First off, this post will be kind of lengthy, so I ask you to be patient.
I recently did a couple of jobs for a member here on TS.com. Below, you will see the work I performed on both jobs, and the charges.
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As you can see, it was not just a simple rebulding of a Perazzi, many of which I do. This job required the refitting of two different bbls to a non-matching receiver, and the other job required the fitting of another bbl to another non-matching receiver.
If it were just refitting, this is also not a labor intensive job, but because through the process of refitting the bbls, the forend lugs(hangers to some) also needed changing. Changing these lugs involved removing the old lugs, prepping the surface for the new lugs, placing the new lugs in the correct position and soldering in place. Once soldered, the flux needed to be removed, the area around the lugs polished, and then the bbls reblued. Each of the steps are itemized on the invoices.
It appears that this fella is/was confused as to the amount of work that was involved to do this kind of job, and refuses to pay in full for the work I completed for him. Through the correspondence we've had through emails, and me realizing this fact, I offerred a 20% dealer discount to the above invoices.
The following was mailed to me, telling me that my charges are inconsistant. The charge of $359.93, was for rebuilding the locking bolt and tightening the action for Dan Thome's DB-81. I charge a flat rate for this kind of job, but this disgruntled customer feels I should have charge him the same, though the two jobs are entirely different.
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I've recently emailed him several times with regards to the balance, and now he is telling me that his guns are not working properly. Though I thoroughly check and test fire each gun before it leaves here, he has told me that the ejector timing is off, and that one of the guns does not eject all the time, though during the first round the gun worked fine.
It is very possible that something has changed. All of my work is warranted for one year, so I asked him to send the gun or guns to me and I'll correct it, along with any other issue that may arise....return shipping charges paid by me. The customer refuses to return the gun and has since taken it to someone else to have it corrected, and paid him $250. In the last email I received, this "someone", did not correct the problem and the gun still does not eject with consistency and that the POI has changed. He says his gun is now "junk", and he could never "recoup" his costs, if he were to ever sell the guns. I've saved the TS.com links to all of his posts requesting this type of work, and the replies to him, the costs other gunsmiths have charged.
The balance still owed is a little over $600. This customer lives over 1000 miles from me in another state. So, filing a small claims suit against him seems frugal because of the costs associated.
Now, this is where I'm asking for help and/or advice. 75% of all my work, as many of you know, is billed when the gun is received back to the customer. I do not take credit cards and do not care to wait for checks to clear. I want the customer's gun back in their hands ASAP. The invoice is always attached to the outside of the box. Many of you WILL say that is my first mistake....yes it is, but I am not willing to change that.....YET.
Are there any avenues I can take...short of posting a name, to resolve this issue. I've offered in every email, to return the gun(s) for me to correct any problems. I also believe the original charges were very fair, but went ahead and discounted them. What more can I offer? Or do I write this guy off and take the loss. If I take the loss, his name will be posted, he then can have his side of the story or blast away at me.
Doug Braker