Sailmakers

[oldbilbo]

Who needs 'em?

I cannot remember, in 40+ years sailing, a single sailmaker doing what he said he would do, when he said he'd have it done.... except only a rather fine lady in Guernsey.. who restitched a damaged main 'after church on Sunday'.

I've made 3 visits to a sailmaker, finally to get him actually to inspect the sails left with him and agree what needs to be done. He seemed surprised when I asked him to price the prospective work, and offered to do his sums and telephone me "before the end of this week - by Friday night...."

He hasn't.

So, are there any sailmakers out there whose word is their bond? Who, when they shake hands on an agreement, make it happen? Or are clients just walking, talking open chequebooks...?

What does the forum think?

 

[Tranona]

You have obviously chosen the wrong sailmakers! Never had that problem, and have dealt with 3 of the well known ones.

 

[Simondjuk]

Kemp came to measure when they said they would, quoted sooner than they said they would, finished making our sails a week sooner than scheduled and delivered them to us within 24 hours of us paying the balance of the monies. Excellent service.

The sails themselves are first rate too.

 

[SimbaDog]

Ask me in 2 weeks time when I collect mine

 

[Poignard]

A yacht's owner died and it took his widow many years to sell it.

When the new owner was cleaning up the boat he discovered a sailmaker's receipt in the chart table for a new mainsail, but he couldn't find the sail. The widow knew nothing about it so he phoned the sailmaker.

"It will be ready in a fortnight" said the sailmaker.

 

[BAtoo]

Good and bad reports. On local whom I still wait for a quote from 2 seasons ago......
One local who delivered new sails, on time, to spec, without fault,
And best of all is probably the most renowned local who was, for
my quote, the cheapest by far

 

[Seajet]

I've always had very good service and sails from Westaway sails of Ivybridge, Devon, over the last 30 years.

 

[oldbilbo]

QUOTE=Seajet;3338580]I've always had very good service and sails from Westaway sails of Ivybridge, Devon, over the last 30 years.[/QUOTE]

I may well give them a call.

As I was uncomfortable that the fellow in Bristol hadn't bothered to phone last week with a price for my agreement, as he'd offered, I drove over there this morning. That's the fourth visit. I had in mind that, if he had a reasonable price for me, we could move forward. He knew I also had new sails to discuss.

When I turned up, he first made a comment about the cold wind then immediately said "I have your quote at home, not here. I don't bring my quotes to the loft."

I took my sails and left. He seemed a little surprised.

What would others do? Does your sailmaker expect not to discuss price with you, charge what he feels like, and do the work when he feels like it, rather than when he'd contracted to....? Is it unreasonable, at the start of a business relationship, to expect people to do what they say they will?

 

[Ex-SolentBoy]

Who needs 'em?

I cannot remember, in 40+ years sailing, a single sailmaker doing what he said he would do, when he said he'd have it done.... except only a rather fine lady in Guernsey.. who restitched a damaged main 'after church on Sunday'.

I've made 3 visits to a sailmaker, finally to get him actually to inspect the sails left with him and agree what needs to be done. He seemed surprised when I asked him to price the prospective work, and offered to do his sums and telephone me "before the end of this week - by Friday night...."

He hasn't.

So, are there any sailmakers out there whose word is their bond? Who, when they shake hands on an agreement, make it happen? Or are clients just walking, talking open chequebooks...?

What does the forum think?

You should try Penrose Sailmakers in Falmouth. You will not be disappointed.

 

[deep denial]

I don't know if you're near Poole, but Crusader give excellent service. And you're like as not to be speaking to the MD when you call and visit.