Ag russell

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bui

Feedback: +0 / =0 / -0
Joined
Apr 5, 2008
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My complaint against AG Russell:
A family member had previously bought the Acies knife and recommended it to me. They new I was in law enforcement and directed me to the AG Russell site for there law enforcement discount. The site clearly stated a discount was honored with proof. So I followed the direction sent in proof and an order for the knife. A response was sent through e-mail stating they had stopped the promotion a month prior and were not honoring the discount. I was fine with that but decided I was not going to purchase the knife. A couple months past and I noticed that they were still advertising the discount and advertised they supported law enforcement by giving the discount. So I sent another e-mail asking if they had changed there policy again. They responded no and stated it was a mistake that they still had the advertisement still on the web site. I thought this was a little shady and asked since they still had it advertised would they honor the discount. Again they stated no but they would take the advertised discount down. It has been almost a year later and they have not taken the advertisement off the site and have not responded to my e-mail. Don't get me wrong I feel It's a business right to pick and choose the discounts they honor and by no means do I think people should expect a discount. However, when you advertise a discount and receive the benefits of sponsoring a certain group when you really don't, I think that is bad business. So, for what ever it's worth I thought this issue needed to be reported.
 
If they advertised a discount are they not obliged by law to honor it? Well, that's how it is in my neck of the woods.
 
longbeard said:
I was planning on ordering a couple of knives from them this week. I think I'll take my business else where. Thank you for bringing this to everyone's attention.
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I just looked up the Acies on AG's site and didn't see any mention of the promotion - I may have missed it - but it appears to be removed. He has a great reputation around here but I've never bought from them yet.
 
Interesting. This is the first "bad" thing I can remember hearing about AG Russell in years and years of collecting. My experience with the company has been overwhelmingly positive. Mr. Russell has a long, long history of exemplary customer service, and takes his reputation very seriously. Once all the facts are in order, I have no doubt this situation will be made right.
 
thanks for the feed back. However, no word from AG Russell / his company.
I think it is worthy to point out that this is not an attack on AG Russell's history in the knife industry or the man himself.
It is merely to point out who ever is making decisions for him or running the business is doing so in this manner.
 
bui said:
thanks for the feed back. However, no word from AG Russell / his company.
I think it is worthy to point out that this is not an attack on AG Russell's history in the knife industry or the man himself.
It is merely to point out who ever is making decisions for him or running the business is doing so in this manner.
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BUI,

I regret this, as you might guess. Our War on Terror Discount ended July 1, 2011 when we sent a letter to everyone who had used the discount, explaining why we had to change it to a discount only on our own products and only to Active Duty Military. I will be happy to send you a copy of that letter if you will tell me your email address, mine is: agr@agr3.com

In June of last year we thought we had removed all trace of the discount from the web site. My staff tells me that last week they removed it from our FAQ where it had been missed. Today, because of the link you posted on this forum, mention was found in a letter I wrote to customers in 2003. That has been removed as well. If anyone knows of any place on our web site where it remains I would consider it a great kindness if you would send me a link to it.

Those of you who are announcing that you will never do business with me again should send me your names and addresses so that I can see that you are not bothered with our mailings or emails.

all the best,

A. G.

In 2008 a non customer posted a complaint about me and you might want to see how my customers responded: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/600475-What-is-with-A-G-Russel
 
You might want to make sure you know what you are talking about before you start bashing people. First off, Mr. Russell is very involved with the company as well as Mrs. Russell too. Kim does not run the company. She helps A.G. and Goldie see to the day to day operations of the company. There are a lot of things that go on behind the scenes that you and others are not aware of. I am a former employee and can attest to what goes on there. If you were such a "fan" of A.G. Russell Knives, then you would be aware of the reasons A.G. has taken production overseas on some knives. He has stated time and time again why and it isn't because of profit. A.G. has always and will always stand behind his guarantee, which is, if you are not satisfied with you knife, send it back. No, A.G. and Goldie did not ask me to reply to this thread. As a matter of fact, they don't even know I did until it is posted. As for the discount still being on the website, it was an oversight on their part. The company is comprised of human beings and they do make mistakes from time to time. Quit trying to get something for nothing and quit making a mountain out of a mole hill.

