Need some opinions

[skraly]

In Feb. I contacted a well known custom putter maker to make a putter for me. Over several emails we discussed what I was looking for and after some back and forth about specs and such he stated he could do what I wanted and quoted me a price, 1/2 up front and the balance on completion. On Feb. 19th I sent him a Paypal payment for 1/2 the total. The time for completion of the project was quoted as 4-6 wks. I waited 3-4 days but he never contacted me to confirm that he had received the payment. I emailed a couple of times and left a message on his cell phone but I heard no word from him. Finally after about another week he did contact me and apoligized and stated that he had been very busy but would be able to start on my project soon. Several more weeks went by and I heard no further word from him. Finally, at the end of March I tried contacting him again as I had been promised close contact and pics as the project progressed. On Apr 2nd he did send me two pics of a partially finished club head and promised more as the project neated completion. A couple of more wks go by and no further word is heard. We are now well past the 4-6 wks the project was supposed to take. I tried contacting him again but without results. Finally on Apr 19th he emailed and apoligized once again for runnig so long with the project. But he stated that the putter was almost finished and that he would send me final pics in a couple days for my approval. That was the last I have heard from him. I have emailed him with update request but no answer so far. I have contacted a couple of posters here who claim to know him and they state this behavior is not typical but I can only go by my experience. My question is, what now- just continue to wait? Something else. I am just not sure what my next action should be, if any.

[T-MAC]

I don't blame you for being upset. I would be too.
As far as what to do, I guess it would depend on how bad you want the putter. If you ask for your money back then you have to start from scratch with another putter maker and wait several more weeks / months.
If it were me, I would probably stick with the guy making the putter now but bring up the fact that the communication has been horrible and that he is well past the initial, agreed upon delivery date and ask for a discount. If he is a reputable putter maker, I think he would understand and grant your request - perhaps even offer it himself.

Good luck.

[skraly]

[quote name='skraly' timestamp='1432074885' post='11589126']
In Feb. I contacted a well known custom putter maker to make a putter for me. Over several emails we discussed what I was looking for and after some back and forth about specs and such he stated he could do what I wanted and quoted me a price, 1/2 up front and the balance on completion. On Feb. 19th I sent him a Paypal payment for 1/2 the total. The time for completion of the project was quoted as 4-6 wks. I waited 3-4 days but he never contacted me to confirm that he had received the payment. I emailed a couple of times and left a message on his cell phone but I heard no word from him. Finally after about another week he did contact me and apoligized and stated that he had been very busy but would be able to start on my project soon. Several more weeks went by and I heard no further word from him. Finally, at the end of March I tried contacting him again as I had been promised close contact and pics as the project progressed. On Apr 2nd he did send me two pics of a partially finished club head and promised more as the project neated completion. A couple of more wks go by and no further word is heard. We are now well past the 4-6 wks the project was supposed to take. I tried contacting him again but without results. Finally on Apr 19th he emailed and apoligized once again for runnig so long with the project. But he stated that the putter was almost finished and that he would send me final pics in a couple days for my approval. That was the last I have heard from him. I have emailed him with update request but no answer so far. I have contacted a couple of posters here who claim to know him and they state this behavior is not typical but I can only go by my experience. My question is, what now- just continue to wait? Something else. I am just not sure what my next action should be, if any.
[/quote]
Interestingly, the person I had contracted with to make this putter contacted me today after seeing this post and recognizing himself. He was quite apoligetic about being so late with the project. He sent me pics of the nearly finished head and it looks great. All that is left is the plating and shaft instillation. It is a LH version of a George Low Wizard 600 if anyone is interested. This is the putter that Nicklaus used in most of his wins and was never made in LH as far as I know. This one has a few tweaks to arrive at a head weight of 340 gms. He very kindly offered to finish the putter for what I had already paid which was 1/2 the agreed price. I felt that was too much of a penalty as these special, one-off, projects can take longer than anticipated. I told him to send me a final bill for what he deemed a fair amount. I also gave him some gentle feedback on his communication skills. I want to make it clear that at no point did I feel in danger of being ripped off or scammed in any way. It was just that his lack of communication was very frustrating. He has many people who vouch for his integrity and skill as a putter maker. I have never run a small business single handed. I am sure it can get very hectic. But communication with your customers is of the utmost importance. Even if you have to give them the bad news that it is taking a lot longer to finish the profect that originally anticipated.

[BogeyDog11]

[quote name='FairwaySheriff' timestamp='1432076061' post='11589240']
It's been 3 months since you worked the deal. If you're tired of waiting and not getting any response, get your money back and move on. There are plenty of custom putter makers
[/quote]

I'd tell him to keep the putter and demand a refund. It would even be better if the maker would nut up here and say who he is.

[RSinSG]

Another reason to be active on this site.

[golfluvzme]

[quote name='BogeyDog11' timestamp='1432344245' post='11611312']
[quote name='FairwaySheriff' timestamp='1432076061' post='11589240']
It's been 3 months since you worked the deal. If you're tired of waiting and not getting any response, get your money back and move on. There are plenty of custom putter makers
[/quote]

I'd tell him to keep the putter and demand a refund. It would even be better if the maker would nut up here and say who he is.
[/quote]

Really, BogeyDog? I was unaware that "nutting up" was required. SKraly chose not to use my name in the post and I appreciated that.
LaMont in AZ
MannKrafted Kustom Milled Putters and Designs

[Mitchell]

Seems from reading post that Lamont may have been a bit overwhelmed and unintentionally dropped the ball a bit on communication. Being a person of integrity, he recognized a problem and has taken steps to make sure his customer is happy with resolution, offering negative commentary is neither productive nor courteous to parties involved in miscommunication.