I received another Norse Hawk in the mail today, but there was a problem: the haft wasn't swelled enough at the top so the head could fit tight, so the head would stop right at the point where it was sitting past the end of the haft. Even then, it wiggles a lot. So I called Cold Steel's Customer Service, and after talking to a nice gentleman, I found out that I'm stuck with it. Here's the gist of the conversation after I described the problem (I can't remember word-for-word)...
CS: Well, I have to tell you that I've never heard of this happening with our tomahawks before.
Me: Me either, but it happened with mine.
CS: Did you buy it from us?
Me: No.
CS: Did you buy it from an on-line dealer?
Me: I don't think it matters where I bought it, does it?
CS: Well, we need to know if you purchased it new or used, like off of eBay or something where it could have been modified.
Me: I bought it from an on-line dealer who I've done business with in the past. It's brand new.
CS: And the handle is too small to keep the head on?
Me: Right.
CS: Well, to tell you the truth, we can't control the properties of wood. Only the steel.
Me: I get that part, but this one shouldn't have even passed Quality Control.
CS: Well sir, unfortunately, all I can do is have you order another one from our Spec Pro site. Now, they're $7.95 and there's a minimum order of $25 before shipping if you're using a credit card.
Me: Umm, no. I'm on your Spec Pro site and it says they're $10.99 each
(see here... http://www.ltspecpro.com/norsehawk.html)
So I'd have to order three of those to bring the order over $25 before shipping... $32.97 exactly... which is another $9.95 for shipping. So I have to pay $42.92 to get a handle for a $23 tomahawk?
CS: Sir, we really can't control the properties of the wood.
Me: Yeah, I understand that. My problem is, this is how is arrived, brand new, and it shouldn't have passed Quality Control in the first place. I'm not talking about a hawk that I threw and broke the handle, I'm talking about this is how it came out of the box.
CS: Sir, all I can tell you is that you'd need to order another one.
Me: At $10.99 each, with a minimum order of $25 before shipping, right?
CS: Yes, sir.
Me: So again, I'm expected to pay $42.92 to get an $11 handle for a $23 tomahawk.
CS: No, you can order other things from our site, it doesn't have to be all the same thing.
Me: I need the handle. That's $10.99. The cheapest thing you have on that site is the Inferno pen unit at $6.99. So I'd have to order three of those, plus the handle, to get over $25. That's $31.96 before the $9.95 shipping. Even if I ordered the cheapest things available, I'm still paying $41.91 when all I need is the handle.
CS: Sir, I really don't know what else to tell you.
Me: Do you understand where I'm coming from? I bought one of your products, brand new, from a reputable dealer. Out of the box, it was faulty. A tomahawk thats head doesn't seat right is a defect, like a fixed blade that has a wobbly blade. This should be covered by warranty, but you're telling me that not only do I have to pay for a new handle, I have to spend $41.91 at the minimum to get it.
CS: Sir, I understand your position. Would you like me to refer you to our line where you can order the spare handle?
Me: Nope. Thanks.
Interestingly, the 30" handle (for the War Hammer) is a dollar cheaper than the standard 19" tomahawk handles on the Spec Pro site.
Oh boy, how do I fix this? Well, for me, it just means going to the local knife shop and buying a replacement handle at $6 with no minimum order
Good to see that other places exceed where Cold Steel fails in a very simple matter.
CS: Well, I have to tell you that I've never heard of this happening with our tomahawks before.
Me: Me either, but it happened with mine.
CS: Did you buy it from us?
Me: No.
CS: Did you buy it from an on-line dealer?
Me: I don't think it matters where I bought it, does it?
CS: Well, we need to know if you purchased it new or used, like off of eBay or something where it could have been modified.
Me: I bought it from an on-line dealer who I've done business with in the past. It's brand new.
CS: And the handle is too small to keep the head on?
Me: Right.
CS: Well, to tell you the truth, we can't control the properties of wood. Only the steel.
Me: I get that part, but this one shouldn't have even passed Quality Control.
CS: Well sir, unfortunately, all I can do is have you order another one from our Spec Pro site. Now, they're $7.95 and there's a minimum order of $25 before shipping if you're using a credit card.
Me: Umm, no. I'm on your Spec Pro site and it says they're $10.99 each
(see here... http://www.ltspecpro.com/norsehawk.html)
So I'd have to order three of those to bring the order over $25 before shipping... $32.97 exactly... which is another $9.95 for shipping. So I have to pay $42.92 to get a handle for a $23 tomahawk?
CS: Sir, we really can't control the properties of the wood.
Me: Yeah, I understand that. My problem is, this is how is arrived, brand new, and it shouldn't have passed Quality Control in the first place. I'm not talking about a hawk that I threw and broke the handle, I'm talking about this is how it came out of the box.
CS: Sir, all I can tell you is that you'd need to order another one.
Me: At $10.99 each, with a minimum order of $25 before shipping, right?
CS: Yes, sir.
Me: So again, I'm expected to pay $42.92 to get an $11 handle for a $23 tomahawk.
CS: No, you can order other things from our site, it doesn't have to be all the same thing.
Me: I need the handle. That's $10.99. The cheapest thing you have on that site is the Inferno pen unit at $6.99. So I'd have to order three of those, plus the handle, to get over $25. That's $31.96 before the $9.95 shipping. Even if I ordered the cheapest things available, I'm still paying $41.91 when all I need is the handle.
CS: Sir, I really don't know what else to tell you.
Me: Do you understand where I'm coming from? I bought one of your products, brand new, from a reputable dealer. Out of the box, it was faulty. A tomahawk thats head doesn't seat right is a defect, like a fixed blade that has a wobbly blade. This should be covered by warranty, but you're telling me that not only do I have to pay for a new handle, I have to spend $41.91 at the minimum to get it.
CS: Sir, I understand your position. Would you like me to refer you to our line where you can order the spare handle?
Me: Nope. Thanks.
Interestingly, the 30" handle (for the War Hammer) is a dollar cheaper than the standard 19" tomahawk handles on the Spec Pro site.
Oh boy, how do I fix this? Well, for me, it just means going to the local knife shop and buying a replacement handle at $6 with no minimum order
Good to see that other places exceed where Cold Steel fails in a very simple matter.
