Amazon seller 'Thompson Tools'

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fatherhudson

Feedback: +5 / =0 / -0
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Apr 3, 2012
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So i ordered a zt 0550 from a seller on amazon called thompson tools. I was excited to find a package in my mailbox last night but when i opened it up it was a zt 0350. I sent them a message through amazon telling them about it and though i wouldn't say i was rude i was very direct. The message boiled down to "please either send me the correct knife by the fastest means possible or immediately refund my money. I will also need to be reimbursed for the return shipping" I wouldn't normally be so demanding but i was really excited about getting the knife and had a really tough day. This morning i received an e-mail saying (again, paraphrasing): "Our inventory and records show that we sent you an 0550. Lots of people have tried to scam us in the past by saying they received a less valuable knife. You will have to send the knife back to us so we can check that we sent the wrong knife. We have the knife marked in a secret location so we can check if you are scamming us." It's this point that i got a little pissed and sent them pictures of the box label and serial # and told them to actually check their inventory records. I should have been more diplomatic but i interpreted their e-mail as as calling me a scammer. In response to the picture of the serial number "Yes, this certainly proves that you have an 0350 in your possession" In response to the pic of the label on the box "Definitely an 0350 box"

So what do i do now? What worries me is that they obviously don't have any kind of inventory system or else they could just look up the label or the serial number and see that it was in fact their knife. Unprofessional and snarky customer service isn't exactly the mark of a reputable company either. Do i call my credit card company and get the charges canceled right now or do i send the knife back and hope they come through? I also have an opportunity to buy a 0550 from a reputable forum member and i'm worried the reason they sent me the wrong knife is becausue they're out of stock. ughhh.
 
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What worries me is the "we have the knife marked" comment (I mean, obviously beyond your initial comments.) I am guessing they marked the knife by putting a scratch or something else somewhere on the knife. Potentially, this can have consequences in terms of warranty (e.g. did they take it apart?) or the knife just not being new (as they've damaged it somehow.)
 
I would recommend purchasing your knife from one of the dealers on this list. Amazon is alright for some things, knives in my opinion is not one of them. YMMV.
 
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So there are a few elements to the story that i left out under the reasoning that thompson tools might see this thread and i wanted to leave open the chance to resolve the situation amicably. After stewing for a bit i've changed my mind. here it is: The knife doesn't look new. The blade and the handle look fine but the clip has some obvious wear on it. wtf. Also i found what i hope is marks from a grease pen on it. they're not in a terribly obvious place but can easily be seen without disassembling the knife. I'm not going to give the location just in case this is the mark they were talking about, i don't want to encourage scammers. If it's not purposeful mark than wtf they sent me a muddy knife?
 
To resolve this, you can start the dispute process with Amazon through their channels. They have recently updated and changed their dispute process, but no doubt it is online.

While I have had absolutely no luck with Mastercard or Visa protecting me, if you used American Express, even with Paypal, they will be in your corner. They have broken many a set of balls for me over the years from folks that tried to send me the wrong computer/electronic components. In one case where they thought the seller wasn't truthful, they refunded my money, including shipping!

You might get the right person at Visa or MC though, and they could possibly intercede on your behalf. Regardless of the experiences of others, I would get my credit card company involved. They will need copies of everything you sent back to Thompson including the order and copy of the invoice. Once they find they are under investigation, Thompson may back off. Not too many scammers would actually go to the point of protesting with a credit cards company's dispute processes.

This type of thing always sours me on the online buying experience, and I simply don't buy from a seller that isn't recommended by someone I know.

Good luck on resolving this - stick to your guns and go get 'em!! Personally, I have never lost one of these fights. I might spend more time than I should resolving them, but I don't let the bastards get out in front of me, either.

Robert
 
Wow, the fact he was so fast to call you a scammer leads me to believe he was trying to scam you. Believing you may not know much about knives, and charge you the price of a 550 and send you a 350. I only deal with sales through Amazon, not their vendors.
 
I've decided i'm going to send back the knife today, i hope i can get reimbursed for shipping charges. i'll keep everyone posted. side note: how do i change the name of a this thread? i want it to indicate that i'm having a negative experience.
 
If your card is a Visa or Mastercard you wouldnt call visa or mastercard you would call your issuing bank it is called a chargeback and merchants do not like it because not only do they loose the money but they are also charged a fee by their merchant provider....I wouldnt go that route immediately but I would email them and let them know that if they do not respond within 24 hours with the mishap resolved you will immediately chargeback...just make sure you have your communication with them documented
 
fatherhudson said:
I've decided i'm going to send back the knife today, i hope i can get reimbursed for shipping charges. i'll keep everyone posted. side note: how do i change the name of a this thread? i want it to indicate that i'm having a negative experience.
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Make sure you send the knife back with signature required so you have proof of delivery. Just having the delivery confirmation doesnt work in alot of cases.

I will call or email them and tell them you are returning the knife and once shipped, you will give them the tracking number. Also, tell them once the tracking number is in their hands, you expect the correct knife to be shipped or a prompt refund.

Good luck.
 
