Re: Pete Roedale - Roedale Precision PLEASE READ
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SurgeonPredator</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BasraBoy</div><div class="ubbcode-body">This is about patience and persistence.
Pete has been called out on the Hide by a fair few people in recent weeks.
IMHO, when that has happened, he has always provided a fair reply and used the experience to learn where he can improve his business and the service he provides.
I know he has been away from his office in the past few days as I have also been trying to contact him.
Maybe I'm just lucky, but I spoke to him this morning and checked over a few open points on my build.
As others have pointed out, Pete has a great reputation and demand for his services and products are high.
Craftsmanship is by it's very nature a personal and time-consuming art.
The bottom line with any small enterprise is always resourcing.
There is always going to be a potential conflict between high-quality and speed of delivery.
I am guessing that Pete will manufacture items like his bipod or moderators in batches - so stock may or may not be available at short notice depending on what quantity each build run is and where he is in the production cycle.
Inventory management is also a critical issue - no-one wants to have cash-flow tied up in massive stocks that may have a slow turnaround.
Even things such as a post here on the Hide in praise of the bipods or moderators could quickly affect stock levels and result in what seemed like a decent level of stock suddenly being quickly allocated and a shortfall occuring.
We're not talking about major corporations when discussing these gunsmiths - we're not even talking business on a scale of Brownells, Midway or Cabela's!
In my business we always make it clear that the products we produce are custom products and, if an item is not in stock a lead time may be involved. We always try to specify a maximum wait period when this is the case. That is not always possible in an e-commerce environment but is relatively simple to advise with a simple order confirmation/follow-up email on an individual basis. I am sure Pete would be able to offer the same (if he doesn't already?).
For those who are able/prepared to wait for a custom rifle from a particular smith - whether it is Roedale or any of the other guys who are popular here - the wait is worthwhile.
I know from my own experience of two other builds that these things are rarely quick. Both took around 18 months.
For those who believe this is just a "European thing" and the US smiths are unassailable paragons of customer service virtue with faster-than-light delivery times, one of these was from a <span style="text-decoration: underline">very</span> well-known US smith.
But both rifles more than made up for the frustration and impatience of the wait!
Please - give the guy a break!
If you want something yesterday - maybe a custom solution from a small craftsman-based business is not what you need? </div></div>
Hear, hear!
Pete even stopped his one-of-a-kind rifle making to speed up delivery times for the semi-custom stuff.
If I had no personal experience with Pete, I would think he's a con just by reading the negative comments/threads on several forums. But with the insight from my own order history, I can tell you that he is the last person responsible for the delays. And he is a honest, straight-forward guy, working his arse off to satisfy the needs of the euopean (and international) market...some guys would throw stones at me for saying that, but those are the impatient and the ignorant.
I was pissed, too...but not because Pete let me down, 'twas because we both were let down by the suppliers and Lady Luck...leading to a delivery time of 3 years...
Maybe he is not the fastest gunsmith if it comes to shipping, it sometimes seem like he is getting sloppy, but in the end everything shipped and was as expected. That's the conclusion for most threads on forums like this.
The communication is a different story. It is indeed a PITA to get him on the phone or receive an email answer... on the other hand, most guys are calling/mailing to ask unecessary questions so he can't answer those that are important.
His phone won't give an engaged signal, even if he is already speaking to someone, which should be solved for his own good.
That way customers will know if he is busy on the phone or not picking up, because he is working...
Pete is lacking the manpower to speed up/solve all the issues he currently has. He could need a call center and logistics agency just for his own business...but Roedale is not HK or AI...
There is a german saying: "Gut Ding will Weile haben", roughly translates to "Haste makes waste". If you order custom, you *should* know what you have to expect. Even for "in stock" items.
My two cents... </div></div>
I can only support the above!
On top of everything Pete has some problems in his private life at the moment that needs his attantion as well. They guy is working his ass off, give him some slack.
We all have ups and down in life and Pete is having some bad things happening to him lately. We are all human and for a small company like he has that will work thrue on his business.
Pete, take care mate!
