This is a warning to those considering doing business with Newt Livesay of Wicked Knife Co.
Id like to preface my remarks by saying that I had one other negative experience with Newt. I also had two positive experiences.
I emailed around Newt around August 5, 2002 to see if he had a Wasp in stock. He replied that he did not, but he did have a Wasp II (prototype with larger belly) in stock. That sounded better than a Wasp! I tried calling in my order but discovered that the phone line was not in use. I emailed Newt about the phone and he asked for my number. I provided my home and work phone numbers but I never received a call (or at least a message). I faxed in my order and my card was promptly charged. After waiting about two weeks, I emailed Newt. He said he had been told that the knife would be at my location early the following week. It never arrived. I emailed Newt and he replied that the knife was accidentally packed away somewhere, probably under a trailer. He would find it and get it out to me ASAP. After waiting about ten days, I emailed Newt and stated that I would wait until the following Friday. If he couldnt ship the knife by then, Id have to cancel my order. I emailed him after a few days, expressing my disappointment and reminding him that I would wait no longer than Friday. He replied that he would cancel and refund my order. He didnt provide an explanation or an apology. I waited about ten days but my card was not credited with the refund. I replied to his email, providing him with a recap of the situation, his repeated false promises, and the final blow, not returning my money. He replied that he would refund my money as soon as he could (but from what I could gather on his forums, he is broke). He then offered an alternative, stating that he had a Wasp (standard, not Wasp II) sitting on his desk and he would send me that tomorrow as well as the tracking number. I replied that I would be happy to buy that knife. He replied that same night saying that the knife would go out in the morning. I emailed him in the morning and asked for the tracking number. He replied that he is shipping by USPS and does not have a tracking number. The story isnt over yet. No, of course the knife never arrived. I never expected it would but I was reluctant to believe that a man could lie so many times to a customer. I emailed Newt to inform him that the package never arrived, that I was going to dispute the charge with my credit card company, and post on bladeforums. He didn't reply.
