Have you ever had an online dealer refuse to sell you a knife

VermontEdge

VermontEdge

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I'm a little confused, so wondering if anyone has any insight.

I called an online knife shop (won't name names) yesterday asking them to inspect a couple traditional knife before I decided which one to order. They told me that they don't see a lot of problems with those knives, and suggested that I just order one and make a note asking to inspect it before shipment.

I placed the order and wrote a note asking to inspect to ensure that there wasn't excessive blade rub and minimal play.

I got an email today saying that my order had been cancelled because they felt that I wouldn't have been happy with the knife.

I called a few times and emailed asking if they were suggesting that I had unrealistic expectations or if I should just choose a different knife.

I just received an email back saying that rather than risk upsetting a new customer and having them send back a knife, they'd prefer not to sell knives to people who ask that they be inspected.

Am I missing something? It's a pretty rare knife that I can't find anywhere else and I'm a little confused about why I'm finding myself unable to order one.

Has this ever happened to anyone else?


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No, but in a way i get it. Some consumers are so very unreasonable and just bad customers. They cost the seller more money than they will ever make off of that buyer. Not saying you are that way, but its the old rotten apple ruins the whole barrel. Seller now has a bad taste for requests from a couple of bad apples in the past.
 
I don't think it is a unreasonable question . The knife in question may have flaws that could have been there across the board . I buy GEC knives and I find them to be off high quality . But minor flaws could reasonably be expected in a hand made knife like that . Just move on . But asking if the blade rubs or obvious flaws is not unreasonable


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Yeah I feel like if I had asked for perfect centering or zero play it would have been unreasonable. Kind of ironic since all I was trying to do was save them a return and have it inspected before I ordered. And now, as a result of trying to do that, I've been shut out. Really disappointing.


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I think the issue may be that you are a new customer and they don't have a history with you to know that you are not unreasonable in your expectations. Once you establish that relationship with a dealer you are good. From what I understand, kniveshipfree will do what you are asking, even if you are a new customer. For what it's worth, you and I did a deal and I can vouch for you as being fair and reasonable. :thumbup:
 
LastRodeo said:
I think the issue may be that you are a new customer and they don't have a history with you to know that you are not unreasonable in your expectations. Once you establish that relationship with a dealer you are good. From what I understand, kniveshipfree will do what you are asking, even if you are a new customer. For what it's worth, you and I did a deal and I can vouch for you as being fair and reasonable. :thumbup:
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Haha, thanks. I guess that makes me feel a little better. I just don't know how to establish myself as reasonable if I can't become a customer!


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I've never had much luck getting any dealer to actually inspect a knife before shipping, so I almost never ask anymore. Now I have a USPS online account these days, so I'm prepared to send it right back, if there are any major issues. If a dealer outright refuses a simple request, I would just cross them off my list of suppliers. I already did that once with an online dealer that I used to buy from in Texas; they were just too rude in telling me that it was not possible to take a quick look at the lanyard hole on a CS Trailmaster, that used to have issues with the handle material protruding around the brass tube.
 
VermontEdge said:
..... They told me that they don't see a lot of problems with those knives, and suggested that I just order one and make a note asking to inspect it before shipment. ...............................

..................I just received an email back saying that rather than risk upsetting a new customer and having them send back a knife, they'd prefer not to sell knives to people who ask that they be inspected. .
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This is what would trouble me. First message says go ahead and make the request, then they refuse to deal with you when you do as you were told you could do. :confused:
 
I am pretty sure I could guess the dealer. Others have been turned down as well. He see's a certain pattern of questions that have led to problem buyers. I believe certain brands of knife lead to this also. It is his right to sell to those he chooses and there are plenty of other dealers that will gladly take your money.
It has never happened to me, but I may have been close once. While I understand his thinking to a point(and will do some of the same analyzing on my sales), I think he takes it a bit far.
 
It's the sellers right to sell to whom they want, it's their item. They can refuse service to anyone. Might seem harsh but from a business standpoint sometimes it makes sense. These days a lot of companies have to cut their lines so thin on the profit side to be competitive that it might cost them money to mail a knife and also have it returned, espically if they offer free shipping and returns. I wouldn't really think to much about it. Find the knife elsewhere or just wait til one comes around on here.
 