You went for an interview, which means you at one time wanted to work for the company, but instead you decided it was a better idea to bash a company and its owners on a forum not having a clue what you are talking about. Please explain to me the logic behind that because I am having trouble trying to discern the reasoning behind that.

If you thought the discount was so great a Harley Davidson, why don't you go back there.

The discount does still happen, as explained in letters, catalogs, e-mails, forum threads and the website, it applies to active duty military and only on A.G. Russell branded knives. As a "fan" you should know this. The discount will probably be in effect until the war is over or until people like you ruin it for everyone else because you are constantly trying to get something for nothing and always putting your nose where it doesn't belong.

A.G. hasn't changed his view of how his business is run. If you think he has, then you are mistaken and I am sorry you have such a closed mind. If the company doesn't make a profit, how do you expect it to stay in business. As far as complaining about going overseas, have you checked to see where your clothes are made lately, Pakistan, India, or heaven forbid.....China. If you shop at Wal-Mart, where do you think most of the things come from, but I don't see you harassing the Waltons about it. Same goes for Target and just about every other store around here. Where do you think your T.V. was made or your computer or your appliances. Get a clue and leave the Russell's alone and let them get back to what they know how to do and that is to run a very sucessful knife company.
 
Bobthemotorcycle said:
I use to be an AG Russell fan and I have even bragged on him on this site but what most of us do not realize is that he no longer runs the company. Mr. Russell just draws designs most of the day and waits on a few customers and that is about it. He has no real hands on in the company anymore. His wife Goldie takes care of a few things but the company is really ran by a lady by the name of Kim. I met her the other day at a job interview at the store and she is not the same as Mr. Russell. She is all about money and profit and this job is how she gets it. After meeting her and seeing how the company is ran I no longer respect AG Russell's company anymore. His knives are made overseas now days because it is a bigger profit margin. I believe he has a few things made here but it is not much and I believe they just put handles on a few things and call it made in the USA.

Nope, Mr. Russell just pretty much draws up designs with no real influence in the company anymore but Kim now runs the business and in my opinion she does not care about anything except making money. She is their accountant and now CEO and China is where the future is for AG Russell.

Discounts of appreciation are for people who love the USA, they love money and China now days so I am sure your discounts are not going to happen anymore. I was told as an employee that we received a 25% discount which in my book is not very good since when I work at Harley Davidson we get a cost plus 10% discount.
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Bobby,

Just for the record. Goldie and I still very much run this company.

I am in the office every day (usually not all day, but most of it) and am designing knives more prolifically than I ever have. If that can be seen as “just draws designs most of the day”, the person making the comment has no idea what is involved in the process of designing knives and getting them made.

Goldie is the president, which she has been for over 15 years now, and she is responsible for all aspects of the company, from marketing to finances, etc. Kim is a very important member of Goldie’s staff. In addition to Kim, there are several other very important people in this company as there must be with any company of this size.

I find your point of view, and the information you think you have as a result of one interview for the position of clerk in our retail several days ago, very odd. A position by the way, that we have not yet filled.

A. G.

Country Girl,

I do not have a clue who you are , but, thank you. ag
 
First, thank you Mr. Russell for responding. However, I was hoping that your response was not going to be defensive in nature and you would get why this is a serious issue in relation to business. I feel your response is a little shocking. For example telling members, "Those of you who are announcing that you will never do business with me again should send me your names and addresses so that I can see that you are not bothered with our mailings or emails" I think this reaction kind of proves my point on how you are running business today. I want to make it clear I am not commenting on your past achievements in the knife industry. I'm sure they are great. I would like stay focus on the fact that you, your company, your staff, whoever, failed to honor an advertised discount " I want to take this opportunity to tell you about a discount we have instituted for members of the U.S. Military, Firefighters, Police and EMT. We were moved ....... " and benefited from this advertisement for over a year despite being informed of the misleading ad. To mislead members by saying it was an over site or a lack of knowledge of taking it off the web site is crazy and think we all know that. You or your company had several chances to make this right and have failed to do so. It also appears you still don't get it by your response in this forum. It appears you do have a couple of loyal fans that stick up for your character and try to minimize the issue. That's to be expected. However, as I said above, your responses kind of proves my point on this one. I hope you get it soon, because the knife industry is growing and I know one thing, customer services and honoring what you say is everything. Thank you.
 
