Hey Everyone,
Today, I'll be answering the question of why your order may be delayed if you ask for a design draft or a customized design for your item before we start making it.
A commonly asked question we get recently is why are my orders being delayed even though it normally took half the time it did when I ordered (another item) before?
This recent development is caused by an increased number of folks asking for design draft prior to us beginning the order.
Okay, picture this one long line of people in line at a school lunch.
You would normally go throught the line while people scoop their items onto the plate for you to eat. Rice, meat, veggies, drink. Sounds easy enough?
Now, what if one person decided to customize their plate? The meat must be cut a certain way, cooked at a certain temp, for a certain length of time, with a different type of seasoning?
Well, the other folks in the line, would be delayed, as the person prepared this order.
This is what we're facing currently.
The process is normally:
#1 - Make the order, and making half payment so we can order the gold to get started.
(Alright simple enough)
#2 - We order the gold/silver
#3 - We get the metal and start engraving the name
#4 - Item is formed and joned together
#5 - Fully formed braelet/pendant/ring is given to the engraver
#6 - Engraver draws directly onto the metal a rough sketch and begins the engraving process then and there; This results in a more natural flowing design.
The process when a design draft is requested:
#1 - Make the order, and making half payment so we can order the gold to get started.
(Alright simple enough)
#2 - We order the gold/silver
#3 - We get the metal and need to work on a draft to show customer.
#4 - Draft needs to be made by person who is responsible for engraving the name (which in turn delays all the customers in the line behind them)
#5 - Draft is completed and sent to customer
#6 - Customer wants to make changes
#7- Another Draft is sent; Back and forth until custoemr is satisfied with design
#8 - Customer approves design
#9 - Finally name can be engraved
#10 - Item is formed and joned together
#11 - Fully formed braelet/pendant/ring is given to the engraver
#12 - Engraver must trace image directly from approved draft and begins the engraving process having to make sure is is exactly like the draft, so that customer cannot find fault in design. This results in a exact stenciled replica of design on item.
There are pros and cons to this whole process for sure.
But it boils down to these facts.
Those that request design drafts are now in a separate line
FOR NORMAL CUSTOMERS:
PROS: You get your items sooner
CONS: You will have to trust us with the design you requested
FOR DESIGN DRAFT REQUESTERS:
PROS: You get to know exactly what the design layout looks like.
CONS: You will have to wait longer.
For those who are a bit sad/frustrated, here are some side notes you need to consider:
- We do not charge our customers for design drafts
- Nor do we charge to engrave the customized designs
- We do not charge to engrave names
- We do not charge to add color to a name
So, in order to keep this whole process FAIR to the customers who are also in line but are not requesting a design draft, we delay the orders that require a design draft so that we can engraved the names for the orders that trust our engravers to make sure their designs are nicely placed on their items.
Hope this clearly answers the question and if you have any other questions, feel free to email us and ask!