PSA: Wald Shaving Drop

But what should you do when the demand far exceeds your capacity? I don’t think anyone has found an ideal solution for this, and there probably isn’t one. Like some others, Wald has opted for a low-publicity drop method so that if someone really wants his brushes they can follow his instagram closely and they’ll have a decent chance - at least as much as anyone else, and better than most. It’s fair and democratic, and it at least stops a few collectors monopolizing his supply and then telling everyone about these marvellous brushes you can’t get, and it helps stop the scalpers who buy everything and re-sell for a profit.

If he took orders then his order book would quickly get out of control and customers would be waiting a very long time to get their brushes - like Varlet, who had to stop accepting orders for at least a year so they could catch up. And then he would be deluged with complaints and either have to deal with them or ignore them so he can get on with making the brushes. It’s much better to restrict people ordering in the first place.

If the surprise drop method puts some people off then it’s because they aren’t as desirous to buy one as others are, so the people who most want one are the ones who get them. Isn’t that a good and fair way to restrict demand and ensure the limited supply goes to the people who most want it? If there was a better way then I’m sure Wald and others would love to do it, but the reality is that he does not produce anywhere near enough brushes for everybody to get one. And you can’t expect him to increase his production or invest more money into his business - I’m sure it’s something he does in his spare time and it is up to him how much time he wants to spend making brushes and the quality he makes them to. We can’t demand that he mortgages his home and borrows money to buy more equipment and space, take on staff, and expand his business - so he would be working for the bank and no longer for himself - and who knows if the high demand for Wald brushes will last forever? I imagine making brushes is something he enjoys doing as a commercial hobby, and he would like to keep enjoying it.

I can’t see what Jannik could do differently.

One vote here for the Wolfman style wait list, put your name down and then when it comes up choose knot, handle etc.

No one misses out and is fair to everyone involved.

Yes, there is a wait and no instant gratification but what is this obsession with these "Drop" events?

That’s not so different from what Varlet did, and they get a lot of complaints because their order list got way too long for them to handle.

That simply is factually incorrect.

Aldo made a public pronouncement on this forum that prices were being hiked substantially and waitlist created so that he could communicate more frequently, timely and completely with customers.

Even by his own admission in latest broadcast, that has not remotely transpired.

Nearly all complaints have been and continue to focus on the lack of communication.

I do wonder if threads like these discourage the artisan more than encouraging them so at some point rather than dropping 8-10 brushes or whatever, they get out of the market entirely because people always have a reason to complain about something one way or another..

I do wonder if threads like these discourage the artisan more than encouraging them so at some point rather than dropping 8-10 brushes or whatever, they get out of the market entirely because people always have a reason to complain about something one way or another..

But on the other hand, voice of the customer is an important element of any quality effort. Quality is a continual pursuit both minimizing waste and maximizing satisfaction, thereby resulting in increased revenue/profit. What business wouldn't want that outcome? Whether products/services are mass produced or artisanally crafted, quality initiatives are always advisable for the benefit of customer and business

I do wonder if threads like these discourage the artisan more than encouraging them so at some point rather than dropping 8-10 brushes or whatever, they get out of the market entirely because people always have a reason to complain about something one way or another..

But on the other hand, voice of the customer is an important element of any quality effort.  Quality is a continual pursuit both minimizing waste and maximizing satisfaction, thereby resulting in increased revenue/profit. What business wouldn't want that outcome?  Whether products/services are mass produced or artisanally crafted, quality initiatives are always advisable for the benefit of customer and business

fair, but who is to say that he's not happy with his current arrangement? a lot of artisans do this on the side and not as their main source of income. the other outcome could be 0 Wald brushes in the future.

I do wonder if threads like these discourage the artisan more than encouraging them so at some point rather than dropping 8-10 brushes or whatever, they get out of the market entirely because people always have a reason to complain about something one way or another..

But on the other hand, voice of the customer is an important element of any quality effort.  Quality is a continual pursuit both minimizing waste and maximizing satisfaction, thereby resulting in increased revenue/profit. What business wouldn't want that outcome?  Whether products/services are mass produced or artisanally crafted, quality initiatives are always advisable for the benefit of customer and business

fair, but who is to say that he's not happy with his current arrangement? a lot of artisans do this on the side and not as their main source of income. the other outcome could be 0 Wald brushes in the future.

If that the case, then sincerely doubt he reads the threads and does as he pleases without regard to the voice of the customer:e.g., he won't quit making brushes based on feedback because he doesn't care what people post, no (following that logic to its conclusion)?

But on the other hand, voice of the customer is an important element of any quality effort.  Quality is a continual pursuit both minimizing waste and maximizing satisfaction, thereby resulting in increased revenue/profit. What business wouldn't want that outcome?  Whether products/services are mass produced or artisanally crafted, quality initiatives are always advisable for the benefit of customer and business

fair, but who is to say that he's not happy with his current arrangement?  a lot of artisans do this on the side and not as their main source of income.  the other outcome could be 0 Wald brushes in the future.

If that the case, then sincerely doubt he reads the threads and does as he pleases without regard to the voice of the customer:e.g., he won't quit making brushes based on feedback because he doesn't care what people post, no (following that logic to its conclusion)?

I think the point Moriarty was trying to make is that if Wald was to open a wait list or custom order sheet, he'd then be obligated to do a certain amount of brushes within a certain amount of time or risk losing his customers. with his current brush drops, he's under no explicit obligation to any customer directly and can do as many or as few brushes as he wishes.

if someone doesn't like the way he does business, there's hundreds of other brush makers in the market.

Moriarity enjoined a previously relatively inactive thread aggressively advocating in favour of Wald's practices, thereby inviting aggressive responses and ongoing conversation from a variety of people disagreeing with his aggressive advocacy. 

Can cease and desist my responses but the historical timeline of this thread debate cannot be denied.

Moriarity enjoined a previously relatively inactive thread aggressively advocating in favour of Wald's practices, thereby inviting aggressive responses and ongoing conversation from a variety of people disagreeing with his aggressive advocacy.

Can cease and desist my responses but the historical timeline of this thread debate cannot be denied.

why do you care so much about how someone else runs their business?

Wald seems to be fine with how he conducts his business and people don't seem to be shy on buying up his brushes.

Lawyers … sheesh.

Moriarity enjoined a previously relatively inactive thread aggressively advocating in favour of Wald's practices, thereby inviting aggressive responses and ongoing conversation from a variety of people disagreeing with his aggressive advocacy. 

Can cease and desist my responses but the historical timeline of this thread debate cannot be denied.

What was aggressive about my post? I was simply trying to point out that if he makes ten brushes a month he cannot satisfy a hundred customers a month no matter how he releases his products. Or are you referring to my post when I disagreed with your assertion that Wald is producing less in order to manipulate prices? That might have been a bit more strident, but I thought you were making an unfair accusation against a guy who is just making really nice brushes.