Hello Everyone!!

Long story short.. I ordered a custom bow in Jan.
Received one that was a bit of a lemon in June (scheduled for April, was cutting string, Tillered wrong etc)

Bowyer built another ( wouldn't refund )
Supposed to be done mid July.
Is nice enough to send me the bow to "test" before he finishes it...Why not he won't be back from a family trouble trip till Aug 19th.

Anyway, What would you say if you asked for a grip like this and sent these pics to the bowyer to copy...
       

       

       

       

And the bowyer sent you these next pics as a preview of what's in the mail......

       

       

       

Now I'll try it with an open mind.
But jeesh, I specifically told the guy I didn't want the extra layer on the back and the thickness of the throat of the grip from back to belly was important...That's why I put in dimensions.

Normally I'd be a little more quick to refuse.
But trying to get this guy to do anything like I ask seems to be like                    
In all fairness I knew that the front of the grip would have to be different on the new bow just because of the inherent differences between the riser styles of the two bows. But I KNOW it didn't need the extra layer on the back since he sells the bow without and charges more to put them on. Bowyer told me he took "artistic license with it. " And said " The riser is SPOT ON to the pics you sent. It was the hardest build I think I have ever done – bar none."

Anyway what are your thoughts???

Thank you!

By the way.. The first bow with the sights isn't mine lol. It's my buddy's and I just like the grip.

Two thoughts:

1.) You should get what you asked (and therefore paid) for.

2.) You have to be a little flexible with a bowyer and see if they have a valid reason for departing from what you said. BUT! They should run it by you first.

Just my two buckskins...

you should get what you paid for.if the guy couldn't do it or it was a bad idea,he should of been upfront with you.he can always refuse to do it,if he thinks it's a bad idea.bows cost alot of money and i think you should be happy with what you paid for.hope it all works out for you,steve

That's a pretty distinctive looking riser.  Is that a "standard" model for this bowyer?  If it is, then asking for 'your' grip on that style of bow may be a bit of a stretch... On the other hand, if the bowyer had the information up front on what you wanted, and said he could do it, then you are definately NOT getting what you paid for.

No offense to you OR the bowyer, but was your grip request made and agreed upon before the bow was started?

QuoteOriginally posted by Curtis Haden:

No offense to you OR the bowyer, but was your grip request made and agreed upon before the bow was started?

For the first bow, I sent a photoshoped pic of one of his bows shown below
I sent this pic before work was started.
 

And this is what I received the first time around...
 


When he told me he would build another I took pics of a bow that had a grip I liked and put dimensions on the pics so he could have a better idea of what I was looking for.
Once he got the pics we talked. He said "No Prob"

Refuse the bow & sue for your money to be refunded.

Sorry to sound harsh, but knowing this particular 'bowyer's' reputation & after reading the many threads on here about his complete & utter lack of skill, communication, customer service & ability to do anything he promises, I honestly think it'll be the only way you'll ever be 100% satisfied.

Anyone who knew his craft would be able to pull off the riser you requested, especially with all the pictures you sent.  For you to get a riser that wasn't to your liking at first and then have you go through it again - especially after his "no prob" guarantee - is ridiculous!  I'm leaning towards Rob's advice.

(PS: I'm shopping around for bows right now.  Can someone PM the name of this bowyer so I know to avoid them?)

It's funny.
After he started he admitted that it was harder than he thought it would be.

Said that grip design I wanted was "really Radical"

It's a Martin Rebel for gosh sakes!!!

After reading more, I think my first point is the only valid one:

You should get what you asked and paid for. If not, your money should be refunded.

id be demanding a refund !!! and if not , small claims court is the unfortunately the way to go.

my two cents if you cant/ wont do the job required than dont take on the job . his buit about hoow hard it was sound s like bs to me you provided demensions there is no reason for them not to be followed . if the socalled boyer wasnt comfortable with them than he should have said that from the start.

my 2 cents.  

Can someone please PM me the guys name so I can put him in my book of "DON'T USE THEM".
Thank you for your time.

QuoteOriginally posted by robtattoo:
Refuse the bow & sue for your money to be refunded.

Sorry to sound harsh, but knowing this particular 'bowyer's' reputation & after reading the many threads on here about his complete & utter lack of skill, communication, customer service & ability to do anything he promises, I honestly think it'll be the only way you'll ever be 100% satisfied.

What Rob said!

From what I`ve seen in other places you are in a near hopeless situtation. Be thankful you have "that" bow.
 A public apology was made by the guy and his first step was a success but I would really think hard before I sent the bow back. specially if I knew someone with skills to get it about where I want it.RC

It looks to me that you are asking him to totally redesign his bow for your grip. You are asking for a straight grip and with his bow design, to me it just doesn't fit.
Actually the one picture looks to me that he made a pretty good try at filling your requirements without sacrificing his bow design.
Quite honestly I feel sorry for a boyer having to try and work off the info you gave him.
What's with the dollar bill, don't you have a ruler to put in the picture?
All that being said if I was the boyer, I would not have taken the order,and been up front with it.

Earl, your last statement said it all! If the bowyer could not do what the person wanted than he should decline. Zradrix, if you paid for it with a credit card, call the card company and file a protest. Usually they can apply great pressure on the offending party to make them do right.

QuoteOriginally posted by Earl E. Nov...mber:

What's with the dollar bill, don't you have a ruler to put in the picture?
All that being said if I was the boyer, I would not have taken the order,and been up front with it.

Nope didn't have a ruler at the time.
Went to another person's home whom I had never met to take the pics.
They were trying to sell the bow in a yard sale for my buddy. They said they didn't have a ruler. "?!"
So the dollar bill was the best thing I could think of. Hadn't thought about bringing a ruler with me for scaling the pics.

Earl...What picture? "Actually the one picture looks to me that he made a pretty good try at filling your requirements without sacrificing his bow design."

Thanks

Sometimes it is best to research bowyers as much as bows themselves.  

I am sorry for your troubles but hope people can learn from this.  I cannot see pics at work but personally, if the guy isn't willing to refund the money for your returned bow, I would try to sell it and get what you can at a small loss and get on with life with a valuable lesson learned.

Just like others have said, if both parties agreed on something from the start, then that is what you should get. I hope you the best in getting what you want or getting a refund.

Dax

"...I specifically told the guy I didn't want the extra layer on the back and the thickness of the throat of the grip from back to belly was important...That's why I put in dimensions...I KNOW it didn't need the extra layer on the back since he sells the bow without and charges more to put them on."

The additional piece of wood added to the belly side of the base bow could just have easily been shaped as requested as the triangle shape that the bowyer ADDS as an option.  I would tell the bowyer I want a refund and if he refuses I would tell him his name and the story of the two bows, along with the grip shape you requested, with pictures, would be posted on every trad archery site on the internet.  For a bowyer to remain in business good customer service is NOT an option.

Bill