Beaver Bushcraft (Shark Designs)

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ANDYLASER

Nomad
Mar 27, 2004
255
66
SOUTHAMPTON
Is it just me, or is this outfit useless/incompetent?

I quite fancied one of their belts and dropped them an email with a couple of questions. I received an automated email promising to get back to me "as soon as possible". That was on 16th October.

On the 24th October, I sent a polite reminder asking if they could reply to my original query to themselves. Still no reply from them. I guess their business is so successful they dont need my cash.

So if you are looking for bespoke leather-work, it might be prudent to look elsewhere.
Can anyone recommend a supplier of a decent belt.
 

Broch

Life Member
Jan 18, 2009
7,981
7,757
Mid Wales
www.mont-hmg.co.uk
I don't know, I have no direct experience of using them, but running a small business can be very difficult when things get too hectic or personal life gets in the way for a while. No excuse I know but I do tend to try and give business the opportunity to get it together when they're offering something a bit different - as I believe they are. So I would have tried calling them on the phone before slagging them off to at least try and see if they're a company worth dealing with.

Having said al that, you could try Hamish (AKS dreadhead on this forum) - he made me a fantastic bespoke leather hat earlier this year :)

Or... go on his belt making workshop he's promoting on another thread :)
 
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Nice65

Brilliant!
Apr 16, 2009
6,438
2,859
W.Sussex
Strange. Shark Designs came out with some interesting bits of kit when they started a few years ago.

There’s a phone number on the website, maybe try calling? Though, I’m like you, if I take an interest in something online and make an enquiry, then don’t get a reply, I’ll go elsewhere.

I’ve seen enough of Dreadheads work to recommend him, and Geoff Wood springs to mind as another excellent maker.
 
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Barney Rubble

Settler
Sep 16, 2013
552
280
Rochester, Kent
youtube.com
To be honest, this is the first time I've heard of anyone having isssues with Beaver Bushcraft. I've bought a few things from them (one fairly recently) and, have always found their customer service to be very good. As mentioned, give them a call, they're usually very amenable.
 
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ANDGRIN

Full Member
Jun 4, 2004
41
8
63
Bristol
I have had excellent service from Beaver/Shark Designs on two different orders for leatherwork and a steel striker and tinder supplies. They emailed regularly to keep me updated on the progress of the leather pouch order.
I have no connection to the company just a satisfied customer.
Cheers Andy
 
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Malcolm Redfearn

New Member
Mar 27, 2019
1
1
64
Leeds
Beaver Bushcraft are probably the finest of all the cottage industries I've ever dealt with. They go out of their way, going above and beyond in every aspect of their business..
I have bought 2 of their belts, one of which was a gift for a friend. I've also bought a few steels, a fero rod, a Hudson Bay tin, a leather cased solar lens, 2 soft leather pouches, a hard leather pouch, a shark bushcraft and survival knife, the list goes on.. All these items were separate purchases, so as you can see, I keep going back to then. Why? Because they add the personal touch. They communicate respectfully with you. They offer advice. They deal with you as though you are personal friends.. and they back up this service with well thought out instructional videos of how to use their items..
 
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Mark Hordon

Member
Apr 12, 2019
12
8
62
Snodland
Is it just me, or is this outfit useless/incompetent?

I quite fancied one of their belts and dropped them an email with a couple of questions. I received an automated email promising to get back to me "as soon as possible". That was on 16th October.

On the 24th October, I sent a polite reminder asking if they could reply to my original query to themselves. Still no reply from them. I guess their business is so successful they dont need my cash.

So if you are looking for bespoke leather-work, it might be prudent to look elsewhere.
Can anyone recommend a supplier of a decent belt.
 

