EironBreaker Posted June 13, 2008 Report Share Posted June 13, 2008 Has anyone heard from Mr. Collins this week? I've been trying to contact him all week about two molds he is supposed to be making for me and his voice mail is full. Hasn't returned my emails either recently. Hope he's just on vaction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mags Posted June 15, 2008 Report Share Posted June 15, 2008 I tried endlessly to contact him about some molds I ordered. Never had any luck. Cancelled the order. Hope he got my message?????????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spin Casting Posted June 15, 2008 Report Share Posted June 15, 2008 Although we only make silicone spin casting molds you may be interested in one of our start up programs. Feel free to contact me if you would like more information. Chuck Vanover Tight Line Anglers Products PH. 440-277-1511 Fax 440-277-9152 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smallmouthaholic Posted June 18, 2008 Report Share Posted June 18, 2008 (edited) I've had the same problem w/ 2 custom molds that are 4 weeks late.He has not answered e-mails or phone calls. I am disappointed-are there any other dependable custom mold manufactures out there? Molds in the past have always been later then promised-BUT when you get them,they are top-notch and truly a custom product. Edited June 18, 2008 by smallmouthaholic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heavycover Posted June 18, 2008 Report Share Posted June 18, 2008 If yall chose to go another route, I highly reccomend Chuck with Tight Line Angler Products, posted above. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EironBreaker Posted June 18, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 18, 2008 Finally got an email from him this morning. Having him send me one of his standard molds ASAP and asked for money back on the custom mold. Hopefully all will go smooth from here on out. I've seen some of his molds and they are truely works of art but the customer service leaves much to be desired. If I receive and cash a customer's check, I'm surely going to get the product out that day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HookUp Posted June 19, 2008 Report Share Posted June 19, 2008 Guy makes some great stuff and if he's so busy to get back to clients on new orders, more power to him. If I needed something, it would be worth the wait. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old man in the boat Posted June 19, 2008 Report Share Posted June 19, 2008 I second the worth the wait comment Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EironBreaker Posted June 19, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 19, 2008 I'm pretty patient, I made the order in early March and was told 2-3 weeks on March 15th. I was again told the end of the week on May 12th. I have the emails. Three months is a little long in my opinion. I understand a month to do this kind of work but not 3 when you say it will be out the door. Again, no doubt about the quality. Just wanted an answer about the status and if I can't get it, I'd like to have my money back so I could go another direction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smallmouthaholic Posted June 19, 2008 Report Share Posted June 19, 2008 Guy makes some great stuff and if he's so busy to get back to clients on new orders, more power to him.If I needed something, it would be worth the wait. A very poor attitude and lack of professional courtesy / honesty. Without question his custom molds are good-I've spent close to $1,000.00 on his custom molds in the past 6 months.That's not chump,hobby shop change. Remember,I'm in the tackle business . These molds are holding up the release of two new and excellent soft-bait products. I just wish I was quoted accurate delivery time since business depends on these molds and innovative product. A great deal of time and money goes into developing new products. It's extremely frustrating to get to the finish line and then wait 4+ extra weeks past the promised delivery date. I'm still waiting w/no correspondence. Seasonal products are no good in December. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turkeylegs1246 Posted June 19, 2008 Report Share Posted June 19, 2008 Here is an old link to another website that claims to make custom molds. It's an old link and all that I know about him is the information provided in the link! http://www.hitechluremolds.com/index.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mags Posted June 20, 2008 Report Share Posted June 20, 2008 I just gave up after repeated calls and emails over a four month period. I tried calling different times of day, different days etc. I heard you could reach him on Fridays, but to no avail. I even had friends call as I thought maybe he was avoiding my calls with caller ID. It was all very frustrating, and what I wanted was a very simple mold. I have seen his work, his molds are great, but I am in business to make money, and get customers what they want. I can't wait 6 months for a mold that was promised in two weeks. Waiting for a product that may never show up, don't even know if it was ever in the mix, and telling cutomers the product is on the way, and then it doesn't arrive on schedule makes me look bad in the end. You can't complain to him, because he never responds to anything. What do you do, as I'm afraid he is about the only game in town??????? Hate to complain, but I see other small businesses are needlessly experiencing my pain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heavycover Posted June 20, 2008 Report Share Posted June 20, 2008 Guy makes some great stuff and if he's so busy to get back to clients on new orders, more power to him. Are you kidding??? I hope yall can find someone who takes care of their customers. I have been in a similar situations. Honesty and communication goes a long way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HookUp Posted June 20, 2008 Report Share Posted June 20, 2008 (edited) Y'know, I do see your point heavycover. I've been in buis before and have had enough business to keep busy 7 12-hour days. Sometimes it's hard to find time to pick up the phone and communicate. If someone is this fortunate, they need to think about either hiring more people or simply turning work away. I'm defending Shawn because I know of a business in a similar position now. Heavily demanded product, long backlogs and never meets the promised deadlines. And because I've used Shawns product and its second to none. IMHO. Edited June 20, 2008 by HookUp clarity Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heavycover Posted June 20, 2008 Report Share Posted June 20, 2008 Understandable, and I've been snowed under too. But word of mouth is everything in this business. I would rather give someone an honest answer and have them go elswhere if I cant meet a deadline than have them mad at me and posting about it on a forum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smallmouthaholic Posted June 20, 2008 