gripes with CS customer service

Mongo

Mongo

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Just wanted your all views on my experience with Cold Steel's operator that I dealt with today. I was attempting to place an order for at least three separate objects, but was told I could not use my credit card if the billing address differs from the shipping address. I do not use the billing address for delivery for several good reasons.... there is not always somebody home to accept delivery. When there is someone home, the baby may just be down for an all too precious nap and the barking dogs will surely wake her up. And also for my own safety.... I may not want my wife to know just how many knifes and stuff I ordered!:eek: I fail to see why they cannot deliver to a known address that they have delivered to before?!? I was looking to order a special forces shovel and it's sheath. Does anybody know of any internet sites that sell this so I do not have to deal directly with CS's b****y operators again? Thanking you all in advance.....
 
My personal advice is to just not buy CS, the stuff strikes me as cheap junk made by anal people who charge WAAAY too much for it.
 
I'm gonna have to go ahead and disagree with you there YC. A lot of CS's stuff (particularly the Carbon V pieces) are sharp, tough, reasonably priced pieces, that many people swear by. I have an LTC Kukri, and it takes a great edge, holds it well, and has seen a lot of hard work. Cold Steel's newer 420J2 cryo-stuff...well...that's different. But before you dismiss the company as a whole, do some research.
 
Cold Steel has great products.

Anyway you are incorrect to have a beef with CS. They and many companies do this to help protect against credit card fraud.

There are two solutions;
1. After the first successfull transaction with Cold Steel, they will ship anywhere you want.

2. Call up your credit card company and ADD a shipping address to the card. For example, the billing address of my Credit Card is my PO BOX, but there are two address associated with the card, the PO BOX and my home.

Hope this helps.
 
I have to agree with Burke: I find some CS knives (like to Voyager line) to be great for the money. Super sharp, very strong and if you loose one, just go buy another. Most likely if someone refers to CS as simply "junk" they have had one especially bad experience which has left them with a bad taste for life. Too bad, because they are great for the dough!!

I cannot comment on their customer service however, since I have never ordered directly from them.
 
Awhile-back, when I was really "INTO" Cold Steel folders, I replaced the single thumb-studs for dual (ambidextrious) thumb-studs (I'm a "Lefty"), and due to a single phone-call, Cold Steel promptly sent me 3 sets, at NO CHARGE. To me, THAT is great customer service.:).
 
YoungCutter, are you speaking from valid points based on your own experiences with Cold Steel, or are you jumping on a speculation bandwagon?

I would trust Cold Steel with my life. I have had more "real time" experience with Cold Steel products than with any other company. They truly are the strongest, sharpest knives in the business, when comparing oranges to oranges. (I don't want to get into the whole apples to apples thing that Busse and CS have going!)
 
Hey thanks for all the replies so far. Please let me clarify my earlier statements.... I have ordered from them before. I have several of their folders and several fixed blades, and I think they are pretty damn good product for the price. I especially think their seconds are a heck of a deal as long as you budget a different sheath than what they will send you. I use their Ready Edge constantly. I have it attached to a carabiner for ready access in doing chores etc. A wonderful little tool. I also have their pendleton mini-hunter, but have yet to get out bird/squirrel/rabbit hunting this year. But, I will surely let you all know how well it performs it's intended task. I bought their trailmaster in carbon-V. I like it, I think CS gets alot of grief here. Sure they make alot of claims, but they are selling a PRODUCT! You don't say "hey, some of our stuff is mediocre" So, yeah... take some of it with a grain of salt. My main gripe is that something that should be simple is turning into something that is pissin' me off. Maybe it's just a sad commentary on today's society that the average consumer cannot be trusted. If they knew me, they would know that I am honest and not out to defraud them. I just cannot see why they won't do it, because they have before. Arrrggghhh! Sorry for the rant.... Still looking for advice on where I can find and "outlet" source for the special forces shovel.... yeah, I'm going to get it just cause it's so damn cool! Who knows, I may just find a legitimate use for it. Once again, thanks to all that have replied and all that will
 
You can also try Bayou Knife works. I usually get regular CS knives for almost factory second prices. Plus, Roger is a real nice guy to talk to, and I love that Cajun accent! :D
 
I want to second trying Bayou Lafourche Knifeworks. If Kristi and Roger don't have what you want right then, they will get it for you in a very short amount of time.
Hey Swede79, cajun accent??? I have no idea what you are talking about. :D
 
I didn't know your ordered from them before. In that case, I would definatly call up your credit card company, give them a shipping address. Then call cold steel, place the order. If they give you grief THEN tell them that that address is cleared iwth your credit card company. The transaction should then go through.
 
My gripes mostly apply to stuff along the lines of the Vaquero/Lobo and Recon 1 lines.

Additionally, a friend of mine who is a big sword guy informed me that Cold Steel never did much for him, then again, he tends to custom order his swords from Japan, so perhaps his bar is a little too high...

just for the heck of it, i'll check out some of the lines recommended (esp Voyager which i've heard alot about) and mebbie get back to yas.
 
Moving this to GB+U. Personal opinions should be limited to those items that one has actual experience with. One should actually experience the carrying of a particular product before making judgements about the quality and price. This also applies to Spyderco and REKAT.
David
 
Well, I once had some knives shipped to my teacher in Japan. When his wife picked the package up at the post office she cut herself on one of the tips, as it was sticking out of the box. I notified CS and wanted some sort of compensation for this as well as a serious apology for less than safe packaging. They said sorry and that there was nothing they could do.
This is by far the worst customer service that I have encountered.
FM.
 
Well, first of all, how did the rest of the box look that the knives were shipped in? I have gotten packages from CA that were beat up a bit, and even had a radiator come through with footprints on the box. Bumpers come through with their corners poking out of the box. Compensation? How do they know your claim is even true, or that the company that shipped the knife didn't beat the package up by throwing it around, which could cause the knife to be flung around inside? every CS knife I ever ordered came inside a CS box which was inside a shipping box. The likely hood of a knife getting through 2 boxes isn't very good. Don't forget about customs either. Customs may have decided to open the box up to check it, and then resealed it.
 
Hey thanks everybody.... Thank you swede and aries, I ordered through Larouche. Good service, no problems with credit card, and best of all... their prices were much cheaper. I ended up ordering two shovels, sheaths, and had enough $ left over to get some photons! My order should be coming in next week. I can't wait
 
Oops, sorry... brain-fart. That was bayou lafourche. sorry if my spellin' is off.
 
I was told by a certain web store that you could call the bank that you have the credit/debit card through and add additional addresses to your one billing address. That way, you could order through any web site and get the package sent where you wish.
 
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