Wolf Whiskers Shaving Brushes

I like the way Peter is doing the list now. It seems fair to me. If those who spend more money on his brushes were to get special treatment, then those looking for one brush, or new costumers looking to buy their first brush, might consider it unfair that they have to wait longer.

I recall reading that Wolfman does give preference to those who have been loyal customers. When I learned that, it finally made sense how some people are able to acquire his razors much sooner than the average year or longer that others have to wait. Personally I don't see that as fair to those waiting on the list for several months or a year, only to continue getting bumped every time a loyal customer decides to purchase a new razor or stand. However, regardless of what I believe is fair, artisans have the right to choose how to run their business. Also, I believe that in both cases the artisans are doing what they believe is best for their customers and their business.

Hobbyist Good points, but most businesses reward loyalty in some type of form.  It has nothing to do with fairness, for me is about loyalty and the perks that should be afforded to loyal customers.  And this has nothing to do with how much money you spend, but patronage among other things.

If I look at it as just fairness, I could say, well is it fair for the customer that spend $$$$$$ to be compared to the guy that spend $ and be at the end of the list?  Fairness is very subjective and it depends on which end the person is.  I know people are going to say I'm a big ahole, so be it.  I grew up in business and I learned from the best businessman I ever met and work for, my father. :-)

Like you,  I believe artisans have the right to run their business as they see fit.  As a consumer, I appreciate the perks of loyalty and most likely will get me to buy more.

I think the new process takes a lot of list management off Peter's hands which was probably cumbersome. He should be making brushes and making customers happy rather than "office work". So I think this should make the list go faster as his admin duties are relieved a little.

1) Ok, I have read the last few pages on this thread and first, I am shocked that I am being given any attitude about how I am running this list and how I am running my VERY small and personal business.  I am not Bestbuy.com and I make NO apologies for a long list.  The list is a direct result of the demand for the product I am putting out.  It comes down to supply and demand quite simply.   I don't do any active advertising at all and rarely even post pictures, so I have little control over how many people want my brushes.   I know word of mouth is paramount for me to continue this adventure.  I also know that negative drama and disinformation also hurt my business, but it also hurts me personally.  (Don't worry, I don't need to visit a safe room.)

Also, I have never forced anyone to sign up on the list.  I am just doing my best to do creative and quality work.  I honestly don't understand why I am being given attitude from anyone?  Did I wrong you sir?  Did I EVER force you to do anything?  If I have wronged any customer, I do want to hear about it, but please share it with me first.  Thank you for those are are defending me.   Trust me, I cannot help but note this thread.  There is no need to spread this type of drama.

2) This current list is not even 3 months long, not 9 months long as one person suggested.  This is what they call disinformation and deceit.  Does anyone on this forum know more about my capabilities than I do?  Even my wife does not know my business capabilities.  It is very likely that everyone who signed up in the first hour will have a Wolf Whisker brush in their possession in April or May.  That is not an excessively long wait list considering.  

I must explain something else if you signed up on the list 4 hours and 56 minutes after it opened up, please do not post attitude toward Wolf Whiskers about being so far down the list and having to wait.

3) If at any time you feel I am being unfair, please ask me to remove you.  I promise, my feelings will not be hurt.  I am not asking of ANYTHING from you except patience if you would like to work with me.  

4) My Wait list hasn't changed in over a year with two exceptions. I am now only allowing 1 brush per listed placeholder now instead of two and you can see my full list and track it.  

5) Yes, I will send out the custom order form for about 17-18 people per week on average.  The list will move quickly.  I am starting the list on March 28th.  I really just want to take holy week off before Easter.

I am extremely grateful for loyal customers, however, If I were to provide special treatment for loyal customers by pushing them up the list, the new people wanting something custom would never see the top of the list nor get a brush since there are many loyal customers.  I am just one guy with one lathe with no desire to turn my work into a large commercial shaving brush entity.  I have nothing against those companies, but I just want to keep it the way it is.  What I do would be lost if I expanded with additional people or with automation.  I am just a guy placing a roof over my family and putting food on the table for my wife and 5 children living honestly and modestly making wise and calculated choices everyday.  I would eventually put myself out of business if I could never gain new clients or anger potential new customers by continually bumping people in front of them.  

Think of how you felt when you were in school and someone pushed their way ahead of you in line for lunch.  Have you ever had someone directly behind you in traffic and they just have to pass you and get directly in front of you and then slow down just so they can get off on the next exit anyway?  If that doesn't bother you a little, good on you, but it does bother the majority of people.

