ADA: Ask Doc Anything!

[dartamon]

Right, let's get back to what we're really here for: building a custom vert feed Raptor. A $1K budget and no holds barred - where does that take us?

[DocsMachine]

Maybe you should use one of your “white boards” to keep up with customer jobs and timelines to keep you on track. Just a thought.

-Since I'm apparently not allowed to use sarcasm I'll simply point out that yes, four of my nine whiteboards (four in the machine shop, two in the main shop, two here in the office and one in the inventory storeroom) are, in fact, dedicated to scheduling. I've had at least one such board dedicated to the task since I opened. (Which I recently replaced, since the old one had literally worn out.)

Regarding the conduct of the argument, several sarcastic remarks in this thread were obviously crafted to produce a negative emotional response. Name-calling is also unacceptable.

-For which, on my part at least, I sincerely apologize. I appreciate your intercession and the personal note.

I'm told I have the option of locking this thread myself, but I believe I'll decline. Up until the last day or two, this has been a fun thread, and I believe I helped quite a few people with questions, issues and projects. Considering I've been doing that since the WARPIG days, I'd like to continue doing so.

You gentlemen may continue to point to it as an example of how godawful atrocious a person I am, as an indicator of my undoubtedly poor lineage, and as an example of my clearly substandard manhood.

And yes, I have no doubt it will cost me some sales. BUT... I also make no apologies for defending myself- or even just explaining myself.

Finally: Anyone else like to air their dirty laundry? Free thread, gents. I'm such a terrible businessman, there must be legions of you out there, whom I left penniless and bleeding in the gutter.

In every order I've shipped out in the past four years, I've included a 'thank you' card that contains the line: If you like my product, tell a friend. If you don't like it, tell ME. I can't fix a problem I don't know about. It doesn't fit your gun? Tell me, I'll fix it. I sent the wrong part? Tell me, I'll replace it.

Doc.

[Axel]

Having caught up on the last two pages--

Per the BST policy I make no judgement on the disputes at the root of this argument either way. More details are in the stickied post on every BST forum.

Regarding the conduct of the argument, several sarcastic remarks in this thread were obviously crafted to produce a negative emotional response. Name-calling is also unacceptable. We ask our members to be courteous to each other, even when there's a disagreement. A couple of you who crossed the line are getting PMs (on both sides of this) but if we all dial it back I see no need for further action.

I won't make a vain attempt to police every little snide remark or define the exact point where sarcasm crosses the line, but I ask everyone to pull back and be respectful of each other.

[Axel]

Since a lot has happened here, and we do have day jobs, the thread will be closed, probably temporarily, to give the mods some time to review and respond accordingly. If we do decide to close it permanently I will at least come back and say so.

[GanonsGrin]

First off, BigMatt left for reasons that had nothing to do with profitability or loss of interest. He’s local to me and a regular at one of the old fields we had around here and there was much more to why he left. At least he made good on his deals before he left.

Second, I was coming into this thread to ask about a simple tap and thread job for a marker and I have wholeheartedly decided that you are by no means anyone I would ever want to deal with, period. I can also assure you that it was the attitude that you are exhibiting right now that has pushed me away from ever considering or recommending you for anything. What a poor, unprofessional response in regards to your work ethic and standards.

Maybe you should use one of your “white boards” to keep up with customer jobs and timelines to keep you on track. Just a thought.

I can’t imagine the kind of person who would see this and think “that’s the guy for me! No timelines, no organization, and when he forgets about my work and I ask a question he will try to roast me! Sign me up”. Wow.

[DocsMachine]

Peace out of this nonsense. Got to do that work thing at 4am.

-Peace.

(I do some of my best work at night. Very much a 'cognitive peak' sort of thing- don't know why, but it's part of the reason I do what I do. Tried the 9-to-5 thing, never liked it, brain doesn't work that early. As it is, it's 11:27 PM as I type this, and I'll be up for probably another three hours. I've got a kind of fun job on the table I'm hoping to finish up tonight.)

Be safe out there.

Doc.

