Does a stripped screw void warranty on new Mili?

C

Condition 1

Joined
Feb 6, 2009
Messages
406
I received a new Military 2 weeks ago. The blade was way off center and close to hitting the scales. Loosening the pivot centered the blade but caused it to be to loose and wobble all over. I tightened it back up a bit and started to fiddle with the screws on the scales to see if a combination of pivot and scale screws would fix the problem.

After stripping 2 or 3 screws on the scales with quality T6 tools I decided it was time for a trip to Golden. The darn thing was brand new. They called me a few days later and said all they had to do was adjust the pivot. Which for me only caused the blade to be loose as a goose, so to speak.

The reason they called was to get $5 shipping for the return since they said nothing was wrong with it other that the stripped screws. I told her that it may not be that simple and to please check the blade play when loosening the pivot screw. She said “It’s fixed and because we had to replace the stripped screws it’s going to cost $5 to return. I objected and said I sent it in for the crooked blade and tired to save us all some money by fixing it myself. Blade centering is something I have done to folders of all makes. She told me I should not have played with the screws since it was not the problem. I asked if a new knife with an un-centered blade was not a warranty issue?

She said I’ll send it back and hung up on me in mid sentence. I was STUNNED. I have not embellished this story one bit and am not the least bit angry with Spyderco for the rudeness of one employee on what could simply be a bad day, we all have them. I have not received my New Mili back yet and am wondering if maybe…. Just maybe, I was wrong?

This is NOT A BASH SPYDERCO THREAD!!! So don't.
I'm a big Spyderco fan and don't want to start any bashing.

It’s more a question about MY actions.
I honestly don't know if I was right or wrong.
If I'm wrong I'l send the $5 dollars, it bothers me that I may have been wrong.
What do you think?

Thanks
C1
 
i had a stripped screw on my ukpk and i sent it back with $5 for shipping and $20 for any possible repairs. i got it back solid and $20 back. but mine wasn't at the pivot, it was the screw for the clip, if that matters much.
 
I often find that in the case of an uncentered blade, tightening the pivot screw slightly will center it, rather than loosening the screw. Did you try that first?
 
Frostyfingers said:
I often find that in the case of an uncentered blade, tightening the pivot screw slightly will center it, rather than loosening the screw. Did you try that first?
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Good question, yes tightening it made the blade more secure but positioned the blade into the opposite of clip side scale. Odd.
 
Problem is, once someone starts tinkering with a knife the factory has no way of knowing whether certain "issues", including blade play and off center blades are warranty issues or something created by the owner's actions. Stripped and/or buggered screws are a sure sign that the knife has been "serviced" by an amateur. Spyderco lists a charge of $20 to repair damage caused by the owner, plus $5 for return shipment. So it would seem you were getting a fairly good deal there if they only asked for the $5 shipping charge since they had to replace the screws you damaged.

Paul
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let me see, maybe i am missing something, you strip 2 screws on a $125 or so knife, trying to fix the blade being not centered, send it in, they fix the blade center issue and wanna charge for fixing the holes you messed up?? and they wanna charge a whole $5? and you dont think this is fair, them charging you to fix what you screwed up??

if i stripped out 2 screws trying to fix something (which it didnt fix anyway FWIW) and i could choke up $5 to fix it, on a +$125 knife, which was new, i would be happy as can be FWIW,

i honestly dont see any problem.

well, not on spydercos part anyway lol.
 
Condition 1 said:
It’s more a question about MY actions.
I honestly don't know if I was right or wrong.
If I'm wrong I'l send the $5 dollars, it bothers me that I may have been wrong.
Click to expand...

Sounds like a simple issue of poor communications. I wouldn't worry about it. I'm sure Spyderco has some policy to ask for the $5, but not to spend more time on the issue than it's worth. Buy another knife and call it even. ;)
 
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The $5 is for return shipping bud. And that's pretty cheap considering the cheapest way I've found to mail something is $5.24 for a flat rate envelope.

I know Spyderco lists those $5, $10, and $20 charges for warrenty and repair, but they really are good. I sent 3 blades in, one for some lock play, one for sharpening, and one to get loctite off, fully expecting to pay anywhere from $15-$30. Got it back in two weeks, $5 return shipping please. Really outstanding customer service.



.... And you stripped out the scews.... Key here is don't tinker if you can't tinker properly. ;) I tried messing with my Superhawk, but once I got to a certain point I realized something was jacked, so I just sent it back. Better they break it then me. :D
 
SIFU1A said:
let me see, maybe i am missing something, you strip 2 screws on a $125 or so knife, trying to fix the blade being not centered, send it in, they fix the blade center issue and wanna charge for fixing the holes you messed up?? and they wanna charge a whole $5? and you dont think this is fair, them charging you to fix what you screwed up??

if i stripped out 2 screws trying to fix something (which it didnt fix anyway FWIW) and i could choke up $5 to fix it, on a +$125 knife, which was new, i would be happy as can be FWIW,

i honestly dont see any problem.

well, not on spydercos part anyway lol.
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I agree completely. Spyderco replaced the screws that you screwed up. If you had just sent the knife in, Spyderco would not have stripped out the screws, and could have reused them.
 
