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A customer's weird comment totally flipped how I handle stain samples
I was showing a client stain options on a maple table, holding up my usual little wood squares. She looked at me dead serious and said, 'That's like picking a paint color from a postage stamp, you need to see it on the actual furniture.' It hit me she was right. Now I keep a sanded drawer front from every common wood type in the shop, and I do a quick 2-inch test patch right on a hidden spot of the piece before we decide. It adds maybe 5 minutes to the consult, but I haven't had a single 'it looks different' callback since. Anyone else do test patches directly on the piece, or is that overkill?
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benclark2mo ago
Honestly, that sounds like a lot of extra work for a small gain. I've found my clients trust the sample blocks just fine if you explain how the finish builds up. Doing a test on the piece itself feels like inviting doubt, like you're not sure of your own materials.
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david5622mo ago
Totally get what you're saying. That client was a genius. I had the same thing happen with a walnut dresser, the sample looked way too red. Did a spot on the inside of a leg and the real color was perfect. @benclark I used to think like you, but seeing it on the actual wood grain changes everything. It stops the "is it gonna look like that?" worry before it even starts. Now it's just part of my routine.
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I've seen that "inviting doubt" thing backfire a lot, and @david562's spot test actually builds way more trust.
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