[DocsMachine]

-Good argument/discussion, mates! I don't get to do that very often, had a blast!

Seems like $300+ for shipping parts you already had made would make that shoestring a little stronger, but what do I know.

-Yessir! It very much would have. Considering that I'm rather demonstrably not rich enough to simply wave off several hundred dollars in potential income, can you think there might maybe be another reason I might not have been able to capitalize on that transaction?

But, you know... beating your chest and berating a customer because you were in possession of their property and wouldn’t communicate with them seems a perfectly reasonable response.

-Ah, there's that declaration of inadequate obsequiousness again. Yes, I'm supposed to just sit here and go "Oh, a thousand pardons! You're absolutely right, I'm a terrible, worthless, withered old husk and unworthy to even lick the soles of your shoes!"

That about right?

Sorry. I don't play that game.

Doc.

[Indeed]

Funny thing is I would have paid the 150 to restore this particular led. You know sentimental value and all. I just paid 85 an hour plus materials for the 2 I have. 2 hours of solid works and 4 hours between 3d print and machining. I never asked how much because I simply didn't care.

I am no mind reader and I know nothing of your standard operations because you never communicated that to me. Any requests of money for labor or materials would have been payed immediately. What you need a viable solenoid? Ok here's 2. You need materials? How much? This is a very simple process if lines of communication are open.

Sell the revised version to those dozens that have asked. I don't plan to make more.

Peace out of this nonsense. Got to do that work thing at 4am.

[Surf2Live]

... I'm a one-man band trying to keep my small business afloat on a tattered shoestring.

...

I'm sorry I couldn't help you out, and regret disappointing you.

Seems like $300+ for shipping parts you already had made would make that shoestring a little stronger, but what do I know

It’s not just the stocks either. I sent you emails requesting quotes for work for no less than 5 markers last year, most of them with pictures of the markers, any related parts, and explicit instructions of what I’d like to have done. I stated I understood the expense of one-off custom work and was prepared to pay for it, but I wanted a quote first and to agree on the scope. I wasn’t blowing smoke. I had budgeted up to $1000 for all the work I had requested to finish some projects; all you needed to do was reply to some emails and make some chips.

But, you know... beating your chest and berating a customer because you were in possession of their property and wouldn’t communicate with them seems a perfectly reasonable response.

[DocsMachine]

Idk if I'm supposed to care?

-Are you a child? I wasn't able to do your job for you. You're out no money, and will have your parts back by Friday. I've apologized. That's apparently not enough for you?

Son, I was drawing comics of customers like you almost twenty years ago.





Doc.

[DocsMachine]

Doc your condescension is laughable.

"Kettle!", cried the pot, "How black thou art!"

Your business management is terrible.

-Fully agreed, and with enthusiasm! That is, in fact, what generally killed most airsmiths over the years; Most of them just want to do the cool part, making the toys and playing with the machines. None of them like to do the administrative work, and after a while, enough of the paperwork piles up and takes all the fun out of it. Considering that this isn't a profitable line of business, and never will be, most look at it after a while, determine it ain't worth it, and move on to something else. Timberwolf, Jeremy Garrett, Otter, BigMatt, Rhino Joe, Drew from Wicked Air, John, I think, from HyperSportWorks, the list is endless.

I've held on because I enjoy what I do. I don't like the office or administration side either, but I do what I can, because I want to continue doing what I enjoy.

Your communication since September when I mailed the parts has been zero without me posting in this forum.

-Communications with you.

You have never sent me an any type estimate for labor or materials.

-Nor was I going to ask for such. I've had about a dozen people ask me for those LED adapters, and have meant for years to make another batch. You loaned me the solenoids, and my standard modus operendi is to give the person who loaned me the test piece free product once it's done.

I know you don't believe me- I'm evil, and of course clearly a consummate liar - but I've done exactly that with markers loaned to me so I could measure and fit for custom Freak backs, I did that with a local MCB'er for whom I made some Matrix LPR seals, another MCB'er recently loaned me an Angel A1 to fit some new detents to, etc. etc.

