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RobF -> RE: Octopus Wood Supplier (Oct. 4 2022 0:08:07)
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I dealt with Octopus a number of years ago had an almost identical experience as you did concerning the delayed shipping time. Thing is, I was sent a photo of the prepared shipment within days of placing the order, so I’m not sure where the hold-up was. It’s possible the delay was at the post office. All I know is after a couple of months I indicated I had to open up a PayPal request for refund before the deadline ran out and one week later the material arrived, postmarked just about the day after I indicated I’d be filing the refund request.
On a positive note, and in their defence, the wood I received was OK, it was pretty freshly cut but once aged it was good. It was also priced very fairly for what it was, so I have no complaints about the product itself, save that some of the dimensions were so tight I had pretty well zero wiggle room in how it could be used.
Hopefully they’ve upped their game in the years since. I don’t wish ill on anyone and like to give the benefit of the doubt, but fairness has to run both ways.
That being said, I wouldn’t be happy if I was sent pre-scarfed necks, I’d want either my money back or a substantial discount. In general, I don’t like it when wood is overly processed by the seller, although I do understand the need to be reasonable and to have some degree of flexibility. But things like cutting backs or tops into “coffin” shapes, pre-thicknessing to the absolute minimum usable dimension, calling anything from 45 degrees or up an acceptable definition of quarter, what you experienced with the scarf jointed necks, shorting dimensions, the list goes on, none of that stuff is acceptable unless it’s pictured and disclosed up front. It’s almost always a transparent attempt by the supplier to squeeze a bit more profit out of the raw materials, but it’s at the expense of usability for the customer, who is essentially robbed of their discretion. It sucks. I’ve experienced everything I just listed and more (except the pre-scarfed necks). It’s hair-pullingly frustrating at times.
As an aside to the non-makers who are wondering why this stuff is an issue…
When buying across borders the purchaser is pretty well at the mercy of the honesty, conscientiousness, and skill of the supplier. If the product doesn’t meet expectations the customer is disadvantaged not only in the ability to return or negotiate a discount, but in how (or even if) they can use the materials in crafting the end product. I’ve had numerous bad experiences when purchasing wood across borders (with the company referred to in this thread being responsible for only one of them).
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