COLD STEEL first impression

A

Akapennypincher

Joined
Sep 12, 2013
Messages
1,337
I was at the Cross Roads of the West SAR Show over the weekend, and Cold Steel had a big sale, and display. I was not impressed with the product, but what was the most least impressive thing about the Cold Steel Display was the lack of produce knowledge by the employees manning their booth.

To me the products that I handled, and looked at closely, were CHEAP TAIWANESE Knives, and most appear to be over priced.

I asked simple questions about material, warranty, and most of the staff were clueless.

BTW I am a big Spyderco Fan,


JMHO
 
Well, as people manning a knife booth, I think their lack of knowledge about "produce" is understandable.
 
Well if I was the owner of the company, I would be embarrassed to have these people representing my product. But than I understand maybe in todays PC world the customer is expected to have more product knowledge than the salesman.

I recently went out to purchase a NEW CAR, I found out the only thing most of the dealers sales staff know is how to say "what do I have to do to earn you business?"

My reply was to throw a few simple product knowledge questions at the sales people. Most were unarmed with any basic knowledge.

So I answer the question of "what do I have to do to earn you business?" With a simple reply. You are not qualified to deal with me, or even work here IMHO because you don't know S*** about what you are selling.
 
Well the employees should have product knowledge.
As far as you not liking the knives...ok. Many people do. I'm mostly a Spyderco collector but I also own several Cold Steel knives. I've carried and used them and sharpened them and I like them.
 
I'm pretty surprised; your account is very different from what I hear from everyone else who has interacted with Cold Steel's staff. It's also very different from my own interactions with them. I'm actually a little inclined to call BS.

As for their knives being "cheap overpriced Taiwanese"....lol. :rolleyes:
 
Hmmmmm. I'm going to have to take your post with a huge grain of salt. Any show that I have been at where ColdSteel had a booth (NRA, Blade, and Shot) was manned by highly knowledgeable, and friendly staff, including the head honcho Lynn Thompson, and I find their product quality to be excellent and backed up by great customer service. Have no idea who or what you saw, but your post is so completely outside my experience, that I find it laughable.
 
Well since your name is "penny pincher" I have a feeling that nothing is up to your standards. I also think you mean "product" and not "produce" unless you expect them to have a vast knowledge about fruits and vegetables.

With only 25 posts and having just joined in Sept. I would suggest you sit back and read a bit.....and even rethink how you approach people on a forum.
 
This was not my experience. Good Ol Lynn Cee even took time to help me, and I was just some kid new to knives. Have you owned a Cold Steel? If you were into bigger, hard use type folders and told me that the Large Voyager is over priced I would automatically discredit your opinions. The Bushman? Kudu? Kobun? Tuff Lite? Roach Belly, Finn Bear, Tanto Lite, Outdoorsman Lite, Pendleton Lite, etc? I mean, I could go on. The only reason I don't own all of these is because I don't need them. Maybe you need to shop around better and not be snobby.

It's also possible you did have a very bad experience, and that sucks. Maybe they were having a bad day, maybe they had to hire extra help, who knows. We are all human. But believe me (I have been in your shoes) if you come on here without an established reputation and bash a very well liked company you will get swarmed with negativity. So I advise against it.
 
I got these two for 85 dollars shipped. That's a bit over 40 each. Where else can you buy folders with a lock like these have, steel frames, centered blades closed, evenly sharpened bevels, both shaving sharp out of the box? Sure they have plastic scales, but anything else for the same money will have an all plastic handle, thin steel liners, if any, a much weaker lock and won't hold up nearly as well with hard use. I have all sorts of brands, costing much more and these really are a bargain all things considered. I can't feel a bit of possible blade play in either one.

6xufit.jpg
 
That booth was manned by members of our PROOF crew (who have been with the company for over a decade) and Lynn himself.
The people at that show not only know a great deal about the product but they are instrumental in the design, development and testing of every product we make.
I'm sorry but I think there is more to this story...
 
jill jackson said:
I got these two for 85 dollars shipped. That's a bit over 40 each. Where else can you buy folders with a lock like these have, steel frames, centered blades closed, evenly sharpened bevels, both shaving sharp out of the box? Sure they have plastic scales, but anything else for the same money will have an all plastic handle, thin steel liners, if any, a much weaker lock and won't hold up nearly as well with hard use. I have all sorts of brands, costing much more and these really are a bargain all things considered. I can't feel a bit of possible blade play in either one.

6xufit.jpg
Click to expand...



Those look even better than stock photos. How does the plastic feel in hand?


These have been tempting me since release. Can't beat the triad lock.
 
The handles feel great to me, gives enough extra grip and you can tell they won't be uncomfortable with prolonged use.
 