If I was going to make a single example for you, you wouldn't have wanted it anyway, because I would have charged you $150. If I make a batch of them- on my own time, as available- I can get that down to maybe $50 retail, maybe a little less. You'd have gotten two at no more cost than a little patience.

Super happy that you posted they way you did. It let's your future customers see just exactly who you are.

-They do indeed. I just got an inquiry about 30 minutes ago because of this thread. It'll only be about a $200 mod, but the customer was impressed at my response to all this.

What's curious is how you, a customer who is out no more than a little time, made no payments of any kind- nor even offered one- simply because I wasn't able to provide you a service within your personal timeline.... now gleefully wants to see me fail.

Funny, that.

Doc.

[Indeed]

"I'm a one-man band trying to keep my small business afloat on a tattered shoestring. It ain't always easy, and there's never enough hours in a day."


Idk if I'm supposed to care?

If you completed work you would have been paid in full. You're not the only one working there arse off out there.

Congratulations you ran a manual mill at 23. I started tig welding at 11. We can go back and forth all night long. If you didn't already ship the solenoids please don't bother. I'd hate to have the 8 bucks break your shoestring business. 🤷♂️

[DocsMachine]

Gang away. You guys aren't the first, likely won't be the last. I wasn't blowing smoke when I said there's plenty of people out there that aren't happy with whatever I did, was supposed to do or tried to do for them. Ask around, I'm sure most of the tales will be entertaining, and some of them may even be true.

And, you'll note, at no point did I say I was infallible or entirely blameless. I many of those cases I did, in fact, screw up, in some cases rather badly. In your case I can't point to a particular thing or event, it was simply a case of, for want of a better term, 'falling through the cracks'. I'm a one-man band trying to keep my small business afloat on a tattered shoestring. It ain't always easy, and there's never enough hours in a day.

In my defense, in that same eight-month period, I made over 1,200 parts, packed and shipped over 500 packages, and probably replied to close to 4,000 emails, PMs and other messages.

I'm sorry I couldn't help you out, and regret disappointing you. But when I hear people saying I "couldn't be bothered" to do something- usually after I've already spent eight to ten hours in the shop, made two trips to the Post Office and am still staring at four hours' worth of unanswered inbox- yeah, I get a little goddam indignant.

Doc.

[Indeed]

Doc your condescension is laughable. Yep I remember the early days too when I started playing pump with my cousin in 1992. Wanna continue a pissing contest? Your business management is terrible. Your communication since September when I mailed the parts has been zero without me posting in this forum. There have been weeks separating the attempts in contacts never requiring you to pay constant attention. Check you pm and see the dates if you like. A simple pm back saying hey your number 40 in line expect a 6 month wait would have been acceptable. You have never sent me an any type estimate for labor or materials. Super happy that you posted they way you did. It let's your future customers see just exactly who you are.

[Surf2Live]

Hey Doc... it may seem like everyone is ganging up on you, but it says something that there are enough people upset with your business practices and communication that they have to address you in an open forum to get a response. I've had conversations recently with multiple members that have shared similar stories. Indeed isn't the first, and unless you recognize this kind of criticism as an opportunity to better your business and yourself he won't be the last. I once attempted to be your customer for 8 months before I gave up...

Remember last year before the 2.0 hack when you had just made a bunch of new L and P stocks? They looked great and I decided I could use a couple to finish some projects. We exchanged a couple of PMs and I ordered 2x L stocks, 1x P stock, and 2x sets of tank rings; all raw, all complete and in stock except for the tank rings. That was ~April time frame if I recall correctly. After the site went down I did the leg work to email you with my username and the order we agreed on to make sure the parts would still be held for me. You replied and acknowledged everything was ready except the tank rings. Over the next 8 months I sent numerous emails and you replied to only two of them, MONTHS apart, and each time told me you would be ready to ship them later that week and would invoice me promptly. In December I sent one final email telling you I was done trying to send you hundreds of dollars for parts that you had already made, but couldn't be bothered to send a Paypal invoice and ship; no response.

Your indignation is misplaced and unwelcome.