I'd like to say I'd hope the blade on any Military that has been delivered to a customer through wholesale then retail, is not rubbing or even close to rubbing.

I feel this way about any top caliber production knife from any mfg.

So two things here IMHO, the OP got a new knife for around $130, give or take. Then he found that he needed to send it back (should have or not) the day ge got it, wait 2-3 weeks for it to be returned then throws in another $5 on top of it, at least.

This is obviously an issue with online buying but then I would hope those types of knives don't get through Q/A either.

The blame for this predicament can flip flop back and forth in any discussion but the bottom line is it sucks anyway.

This is precisely why I buy from a particular dealer who will hand pick the knife for me when possible. A tad more money than "the cheapest place" but WAY worth it.


It sure would be nice however, to just be able to buy any top caliber production knife and not even have to take precautions . . .
 
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No Condition1, you were dead on right. In todays world of getting something for nothing, having our cake and eating it too, government bailouts of failed institutions where nobody is personal responsible for their own mistakes, you don't have to pay your the loan back you signed for, and everybody wanting something for free, and so forth, I would say you are being very reasonable in demanding a Lincoln after you tore your knife up by your own accord. I'll bet if you look real hard, you are probably an authorized Spyderco warranty repair company as well. If not, you should be, if that's what you want to be. After all, it's all about you (and me, and by golly, I hope we don't have a difference, as I'm more important than you, albeit both of us are more more important than Spyderco or Sal(who, after all, probably has billions after crushing hapless employees and vendors on his way to the easy life and to the top of the world of business in the form of an evil CEO) in todays world.

Now, for more important things, I'm going to go dust my trophies that I was given playing soccer, for just showing up, never mind the fact we never won a single game. I'm important!!!!!!!!!!!
 
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I just reread the warranty inforumation section of the 2009 product guide (located on the last page of the Spyderco section just before the byrd section with the grey Spyderco shirt and hat on the opposite page) and the last sentence before the Repair section states:

"All costs associated with shipment of the product(s) are the reponsibility of the customer."

The repair section ends with:

"Please include $5.00 USD shipping and handling."

So I think $5.00 would be an appropriate amount to remit to Spyderco for this knife's visit to the Warranty/Repair department.
 
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Condition 1 said:
She said I’ll send it back and hung up on me in mid sentence.
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WOW. I can't believe that happened. I've never had any negative experience with Spyderco's customer service....and they have a relatively small crew so that's odd. Sorry that happened to you, like you said, everyone has bad days.
 
I stripped the screws on my Chinook 2 and phoned them to ask for a
replacement set of screws.
Paid $11.00 for the screws but never saw them.
After several months of phone calls and emails, I finally found out that there
had been a couple of staff turn overs within the store and that my order had
been lost in the shuffle.
Crap happens sometimes, but I was never treated in a rude manner, and in
fact, the people that I dealt with were always very pleasant with me.
I not only got my screw set shipped to me at no charge, but got an $11.00
refund and a written apology for my troubles.
I've purchased several Spydies since then.:thumbup:
In fact, I have a Native SS in my pocket right now:D
 
d_filgate said:
I stripped the screws on my Chinook 2 and phoned them to ask for a
replacement set of screws.
Paid $11.00 for the screws but never saw them.
After several months of phone calls and emails, I finally found out that there
had been a couple of staff turn overs within the store and that my order had
been lost in the shuffle.
Crap happens sometimes, but I was never treated in a rude manner, and in
fact, the people that I dealt with were always very pleasant with me.
I not only got my screw set shipped to me at no charge, but got an $11.00
refund and a written apology for my troubles.
I've purchased several Spydies since then.:thumbup:
In fact, I have a Native SS in my pocket right now:D
Click to expand...

Classic Spyderco. :)
 
You have to pay for return shipping no matter what. If she said the blade was fixed, then you are obliged to trust her until proven otherwise. It's unfortunate that she hung up on you, but it happens. Regardless, you owe Spyderco for the return shipping, and should not be complaining about it.
 
It's difficult to know what to think when you only get one side of a story. This seems somewhat like airing dirty laundry, which I am always uncomfortable with. I think $5 shipping is more than fair for fixing what you damaged for free.
 
I would not have a problem paying the $5 (cheap for a set of screws sent to your house)but I would have been pissed about not being heard. I think the return shipping charge should only be applied if the problem was in some way your fault. In my way of thinking yes you messed up the screws but it was spyderco who shouldn`t have let such a pricey item leave the factory with a flaw conversly you should know not to strip screws. I would have paid but I would want some assurance that the knife was fixed before I paid a dime more (than the $125 or so).Also I think we all learned not to try to fix a NEW knife it should be perfect or it should go back (fixing is for after we use things not before).I have always Loved spyderco(my first real knife was an Endura 1) and I have always heard good things about Sal and the crew over there so I hope this rudeness you had to deal with is a one time thing and will never happen again.
 
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