man. Complete with scope and mounts, it weighed 7 Lb 2 oz. and was chambered in 378 Weatherby Magnum!
It had a pencil thin barrel with a muzzle brake and looked and felt like it would kill at both ends.
My gunsmith told the guy he built it for that he was insane but the guy wanted it anyway. The smith wouldn't even test fire it.

Then there is the other side.
I contactated a well known gunsmith to convert
a fullbore 308 to 223Rem. I asked for a certain
brand barrel, but this bloke insisted on another
one that he was "in with". As an easy to please
customer I went along, with some misgivings.
Next mistake was when I paid in advance.
So about 6 mths later, after he said I was getting "a bit snakey", I got a bare actioned
barrel without a brand even. Had to get it
finished off elsewhere. So then my barrel
(brand) was kicked off every Fullbore range in
Australia, to protect me and neighbouring shooters from schrapnel. Now you all know why
I seem a little cranky at times.
John L.

Some Kobe rifles shoot ok. Heres some proof.

I hope this doesn't tarnish Jim's Ornery reputation. Rich