Shaped board, 5 months later.....

[GoofySlide]

I ordered a board from a shaper who has a rep for taking some time to get a board shaped. I was aware of this. However, it's been 5 months and I hit them up a couple times and in return was told they would be working on it that week, both times. I have had boards shaped and completed within 8 to 10 weeks from other shapers in the past. I'm starting to kinda lose my stoke and not feel the respect I deserve in this process where my money is tied up.. I don't feel like the old school mentality of putting people on the back burner when your buddy wants a board shaped or a pro comes in for a board happens. So, my bad for hoping to get this board sooner. At this point I am starting to wonder if I just take loss and go elsewhere (my deposit), or I wait it out.

They shape great boards and it's unfortunate that this will be my last transaction with them. Anyone go through this? And how dd you handle it, just practice Mahalo?

Gracias
Miguel

[waikikikichan]

1) you said it yourself, you knew he takes a longtime.
2) you knew he shapes great boards.
So he's more popular than other shapers, so he's more busy. People here in Japan wait 2 hours in long lines for a bowl of ramen right next to another ramen shop with empty seats. Why do you think ?

Questions for you:
a) are you his buddy ?
b) are you his pro sponsored rider ?
c) Has there been good swells recently?
d) Did he give you a time frame, written down ?

At this point I am starting to wonder if I just take loss and go elsewhere (my deposit), or I wait it out.
They shape great boards and it's unfortunate that this will be my last transaction with them.

So then, take your money elsewhere. It moves up the next person in line who does appreciates the quality and performance worth waiting for.

[RinkyDink]

That happened to a friend of mine. He was friends with the shaper he paid money to for a board. When he asked him how it was going, the response was something like broke up with my girlfriend, started drinking again, don't have any money for a blank, yada yada yada. My friend just wrote it off. I guess it happens. My friend still runs into the shaper in the beach parking lot and it's like nothing ever happened. I'm increasingly convinced that surfboard shaping isn't about surfing; it's about selling T-shirts. The guy who shapes for Santa Cruz Surfboards probably made about twenty grand in surfboard sales profits, but $2 million in T-shirt/hoodie sales.

[oldmansurfer]

I have been fortunate to have a good relationship with my shapers. The slowest I usually get a board is two months though my previous shaper was quicker than that. Usually they will tell me it should be ready by this date and usually it will be but most of the time. I am not really wanting a new board much because I like that one I am currently using so much that I don't care if it takes a while. I usually get new boards because I am preparing for the future not because of immediate need.

[GoofySlide]

I appreciate the feedback guys. I am a Queensland local and a lifelong surfer. I strive for positivity and motivating things in life, which is probally why I love surfing. So I get excited, stoked and passionate about surfing. The boards, the breaks, our eco system and seeing my son riding his first wave last weekend. It's never a case of me "not appreciating" the craft behind building boards. I would never buy custom boards, spend my time traveling to breaks or work in the surf industry if that was the case. I was just looking to hear from people that had expierenced this or had things to say, not so much confrontational or negative conversation about someone, the industry or what have you.

I will be heading to Thailand for a couple months and plan to post pictures of my travels. I am still trying to be that 8 year old that caught his first wave, just 38 years later.

Mahalo!

[kookextraordinaire]

5 months is ridiculous. Is he cutting down redwood trees to shape your board? Collecting driftwood?

Stop by with a 6 pack of beer or perhaps some special "brownies" (depending on his preference) . He'll turn around that board in no time.

[waikikikichan]

Like yourself, I've work in the surf industry all my life. So you should know that when a shaper ( well, actually the glasser ) says 3-4 weeks, he means 5-6 weeks. When there's a good swell running, the factory shuts down and everyone goes surf. They have the same stoke and passion to surf as you. You should also already have experienced the let down when customers' custom orders don't come out exactly how they envisioned. I always tell people buy off the rack, unless you need custom graphics or custom glassing schedule. Why ? You can see, feel , weigh what you're getting right in front of you. Plus it's already cured.