Anyone seen the doctor?

^

I second this.

I've dealt with Tom in person a few times and I wouldn't hesitate to do it again. Maybe he's a victim of his own success or maybe the business side isn't his strong point. I don't owe him anything but every impression I've gotten from him is that he's a solid guy.
 
I'm sure thomas is very good at what he does, Its not knowing whats going on that bothers most people. I was told my rifle was shipping off 3 weeks ago. Not only did i not receive it, I couldnt reach him to find out what the problem was. Thankfully he took the time last night to explain the situation.
 
you rifle once assembled is short stroking badly, that welding that was done elsewhere may have tweaked your gas system, I am taking her out tomorrow with a box full of chinese pistons to see if i can get her to function reliably
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f:P:2: damn, it was workin fine before though
I don't think I have sent you alot of emails compared to others here (3 actually since you've had it) but since I hear that, I'll have to wait quietly :)
 
Hey, well, I kinda feel like I created a monster. I would rather wait then pay 500 bucks for a less then steller product. I would like to say that I did not start this tread to get bad info about the GOOD doctor'. It was just a "public" shout out to see if anyone has heard from him, as I had not. I did not know him as well as others on CGN do, so I thought this would be a good way to stay in the loop. It was dissapointing to see things take a turn for the worst as it was some what exciting to log on and see who else is waiting for a product, and excited to get there hands on it. I believe that nothing beats word of mouth advertising. The internet is just that. I read up on him and his product, talked to him a few times and then decided it was a good deal, and went for it. I dont regreat it...I just wanna fondle my damn stock lol. Cheers to the doc guys...and if you cant say somthing good, say nothing ;)
 
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oh, and, Tom, by the sounds of it you are lucky enough to actualy life in the middle of no where. Its a good move having a dealer handle the sale's of your products. Takes stress and pressure off of you, and lets you get to work. Im sorry that this thread put you in a situation where you had to defend yourself. I grew up in a wee' lill' town where the phone and hydro would go out at the thought of high winds.
 
Matt308 said:
oh, and, Tom, by the sounds of it you are lucky enough to actualy life in the middle of no where. Its a good move having a dealer handle the sale's of your products. Takes stress and pressure off of you, and lets you get to work. Im sorry that this thread put you in a situation where you had to defend yourself. I grew up in a wee' lill' town where the phone and hydro would go out at the thought of high winds.
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i have many failures and some of them are trying to balance communicating with clients and those just asking me questions non business related , via massive internet time each day. Running the "office" to ensure orders are processed, payments collected, boxing and wrapping for shipping, ect ect
then there is the actual work.....
I did bring an "employee" with me when i moved, to have a helper with building stocks, but let's just say..... he did not work out and was sent on his merry way. This also has contributed to delays on stocks as Bruce was to look after the stock production while I tuned and tweaked rifles. Anyhow, he did not work out and is down the road so I'm doing it all.

I'm not entirely in boonie land (google earth search my postal code V0K 1M0..... but off the grid enough that the promised high speed won't be here till maybe spring..... the move was for my health primarily , cleaner air and the air pressure due to elevation here is such that I am not suffering pain 24/7 from injuries in the steel trade a decade ago. Smart move for my business? shop space at home is affordable here and not so on the coast. however there are challenges i did not factor in such as weather and it's affect on phone and power lines..... we have had a lot of blow downs in the past months and I'm hearing winter will be a doozy this year.

anyhow, long and short, customers expecting things and not getting them within my approximated turn around times has been and still is an issue that i must face as a business and do what i can to minimize this. There are a few clients over the past couple years that have obvious issues with this and rightfully so, no one wants to wait for the stuff they spend thier hard earned cash on.

So, with that, I'll leave this thread and for those waiting for replies to emails and p.m.'s I'm getting thru them all as fast as i can.
for those who's work was booked with quoted late november due dates, i should not have any problem delivering before month's end and those will be the last of the work on my plate.
 
Matt308 said:
Thomas, just curious, why are you "closing up shop"for a while?
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I'm having an electrician come in and run a dedicated 600 amp service line with 3 phase into my two basement shop rooms, sometime in december. I also need to take some time off having been pounding at it since april.
I have also developed a new stock that is being kept tightly under wraps and want to spend a couple months doing stock production only so as to build up a significant inventory. The U.S. market we are tapping into is going to mean meeting a huge demand for the products I will be releasing in 2011.

and with the current delays folks are experiencing with work on my bench, it's not fair for me to continue to pile on new work untill my current work load is met.
but mostly, I just need some time off hehehe, it will be a longgggg winter up here , plenty of time to get things rolling along a little smoother ;)
 
Dont worry, some people need to chill and understand what custom work is. Nothing to it. Quality work takes time. I been in the automotive business and I am sick my self from all the foolish customers who think building a custom car takes 2 weeks. No idea how much time it takes to iron out the details. Those customers who do not understand do not deserve your work. I would not deal with them.
 
10-4teckstor. I work in the heavy equip repair trade, same bs as well. We also do custom stuff and big effin repairs. Some people just dont understand that quality work takes time. anyone can throw somthing togeather.
Thomas- I look forward to your doors opening up again. After stomping through the thick brush during moose season, I think i could lose a few inch's off my barrel lol.
 
treckstor,

Has nothing to do with not understanding what custom work is. Its about keeping the paying customer informed on the progress of said custom work. especialy when advertised turn around time is not even close. if I would have been told when and why my rifle was taking more time to finish I probably wouldnt even have posted here or complained. And obviously you would last very long in business for yourself with that retarded attitude.
 
