how many times do any of you experience the customer that wants a custom rod with a custom weave on it and several other things till you give them the price then it is alligator arms and deep pockets and they try to cut a deal for the build and that doesn't cover the parts!! let alone the time to do the weave!!
I tell them to go to mudhole and buy the parts and glue, finish, threads and bring it to me and I will build it for them @ 25.00 per hour with that they get all nasty and say they can get a rod at walmart for 35.00 that is just as good on their way out the door all I can do is roll on the floor laughing my butt off

The best day to be alive is always tomorrow !!
Think out side the box when all else fails !!!
Wi.

At some point you'll figure out that not every fisherman is a potential customer for a custom rod. In fact, probably less than 1% are. The successful custom builders target that market and leave the rest alone.

.................

Yes I know that I don't look for them they seek me out they just have no clue

The best day to be alive is always tomorrow !!
Think out side the box when all else fails !!!
Wi.

It's not an easy business. Don't ever sell yourself short. You can't lose sleep, money, or reputation on a build you don't agree to. The only customer I find is harder to deal with is the one that want a "super rod". They'll spend money but they want one rod to catch all fish with any reel and any weight lure. Like a surfbottomfly rod...lol

Matthew,
Don’t feel rained on! I look at Tom’s view from a different perspective. All fishermen are perspective custom rod customers but 99% are more ignorant that the others. We just cannot allow ourselves to be insulted by ignorance!

Mark Talmo
FISHING IS NOT AN ESCAPE FROM LIFE BUT RATHER A DEEPER IMMERSION INTO IT!!! BUILDING YOUR OWN SIMPLY ENHANCES THE EXPERIENCE.

I have found at times that the customers that can afford it, don't want to pay it. My best customers have always been those that find a way to pay it,even if they sacrifice something else and maybe make payments. They get my skills worth for their money and my time. And maybe then some...

God bless those of you for whom this is not a hobby.

I tell them very early on, that if you are shopping for price, you are at the wrong place! You can get a rod that will catch fish at Walmart, it won't be as good as the ones i make. If they are still interested, I ask them what their budget is, how much they are willing to spend, if it too low I tell them I won't do it.

As I only build fly rods I am not dealing with the complexity of fancy wraps, I do however build custom turned exotic grips which can be quite expensive. Bottom line I give them the price I will do it for, no less.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/12/2017 04:47PM by Phil Erickson.

I don't feel rained on or bad about it it has been that way for all of us from the beginning it just is at this point all I can do is laugh after of having it happen several times over the past 54 years of building.
My best customers are the ones that have a brain when it comes to what the rod actually does it isn't just a show piece but above average functionality I have had them from all walks of life and most are just middle class sportsman that love to fish.
a few of the 1% people and yes they are cheap smacks most of the time

The best day to be alive is always tomorrow !!
Think out side the box when all else fails !!!
Wi.

Matt, That guy can get a better rod at Walmart for $35 because "you get what you pay for". I couldn't build him a rod for $35. As a matter of fact I would tell him he could do better if he went to one of the fisherman's flea markets that is now happening on every weekend here in NJ.

Dennis J. Danku
(Sayreville,NJ)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/11/2017 09:32PM by Dennis Danku.

Hey, where do you get them surfbottomfly rods? Gotta have one! I got $35.00 to spend!!!!!

Mark Talmo
FISHING IS NOT AN ESCAPE FROM LIFE BUT RATHER A DEEPER IMMERSION INTO IT!!! BUILDING YOUR OWN SIMPLY ENHANCES THE EXPERIENCE.

No replies? OK, I’ll up the ante to $45.00 for a surfbottomfly blank!!!

Mark Talmo
FISHING IS NOT AN ESCAPE FROM LIFE BUT RATHER A DEEPER IMMERSION INTO IT!!! BUILDING YOUR OWN SIMPLY ENHANCES THE EXPERIENCE.

Add a zero to that 45 and I'll ship it to you. No refunds on specialized "super rods". You want snake or single foot guides?

Michael, you crack me up!

Mark Talmo
FISHING IS NOT AN ESCAPE FROM LIFE BUT RATHER A DEEPER IMMERSION INTO IT!!! BUILDING YOUR OWN SIMPLY ENHANCES THE EXPERIENCE.