Call if whatevery you like, bashing, pointing out, attacking, whatever gets you through the day and makes you feel better. In the end it boils down to bashing. You are closed minded enough to not fully research the company or A.G. before forming an opinion. And where you got the idea that Kim ran the business I will never know. Try selling that story to any of the knife makers at Blade or at the A.G. Russell Knife Event, you will get laughed out of the room.

I am an American and proud of the country I live in, but I am not so proud of the way people have become. I am ashamed of the greedy Americans who always want more, more, more and aren't willing to work for it. You are so proud of your U.S.A. made Ka-Bar knives. Are you sure the steel was bought in the U.S.A.? Are you sure your "made in the U.S.A." vehicle is truly made in the U.S.A and not just assembled in the U.S.A.? So, from your point of view, it's ok to support the economies of Canada, Italy and England as long as it isn't China. At one point in time Japan was the place to get knives from, then Germany and so on. The U.S. wasn't even on the list because the product was shotty at best. People still bought those knives. The complained just as you are doing now, but they bought them. Not because they had to, but because they wanted to. No one is making you buy anything you don't want to, but you need to wake up and realize that times are changing and you can either get on board or grab a paddle and start paddling because it's a long way up stream.

The economy isn't getting better and probably isn't going to anytime soon. Manufacturers have increases in costs of supplies, that increase gets passed to the retailer and in turn to the consumer. As much as it pains them to do so, the retailer has to raise their prices in order to stay in business. As for these internet sites, they can afford lower margins because they don't have the overhead of an actual brick and mortar store.

For someone who believes in "dressing with class and knowing the product" sure isn't acting very "classy" and "knowledgable". You can go into the store and ask the new person questions, provided they let you in the store after the way you have been acting, and that person may or may not know a lot. Knowledge comes with time. I knew nothing about knives when I started there. I learned what I know from A.G. and Goldie and I guarantee I can talk you under the table about knives. I was one of those so called people who don't understand how to dress and who don't have the knowledge to work in the store.

We can go back and forth all day until the moderator steps in. I'm not trying to change your mind about the company. I just think you should do a little more research about A.G. and the company before forming that opinion. Just because you interviewed there for a couple of hours and learned a little insight doesn't make you knowledgable. There are 2 sides to every story. I think you formed an opinion based on little fact. Have you heard the phrase "don't judge on first appearances". Why don't you call them and set up a meeting with A.G. and Goldie, I'm sure they would oblige. You can see first hand who runs that company and just how it is run. Take the time to get to know some of the great folks there, you just might be surprised at what you learn.
 
Bui,

It was A.G. and Goldie's decision to modify the WOT discount. I appologize for you coming across the letter on the website. Why air your troubles out on the forum? Why not contact A.G. and or Goldie personally? I'm sorry you feel slighted, but it was an honest mistake. If they did offer to go ahead and give you the discount, would it make your view any better? Would you still buy that knife? Were you only considering buying that knife because of the discount? If you do indeed want to purchase that knife, then contact A.G. As stated above by another user, all will be made right. I can't speak as to what action he would take, but he wants to do what he can to make you happy. As for the comment he made about people not wanting to do business with him and for them to give him their contact info so as not to get mailings anymore, I think you are mis-reading it. What would you have him do? Beg people to stay? Offer them something to stay? You have to understand that A.G. has dealt with a lot of this over the years and sometimes cutting ties is just simply the easiest way for all to resolve the issue, depending on the issue of course. He's trying to run a business and as unfortunate as it is, you can't please everyone all the time. No matter how much you want to.

I really think you should try contacting A.G. He has listed his personal e-mail address in an above comment.
 
I hope you have a great day too Bob, but as far as me being better than you, I think not. I am no better than anyone else. I just happen to know more about the company than you do and I think you should take a better look before forming your opinion. And I really could care less how big or small your weiner is, it's of no interest to me.
 
cziv said:
I guess A.G. had his ear to the ground on this thread!
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Possible he might have gotten an email or two about it so he could respond immediately.;)

But AG would have seen it eventually anyway. The man pays attention to the big and little things.
 
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