What to Tell the Customer

[oldhudson]

So, in general, if you are working on a commission and you make a mistake ...

a. do tell the customer and offer a discount

b. tell the customer but don't offer any change in price

c. Don't tell the customer and wait to see if they notice what's happened

d. something else.

 

See my query under Other Woodworks for the problem detail

 

Thanks for reading.

[Scrolling Steve]

Berry that is a tough spot to be in.......I would go with option A......Tell the customer and offer a small discount !......Most people are very understanding.

[rjR]

I go with Steve's idea!

 

It probably is just a small error that will not matter to them anyway! This way you keep the faith and the customer will be happy to recommend you and your ork to others!

[lawson56]

Yea I always go with A.I have found over the years that it keeps them coming back.Being Honest

[Fab4]

Hi Berry:

Honesty is the best policy.

Show them and wait for their reaction.

If they say it's no big deal then there is no need to offer a discount.

If they look at you like they want to hang you, then yes offer them a huge discount...lol

I go with A.

Whatever you decide, if you can sleep at night with that decision then go with it.

Fab4

[LarryEA]

'A' 

Maybe consider making a second one, depending on complexity.

[oldhudson]

'A' 

Maybe consider making a second one, depending on complexity.

I'm not making another one. It took LOTS longer than I estimated and it was boring. In fact it was the most boring cabinet I've ever worked on.

[oldhudson]

I appreciate the feedback and I think I'm seeing a pattern here. Thanks you one and all.

[dansnow]

I vote for A 

[amazingkevin]

Accidents happen to anybody,Honesty is the best policy.

[Phantom Scroller]

You could distress the rest of it and say it's a new look.  I'm not helping much am I   Roly

[merlin]

A

[oldhudson]

Thanks to the sage advice, I e-mailed the client last night. (see note in italics) 

 

Just as I said I was cruising along with the unit, it's all assembled. In the finally sanding Sunday, using a fine grit sanding disk, somehow I 'blew' through the veneer. See pic. The blemish is about 1.25" long by .5" wide on the outside right near the middle. It's directly in line with the brace that will support the TV mount.I can certainly cut it out and install a patch, but I'll need a couple more days. I have my weekly volunteer duties tomorrow but I can work on it Wednesday and Thursday. Sorry.  You have not idea how bummed out I am.

 

He replied later that I shouldn't worry about it, the blemish will be hidden by a stereo speaker. WOW I'm so relived!

 

Thanks again to the fine people of SSV.

[ike]

A

[wombatie]

Honesty is always the best policy.

 

Marg

[spirithorse]

I'm glad you don't have to fix this one but, if you are going to experiment on how a repair could have been done,

perhaps you could just use some wood putty and then stain and sand that down flush or make your own

wood putty with saw-dust and glue. In fact, I think if you just put wood glue over the area and then sand that

down with-out any wood dust or anything, it would still look fine.

 

Let us all know if you do any experiments. A tip on a repair like that should definitely be in the tips and tricks area

of this forum!

God Bless! Spirithorse