so ....this isn't the first time its happened to me. Im not going to mention any names either. What do you do , when you buy an expensive custom made call from a well known builder and it sounds like hammered dog crap. I own over 100 box calls. Mostly custom made ones, and have been a part of building some custom made calls myself with a friend of mine who makes them. I know....some calls just don't cut it. Some calls may have different pitches per say that people prefer, etc....so there is a reason to intentionally build calls that sound differently however.....on a box call there is some very elementary things the calls absolutely has to be able to do. 2 note yelp, high to low, and roll over. Some calls are described as "clear"...no rasp. Some calls take pressure to make them roll over and produce both notes, some calls are specifically designed to run a certain way like a hen box with no spring...yada yada yada....I get it. But Ive seen this multiple times now, and both times from well known makers and ive even seen this making calls with my buddy. What I like to call the dreaded "goose" sound. A raised spot on the paddle from a knot or such can cause this....however this isn't the case on this particular call. Anyway...this call does not sound like a turkey. It just don't. It does not produce 2 notes in a high to low orientation. matter of fact it....if you run it full swipe it acutally produces 3 full distinct notes. So I try to only run it partial swipe with and without pressure.....doesn't matter. the call is not something I would even remotely consider taking to woods....and Im hear to tell you, the sound don't matter that much. It really don't.....we really over think how well are calling is. I consider myself an above average caller but not great by any means.....so when I say I wouldn't take it to the woods....its bad. what do you fellas do in these situations. I do not like to insult people in situations like these.....the guy made the call...he knows dang well what it sounds like. I would love to him hey man....this call does not sound good, like at all, but I prefer to avoid confrontations....especially in relatively fragile sport like we have. What would you do.....Tell him....or just stick on the shelf. It is a box call, and cost 200 bucks.
Most builders this day and time will tell you, if your not happy with the call just return it and they will make it right. My suggestion is give him a chance to make it right. IMO
Can you put a sound file on here? I would like to hear it.
Take it goose hunting,
you could be on the cutting edge of something new in the goose blind
i traded for one that a few rave about, i could get it to sound like a dying chicken, i got two pots that i think about putting in the trash every trash day..
Anybody who charges $200 for a call should darn well make it right if the call is a dud.
I might be willing to eat $40 to avoid a confrontation, but $200? Ultimately that is for you to decide. I would contact him, if it were me.
Just let him know your disappointed.
I bet he mistakenly sent you a prototype for his new Goose call he's releasing this Fall.
You probably hit the jackpot and don't realize it yet!
Did to hear the call before you purchase ? if so did you like it? and yes i would contact the builder.
Quote from: Greg Massey on June 29, 2021, 09:57:01 PM
Most builders this day and time will tell you, if your not happy with the call just return it and they will make it right. My suggestion is give him a chance to make it right. IMO
I would follow that step and see what results you get, 9 out of 10 times the builder will tell you to send it back and he will make you another one or refund your money. Give him a chance to correct the issue before you get angry about a call you don't like and then start a post that will lead to you getting all kind of opinions of what you should do. JMO
I've had issues with calls in the past and I've never had a callmaker not make it right. I'd reach out and be honest.
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Quote from: Yelper on June 30, 2021, 06:46:31 AM
Quote from: Greg Massey on June 29, 2021, 09:57:01 PM
Most builders this day and time will tell you, if your not happy with the call just return it and they will make it right. My suggestion is give him a chance to make it right. IMO
I would follow that step and see what results you get, 9 out of 10 times the builder will tell you to send it back and he will make you another one or refund your money. Give him a chance to correct the issue before you get angry about a call you don't like and then start a post that will lead to you getting all kind of opinions of what you should do. JMO
I agree with both of these posts, from my limited experience any call maker worth buying from will make it right. I have had 1 call I have purchased second hand that has a squeaky noise at the screw and I contacted the maker for advise on how I may be able to fix it and even though he knew I was not the original owner he told me to just send it to him and he would fix it free of charge. I was given a call by a member here and one rail played fine but the other sounded horrible, again this second maker also fixed it free of charge so to save him some money instead of having him ship it to me I just had him bring it to the NE Call Makers Summit with the rest of the calls he was going to be selling. I got back a call that sounded great on both sides and got to meet a good man and make a new friend in the process. He is a member here by the way but I don't like to drop names but he can if he wants to after reading this.
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A quality well known call maker is sure to make it right for sure...........
but I prefer to avoid confrontations....especially in relatively fragile sport like we have. What would you do.....Tell him....or just stick on the shelf. It is a box call, and cost 200 bucks.
At that price for a box you have really narrowed down the call builders that charge that much for a box. I can only think of 5 box call builders that charge that much for a hunting grade box and they would definitely work with you if you are unhappy with their call.
Any well known call maker would rather fix it or return your money than get a bad report from anyone because reputation is what sells calls. Talk to him.
All the advice is good...would suggest you ask for a sound file on any call prior to purchasing...that way there is no mystery and I haven't met a callmaker who wouldn't do that. I believe most of them would say reputation is more important than money. You have to speak up though...just putting it on the shelf is not right for you nor the callmaker.
I'm sure this isn't the first time the call maker had a dissatisfied customer. Call makers are dealing with the public. No one can have 100% satisfaction 100% of the time.
Anyone charging $200 for a call want happy customers. It's how they get the ability to charge $200 per call.
Give him the chance to make it right. That way you'll both be happy.