We turn down customers some times....and we are going strong. some times the money is not worth the hassle and the bad publicity from an idiot customer. some times, a simple no is cheeper.
 
trekstor said:
Dont worry, some people need to chill and understand what custom work is. Nothing to it. Quality work takes time. I been in the automotive business and I am sick my self from all the foolish customers who think building a custom car takes 2 weeks. No idea how much time it takes to iron out the details. Those customers who do not understand do not deserve your work. I would not deal with them.
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You said it right. There's a reason I don't do any work on other folks' M14's and M1 Garands. :D Mike Holmes did everyone (including me) a bad favor... that's giving us the impression that custom work is performed in 48 minutes (show time including time for the adverts). My wife says, "Mike Holmes can finish a 1200 square foot basement in 1 hour. Why can't I do it in say....4 hours ??"

I've been a Mod on this board from the very beginning (Thanks for the confidence, Greentips) in 2002. I've observed the kind of community we have built not only in the MBR Forum but all over. I've known Tom way back when he was 45ACPKING and before he was M14Doctor. He is a standup guy. He means super well. He does follow through even when the odds are stacked against him. He will deliver. He is innovative and sensitive to the needs of the M14 addicts! Like anything of quality... BMW ad campaign said it best many years ago: What is worth waiting for is worth waiting for.

Many board sponsors are also this way. I've bought / supported Clay Smiley of Prophet River in SK. I've sought advice and product (just bought an STI Spartan 9mm Single stack) from Gunnar at ARMCO. These fellas are small business operators and they intend to carry out their very best. They are in demand from all directions and often I have to remind myself to give them slack (time and space) so that they can work their magic.

I mean magic in terms of their talents, their businesses, and their passion and that is to build the business and our community. A win-win situation.

Yeah, it's a PITA to wait and often not hear from them. No doubt it's disappointing to see yer hard earned cash tied up. These guys mean well and because we all go back many years, I rest (sometimes impatiently) comfortably knowing that they will deliver!

So let them work their craft!! :ar15:

Hey, Tom.... I am a displaced BC boy stuck in Ontario... need some help out there? yuk yuk yuk :evil:

:cheers: all!

Barney
 
Barney you always amaze me with youir insight an positive attitude and I couldnt agree with you more.Ive had a few dealings with Tom and always things work out in the end hes a super man an doing the rest of us a great favor with his bussiness ventures even with the few hiccups that have happened to him.What more can a guy ask for but our support in a field that we all love.Keep up the good work tom an Ill always deal with ya!
Cheers
Buckaroo
 
Anybody in business for himself should embrace constructive criticism or negative feedback as a way of growing and improving. Anybody taking it personal and not using it properly will fail.

Having said that, Thomas has taken the time to explain the situation in a professional and curteous matter. He even gave me his phone number in case I wanted to discuss the situation further. I am very satisfied and any concerns I had are now gone.

Thank you Nuff said
 
I have had my own business as a builder / carpenter for years now. It is tough. Doing the actual work and dealing with clients is brutal and at times counter productive. I realized a long time ago I had to make a choice. Concentrate on building a business based on customer service and hire others to do all the work. This option greatly reduces quality for a small business and a ton of putting out fires. Or I could let customer service suffer and concentrate on doing a stellar quality job on everything, even if it takes longer. Sure the consumer gets pissed in the short term, but the quality stays for years to come. Most of the time my clients understand I will do the job well for the price I quoted but I may take longer than I thought or start the job latter than I thought. Some times they do not understand and ##### a steady tune.

Most people work for others and fail to understand how a business can take over all aspects of the owners life. It is hard to understand when calls and emails aren't returned for days or ever. I am as guilty as m14 doctor in my business. I must work on informing customers better that you will get want you want at MY CONVIENACE not yours.

My point to all this drivel is I understand both sides, and I hope the good doc will work on my stuff when I need upgrades :p :D
 
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Hungry said:
Hey, Tom.... I am a displaced BC boy stuck in Ontario... need some help out there? yuk yuk yuk :evil:

:cheers: all!

Barney
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seriously? hehehe are you looking to relocate back to B.C. ?
geebus, the two of us could build an M14 empire LOL
you'd have to email or call me to discuss that idea :D

and thankyou as well for your words of support, much appreciated.
I don't feel I truly have earned the support from folks at this point, well with my work quality I suppose but not my "business end", not very happy with myself about that, but what has been posted and the p.m.'s and emails i have gotten over the past week, definately give me incentive to carry on ;)
It is going to take that step to having employees to really get things rolling.
I am in discussions with a machinist friend who may just end up moving up here and setting up shop downstairs..... maybe... we'll see

________________
Now, as a general announcement:

for anyone else who has work in with me, or a stock on order, that was sent in BEFORE the end of SEPT 15, if you have not yet had an email or p.m. response, PLEASE P.M. me if I have missed you.
anyone with work in that was sent AFTER SEPT 15, I am on schedule to deliver by end of november barring any parts related issues with your particular build (you will be notified)
 
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