A Note on the Warranty, and the Spa Service

Fiddleback

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I need to clarify the warranty and clean up (spa service) policies for Fiddleback Forge, Inc. These changes are now necessary for three reasons. First, I need to address the damage of knives during alteration by outside companies and individuals. Secondly, I need to make sure that everone understands the clean up and re-mark (free) service. Edited to add that this has changed (8/28/14) and the spa service now costs $50. Lastly due to the volume of knives we’re receiving (5 at a time) we need to limit the service to one at a time.

Warranty Issues:

1. Fiddleback Forge can NOT honor the warranty for any knife that has been customized or altered in any way with a machine by an individual or company outside Fiddleback Forge. We can not guarantee the quality of work, or more importantly, the maintaining of proper heat treat during these changes, and therefore are not responsible for damage to knives or the heat treat of blades during these processes. This policy is common to the entire knife industry, but it needed to be said none the less.

---(The ethical argument about whether or not a person should have a handmade knife altered has been hashed out on Bladeforums and in Blade magazine. It is up to you to determine your own ideas on this argument. However, the sale of a knife that has been altered and is no longer under warranty would be unethical without informing the customer that the alteration has occurred and that the warranty is no longer valid for that knife.)

---If your knife is damaged and in need of repair, per the warranty of Fiddleback Forge, please do not attempt to fix it yourself or have anyone outside of Fiddleback Forge attempt to fix it. Send it to us for repair so that we can make absolutely sure it is done correctly and maintains the Fiddleback Forge warranty.

2. Any repairs made to a knife to correct damage caused by the customer from hand tools, such as files, sandpaper, etc. are not included in the free clean up and re-mark (spa service) and will be charged accordingly. This isn’t a change, but needed to be stated.

4. The clean up and re-mark service is not a customization service. Customers who send their knives in for warranty service or repair MAY NOT request changes to the knife including shape, grind, handle material, etc. We don’t make custom knives. We don’t take orders for custom work.

---Common requests that are not part of the free service include: grinds, replacement of handle material, changing the shape of handle or blade, etc. The warranty is strictly limited to the repair of knives to beauty and working order or replacement.

The free clean up and re-mark (spa) service offered by Fiddleback Forge, Inc :


1. From this time forward, the clean up / remarking service will only be available for ONE knife at a time per customer.


2. The Clean up (spa service) / Remarking is a service performed by Fiddleback Forge to refurbish your knife to the best possible finish. We remove signs of normal “wear and tear” from customer use, as well as oxidation, dirt, and grime. The clean up service DOES NOT include altering the knife from it’s original grind or configuration, or customization in any way. This service is strictly limited to the removal of blemishes where possible re-marking and sharpening it.
 
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Thanks Andy. All of that is pretty common sense, but like you mentioned, needs to be said for some. I just want to thank you for standing by your work like you do, and for offering such a generous "spa" service in the first place. You guys are the best!
 
Thanks Andy, What you said follows common sense; you always take care of us! :) Your decency and ethics makes your babies even more special and enjoyable for all of us!

-Will
 
What the hell? you mean i can't abuse the crap out of my knife AND have you make it look like new??? rip off...:D
 
The free spa service is a very generous gift to your customers, just another reason to keep buying them. Personally I think bumps, bruises, patina are what give a knife character. About the only thing I would consider sending one in for a spa treatment is the new logo etching is much deeper and nicer looking than the old.
 
It sounds like some folks are abusing the spa offer, which is a shame. I know first-hand that Andy and co. have stuck by their craftsmanship and backed up their service policies above and beyond what was called for with me in the past. To even offer this service clearly shows that Fiddleback CARES about the quality of the knives that represent them out in the field. They want them to look good and represent, even after we get our muddy paws all over them. I like the wear on my knives very much, but do see the logo fading on a few. The only reason I would send one for spa would be to get a refreshed logo for when I show one of them off to a friend—otherwise, I know where they come from and who made them and I am proud to own them all. And Andy, I think you could easily charge a few bucks for your time doing the spa service without complaint. Hope you boys are rocking down there. —CT
 
I wish I'd have read this before I batonned my Hunter through a cinder block with a hammer. :D

So...what I hear you saying is we can't send back an entry level knife and have it re-handled with exotic wood, liners, and pinstripes? Well man, that's just unbelievable. ;)

#sarcasm: in case you don't get it.
 
I batoned my Bushfinger through a cinder block with a hammer...it broke my $&@% hammer...I want a shiny new hammer!
 
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