broken Henckel

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Fixed dinner for the clan last night and dropped my flippin favorite kitchen knife, medium sized JA Henckel, about 3' to a linoleum floor breaking it in 1/2 (spine to edge break, about 1/2 way from handle to tip). Luckily, both feet are intact. :thumbup:

Surfed over to the Henckel international site and was directed to my local retailer, Williams Sonoma is a candidate, for warranty info. Clumsy oafishness can't possible be covered can it?

Feel unlucky, cursed like breaking a mirror. Don't break many knives. Perhaps this is the bottom of a trendline and it gets better from here on. Maybe this dark and unfortunate event is brightly lined with an invitation to buy another blade. I have been itchin for a sog flash II for some time now.

Now, just where did I put that wacky glue?

Best,

oregon

 

Tim, Ouch! I'm glad I haven't had breakfast yet. Your story hit me like a punch to the gut. :barf: Maybe the best strategy, during a falling knife incident, is to keep still and bet it won't fall tip down. I, as usual around the house, was in my stocking feet. So, I did the double-clutch-shuffle as it fell. After hearing your wife's result I think I will do the happy dance to celebrate my good luck.

Mete, It fell only 3 feet, at the most, onto modern vinyl flooring layed over plywood subfloor. It broke with a short and sharp twang. The point is perfectly intact. I was surprised. It was sharpened only once, by myself, on an edgepro. So, it was what I consider lightly used, never abused, only for kitchen slicing chores.

I intend to take it to a retailer and see what they say. I'll let you know any result. I expect a boot to my rear, a favorite strategy of my father who always maintained that a complaint deserved something to really complain about. :grumpy:

Best,

oregon

 

Cliff,

I did not purchase this knife myself. The knife was my mother's. It was a gift from her Nephew, who worked at an upscale kitchen supply store, Williams Sonoma.

The knife has markings on the blade: "J.A. Henckels Zwillingswerk AG no stain-friodur solingen germany 31071-160mm (6")." It has a black synthetic molded handle. Here is a pic of a slightly longer version of the knife: http://www.epinions.com/hmgd-Cutlery-All-Henckels_Chef_s_Knife_Four_Star_31071_200/display_~reviews

I notice that the broken blade end wants to stick to the broken handle end. It, apparently, is magnetized. There are no splinters or other pieces which came off in the break. The break is slightly diagonal off of the verticle, in an unbroken line straight from cutting edge to spine. The break is located about four inches from the tip.

Best,

oregon

 

I sent email to Bed, Bath, Beyond (they carry a large selection of Henckels & are close to me) asking if the break was covered by warranty and if so would they, online customer service or one of their nearby stores, replace the knife.

They shot email right back at me today :thumbup: with intent to be of aid by giving me a directory of all six inch Henckel knives for me to pick one and email them back. I did find the right one and emailed them back. It is this one: http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?order_num=-1&SKU=10156661&

I will post any further contact.

All the best,

oregon

 

Thank you kindly everyone for your comments. You are all right.

I just received this gracious email, from BBB, today. I think it means that they will exchange the broken knife for a whole knife upon receiving the broken knife at a store. I think they are saying that they will refund only when I produce a receipt and the broken knife.

They never mentioned whether the breakage was covered by warranty or not. So I'm guessing that any consideration is based on BBB corporate policy and not Henckels warranty.

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"Thank you for your email. We apologize the merchandise did not stand up to the quality you come to expect from Bed Bath & Beyond, Please feel free to return it in any condition it is in, for an exchange or refund with the receipt. Again please except our apologies."

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All the best,

oregon

 

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Result:

Took the broken knife to my local BBB and they exchanged it for a new replacement of the same knife. :thumbup: Thank you BBB.

All the best,

oregon