Bell Charter Oak Holsters
Member
- Joined
- May 16, 2005
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- 1,880
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To My Fellow Forum Members & Valued Clients;
In light of unprecedented order volume during the past few months, we have been forced to a minimum of 10 weeks turnaround. For this I extend my apologies and this explanation.
For decades, I've been able to deliver in 6 weeks. By the end of December 2008, it became 8 weeks minimum and that was a real struggle to meet despite long hours and working 6 days a week. We were compelled to drop our entire line of accessories and reduce our belt selections, as well as several holster models just to slow down the orders. I have never welched on a promised delivery time, not ever that I remember. If I did it was unavoidable (because of a heart attack) and never deliberate. I also will not comprimise the quality of our products by rushing the process. I have been repeatedly offered additional fees to "expedite" orders and will refuse them because it's unfair to the guy whose been waiting for 2 months. The only orders I have ever given special priority has been to servicemen being deployed, and I never charged them a cent more. I did those on my own time and after hours.
There have been a number of custom makers recently, who claim they make 25 or 30 holsters a week and can have them delivered within a week. It takes no less than 3 days from start to finish for nearly every holster I craft. 1 day to hand cut leather, layout, edge and dye. 1 day to burnish, stitch and wet case. 1 day to dry, hand finish and set hardware, if applicable. Generally, I work on runs of 6 to 8 orders at once. So I'm skeptical about their claims, unless they have several helpers, a secret formula or some other mojo going on that I'm unaware of. If they can deliver in a week, they musn't be very busy.
In the past several months, we have been deluged with orders but, also getting calls and emails from folks whose first question has been "what is your turnaround time?" Well, other well known makers are at 4 and 5 months, others at over a year. I won't name them, but many of you guys know who they are. I have customers calling and telling me they are waiting months for ammunition and reloading components and guns. We're all aware of the current political climate, the economy and what it's impact has been in recent months.
I truly regret the incovenience to my clients, especially the many friends I've come to know from this forum. I just wanted you to know that "I'm dancing as fast as I can, on one leg" this isn't a complaint, but rather I thought you deserved an explanation. Thanks for your patronage and patience.
Edited to add;
I don't participate in many other forums although many of our clients do. If you want to mentions or pass this along elsewhere, it's ok with me.
In light of unprecedented order volume during the past few months, we have been forced to a minimum of 10 weeks turnaround. For this I extend my apologies and this explanation.
For decades, I've been able to deliver in 6 weeks. By the end of December 2008, it became 8 weeks minimum and that was a real struggle to meet despite long hours and working 6 days a week. We were compelled to drop our entire line of accessories and reduce our belt selections, as well as several holster models just to slow down the orders. I have never welched on a promised delivery time, not ever that I remember. If I did it was unavoidable (because of a heart attack) and never deliberate. I also will not comprimise the quality of our products by rushing the process. I have been repeatedly offered additional fees to "expedite" orders and will refuse them because it's unfair to the guy whose been waiting for 2 months. The only orders I have ever given special priority has been to servicemen being deployed, and I never charged them a cent more. I did those on my own time and after hours.
There have been a number of custom makers recently, who claim they make 25 or 30 holsters a week and can have them delivered within a week. It takes no less than 3 days from start to finish for nearly every holster I craft. 1 day to hand cut leather, layout, edge and dye. 1 day to burnish, stitch and wet case. 1 day to dry, hand finish and set hardware, if applicable. Generally, I work on runs of 6 to 8 orders at once. So I'm skeptical about their claims, unless they have several helpers, a secret formula or some other mojo going on that I'm unaware of. If they can deliver in a week, they musn't be very busy.
In the past several months, we have been deluged with orders but, also getting calls and emails from folks whose first question has been "what is your turnaround time?" Well, other well known makers are at 4 and 5 months, others at over a year. I won't name them, but many of you guys know who they are. I have customers calling and telling me they are waiting months for ammunition and reloading components and guns. We're all aware of the current political climate, the economy and what it's impact has been in recent months.
I truly regret the incovenience to my clients, especially the many friends I've come to know from this forum. I just wanted you to know that "I'm dancing as fast as I can, on one leg" this isn't a complaint, but rather I thought you deserved an explanation. Thanks for your patronage and patience.
Edited to add;
I don't participate in many other forums although many of our clients do. If you want to mentions or pass this along elsewhere, it's ok with me.
