Thread: Portland Razor update ...

Originally Posted by logan5tx

Wow, they've been pretty popular. I ordered mine on May 28 and I was order #301.

You know, I was actually thinking that those order numbers were pretty low -- that's only about a razor a day, which is nowhere near enough to sustain a business. I hope there's another order numbering scheme in place, as well ...

That may only be the custom / semi custom orders. When I talked to them they stated they were up to about 4 razors per day for the production line razors.

Originally Posted by Michael70

Custom order????

7/8 instead of 6/8. Stock walnut scales

My Hydra is within reach. CanPost says it is in my local Postal Terminal and processed as of 0714 this morning. Site still shows delivery on Monday, but fingers are crossed.

Originally Posted by Orville

My Hydra is within reach. CanPost says it is in my local Postal Terminal and processed as of 0714 this morning. Site still shows delivery on Monday, but fingers are crossed.

Portland sent you the tracking number? Then mine has not shipped yet.

Originally Posted by JTmke

Portland sent you the tracking number? Then mine has not shipped yet.

I received a shipping e-mail with a tracking number directly from usps.com, listing Scott (rather than PRC) as the sender.

As a follow-up to my earlier posts, I did send PRC an e-mail noting the issues with the razor I received, and received a response from them that basically just said, "thanks for letting us know." I replied with a note that was still extremely polite but a bit less subtle, and if that doesn't bring a constructive response I'm going to write PRC off.

I expect they will chalk that initial response up to their current "issues" with staffing. Regardless of how true it may be, it is not the sort of thing that endears a paying Customer to a small business, nor it's overall clientele. Poor Customer service is more of a killer than Good service is a boost, after all. Fingers crossed that all is good when mine arrives. It is too bad that yours was not what you were expecting, and that the response seems so indifferent. Really does seem out of "character" from what I have followed from PRC.

I think my situation is the combined product of a couple of issues. One is that they've realized that their shipping delays are a potentially serious threat to their business, and so they're rushing to catch up, which is resulting in some quality control that's perhaps a little more lax than it might otherwise be. I'd like to think that the diagonal abrasions visible on my blade would have been corrected before shipping otherwise.

The other issue in my case is that I discussed what I was looking for with Scott almost four months ago, but because of Scott's medical situation he wasn't the one who ended up making the razor. (Even if he had made the razor, he's probably had dozens of similar discussions since then and might not have individually recalled my order anyway.)

Anyhow, the experience has personally soured me on PRC, but I want to strongly emphasize that I'm not suggesting that other orders will come with quality control issues, or that PRC should be avoided. I guess I would suggest, though, that anyone considering an order would be better off waiting until their order backlog is cleared.

Originally Posted by Montanan

I received a shipping e-mail with a tracking number directly from usps.com, listing Scott (rather than PRC) as the sender.

As a follow-up to my earlier posts, I did send PRC an e-mail noting the issues with the razor I received, and received a response from them that basically just said, "thanks for letting us know." I replied with a note that was still extremely polite but a bit less subtle, and if that doesn't bring a constructive response I'm going to write PRC off.

Hopefully that was an automated reply and they will address the issue soon????? Then again, it may be that they cannot or will not. Give them time to see. I am still befuzzled by the in que numbering system and seems to be a few numbers have been jumped around on. If I remember correctly and that is a big IF......seems like a higher in que number got their razor before a lower in que. Not sure if I remember reading that correctly but if I did I wonder what that is about. I assumed they would complete them in order of a persons getting in line.

They may be under the stress of fulfilling these orders and the lack of having Scott 100% a burden for sure. Not sure how long it takes to get a newbie razor maker up and running but I rather they go slow and train them right rather than create sub-par razors that only complaints will follow that will either ruin their name and business or they make good on anything that goes out that is not up to par.

I wonder if they have a QC check in place as well. May be just too small of a business to date to do so. Once again just me thinking aloud. I know in my business on reports that go out are checked about 3 times before finalized for print.

They have yet to reply to my suggestion to show what que number they are up to so folks can see the progress. That may be from fear that if they do, folks will see the actual wait and start rescinding or asking for refunds. I just think it to be a great idea so those can see the progress at the end of a week so they can get an idea when to expect completion. Might call it being transparent for the consumer and a great business practice.

Time will tell...........I have been waiting since February 24th so about 4 months into what was a two month wait. If PRC is reading these post and doing what a great business should by peruzzing the boards hopefully they will give some feedback. I know they are small and must be busy. Maybe as a new business in this field they should have only offered for sale what they have on hand at any given time to eliminate the waits. First come first get basis until they could get more skilled razor makers trained and on board to do custom work.

Easy for us to criticize I guess or critique as I say. Standing by.................

Originally Posted by Montanan

I think my situation is the combined product of a couple of issues. One is that they've realized that their shipping delays are a potentially serious threat to their business, and so they're rushing to catch up, which is resulting in some quality control that's perhaps a little more lax than it might otherwise be.

I realize that is only your speculation, but if it is correct, then it is a huge problem.

Originally Posted by Montanan

The other issue in my case is that I discussed what I was looking for with Scott almost four months ago, but because of Scott's medical situation he wasn't the one who ended up making the razor. (Even if he had made the razor, he's probably had dozens of similar discussions since then and might not have individually recalled my order anyway.)

And so that is what notes/records are for. The details of your discussions should have been available to whomever made the razor.

Originally Posted by Montanan

Anyhow, the experience has personally soured me on PRC, but I want to strongly emphasize that I'm not suggesting that other orders will come with quality control issues, or that PRC should be avoided. I guess I would suggest, though, that anyone considering an order would be better off waiting until their order backlog is cleared.

Since they are still accepting new orders, how is a potential customer supposed to know whether or not a backlog exists? Do they provide any estimate as to how long an order will take to fulfill?