I'm not sure I see the problem. You asked that he inspect the knife. He decided he didn't have a knife that would pass inspection and chose to not sell you one. In my mind he did exactly as you asked.... it costs real money to ship and stock products. It also takes time. Why would he knowingly send something the buyer would likely not be happy with.

Now forgive me if I've misinterpreted the situation but when you asked for inspection what did you expect to happen if he couldn't supply you with a satisfactory product.

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rustysocket said:
I'm not sure I see the problem. You asked that he inspect the knife. He decided he didn't have a knife that would pass inspection and chose to not sell you one. In my mind he did exactly as you asked.... it costs real money to ship and stock products. It also takes time. Why would he knowingly send something the buyer would likely not be happy with.

Now forgive me if I've misinterpreted the situation but when you asked for inspection what did you expect to happen if he couldn't supply you with a satisfactory product.

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That's a fair comment, as all of them have been. I don't mean to suggest that someone doesn't have the right to refuse a sale to someone. I guess I'm just disappointed.

To clarify, there were 3-4 of this knife in stock. The one I ordered didn't pass his inspection, but I was told that I will not be able to order a different knife from him, regardless of an inspection.


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The results of an "inspection" are highly subjective. Maybe they say it looks fine, and the buyer says it doesn't. So I understand the vendor not wanting to get involved with that.
 
I think a hand picked product should cost substantially more. I think if it was a natural material like stag, a request could be reasonable. A hand picked production knife for the regular price isn't. But I think if something is new in box, your issue should be with the manufacturer, not the dealer.
 
I would have to side with the dealer here.

Perhaps they looked and found that none of the knives they have in stock would meet your requirements, or, they just thought you would be a problem. And, given that you came here to whine about it, they seem to be right.

Just like you have the option to buy from who you want to, they have the option to sell to who they want to.
 
rustysocket said:
I'm not sure I see the problem. You asked that he inspect the knife. He decided he didn't have a knife that would pass inspection and chose to not sell you one. In my mind he did exactly as you asked.... it costs real money to ship and stock products. It also takes time. Why would he knowingly send something the buyer would likely not be happy with.

Now forgive me if I've misinterpreted the situation but when you asked for inspection what did you expect to happen if he couldn't supply you with a satisfactory product.

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Exactly...

Given this thread, I can only imagine the thread had the OP received a knife that did not meet expectations...
 
VermontEdge said:
That's a fair comment, as all of them have been. I don't mean to suggest that someone doesn't have the right to refuse a sale to someone. I guess I'm just disappointed.

To clarify, there were 3-4 of this knife in stock. The one I ordered didn't pass his inspection, but I was told that I will not be able to order a different knife from him, regardless of an inspection.


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I understand where you are coming from as well. Possibly a better way of handling it would have been to ask about their returns policy and left it at that and ordered the knife. I think what happened is you threw down too many red flags..

I would also be willing to bet if you called or went online and simply just placed the order with no mention of the situation your order would be processed.

Regardless I do hope you find the knife your looking for and that it exceeds your expectations when you do. The search is part of the fun and it sucks to know where the carrot is and have it be just out of reach.

Be optimistic you will find one. [emoji41]

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I have to apologize for coming on here and whining. I think I came here just to express my disappointment. I just sold a knife in order to buy this one and I felt frustrated. It was important, though, not to name names. They're free to do business however they'd like.

Thanks for your understanding. I managed to find another one today and jump on it. Didn't ask for an inspection, and will be happy with it no matter what [emoji41]


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I think the Dealer answered your question by turning down the sale. I wouldn't take it as a critique of you as a buyer but a critique of the knives he had in stock.

darkaether said:
I think a hand picked product should cost substantially more.
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This.

Check 1 randomly based on nothing to compare, best of 2 or best of the lot? Grade all the same knives from best to worse and incrementally price accordingly?

I tested microwave components, commodity items like connectors and cables. We sold 2 options:
1) Designed to specification- take 1 and ship it.
2) Tested to Specification which cost 50% more- the component was actually tested on calibrated test equipment to verify it met the design specification.
 
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