So, since my intention is to actual be viable and to continue making shaving brushes long term, I must gain new loyal customers and keep my current loyal customers as well.  It is a delicate balance.  

So, in closing, if anyone would like to share with me on how I should conduct my business and my wait list.........please share it with me personally in a PM.  Remember, I am not Amazon.com or Wayfair.com.  I am really just one guy in a 120 foot yard hobby shop and I just happen to work my very hard so that I can share my passion and love of this wonderful hobby with as many people as I can.  yes, I make some money doing it, but I couldn't do it if I did not get some compensation. So please please understand I love doing this, but I don't like the negative drama and deception.

Thank you for reading.

I don't think anyone is telling you how to run your business sir. I know I'm not, is your business and you run it as you see fit. I gave my opinion, but that's all it is.

And yes, I signed up late. 1. I was traveling 2. I didn't know how this new thing was working until a friend explained it to me.

No need to take an anonymous jab, you can say my name, I have nothing to hide.

I'm not going to argue. I enjoy the brushes I got from you, is nothing personal, just a difference of opinion. But at the end, is your business not mine. All I can do is accept it or move on, that's just the fact.

1) Ok, I have read the last few pages on this thread and first, I am shocked that I am being given any attitude about how I am running this list and how I am running my VERY small and personal business.  I am not Bestbuy.com and I make NO apologies for a long list.  The list is a direct result of the demand for the product I am putting out.  It comes down to supply and demand quite simply.   I don't do any active advertising at all and rarely even post pictures, so I have little control over how many people want my brushes.   I know word of mouth is paramount for me to continue this adventure.  I also know that negative drama and disinformation also hurt my business, but it also hurts me personally.  (Don't worry, I don't need to visit a safe room.)

Also, I have never forced anyone to sign up on the list.  I am just doing my best to do creative and quality work.  I honestly don't understand why I am being given attitude from anyone?  Did I wrong you sir?  Did I EVER force you to do anything?  If I have wronged any customer, I do want to hear about it, but please share it with me first.  Thank you for those are are defending me.   Trust me, I cannot help but note this thread.  There is no need to spread this type of drama.

2) This current list is not even 3 months long, not 9 months long as one person suggested.  This is what they call disinformation and deceit.  Does anyone on this forum know more about my capabilities than I do?  Even my wife does not know my business capabilities.  It is very likely that everyone who signed up in the first hour will have a Wolf Whisker brush in their possession in April or May.  That is not an excessively long wait list considering.  

I must explain something else if you signed up on the list 4 hours and 56 minutes after it opened up, please do not post attitude toward Wolf Whiskers about being so far down the list and having to wait.

3) If at any time you feel I am being unfair, please ask me to remove you.  I promise, my feelings will not be hurt.  I am not asking of ANYTHING from you except patience if you would like to work with me.  

4) My Wait list hasn't changed in over a year with two exceptions. I am now only allowing 1 brush per listed placeholder now instead of two and you can see my full list and track it.  

5) Yes, I will send out the custom order form for about 17-18 people per week on average.  The list will move quickly.  I am starting the list on March 28th.  I really just want to take holy week off before Easter.

I am extremely grateful for loyal customers, however, If I were to provide special treatment for loyal customers by pushing them up the list, the new people wanting something custom would never see the top of the list nor get a brush since there are many loyal customers.  I am just one guy with one lathe with no desire to turn my work into a large commercial shaving brush entity.  I have nothing against those companies, but I just want to keep it the way it is.  What I do would be lost if I expanded with additional people or with automation.  I am just a guy placing a roof over my family and putting food on the table for my wife and 5 children living honestly and modestly making wise and calculated choices everyday.  I would eventually put myself out of business if I could never gain new clients or anger potential new customers by continually bumping people in front of them.  

Think of how you felt when you were in school and someone pushed their way ahead of you in line for lunch.  Have you ever had someone directly behind you in traffic and they just have to pass you and get directly in front of you and then slow down just so they can get off on the next exit anyway?  If that doesn't bother you a little, good on you, but it does bother the majority of people.  

So, since my intention is to actual be viable and to continue making shaving brushes long term, I must gain new loyal customers and keep my current loyal customers as well.  It is a delicate balance.  

So, in closing, if anyone would like to share with me on how I should conduct my business and my wait list.........please share it with me personally in a PM.  Remember, I am not Amazon.com or Wayfair.com.  I am really just one guy in a 120 foot yard hobby shop and I just happen to work my very hard so that I can share my passion and love of this wonderful hobby with as many people as I can.  yes, I make some money doing it, but I couldn't do it if I did not get some compensation.  So please please understand I love doing this, but I don't like the negative drama and deception.

