Engraving backlog

[dclevinger]

I was wondering how some of you folks handle a backlog of work. When I worked as a gunsmith, we had to have the gun in the shop before it could go into the que. This meant that sometimes guns would just sit for months before being worked on. Do most of you use this same method or do you keep a running list and contact the client a short time before you would be ready to begin their project. Thanks for your input. David

 

[fegarex]

David,
I get a "booking deposit", usually 10% and try not to have the gun around until I need it. It doesn't work in all cases and sometimes if the customer is not in a hurry I will have some to "work in" between jobs or if I get frustrated on one I am doing. The deposit helps keep the time slot and the customer interested.

 

[BrianPowley]

If a client doesn't want to send their gun right away, I tell them that I'll put their name and ph. no. in my work book and assign it a work number just like anything else that comes in the door. When their name approaches the top, I give them a call and they have one week to put the gun in my hands or they get taken off the list. Once off the list and their gun does show up, it goes in rotation and it gets done when it gets done.

I always seem to have plenty of things to do, but Rex's "booking deposit" sounds like one of those things that make you go Hmmmmmmmmmm.

I like the idea, Rex........where did ya get that one?

 

[ron p. nott]

I ask for there gun and put it on my bench in line with others with a work order , when Iam ready to start it I call them and request 30% deposit .. ron p.

 

[fegarex]

Brian,
I can't take credit for this. I think I got it from my "Reno roomie". Some fellow named Rabeno... That was back before he lived in Colorado and had that "East Coast" mentality...

 

[BrianPowley]

Rex,
Looks like that East Coast mentality got him a decent retirement package (at such a young age,too) and the real estate savvy to invest in beautiful Durango, Colorado.

I guess when you got it, you got it, huh?

Some guys just have all the luck.....

 

[BrianPowley]

Ron, I like your 30% deposit idea also.
That has to help in the cash outlay for the gold/platinum wire.
Sounds like good business sense.

 

[Ken Hurst]

Brian, I ask for and get 50% deposit when I start the work. I never accept any money until I start a kob. The reason being that if I should have a bad accident/illness, I would still need to pay them back & we all know how easy it would be to use the money to pay med. or living expenses during a long term set back. Well ----- this works well for me. Ken

 

[Andrew Biggs]

And don't forget that Marty has the good looks too!!!!!!!!!!

 

[BrianPowley]

Ken, excellent advice and a very sensible business practice.

I never took deposits on complete guns, because the gun was the deposit---in my opinion----but what I'm reading here is making me re-think some things. (Like illness', etc.,etc.)

I hope there are a lot of people "out there" listening to the experience that's being offered up.
Thanks.

And Andrew: Like I said in a previous post...."Some guys just have all the luck."

 

[fegarex]

Its easy to pick on Marty right now because he is teaching at Trinidad and can't reply!!!
Ken, that is a good point as well. Usually there is enough backlog that if someone doesn't show there is another job to do but for those beginning it gives some security that there is future work. Your system sounds good too.

 

[dclevinger]

Thanks for all the great responses guys. Hopefully, more people will post their ideas as well. Rex, Marty needs to be picked on once in a while. That way he knows we still like him. David

 

[Weldon47]

David,

As for me, I don't do a high volume of work anymore and most if not all of that is either for long time clients or by referral through them. It has been my practice to get paid 100% only after I have completed the work. I have quite a backlog and prefer to place the clients name on my calendar and contact them when I'm ready to begin the work so that I'm not holding onto their item for an extended length of time. Also, before taking a project I quote a realistic time frame for (1) me to be able to get to the work and (2) a realistic time frame for the work to be completed once I am able to begin. I'm usually pretty close on the estimate but my clientèle understand that it's a hand process and sometimes things change! I will also try to work in small jobs while I'm working on the big projects; it kind of helps to break up the monotony during the long haul of those big jobs.
However, I do like the sound of taking a deposit but as of yet have not done so. One reason for me personally is that my wife would have a difficult enough time getting what I have on hand back to its rightful owner without having to be concerned with refunding money as well (if something were to happen to me).

Weldon

 

[FANCYGUN]

OK guys.......this is what I do. I reguire a $500 deposit that is non refundable. The reason I do this is to keep my schedule organized and try to eliminate people who want to be put on a waiting list and then back out. This totally screwing up your work load order and even turning away new clients because your backlog is too long. Of course there are always very good legitimate reasons why a good client will have to post pone or back out of a engraving job. I tell them that they will always have that deposit on credit for whatever or whenever they are ready to have something done. Yes i have also refunded the money in some instances. Must be the NY attitude that made me do this but I have found it does help to keep everyone and everything on an even keel.

 

[FANCYGUN]

Oh yes..I also do not want the responsibility of keeping a clients gun longer than I need to so I call them to send me the gun when it is their turn.

 

[FANCYGUN]

Thanks guys..it's nice to be missed