Curiosity beckons. Have you had a response from Trent yet?
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I emailed him a couple of weeks ago, and he replied. Seems he's quite back logged, and has informed me that he would need at least another six months before conpleting my order, now nine months ago.
He offered a refund of my deposit if I didn't want to wait. I talked it over with SWMBO and decided that I wanted a set from Trent no matter how long it takes. I would prefer that his timeframe matched his estimate (within reason of course), but at the end of the day, I'm prepared to wait.
I have an order in for some chisels as well. Could someone in the know please PM me a contact email for Trent.
Thanks
Peter
Although I'm sure Trent is a great guy, drinking and depression are not a recipe for a sucessful business. Before anyone gets offended by my comments, I like a lot of you, have been waiting for over a year for an order that was payed for in full. After many unanswered emails, I contacted someone who knows Trent personally and asked if they knew why Trent wasn't answering emails and was told about his illnesses. Trent is an incredibly good craftsman. But knowing what I know now I'm pretty sure all the undelivered back orders aren't entirely due to the work load. I do have a set of his chisels that I received a couple of years ago, and that order took about nine months, so I feel fortunate that I did actually receive them. I really don't expect to receive this order or get my money back. No one should have to wait five years for a set of custom made anything. Yes, quality work takes time but it doesn't take five years or even two. Trent certainly wouldn't be the first custom toolmaker to go out of business and leave customers hanging. I sincerely hope that everyone with an outstanding order receives that order, and I have to eat my words, but experience tells me his personal issues have completely and negitively affected his business. Weather I ever receive my order or a refund, I wish Trent and his family the best. There are things in life that can overwhelm the best of us.
I hope you guys get your chisels eventually, but I hope also that Trent gets himself out of his depression. It is a horrible thing, and if it is to the point that it is affecting his ability to function....well, I just hope he can get himself back out of it or get help from someone.
Trent is the enigma of the chisel making world. I used to travel from Queensland to NSW and pass right by his door in Warialda. I called in on him about three times and immediately connected with him. He is charming, engaging and so knowledgeable. He is also just a "knockabout" kind of bloke. I used to look forward to breaking my journey with a visit to him and then he moved to the Brisbane area.
He had a frightening encounter with cancer, which he survived and now it does appear that depression has it's ugly grip on him, although I have not been in touch with him since he moved back to Brisbane, which could be coming up to two years now.
Perhaps through this Forum and specifically this thread we could encourage him to return to the workforce. I know that friends of his watch and participate on the Forum and perhaps they could make him aware that we are behind him on the road back to health.
Of course we have the agenda that we want our chisels. That is because Trent is arguably the best chisel maker in the western world and he is here in Australia: One of our own if you like. I have seen his workshop (the Warialda one) and his chisels including that chest of all his chisels that I posted a while back.
I would really like to think that he will be able to fulfill his order book so that he is remembered for the legendary toolmaker that he is.
Yes, I have a set on order too.
Regards
Paul
I have more than a few chisels on order with Trent. I have faith that he is trying to get back on top of life and make good on his back orders.
When I asked if it were true that he was winding up businesses he was pretty keen to reassure me that he will make good on his obligations.
I have no expectations but I hope it all comes together for him in 2016. Time will tell. I waited over two years for my first set. The tools are superb.
As a sufferer of depression for more than 25 years I can imagine Trent's circumstance. Many times I have had work in front of me to do but just couldn't get to! Depression has a paralysing effect on your ability to get going. With me it is a mountain just too big to climb or deal with. Then the "pendulum" will swing the other way and I can function for a time before the "pendulum" swings back. Its a bugger of a thing and not easy to put up with.
I feel for Trent even though I don't know him. His situation will not change over night. I'm sure he would appreciate people with outstanding orders to give him time
I'm sure he would appreciate people with outstanding orders to give him time[/QUOTE]
i would like to know how John Saxton feels about " giving him time" seeing as he's been waiting since 2011 ( 😳) for his chisels. That's amost impossible to comprehend. At a year I start getting impatient ,but in five years he could have finished an apprenticeship in chisel making and set up a business of his own😄
Anyone get their chisels this year?
Nope. I'd love to get my money back, but haven't tried contacting Trent recently. Any one else heard anything?
I have tried emailing at least three times with no response. At this point I too would like my deposit back given I have been waiting for over two years now.
Mine ordered February 2011 payment accepted,I would also like my full payment back(which was made in good faith) if he cannot deliver on my order.
There is no doubt that he makes a fine product as I have a previous set from him,however I want to live long enough to get the pleasure out of the chisels I ordered if he could only deliver,I reckon I would be close to the head of the queue.
Pointless emailing ,it goes non-responsive every time.
Cheers:)
I really do empathise with the issues Trent has had to deal with which I have mentioned on occasion , he may still be dealing with some of these health concerns, however there is also the option of a good business strategy in offering to reply through any means with a constructive look towards satisfaction with clientele.Quote:
i would like to know how John Saxton feels about " giving him time" seeing as he's been waiting since 2011 ( ��) for his chisels. That's amost impossible to comprehend. At a year I start getting impatient ,but in five years he could have finished an apprenticeship in chisel making and set up a business of his own��