Cold Steel Knives said:
That booth was manned by members of our PROOF crew (who have been with the company for over a decade) and Lynn himself.
The people at that show not only know a great deal about the product but they are instrumental in the design, development and testing of every product we make.
I'm sorry but I think there is more to this story...
Click to expand...

I was at the booth looking Sunday sometime between 2P-3P, and Saturday I walked by not stopping because there were so many people trying to look at your wears, I did not bother to stop.

Most of the people manning the booth when I was there were young, meaning no gray hair in their heads. I have ZERO idea who Lynn is.

BTW I try and make the SAR Show every year, but this was the first time I stopped at Cold Steel.
 
I work a Gun Importer booth at NRA coventions . I always take time to go by Cold Steel and talk to the people and Lynn if he not to busy. Never met one that couldn't answer my questions.

I must agree with Mike Sastre when he says " your post is so completely outside my experience, that I find it laughable."


BTW I am a big Spyderco Fan
Click to expand...
Their you problem haven't experienced What a good CS folder could do . Your knife be broken way before the CS
My self I think Spyderco Military ~ C36G with little 4" blade and liner lock would fail early in lock test and the price is way over priced. As is majority of the line up.
 
Akapennypincher said:
I was at the booth looking Sunday sometime between 2P-3P, and Saturday I walked by not stopping because there were so many people trying to look at your wears, I did not bother to stop.

Most of the people manning the booth when I was there were young, meaning no gray hair in their heads. I have ZERO idea who Lynn is.

BTW I try and make the SAR Show every year, but this was the first time I stopped at Cold Steel.
Click to expand...

Wait so you walked by without stopping and yet you have formed all of these opinions about the people there?

Also I am curious as to what technical questions someone such as yourself may have asked one of the CS Crew that they would not possibly know the answer to.

But oh wait , how could you stop and ask questions if you walked by without stopping.
 
What questions did you ask that they supposedly didn't know the answer to? What did you ask them about the "produce" that they couldn't answer? You say you asked them questions about "material", like, what questions? Did you ask them what steel they use(which I am sure they would know), or did you try and ask some weird question about "what is the exact temperature you use in your heat treatment", which they may or may not know?
 
Akapennypincher said:
I was at the Cross Roads of the West SAR Show over the weekend, and Cold Steel had a big sale, and display. I was not impressed with the product, but what was the most least impressive thing about the Cold Steel Display was the lack of produce knowledge by the employees manning their booth.

To me the products that I handled, and looked at closely, were CHEAP TAIWANESE Knives, and most appear to be over priced.

I asked simple questions about material, warranty, and most of the staff were clueless

BTW I am a big Spyderco Fan,

JMHO
Click to expand...

"I was at the booth looking Sunday sometime between 2P-3P, and Saturday I walked by not stopping because there were so many people trying to look at your wears, I did not bother to stop.

Most of the people manning the booth when I was there were young, meaning no gray hair in their heads. I have ZERO idea who Lynn is.

BTW I try and make the SAR Show every year, but this was the first time I stopped at Cold Steel."



One post says he asked questions, handled product, and looked closely; other post says he didn't stop and just walked on by. Hmmm. Like I said laughable - can't have it both ways.
No credibility whatsoever.
 
michael t said:
I work a Gun Importer booth at NRA coventions . I always take time to go by Cold Steel and talk to the people and Lynn if he not to busy. Never met one that couldn't answer my questions.

I must agree with Mike Sastre when he says " your post is so completely outside my experience, that I find it laughable."


Their you problem haven't experienced What a good CS folder could do . Your knife be broken way before the CS
My self I think Spyderco Military ~ C36G with little 4" blade and liner lock would fail early in lock test and the price is way over priced. As is majority of the line up.
Click to expand...

Well I think the OP is a troll, since he contradicted himself. But your post about Spydercos being overpriced and failing locks is just plain ignorant. Have you even seen the whole line up? Framelocks...or what is on the PM2. Also, when has Cold Steel offered steels like Super Blue, ELMAX, CPM 3V, ZDP-189, CTS-XHP, CPM CRU WEAR.....?

The OP is a troll.....but, bagging on Spyderco because of a troll post shows.....well.....fill in the blank, _________

BTW, I really like CS and have since the early 1980's......but will not agree with ignorance.
 
Mike Sastre said:
One post says he asked questions, handled product, and looked closely; other post says he didn't stop and just walked on by. Hmmm. Like I said laughable - can't have it both ways.
No credibility whatsoever.
Click to expand...

People saying the OP contradicted himself need to read closer. "I was at the booth looking Sunday sometime between 2P-3P, and Saturday I walked by not stopping because"

On SATURDAY, he says he walked by the booth without stopping. On SUNDAY, he says stopped to look between 2-3 pm. OP may well be trolling, but he's not contradicting himself, he's saying one day he stopped and one day he didn't.
 
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