Gunsmiths

What is your approach to the problem of dealing with your customers and getting your work done too. An instructor once told me to think like a baker, you bake all night and sell all day.

Seriously what has worked best for you? Do work after hours a lot? Do you use employees to screen your customers? What have you tried that did not work well?

I would divide your question up into two parts- walk in people and telephone people.

I'll put in a disclaimer here- I'm not a real gunsmith, I just play one on the internet....

However, I have had to deal with people a lot and have had to walk the tightrope of getting work done while at the same time selling myself and my business. I don't think you should have to plan on working when you should be resting in order to just maintain business, that is not good for your mind or your health, and then you start resenting something that you should enjoy doing. I think it would help if you could identify what exactly you need the most help with- time wasters that just hang around and want to talk while you are working, telephone gabbers that won't ever hang up, someone who just brings in the gun so you can tell them for free how to fix it....- I'm sure you already deal quite well with some of these issues, so which ones are more challenging for you? The way you ask, there are both organizational skills as well as people skills that can help you but it would be good to know a little more first.

With this question phrased in ways that apply to all businesses I'm sure there will be some pretty good answers from others here too.

Mark

The most effecient 'smiths I've dealt with have phone hours...they don't answer the phone except for certain hours. It isn't reasonable to expect a craftsman to put down his tools or turn off equipment every time the phone rings. If I have a project I try to call and discuss it "briefly" on the phone with a follow-up letter with details. Follow the letter with another call to see if we are on the same page. If so, an agreement(written) is reached with all the specifications and an estimate of costs and who does what and supplies what plus a delivery and payment date. Saves wear and tear and keeps everything moving along.

I let my electronic secretary(answering machine) deal with the telephone when I am not able to answer and I do most of my chamber work "after hours" because I do not like to be interupted when I am chambering.

Thanks for the ideas. As you can tell it's an ongoing problem for me. Probably a big contributing factor is it's a small town atmosphere here and most of my customers are old friends too. Hard to run 'em off.

I knew another gunsmith who had the following message on his answering machine. " Time is money and talk is cheap..........Leave a message at the beep!"

As a customer I would just like to say that
what swung it for me apart from quality etc. was being able to talk directly to the person who made my rifle and the fact that he was a nice bloke.

You live in a small town and don't take local work, confine yourself to high dollar custom rifles and just enough repair work to keep yourself in golf clubs, fishing stuff and ammo components...It works for the most part. Have a real job at the same time.

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Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com

Now there is a good idea. I could be more selective and only take in high grade custom work (which I really prefer anyway).

Then I would have time to work as an agent booking guided hunts in Africa! Grin!

Craftsman, not related to your question but I might have a chance to be in your neck of the woods this fall/winter. Is their any havelina hunting in the area or and good coyote calling? Wichita Falls is by the airforce base isn't it?

K Wood

There is excellant coyote and bobcat hunting in this area. However it's tough to find somewhere to go as all hunting is on private land here, most of which is leased up by deer and quail hunters.

There are a very small number of javelina west of here. The wild feral hogs and Russian boars are everywhere. Most are hunted together with deer.

Sheppard Air Base is just north of town. When you know you are coming e mail me, I'll give you directions to my gun shop. You are welcome to stop by.

Good Shooting,
Craftsman

k wood,
speaking of bobcat hunting, i just happen to have seen some pictures of three bobcats in someone's backyard. this back yard just happens to be in wichita falls,tex. if you get to go by craftsman's shop ask to see the pictures. hey craftsman does this mean you want me to stop calling you with the " hey, whatcha doin" line?

I hope to get down there this winter. I have a son in the USAF. He will be heading for Shepard soon and I hope to get a visit in. I was hoping we could get some calling in . If I make the trip I'd love to stop be and visit. I'll let ya' know.

Craftsman, I just had to weigh in on this one. I have been to shops where it seemed all the smith was after was your gun and your money, and maybe not in that order. If I had a question or a idea it was answered with a look that suggested "ain't he stupid", or I would hear, "I'll call you when it is ready". Needless to say I didn't darken those doors very often.
Of the two smiths I use the most both have what I would call a great "Bench-Side Manner". They don't hesitate to take time out of their already busy schedule and discuss any ideas, questions, comments that I may have. When they do their work, God only knows. I only know that no matter how long I hang around those guy's shops with questions, etc. I am treated with courtesy and respect, that's what keeps me coming back.
That and I consider them both to be very good friends as well as expert craftsmen.

By the way, I wish I could get Bobcats to show up in my back yard. GRIN

Just my thoughts, Good luck and good shooting.

There is a local gunsmith here who is PLAGUED by locals seeking companionship and conversation on Saturdays. It's common to walk into his shop and find 5 or 6 people standing around talking to each other with the gunsmith working on something in the back. It seems his secret is to get enough people in the shop so that they keep each other occupied and then he can stay busy doing real work.

and miss all that interesting conversation ???