Originally Posted by
rpenmanparker
....Let's say the process is the same either way. I am just maintaining that the customer has a right to the equivalent of a "certificate of analysis." It doesn't have to be on paper, it can be verbal or even just implied. The customer has a right to know that you verified the quality of the wheels with the easily accessed measurement systems that are available to all. If I interviewed a wheel builder who told me he didn't instrumentally check his product for conformance to his own personal specifications, I would simply say, "Sayonara, dude," and look elsewhere. ...
I disagree that the customer has any right to my internal work process. His rights are limited to a good product, and only that. I'm a big believer of the saying that
the proof of the pudding is in the eating. If I give you good pudding, you should enjoy it, and leave it's making to me.
You like numbers and people who rely on them. However if you came to me it would likely be based on reputation, or referral. By the same token,
if you went to a restaurant of with a chef of high repute, you wouldn't (or I wouldn't) call him out of the kitchen and cross examine him about his methods.
But you're right about one thing. If you asked me for numbers it would be a tossup. I might send you away, or I might toss you a tension meter and say please yourself.
BTW- while you feel entitled to have someone numerically confirm the quality of wheels, I'm sure you don't ask the same with everything you buy. You don't get process certificates when you buy any bike parts, cars, food, housing, and so on.