Quote from: Crghss on June 30, 2021, 07:39:56 PM
Anyone charging $200 for a call want happy customers. It's how they get the ability to charge $200 per call.
Give him the chance to make it right. That way you'll both be happy.
^^^^^
This.
The guys charging $200 are doing it because their work is of that quality and in that kind of demand. They have earned a reputation and they darned well want to keep it. I cannot think of a single builder charging $200 or more that would not be 110% approachable on your issue and 150% willing to fix it.
Well hats off to you for not selling it or trading it to someone else. I have gotten a call or 2 here from guys that I threw in a fire pit because they were terrible. I either traded for or bought because of who the maker was. I also have dealt with a couple of makers whom I will absolutely never deal with again or own one of their calls.
There should be no hesitation as to your decision and there would be no confrontation involved. Very simply, you the customer are not happy, for whatever reason. You should contact the callmaker and let them know your position. There are only a few callmakers out there charging $200 for a box call. I suspect/hope this callmaker would accept your concerns and refund your $ or better yet make you replacement call with a sound file first.
Quote from: Bedge7767 on June 29, 2021, 10:15:40 PM
Can you put a sound file on here? I would like to hear it.
sorry im late to responding , ive been off work about 5 days. yes I will put a sound file on here when I get the chance. may be a few more days.
Quote from: rodney gillikin on June 30, 2021, 05:06:24 AM
Did to hear the call before you purchase ? if so did you like it? and yes i would contact the builder.
no I didn't hear it....this is a waiting list , one at a time situation
Quote from: Yelper on June 30, 2021, 06:46:31 AM
Quote from: Greg Massey on June 29, 2021, 09:57:01 PM
Most builders this day and time will tell you, if your not happy with the call just return it and they will make it right. My suggestion is give him a chance to make it right. IMO
I would follow that step and see what results you get, 9 out of 10 times the builder will tell you to send it back and he will make you another one or refund your money. Give him a chance to correct the issue before you get angry about a call you don't like and then start a post that will lead to you getting all kind of opinions of what you should do. JMO
am I angry...disappointed...theres a lot better things to be angry about in life than a turkey call.... but I didn't mention the maker. Ive never sent a call back before even though ive bought a few duds in my day. Which is why I made the post...I was curious if folks typically send them back. I wouldn't know, ive never done it. after seeing these replies that's what im going to do, or attempt to at least
Quote from: Yelper on June 30, 2021, 09:06:54 AM
but I prefer to avoid confrontations....especially in relatively fragile sport like we have. What would you do.....Tell him....or just stick on the shelf. It is a box call, and cost 200 bucks.
At that price for a box you have really narrowed down the call builders that charge that much for a box. I can only think of 5 box call builders that charge that much for a hunting grade box and they would definitely work with you if you are unhappy with their call.
I guess I shouldn't have mentioned what I payed for it then.
The cost of the call really isn't the important part of your question at the beginning anyway, if it was a $100 box or a $250 dollar box most of the call makers will work with you even if it is a refund. I have had the same thing happen with a couple of calls and have always got good results by contacting the call maker and discussing the call and what I was looking for as far as a sound.
Hopefully you have contacted the call maker and you are getting it worked out. :)
this is my first day back reading this post, I haven't contacted him yet but I do plan on it. Its good to know that seems what most of you have done in these situations.
Put up a sound file.
As a callmaker i would want to know and recommend sending it back to him . This is why i send a call before i am paid for the call. i have had a call or two returned but if you don't know there is a problem with a call then you may be make the same mistake twice. I never want someone to be unhappy with a call. The callmaker should understand.
Just put it on Ebay, someone will pay 5 times what it's worth and they won't know what it is supposed to sound like anyway! :TooFunny:
I'd contact and send it back like others have suggested.
I look at it as a $200+ call is like an heirloom. The guy who made that call is a serious craftsman and put his name on it. Hes been doing it a long time.. He expects that call to be passed down through generations of users, to outlive him. I mean the guy's kidda famous in our circles, that's why you rightfully didn't mention his name. If it's lousy he'll probably want to make it right for his names sake. Give him the chace to do that. Even great artists have lesser quality works. He let it slip through accidentally. There's no way he intended on building you a sub par call.
Quote from: Sixes on July 08, 2021, 10:34:42 AM
Just put it on Ebay, someone will pay 5 times what it's worth and they won't know what it is supposed to sound like anyway! :TooFunny:
I'd contact and send it back like others have suggested.
NOW THIS IS FUNNY >>> :TooFunny:
Quote from: Sixes on July 08, 2021, 10:34:42 AM
Just put it on Ebay, someone will pay 5 times what it's worth and they won't know what it is supposed to sound like anyway! :TooFunny:
I'd contact and send it back like others have suggested.
Best advice so far......
For 1/4 the cost you could have a call you couldn't wait to hunt. We are only as good as the last call from the shop. You could just send it back and ask him to honestly judge the sound of the call. Then send another please. Or ask for a refund. I have many singers available.
No callmaker is perfect and mistakes happen. I'm sure he will gladly take it back and make it right.
I have two calls made by the same call maker. One a box I won in a contest the other a scratch box given to me. Box sound terrible but I display it with my award. The scratch box is not my thing so it`s in the box with other calls. I have no investment in either one so no complaints. But in your case I would be having a polite conversation with the maker or you`ll never be happy. Hope it works out for you.