Mark Hordon

Member
Apr 12, 2019
12
8
62
Snodland
Hi Andy, We have only just seen your comment on this Forum. It's very, very unusual for us not to respond to a Customer Enquiry, and for that I can only apologise most profusely. We have done a search through all our emails on our Beaver Bushcraft website and can find no emails from yourself or your enquiry.
May we enquire what email address you used? I know this may be too late now but I just wanted to re-assure you that to our knowledge we have never ignored a customer enquiry yet lol (we need the money just like every other person!!!).
Re-assuring you of our best intentions at all times.
Kindest regards
Mark Hordon @ Beaver Bushcraft
 

shaneh

Nomad
Feb 10, 2009
333
33
50
Colchester
When I first started out I bought a LOT of Shark Designs equipment especially in there Fire Starting Kit Department, experimenting with different types of tinder, they were extremely helpful giving hints and tips along my way, I always felt like I was being treated as a friend, rather than a customer.

Nothing but professionalism at all times, with a friendly approach as stated above, which was why I kept going back...

I still have some of there kit from Way back which has traveled with me on all my adventures.

My only disappointment (in the company) since there amalgamation and name change is that they dropped there small square tabbacco tins which there tinder came so neatly packed in. Lol
 
Last edited:

Mark Hordon

Member
Apr 12, 2019
12
8
62
Snodland
Beaver Bushcraft are probably the finest of all the cottage industries I've ever dealt with. They go out of their way, going above and beyond in every aspect of their business..
I have bought 2 of their belts, one of which was a gift for a friend. I've also bought a few steels, a fero rod, a Hudson Bay tin, a leather cased solar lens, 2 soft leather pouches, a hard leather pouch, a shark bushcraft and survival knife, the list goes on.. All these items were separate purchases, so as you can see, I keep going back to then. Why? Because they add the personal touch. They communicate respectfully with you. They offer advice. They deal with you as though you are personal friends.. and they back up this service with well thought out instructional videos of how to use their items..
 

Mark Hordon

Member
Apr 12, 2019
12
8
62
Snodland
Thank you Malcolm for your kind words. That means a great deal to us when we hear this kind of feedback. Only just joined this Forum, so this is all new to us lol. Thanks once again. Mark @ Beaver Bushcraft
 
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Mark Hordon

Member
Apr 12, 2019
12
8
62
Snodland
When I first started out I bought a LOT of Shark Designs equipment especially in there Fire Starting Kit Department, experimenting with different types of tinder, they were extremely helpful giving hints and tips along my way, I was always treated as a friend, rather than a customer.

Nothing but professionalism at all times, with a friendly approach as stated above, which was why I kept going back...

I still have some of there kit from Way back which has traveled with me on all my adventures.
 

Mark Hordon

Member
Apr 12, 2019
12
8
62
Snodland
I have had excellent service from Beaver/Shark Designs on two different orders for leatherwork and a steel striker and tinder supplies. They emailed regularly to keep me updated on the progress of the leather pouch order.
I have no connection to the company just a satisfied customer.
Cheers Andy
 

Mark Hordon

Member
Apr 12, 2019
12
8
62
Snodland
I'm so pleased to hear that. I've only just joined this Forum as I saw the post that Andy by shear chance and wanted to know what we had done wrong lol. Glad to hear we got something right :)
Mark @ Beaver Bushcraft
 

C_Claycomb

Moderator staff
Mod
Oct 6, 2003
7,355
2,365
Bedfordshire
I'm so pleased to hear that. I've only just joined this Forum as I saw the post that Andy by shear chance and wanted to know what we had done wrong lol. Glad to hear we got something right :)
Mark @ Beaver Bushcraft

Mark Hordon,

Please post replies without creating two posts, one quoting the person you are addressing, and one with your reply. You can do it all in a single post. As demonstrated here. I can't say that I have ever seen anyone else do it the way you are, so I don't know what to say to help you get it right, but doing them as separate posts makes the thread harder to read for other people.

Regards

Chris
 

Mark Hordon

Member
Apr 12, 2019
12
8
62
Snodland
Mark Hordon,

Please post replies without creating two posts, one quoting the person you are addressing, and one with your reply. You can do it all in a single post. As demonstrated here. I can't say that I have ever seen anyone else do it the way you are, so I don't know what to say to help you get it right, but doing them as separate posts makes the thread harder to read for other people.

Regards

Chris
 

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