magentasmom on fri 5 apr 02
Valerie,
It is so true that you get what you pay for, including customer
service and a warranty. Let me explain....
I recently purchased a Brent C from a local ceramics supply store,
accually it was a wonderful Christmas gift from my husband. When I
used it there was a horrible thumping noise as the wheel rotated. I
called the store and was told to bring it back in and they would fix
it. An hour drive from me, but I complied. When I got it back the
thumping was softer but still there. Again I called, again I was told
to make the two hour trip(there and back). At this point, I didn't
want it fixed I wanted it replaced seeing that it was brand spanking
new. I called Brent and after a no more that 5 minute conversation
and not even going into much detail they shipped me another wheel.
They told me to try it until I was happy, give them a call and they
would send a truck to pick up the old one. Now this amazed me, they
were so quick to help and fix my problem, with no cost or
inconvinience to me, and I received my new wheel in three days, from
Indiana to South Fl.
So to make a long story longer,
you not only pay for the wheel but you pay for the company that
stands behind it.
Also, a side note, as far as amount of wheels manufactured compared
to refrigerators, when they sent me mine they said they "would be
making 12 on Friday and would ship me one of those" 12, only 12 and
not even 12 every day. Maybe 12 twice or three times a week. They
can't compare to maybe 500-1000 that a refrigerator factory puts out
in a day.
I would gladly buy a product from Brent again, they won a customer
for life.
Sorry so long...
Joanna
Dupre Mr Marcy M on fri 5 apr 02
To piggyback on what Valerie said, we, as a small group can demand the
quality we need for the jobs we do. Here's why.
There are nearly 300 million people in the United States. I don't know the
exact number of people who are in the ceramic arts as potters, but I am
certain there are no more than 500,000 altogether in the US. Figuring that
out, it comes to 0.16% (about 2/10ths of a percent) of us who need wheels,
kilns, slab rollers, ball mills, and all the chemicals for our craft. There
is a LOT of competition for our hard-earned dollars.
And we don't make all that much, either. Speaking for myself, I could not
possibly live on what I make as a potter right now. I could not afford to
feed myself, let alone pay a mortgage and utility costs.
We, as a group, have a tendency to watch every dollar we spend. Thus, we
want the best value we can get for our money. We prefer to buy a Bailey,
Brent, Lockerbie, Olympus, L&L, or other "name," as opposed to "Clay 'r'
US." Mainly because of experiences like Valerie's.
I have had horrible experiences in dealing with companies that sell cars,
refrigerators, and furniture. Because they sell so much of it, they don't
really care if they loose my business. But if one of the major pottery
equipment manufacturers gives me a hard time, and I post it on Clay Art,
they loose a LOT of business. And one percent of our potter's population is
a lot more by numbers than one percent of the general population.
It's always the money. They have to charge more because there is a small er
audience and a smaller demand. They want more business, so they provide
DYNAMITE customer relations and service. Then they get more business.
Simple.
Tig
Play Dirty!
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