Click Edit post on your original post, then click Go Advanced.
At the top you will see a small rectangular block containing the title, you can then modify it.
Good Luck Hudson.
 
So is the consensus i should ask for a refund and give them 24 hours to fulfill it? Or should i wait until they receive the knife and give them the chance to do the right thing?
 
fatherhudson said:
So is the consensus i should ask for a refund and give them 24 hours to fulfill it? Or should i wait until they receive the knife and give them the chance to do the right thing?
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I know this is a fire and brimstone kind of group, but I would give them a chance to do the right thing. From their point of view, I have NO DOUBT that they have been screwed by folks. None.

"On another group/forum" there was an incident reported that someone bought a knife, received the real deal, then sent back a fake telling the seller he just didn't like the knife. Money was refunded to the account, and apparently the vendor/seller lost several high end knives lost this way. He received the knife, looked it over for use or sharpening and if it looked good he put it back in the box. He found out this was going on when someone accused him of selling fakes. Yikes!! I believe it; some of the high end copies I see at the gun shows or flea markets are pretty damn good. I hope your seller is just being careful and not out to screw you.

All that being said, here is what I did to return a piece of electronic gear. I took it to a UPS station/affiliate and had them verify contents, and then pack it up themselves. I took a picture of the smiling packer putting the electronics into their package. That way it could not be said that "we received a package, but we have no proof of the package content". Also, with UPS I required a signature, and unlike the USPS they sellers weren't suspicious of a UPS package delivery. I developed that method after returning something to a seller that told AMEX that "he received a package from me, but didn't recall what was in it".

There is a dispute process that you follow, regardless of what others tell you. You cannot instruct you credit card company to mandate a deadline. You cannot tell them how to run their business by setting deadlines, and they won't threaten anyone on your behalf. And for those less experienced in these things, it is the credit card company's way, or nothing. You MUST follow their dispute procedures.

The last resolution I had that involved Mastercard took almost a month and I had to keep after them. With AMEX, it was about two weeks, but they did all the leg work when I gave them the information they requested. Both companies have always told me the same, though. Get started as soon as possible so all parties know you are taking it seriously and mean business.

Robert
 
I really wish i had read you post before shipping it midnight flyer because i didn't get the contents of the package verified in any way though i have a few pictures of me packing it. I sent it back with signature confirmation (worth noting that the return address is a completely different company . . wtf). I then sent an e-mail to the seller telling him that i had sent the package, listed why i was concerned about getting my knife or money back, told him i wanted to believe that he was being honest and said that i would wait until the end of the day the package was delivered before pursuing the matter any further.

Amazon seems to have a lot of protections in place so if the seller doesn't come through i'll pursue a complaint through them. From what i've heard, amazon doesn't suffer scammers very well. If amazon doesn't work only then will i dispute it with my bank.

The more research i do today the more i'm surprised by how many consumer protections are in place for situation like this. I'm a lot more confidant that i'll get my money back now.
 
Thompson Tools is the same company I dealt with when I had 'issues'.

I bought an s30v Leek from them and it came dull and dirty as hell. I posted negative feedback on amazon and the owner called me the next day and promised to resolve it. They sent me a prepaid shipping label to send it back and the guy personally went through their stock of s30v leeks and found one that was clean and hair popping sharp and he sent it to me priority.

He was very motivated to have me remove the negative feedback on Amazon.


I would ask them to make it right or else you will have to leave them negative feedback. The guy told me they live and die by the seller feedback. I just checked through my old e-mails and the man to speak with is Matthew Thompson.
 
I would demand an immediate refund and ask them to send a prepaid shipping label to return the bad knife. What scum! Sorry to hear of your purchase gone wrong! Best of luck!
 
NEVER, EVER do business with Amazon unless the item is shipped and sold by Amazon. And I don't want to hear that so and so has had good experiences with some third party sellers.

I frequent a lot of forums and these types of experiences are all to common with third party sellers.
 
jacksterp said:
NEVER, EVER do business with Amazon unless the item is shipped and sold by Amazon. And I don't want to hear that so and so has had good experiences with some third party sellers.

I frequent a lot of forums and these types of experiences are all to common with third party sellers.
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+1

It helps that I am an Amazon Prime member so I won't buy anything that isn't eligible now.
 
I'm tempted to leave negative feedback right now to see if he changes his mind about giving me a prompt refund but i don't really like the idea of saying "do this or else". I'm glad to hear it worked out for you Scurvy092 but since they're obviously sending out used and dirty knives (wtf how hard is it to wipe a knife off?) you've got to wonder. The person I've been exchanging e-mails with is indeed Matthew Thompson. Any chance you still have the phone number or any other info about the company? I don't even have their real address.

I'm still hoping we just got off on the wrong foot and he has a legitimate reason for not having a working inventory system. Guess we'll find out.

Mr. Thompson, if you read this: If you do the right thing I'll edit my posts and make them positive immediately.
 
I'm a prime member too but i wanted this knife quickly and he was the first seller i found. I was planning on using it on a camping trip i'm going on later this week :(
 
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