I think you've answered your own question. You are a craftsman.

I visited the website the other day, and it's pretty neat. Not many hand built pickups out there any more. That in itself makes for some interesting problems I'm sure. Most musicians know EXACTLY what they want, but they want it now. They can also tell you scales, and modes inside and out, but can't remember what they had for lunch.

Seems like you need to get a system in place to track these orders to keep your sanity, and your customers.

Most consumers think that they are the most important thing in their world, and yours, and want to be treated as such.

As Shuie says, I'm sure you are a fist class guy to deal with, but the ordering instructions you posted tend to plant the seeds of doubt to someone that doesn't know you from the Pelican board, or a repeat customer.

As far as the amp builder, his policy would ensure that he would never get a penny of my money, no matter how good his amps are.

Good luck figuring out how to handle the problem, and I'll keep checking your website for the P&J- Bass pickups.

I've got an older practice bass with EMG selects, and it just sounds a little off through the Bassman 10.
;)

I do bass pickups, but not often, because I don't play bass. Did a big load of them for Fernandes guitars a few years ago, and have only done a few sets since then. here is a post about the first set of J-bass p'ups I made for someone...not counting rewinds I've done.

As has been said, you know pickups, but we're talking about business. You might want to think about hiring a business consultant to set up some procedures and business rules to streamline all your processes. It'll save your sanity. They might even be able to help with hiring.

Have you thought about merging with one of your local competitors (if any are local)? That would increase your knowledgebase and production right away, while decreasing your competition in the market.

As far as the 8800 e-mails in your inbox, though, you might want to think about making a subfolder for each prospective client. As soon as a new inquiry comes in make a new subfolder and put all correspondance with that person in there, including your replies (point taken about people not using the same name always, that's something else entirely). That way you just need to find the name once and all your e-mails relating to that cust are in one place. As soon as your transaction is complete or gone stale with that customer move the subfolder into another called 'done' or something so that it's not cluttering up your inbox. It's a pretty rudimentary contact management system, but it's better than nothing.

One of the biggest hurdles for a small business owner to get over is in handing over business functions to employees. It's like letting your kid go to the mall for the first time by themselves. It's difficult, but if you want them to grow up (both kids and businesses) it's a necessary step.

Good luck. SmileWavy

I have two local competitors, who are also good friends of mine. Hoever, we absolutely whould not merge. While we share information and supply chains, we absolutley would not share techniques, because it's technique that sets us apart. You can take two of us, put us side by side, witht he same materials and equipment, give us specific specifications to build to, and we would turn out completely different products because of the technique we use to wind the coils.
My assembly guy has suggested sub-folders...but I really don't want 500 folders in my inbox...



I have several dealers in the US, and a distributor in Japan - Fernandes Guitars - who distributes to Japanese stores. However, doing wholesale work is definately not my favourite. It's twice as much work, for half as much money.
As far as patenting the product, it's all un-patentable stuff. The patents ran out many, many year ago by the people who invented them in the 40's and 50's.
I also work with several guitar builders who offer my stuff as standard or optional equipment, such as Johan Gustavsson Guitars Heatley Guitars , AO Guitars, Chapin Guitars Giffin Guitars and several other high-end builders like Baker, McNaught, McInturff, D'Pergo... I have no shortage in that department.