One reason to have email rather than phone conversations.
I get this type conversation often enough, so I thought I would share how one such interaction went a while back.
Phone rings:
Me: Hello, Leeway Workshop.
Caller: Jet told me to call you.
Me: Umm, Jet machinery?
Caller: Jet saws. I have a Jet saw.
Me: Okay. This is Lee Styron, How can I help you?
Caller: I don't have a blade guard and need one.
Me: Okay. What model saw do you have?
Caller: I have model xxxxxxx.
Me: Okay, for that model I will need you to send me an email with a few pictures of the bracket. This model had a few different styles of bracket and I would have to see which one you have.
Caller: I have the bracket that came with the saw.
Me: Okay, send me an email and I can explain further what I can offer.
Caller: How much is it and how long will it take?
Me: The price varies from about $150 to a little over $200 depending on what model you have and what options you choose. We have a long lead time, so at least a few months.
Caller: Wow! That much! Really? Jet's blade guard for this is only $89.00.
Me: Plus shipping. Shipping is included in my prices.
Caller: Right, plus shipping.
Me: Well there you go. Sounds like if you need something fast, that will work. It will be just like what came with the saw originally.
Caller: I know. I threw that thing away as soon as I bought the saw.
Me: Well, sounds like you need something now, so you might just have to order another from them or send me an email and I can show you what I can offer.
Caller: Oh, Jet doesn't make them anymore. They are obsolete.
Me: Man, that is too bad. Have you tried looking on Ebay? They often have original guards for old saws.
Caller: You sell your guards on Ebay?
Me: No, I have my own website. I was talking about a guard like the one that came with your saw. They often come up on Ebay.
Caller: That was a piece of crap and I won't waste my money buying one of those again. I threw the original one away when i bought the saw. Do you offer any discounts?
Me: I might. What is your situation?
Caller: I need a blade guard.
Me: Send me an email and I can send you some links to what I make and what I can offer and quote a price for you.
Caller: Okay. I don't want to pay $200 for a guard that I will want to throw in the trash in a week.
Me: I am well aware of that and I agree. I make high quality guards and if you are not satisfied with it, you can return it for a refund. No problem with that.
Caller: Can you ship me one out next week?
Me: No, it would take me a few months to get to your spot on the waiting list. We build these to order and it is first come, first served.
Caller: I can't wait that long. I cut one of my fingers and my wife says I can't use the saw again until I have a guard.
Me: Wow, sorry to hear that. I hope you are going to be okay. How long have you owned this saw?
Caller: I've had it for about 15 years.
Me: Okay, send me an email and I have links to some other solutions that may work for you.
Caller: Okay. Hangs up, click.
I never gave him my email address. He never told me his name, but I haven't received an email concerning that particular saw since then. I certainly hope that he found a solution.
I get this type conversation often enough, so I thought I would share how one such interaction went a while back.
Phone rings:
Me: Hello, Leeway Workshop.
Caller: Jet told me to call you.
Me: Umm, Jet machinery?
Caller: Jet saws. I have a Jet saw.
Me: Okay. This is Lee Styron, How can I help you?
Caller: I don't have a blade guard and need one.
Me: Okay. What model saw do you have?
Caller: I have model xxxxxxx.
Me: Okay, for that model I will need you to send me an email with a few pictures of the bracket. This model had a few different styles of bracket and I would have to see which one you have.
Caller: I have the bracket that came with the saw.
Me: Okay, send me an email and I can explain further what I can offer.
Caller: How much is it and how long will it take?
Me: The price varies from about $150 to a little over $200 depending on what model you have and what options you choose. We have a long lead time, so at least a few months.
Caller: Wow! That much! Really? Jet's blade guard for this is only $89.00.
Me: Plus shipping. Shipping is included in my prices.
Caller: Right, plus shipping.
Me: Well there you go. Sounds like if you need something fast, that will work. It will be just like what came with the saw originally.
Caller: I know. I threw that thing away as soon as I bought the saw.
Me: Well, sounds like you need something now, so you might just have to order another from them or send me an email and I can show you what I can offer.
Caller: Oh, Jet doesn't make them anymore. They are obsolete.
Me: Man, that is too bad. Have you tried looking on Ebay? They often have original guards for old saws.
Caller: You sell your guards on Ebay?
Me: No, I have my own website. I was talking about a guard like the one that came with your saw. They often come up on Ebay.
Caller: That was a piece of crap and I won't waste my money buying one of those again. I threw the original one away when i bought the saw. Do you offer any discounts?
Me: I might. What is your situation?
Caller: I need a blade guard.
Me: Send me an email and I can send you some links to what I make and what I can offer and quote a price for you.
Caller: Okay. I don't want to pay $200 for a guard that I will want to throw in the trash in a week.
Me: I am well aware of that and I agree. I make high quality guards and if you are not satisfied with it, you can return it for a refund. No problem with that.
Caller: Can you ship me one out next week?
Me: No, it would take me a few months to get to your spot on the waiting list. We build these to order and it is first come, first served.
Caller: I can't wait that long. I cut one of my fingers and my wife says I can't use the saw again until I have a guard.
Me: Wow, sorry to hear that. I hope you are going to be okay. How long have you owned this saw?
Caller: I've had it for about 15 years.
Me: Okay, send me an email and I have links to some other solutions that may work for you.
Caller: Okay. Hangs up, click.
I never gave him my email address. He never told me his name, but I haven't received an email concerning that particular saw since then. I certainly hope that he found a solution.
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