Thank you for reading.

keep on doing your thing, Peter. people obviously love your work and are willing to wait for your masterpieces.

I don't think anyone is telling you how to run your business sir.  I know I'm not, is your business and you run it as you see fit.  I gave my opinion, but that's all it is.

And yes, I signed up late.  1.  I was traveling  2.  I didn't know how this new thing was working until a friend explained it to me.

No need to take an anonymous jab, you can say my name, I have nothing to hide.

I'm not going to argue.  I enjoy the brushes I got from you, is nothing personal, just a difference of opinion.  But at the end, is your business not mine.  All I can do is accept it or move on, that's just the fact.

-First Hector, I want to thank you very much. Just like some politicians who get press for things completely unrelated to anything of importance and still soar in the polls, I feel that this little thread may do the same for me as now I have a chance to clarify my hobby model and earn your respect for what I do. It will likely cause me to get even busier on the next sign up. So, Hector, thank you very much for bringing this topic to light.

-I do understand your concerns Hector and your opinion and it is even something I have considered carefully and have even tried it, but I simply cannot do what you are suggesting. I wish I could. you are about 2 months down on the list roughly. Just think of this as a way to temporarily curb your WWBAD.

- Honestly, I do value returning customers very much. Very much. There are dozens and dozens on my current wait list right now that have purchased several brushes. Multiple people seem to have WWBAD. Yes, it's a real thing apparently. Typically my monthly report shows me that 51-58% of my business originate from returning customers. I wish I could give all of them priority. I just am limited on how I can show this. I must remain viable as well as kind and rewarding. But first and foremost, I want to continue.

-Remember, I am really just a busy hobbyist that happens to have a business license so that I can honestly pay my "fair share" of taxes. That is all. I only refer to myself as a business simply because of the self importance and pride that I feel when I tell someone I am self employed. Just being honest.

-I am always available to explain things.

-Hector, I took that jab because some of the information that you said about waiting until the end of the year or next year is simply not true and I felt that I had to address it so that the information could be corrected. I know you were sharing it out of frustration. I truly get that. The real kicker is that not a single person had asked me about how long the list would take me. I just felt that it was a very poor assumption for anyone to even suggest that openly on a forum without any consultation with me at all which is why I felt a little heated.... if you could tell. And I am pretty sure that I am not the only one that sensed your inner thoughts from the words you typed. Maybe I am just ultra-sensitive, but I think you might find that others took note of your comments as well. Don't worry, I don't need a straight jacket......yet.

-This current list will take me about 3 months. I cut it off at 3 months because it seems that 3 months has become the threshold of tolerance for waiting. I too really hate waiting. I go shopping between 4-6am at Walmart as much as I can. When I was in the Navy, I used to drive to work 2 1/2 hours early just to avoid the traffic. I am not joking even a little. I prefer 6-8am at the local home big box stores before the contractors get in. I don't like waiting either so I truly truly understand, "Trust me, trust me." (Says the Donald.)

I like the way Peter is doing the list now. It seems fair to me. If those who spend more money on his brushes were to get special treatment, then those looking for one brush, or new costumers looking to buy their first brush, might consider it unfair that they have to wait longer.

I recall reading that Wolfman does give preference to those who have been loyal customers. When I learned that, it finally made sense how some people are able to acquire his razors much sooner than the average year or longer that others have to wait. Personally I don't see that as fair to those waiting on the list for several months or a year, only to continue getting bumped every time a loyal customer decides to purchase a new razor or stand. However, regardless of what I believe is fair, artisans have the  right to choose how to run their business. Also, I believe that in both cases the artisans are doing what they believe is best for their customers and their business.

Thank you Hobbyist.  

I think the new process takes a lot of list management off Peter's hands which was probably cumbersome. He should be making brushes and making customers happy rather than "office work". So I think this should make the list go faster as his admin duties are relieved a little.

Sleeper, yes this list does take away some of the admin and also makes things easier for some. I knew that not everyone would like it, but choices had to be made. Thank you so much for this feedback.

Got on the list too. Actually landed a much higher spot than I anticipated, so now I need to hurry up and figure out what I want.  

Dave, you were one of the first to sign up in the first 10 seconds. SMH. I thought I had disorders.

This is the data that came directly from the creator and admin of waitlistr.com. He sent it to me. I saw 38 people signed up in the first 10 seconds and 54 people after the first minute.

59 sign ups in 2 minutes
68 users signed up after 5 minutes
80 users signed up after 30 minutes
67 users on at one time (peak) @ 2/3 min mark