jessegpresley
Member
- Joined
- Jun 23, 2009
- Messages
- 296
- Reaction score
- 33
I ordered a holster from Alessi on May 30th of this year and received it in the time quoted on the website. I'm sorry to hear about the troubles of others.
First of all, they have contract with the military, and I believe California Highway Patrol uses Alessi. They had to move locations. They are also a business in the Democratic People's Republic of New York. You think the Feds have paperwork and are a pain? You don't know New York. This state punishes people who try to start businesses. I am surprised the have not moved like everyone else in Buffalo. I knew Lou, I left NY years ago to get away from the Marxists who run the state. I have seen many people try to start businesses, and the state is hostile to anyone who may be able to take care of themselves. New York has the highest disability, unemployment and worker's comp insurance rates in the nation. I bet his business insurance is also high in a state run by ambulance chasing trial lawyer. Be happy they are still in business.
Still no excuse for not delivering a product in the time promised.
10 to 15 hours per week working with my assistant and building her skills...
Lefty, the oldflatfoot, hit every note on this one.
I take all orders via e-mail, responding to hundreds of inquiries every week. Each response includes an estimated production time so the customer knows what to expect.
Some customers are just like kids in the back seat on a long car trip (Are we there yet? When are we gonna get there? Are we there yet?). If I were to publish my phone number and take calls during the business day there would never be any time for production work.
11 holster designs, with or without 4 common options, in 4 finish colors, for 137 different handguns results in over 24,000 possible variations (not counting left-hand versions). I still get requests for others every day. Open-stock inventory for immediate delivery? Not possible.
Tell the customers 4 to 5 weeks for production, some of them will start sending follow-up inquiries at 2 to 3 weeks and continue at least twice each week until they receive their orders.
15 to 20 hours per week responding to e-mails, 25 to 30 hours at the bench, 10 to 15 hours per week working with my assistant and building her skills. 5 days off in the past 3 years, 2 in the hospital, 2 recovering from a recluse spider bite, and 1 single day fishing with a grandson. What fun!
Lou died in 2009 and there's no telling what might be going on there.
My input: I guess we all have our favorite holster maker(s), mine is located back in the woods of Alabama near Springville (Kenny Campbell--KC Custom Gunleather). KC has made me close to 20 holsters (counting the ones he is currently making) and I have about 6 more I need to order from him--could be more since I have my eye on three new additions to my collection (incidentally all of the new additions are made by S & W).
A little about Kenny, KC apprenticed under the infamous recluse (other peoples' words not mine), Thad Rbyka. Interestingly, KC does not have an Internet presence. He does business the old fashion way, word-of-mouth. You have to call or write him, or you could do what I do...get in the car and go see him at his place--he has some good stories to tell. I first heard of KC from Mr. Kenny Jordan who works at Shotgun Sports, HW 431 in Anniston, Alabama and he owns several of KC holsters. Since I have bought a lot of my firearms from Mr. Jordan, I take his advice readily and he was on the money about KC holsters. As stated earlier, I always travel to his place in the woods and work with him in his shop picking the leather and the design of the holster I want (picked up a holster just last week for a Walther PPS 9mm in pigskin--don't laugh--it is a heck of a good rig).
There are five Alessi apologists and/or cheerleaders in this thread who at present have exactly one post.
Just sayin'.![]()
There are five Alessi apologists and/or cheerleaders in this thread who at present have exactly one post.
Just sayin'.![]()
Perfectly fair reply, and gentlemanly, too.Valid point Hapworth, this was my first post. After all, a person has to start somewhere when joining a forum and I thought this would be a good place to do it since all of you seemed to be well informed about holsters and firearms just like me, so I thought I would add my two cents including my personal experience with Alessi Holsters with a nod to KC who has made most of my holsters (see the posting by db showing one of KC's holsters).
Hapworth, I concede that I have not gone as far into the process as you did--I have only ordered three holsters and discussed how and when payment would be made--I have not actually received the holsters. I did note that I would keep the forum members posted on the rest of the story. Trust me, if it turns out good or bad, I will let the forum know. All I wanted to do was share my viewpoint and an experience with you and that is all it was--my personal experience/opinion. OK, second post--thanks and have a good day.
Respectfully and with Best Regards,
Dock49
PS By-the-way, I like the moniker Hapworth--any literary connection to J.D. Salinger?