Report Share Posted June 20, 2008 Understandable, and I've been snowed under too. But word of mouth is everything in this business. I would rather give someone an honest answer and have them go elswhere if I cant meet a deadline than have them mad at me and posting about it on a forum. That's the proper way to treat customers-especially those who give you their c.c. info to keep on file and charge when necessary.Commercial accounts w/repeat business are the lifeblood for the small shop. I am investigating other sources for future custom mold work. No one is that good that they can treat customers so poorly and continue to stay in business-long term. The internet is a powerful tool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reeves Posted June 20, 2008 Report Share Posted June 20, 2008 I agree with Heavycover ont his one. There is no question about the quality of the product he makes, no one has challenged that. The customer service is his downfall. This is not the first post about him on the same subject. Like heavy said, he would be better off turning down the business he is unable to keep up with, rather than have this type of conversation going on about him. I am in business to make a buck and have satisfied customers. Meeting deadlines is very important to me as I figure it is to my customers. I try to be very honest about my ability to meet an expectation of a customer, if that is not good enough they have the option of going elsewhere. I would rather lose a customer this way than by not meeting commitments. So, it is agreed that he is the best at what he does. And if I am reading this thread correctly, it is also agreed that he has terrible customer service habits. Does the end justify the means? I think not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smallmouthaholic Posted June 28, 2008 Report Share Posted June 28, 2008 Shawn has e-mailed me yesterday concerning the 2 molds I've been waiting for.(5 weeks)This morning we exchanged 5 prompt e-mails concerning final details w/both of these custom molds.They are being cut and will ship early next week. Needless to say,I'm greatly relieved Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
champb Posted June 29, 2008 Report Share Posted June 29, 2008 I have purchased 4 molds from Collins, I think he makes a great mold. I had good service from Shawn but havent purchased any molds in roughly 12-18months. I am sure the word of mouth is catching up to him. I also agree that if he doesnt have time for the new business he picks up he should be upfront about it and keep his name clean. I am just happy to have some of his molds. Also, the molds that I have gotten from him are lead slab spoons (jigging spoons). I have since started using some of the guys on here for there spincasting efforts. I have been using George Reeves now for going on 9 months I believe. I commend him for his service. The baits that he has made for me have made my job much easier and I am pleased to work with George. Makes a fine bait as well! I recently over the past couple months have also started working with Chuck from Tight Line Angler Products on a few molds and baits. Awesome mold work and good communication. I am not a big business,but my business is growing and I really do like the fact of knowing that my casting is for the most part taken care of by these two gentlemen. I may be a little weird by using both guys, but I like to have a backup for things I do to protect my business, just good business to me. Thanks to this website for helping me find these guys!!! I appreciate George and Chuck. I hope things workout for Shawn and he gets things going good for you guys as he is a great mold maker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redear Posted June 29, 2008 Report Share Posted June 29, 2008 Guys, I just registered a few minutes ago, and I recieved a collins mold last week.It was several weeks late, and ther were times when he didn't return my emails, but when I would email back and ask if he had recieved my email, he would respond. He admitted he was too busy. That being said, the mold is beyond my expectations. It is beatiful! I was going to order another one, but after hearing how many there were backlogged, maybe I'll wait till fall, hoping he catches up. It was a 1/16 oz. crappie jig mold called the flame, for tying hair. pinkie style jigs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smallmouthaholic Posted June 29, 2008 Report Share Posted June 29, 2008 Shawn's custom mold work AND PRICES are second to none! I'll allow a 2 month wait time for any future aluminum , custom molds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redear Posted July 1, 2008 Report Share Posted July 1, 2008 I hear ya small, I agree with everything ya said. I saw somewhere that there was an add for dragonfly lures, and they claim on their site, that they can have made any custom mold ya like, and they claim they are very nice. Has anyone seen or used one of these molds? They don't show any photos on their site. Would really like to see a photo before I order. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Munkin Posted July 8, 2008 Report Share Posted July 8, 2008 Although we only make silicone spin casting molds you may be interested in one of our start up programs. Feel free to contact me if you would like more information. Chuck Vanover Tight Line Anglers Products PH. 440-277-1511 Fax 440-277-9152 I have 3 or 4 molds from Shawn Collins that I bought before he became so popular. While these are very nice molds the best spinnerbait I can hand pour does not come close to the detail of the ones Chuck spincast for me. If you want to do any kind of volume I would go the spincast route. Allen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smallmouthaholic Posted July 8, 2008 Report Share Posted July 8, 2008 (edited) I hear ya small, I agree with everything ya said. I saw somewhere that there was an add for dragonfly lures, and they claim on their site, that they can have made any custom mold ya like, and they claim they are very nice. Has anyone seen or used one of these molds? They don't show any photos on their site. Would really like to see a photo before I order. I checked around and some of the prices were a moon shot- w/1-2 cavities max:eek: I'm trying a couple of reasonable sources for a few more projects and hopefully they'll turn out . I will still use Shawn Collins but will have to allocate 6-8 weeks additional wait time to the promised due date. His custom products are excellent and affordable.The two custom molds I just received are a work of art. Edited July 8, 2008 by smallmouthaholic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redear Posted July 9, 2008 Report Share Posted July 9, 2008 Munkin, thanks for the heads up. I am only pouring a couple hundred jigheads a year, in this style, because they are just for me and a few freinds. I don't have the time for selling these, so maybe the collins mold will suit me better. What do ya think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
