im in the process of setting up a feedback database. what are the important things that you want to hear from customers/surfers of your shapes?
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“How d’you like the color?”
Which way do the fins go?
Whether the board matched my style of surfing appropriately.
Particuarly horizontal vs vertical surfing.
As you probably know, thats probably the most under-utilized, and perhaps most critical design input information.
Good luck with the DB.
I think craftee nailed it. I am a totally rookie shaper and more of a buyer but from that perspective I’d say the consideration of vert vs horizontal style is hardly on most buyers’ radar. It should be but isn’t. Perhaps a fruitful marketing approach is that piece of education. Will get you better/more useful feedback and also lead to more satisfied buyers.
How did you find the durability of your board?
Did you find it easier/harder to ding than other boards you’ve owned?
How did you find the strength of the deck?
How did you find the strength of the bottom.
Did you feel the board was too light or heavy?
Did the board float you well?
Need to ask a bunch of questions about how the board performed in the different waves they have surfed on it.
Easier or harder to catch waves compared to other boards you have owned?
Simple stuff but a board literally imploding under my feet is not a favourite characteristic.
If they have trouble catching waves then that board could be on the used racks really soon.
I’m a backyard board builder. I’m in my forties. I don’t ride shortboards. When Clark went out of business I built two “prototype” EPS/Epoxy short boards to learn the materials and get feedback. The basic board design is based on what the local 20 year olds are riding. Green board slightly thicker and wider at the hip.
Feedback:
“The green board goes better than the orange board”
“All my boards are double concave, flat tail boards don’t work for me”
“Yeah I like the green one better”
“I had trouble catching waves with the orange board”
That’s four comments from four different people. Well, the orange board is too thin. Might work for a grom. Maybe the feedback is good.
A guy bought the green board. He gave me the best feedback.
“You really dialed in the rails on the green board”, “I really like this board ,something about the flat bottom makes the board stick to the wave” ,“Let’s work with this shape and see what would happen if we added a little Vee out the tail”
Most people don’t want to hurt your feelings. I told them from the beginning if the boards suck tell me…
Maybe the guy that bought the green board gave me bad feedback. Maybe he boosted my ego so I would make him another board for cheap!!!