This is from our Ann Arbor Guitars website. When I wrote it I had two things in mind. First I wanted a disclaimer of sorts as something to point to if I need to when for example we let someone know that we are referring them elsewhere because we don't spray copious amounts of finish at our location. Or, in other words we are declining on a job because of a physical limitation of our business. We are located between several fine.... dining... establishments and the City of A2 did ask us to limit our spraying of toxic finishes. BTW this is not a bad thing for we humans either.............
Second I also wanted boiler plate when we decline on a job for other reasons that might include the idea that we have a whack job making unreasonable requests who even after much time trying to explain how things, how guitars work we believe that they will never be happy with anyone's work. This personality that I am describing exists and if you do any volume of repair work at all they will surely come your way eventually and no I am not calling you Shirley....
Here is the statement from our web site:
"We don’t attempt to be all things to all folks: On rare occasion we may decline on a job. The reasons will also be customer centric in nature meaning that for one reason or another we believe that you may be better served elsewhere. Examples are refinishing guitars, this is something that we don’t do but would be happy to refer you to someone else. The value to our clients in understanding our own limitations is that your instrument will never be subjected to someone’s learning curve...."
Ever partake of a service and the provider never comes though and delivers......
The only push back that I've ever received was the thinking that we don't want it perceived that we are not capable of some sort of job, maybe refinishing, etc. Even some years later I still believe that ego in this business cuts both ways... and can get one who is attempting to be all things to all folks into enough trouble that your work becomes unpleasant for you and/or others.....
Lastly we have a friend who decided to decline on an entire class of work because he does not like doing these operations. His decision was to decline for a year and see how badly it harmed his business.
When the jury was in he made more money that year doing more of what he liked doing and not doing any of what he dreaded. I'm not surprised and again believe very strongly that declining on some jobs with good reasons even if they are specific to you, your location, your skill set, etc. is simply being honest, is advisable in my view, and will help you live to play another day AND enjoy playing!
This is a business that if your view is always the money you will fail. Instead the money has to be incidental to 1) providing exceptional service and value, 2). Doing so on time, under budget, and over and over and over again predictably and 3) remaining in touch with the idea.... that who wins at this may not at the end of the day be the world's best Luthier but they sure as shooting will have grown to understand that value has no value.... if you can't deliver it to the people who need it and want it.
YMMV
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