Gerber Warranty Fail!!!

Feedback: +9 / =0 / -0
Joined
May 2, 2003
Messages
3,582
I was given a Gerber Instant folding knife back in October. Great knife but the pocket clip snapped off when getting snagged on a shelf at Walmart. The pocket clip has a hole in the middle of it to access one of the screws. Right where the weak spot is and where it snapped off. I called and talked to Gerber's warranty Dept. They said that they've had lots of complaints about the pocket clip and that they had to re-design it. They said that I would have to send my knife back in to be replaced with one of their newer models because they no longer have the older style pocket clips. The newer models have a wider/thicker pocket clip. I went ahead and sent my Instant back in costing me about $7 postage. The turn around service was quick. About 10 days, but to my dismay, they sent back my old knife with the old style pocket clip. No problem I thought. The next week I was out horseback riding when I got up on my horse the pocket clip bent right at the hole. Later I removed the clip and tried to bend it back into position but it again snapped off at the hole. Ok. Here we go.....

I contacted Gerber warranty again. They apologized and told me to keep my knife and that they would send me a new model from Tennessee. The person I spoke with (Kyle), said he would personally see that it was shipped to me. 3 weeks pass. No knife. I call again and am put on hold for a few minutes. The person I spoke with said he would now send out a pre-paid package and that I was to ship my knife to them and then they would ship a new one back to me. Weeks later....no pre paid package.

November 25. I try contacting Gerber. No answer. I left a message at warranty's voicemail 26, 27, December 2, and the 3rd. Still no reply. Finally I get through to the receptionist on Dec 4. She says they are short handed but she can patch me over to Warranty. No answer at warranty. I try calling several extension #'s just trying to reach anyone. No answer. I'm giving them one more week.

Poor execution on behalf of Gerber. If they don't come through with help in the next week, I'll be paying them a visit in January while I'm in Portland on business. :mad:
 
Boy I must of had very good luck then. I had a Gerber plies and it was all messed up. I sent it in and they gave me a brand new one plus the pouch with it plus the tool that you need to change the cutters when they go bad. I am sorry for your bad luck with them.
 
Sorry to hear about your situation. It seems like they are having some staffing issues over there currently.

I would encourage you to hold out a bit longer. I have had excellent experiences with Gerber CS. I have used their warranty twice and received a brand new knife within 3 weeks of sending the broken one in both times. No questions asked, just a replacement. I have also had good luck getting in touch with people there if I had a question or something else.

I would rate my experience with Gerber CS higher than that of many companies who are touted as having excellent CS. While their knives may not be as high caliber, there are several mid-to-high-end production knife companies that don't have CS that even begins to approach Gerber's.

Like I said, seems like an isolated incident and they must be having some issues. They need to get it together.

Hope this doesn't come off as a fanboy post -- I actually hate most of their knives except old ones and their multi-tools. I just felt compelled to share my experiences, which were extremely positive (to my surprise), given Gerber's reputation.
 
You might consider trying to get the retailer that sold it involved. I realize it was a gift, but you could ask them where they got it.
 
My experience with Gerber was good. I stupidly broke off the pocket clip from my EZ-OUT knife, and I sent in the knife and they replaced and reinstalled a new one - no questions asked.
 
I have not yet had a bad Kershaw or Gerber the one that I buy of Gerber have been USA only but I have bought Japan Kershaw and china ones too. I think they where very good knifes too. I think you just got a bad apple.
 
I was given a Gerber Instant folding knife back in October. Great knife but the pocket clip snapped off when getting snagged on a shelf at Walmart. The pocket clip has a hole in the middle of it to access one of the screws. Right where the weak spot is and where it snapped off. I called and talked to Gerber's warranty Dept. They said that they've had lots of complaints about the pocket clip and that they had to re-design it. They said that I would have to send my knife back in to be replaced with one of their newer models because they no longer have the older style pocket clips. The newer models have a wider/thicker pocket clip. I went ahead and sent my Instant back in costing me about $7 postage. The turn around service was quick. About 10 days, but to my dismay, they sent back my old knife with the old style pocket clip. No problem I thought. The next week I was out horseback riding when I got up on my horse the pocket clip bent right at the hole. Later I removed the clip and tried to bend it back into position but it again snapped off at the hole. Ok. Here we go.....

I contacted Gerber warranty again. They apologized and told me to keep my knife and that they would send me a new model from Tennessee. The person I spoke with (Kyle), said he would personally see that it was shipped to me. 3 weeks pass. No knife. I call again and am put on hold for a few minutes. The person I spoke with said he would now send out a pre-paid package and that I was to ship my knife to them and then they would ship a new one back to me. Weeks later....no pre paid package.

November 25. I try contacting Gerber. No answer. I left a message at warranty's voicemail 26, 27, December 2, and the 3rd. Still no reply. Finally I get through to the receptionist on Dec 4. She says they are short handed but she can patch me over to Warranty. No answer at warranty. I try calling several extension #'s just trying to reach anyone. No answer. I'm giving them one more week.

Poor execution on behalf of Gerber. If they don't come through with help in the next week, I'll be paying them a visit in January while I'm in Portland on business. :mad:

The Gerber warranty does not exist. They have not respond to a FAST was gifted, that was out out of commission by a slight breeze.
 
Back
Top