Egad.
Not trying to make an example of you, Shaman, but hope to use this as a general example of cyber-life differences from the real world.
Please let me borrow from Womble's page-book here...
Wording on the Internet can be everything.
Valid Frustration
Everyone I know that's EVER ordered a board has at one time or another had to wait, and been frustrated as a result. Heck, we're excited to get the goods.
NORMALLY, one would contact the shaper, and probably also poll those that may have past experience to help reset expectations.
It helps to hear that a longer wait is possible, but the goods are worth the wait. Conversely, it may lead to other actions, including pulling the plug on the order.
If you're looking for truth, keep your opinion close to your chest
It's HOW it's approached on the Internet.
Voicing frustration is natural. That said, going back to the first post, this could have been raised as a 'help me reset my expectations,' vs. 'where's my board, the shaper's business sux.'
It doesn't matter whether it's true or not. The tone puts the audience into a defensive posture (if applicable,) and for everyone else, entrenches your position.
In other words, without consideration for multiple audiences (of which you recognized,) people are bound to polarize. It puts you on the defensive, despite the Wall Street truth that 'the Customer is always right.'
If the question is probing, and without opinion, the audiences will sound in towards the shaper, and not you. You get the positives, negatives and neutrals. I think that's what you're after.
Where to from here?
Back to here and now. Of course, behind the Internet is reality. Your initial negative position flows to the 'inner circle*' and back to the shaper.
Guess what? You're right back to the starting point... a direct conversation with your shaper.
Only worse. This time, there's (more) conflict. This thread probably didn't help your frustration, and chances are the shaper will be frustrated.
BTW, I'm not even considering the past (conversations, alternate vs. normal path, etc.) It's all about 'how.'
Suggest beating the rumor-mill by contacting the shaper. Just be honest and try to make it work. Like Kidrock said, these are crafted products that, right or wrong, take as long as they take.
BTW, you want demand? Try ordering a Danny Hess wood board. One guy, huge demand. It's WAY longer than two months. Boards from abroad? Better pad that turnaround time, as well as plan for some odd trip or arrangement to pick it up.
Remember the Therapy Post
For folks in general, again, I suggest a 'therapy post' if you expect a controversy. Chances are, if you think there's one, there is one.
Write it up, DON'T post it, and walk away.
Come back and noodle how what was written might be taken across the community.
One thing about the Internet... all of what is written is digested as Word. It lingers. Associations are made.
I always try to keep my brother's advise in the back of my mind... 'Don't be That Guy.' (It still doesn't always help!
)
Sorry for the pontification. Shaman, it's an all-to-easy trap on the Internet that I've unfortunately learned the exact same way. While it seems like a tight conversation, it's anything but.
*Footnote: Whoever that may be, and certainly does NOT include Cap'n
Kneemo... ever consider your next Username to be 'The Outsider?'