Researching Your Past atmo -

[gjuffer]

The phone?
I haven't gotten a phone call in months, maybe more. It's all e now.
PS No cell phone, no iPhone, Just a land line - and it doesn't ring.
Also - I don't charge. Read the thread.
The Antiques Roadshow segment was interesting (to me).

I know you don't charge now -- the way I understood it you were trying to figure out whether or not to change "policies" and charge folk for looking up info about certain bikes. But I'll read the thread a couple more times just to be sure . . .

Didn't realize it was all e-mail. I get a lot of e-mails too -- I'm just jealous that you get e-mails about the history and lore of the products you make and all I get are inquiries into my reproductive health. If I could figure out a way to monetize those . . .

[e-RICHIE]

I know you don't charge now -- the way I understood it you were trying to figure out whether or not to change "policies" and charge folk for looking up info about certain bikes. But I'll read the thread a couple more times just to be sure . . .

Didn't realize it was all e-mail. I get a lot of e-mails too -- I'm just jealous that you get e-mails about the history and lore of the products you make and all I get are inquiries into my reproductive health. If I could figure out a way to monetize those . . .

Ya like I wrote somewhere above - if (IF) I even make a change to what might be called a policy,
it could take months or years to put into effect. And yeah - the phone as a business tool died
here at least seven years ago. Maybe more.

[blasdelf]

I'd be interested to hear more about why you feel this way. I don't see anything weird about it. It's a service, it takes time/effort, is not part of the builder's core business, etc.... I think, that someone like ER extends many courtesies already...everyone on this board benefits from them to some degree. If someone has a body of work that is substantial enough/collectable enough/is high value, etc... then an ancillary service like this is deserving of being priced and sold..It's certainly not nickle-and-diming, and it benefits both the builder and the inquirer. Sachs is probably one of the few builders who has to deal with this in any kind of serious capacity, I suspect.

Oh I wholeheartedly agree with you

But that doesn't mean there isn't something weird-feeling about it.

Effectively being the concierge in perpetuity for something you made-to-order specifically for a customer, that has changed hands several times in the intervening years.

[Peter Polack]

Another option that might help mitigate any "weird" feelings-

Require the customer to "pay" by making a donation to a charity. They send the check to you with a stamped envelope. You merely put the check in the envelope and send it on its way.

You end up looking good and the customer is satisfied.

[David Tollefson]

Another option that might help mitigate any "weird" feelings-

Require the customer to "pay" by making a donation to a charity. They send the check to you with a stamped envelope. You merely put the check in the envelope and send it on its way.

You end up looking good and the customer is satisfied.

I'm liking this idea.

[einreb]

Here's my hypothetical atmo - if folks are getting the info so they can profit from the sale of a frame you once made for someone else, what part of the gig is this?

This reminds me of a service that seems popular amongst the vintage porcha crowd that I always found amusing...

Certificate of Authenticity - Owner Services - Porsche Service - Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG

Model Year 1948 to 1993 $110.00
Model Year 1994 to Present $95.00

Q: Is this a Porsche? + $100
A: Yes, its a Porsche. -$100
= Everyone seems happy :shrugs:

-Bernie