HELP... How would you deal with this?

D

dandyone

Joined
Jan 29, 2014
Messages
1
Hello all.

I'm new to the forum (been lurking for a short while and drooling over the traditional knives), so helllloooo!

I have learned a ton from this site already, and now I come to you for some guidance.

My wife, bless her soul, purchased a surprise Valentine's gift for me - a Queen Abalone Wharncliff - and it just arrived today. Imagine my excitement when she sent me a picture of a box with a return address from an online knife store!

Unfortunately, the thing is a lemon, and I'm both disappointed and a bit angry. Hopefully the phone pictures will help you understand what is wrong.

There are actually a few things, but let me stick to the really big issue for now.

The pen blade literally flops around when the knife is closed. It actually rattles - this is not a nebulous 'there's some play in the blade' issue. For $100 the blade should not rattle. Literally there is more than 1 mm of movement, and you can literally get the blade to move by blowing on it!

In the first two photos, you will see that the pen blade in the two extreme positions from which if flops back and forth.

IMAG1255_zps6fe667cb.jpg

IMAG1258_zps58a1a918.jpg


Here you will see that the blade sits *well* below where it should... So low, that the nail nick is not even visible. In fact, to get to the pen blade, you have to open the main blade, then go digging.

IMAG1256_zps36c21cf1.jpg


And the final pic (hopefully) shows how the unseated blade has a chip in it from the ridge on the backspring (which it obviously should not touch, but obviously does touch).

IMAG1257_zps3e79e10c.jpg


So, here's my issue. My wonderful wife bought the thing online from a dealer, AND the knife is clearly NOT the knife that was pictured (not too difficult to see that the abalone is completely different, and really no where near as attractive as the 'display' knife :mad:).

I'm going to call the guy tomorrow, but I'd like to know ahead of time if this is typical behavior? It really feels like my wife was taken advantage of by a guy offloading a lemon on an unsuspecting customer... Honestly, I don't even think that I should have to pay for return shipping, but I just have this sinking feeling that the money is gone, and I'll never see it or a replacement knife.

Well, apologies that my first post was a bummer. On the bright side, the other knife you see pictured is a GEC Tidioute bullet-end jack... It is absolutely bomber! I love that thing! Bought it through GPknives and had great customer service.
 
Yes send it back for the bad blade. Tell the guy to hand pick you a nice one. The abalone will probably never look the same on both sides as this is a natural shell and is getting short in supply anyways.
 
Welcome D1. If you like it maybe call Queen and see what they say. They can probably fix it up. Or return it and spend your dollars elsewhere. Lots of good sponsoring dealers here on the forum.
 
Sorry to hear about your trouble. :( Now you have to stand up for yourself, you should receive a replacement or a full refund. And not pay for return postage either!
How did you wife pay for the item? Credit Card? If it was Pay Pal you have recourse there also. But 1st give the vendor a chance to make it right. Call him and explain that this is not the knife you were told you were buying and it is a sub-standard knife. Tell him you think he should also cover the return shipping. If he gives you any trouble simply call your credit card and dispute the charges. Let them know what is going on and they (CC people) will take it over & deal with the vendor. If your wife used PP, you just contact them and they will take it over. Perhaps it was just a simple oversight and perhaps not either way the vendor should make it right and if he won't tell him you will make sure that EVERYONE on EVERY knife forum knows how he deals!
Good Luck!!
Dave

OH Ya! By the way WELCOME to Bladeforums!!
 
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If the dealer doesn't step up (they probably will), send that POS back to Queen.

And if you have problems with the dealer, don't hesitate to post a dealer review at the forum section, "The Good Bad and Ugly." In fact you could write a review regardless and share your experience, good or bad.

Personally, I doubt any reputable dealer would intentionally sell you a piece of crap like that. I would believe that many/most dealers don't have the time or resources to personally open and inspect every knife they sell. I can't imagine any recommended dealer would refuse to send a replacement or refund for that knife.

(not too difficult to see that the abalone is completely different, and really no where near as attractive as the 'display' knife ).
Click to expand...

That's something you might just have to accept with handle materials that have natural variations - no two are going to look the same. It's even true of some manmade materials, like the multi-colored swirled acrylics.
 
Bob W said:
Personally, I doubt any reputable dealer would intentionally sell you a piece of crap like that. I would believe that many/most dealers don't have the time or resources to personally open and inspect every knife they sell. I can't imagine any recommended dealer would refuse to send a replacement or refund for that knife.
Click to expand...

That's probably true. It is indeed a pretty awful specimen of knife making. While he didn't say where he bought the knife, if it is a BF vendor he will be fine. I have had a few (very few) problems over the years with traditional knives that I have bought from BF vendors and all but one were solved to my satisfaction pretty easily and quickly.

Give the vendor a chance before you raise Cain over that and see what he says and does first.

Robert
 
Bob W said:
Personally, I doubt any reputable dealer would intentionally sell you a piece of crap like that. I would believe that many/most dealers don't have the time or resources to personally open and inspect every knife they sell. I can't imagine any recommended dealer would refuse to send a replacement or refund for that knife.

(not too difficult to see that the abalone is completely different, and really no where near as attractive as the 'display' knife ).
Click to expand...

That's something you might just have to accept with handle materials that have natural variations - no two are going to look the same. It's even true of some manmade materials, like the multi-colored swirled acrylics.
Click to expand...

I agree with this.
I doubt it is a scheming dealer, out to sell a lemon

Natural materials vary. Very few dealers show pictures of each actual knife they have in stock because of the added expense, which must then be passed on to the customer.

Contact the dealer. Be polite about it and ask for help. Do not start by accusing him. Tell him your problems with the knife, and ask if he can swap it out for another. Most dealers will do that. If that is not a good option, contact Queen and see what they can do for you.
http://www.queencutlery.com/Warranty___Repairs.html
 
Greetings!

I'm afraid that I think a dealer should NOT be selling a knife like that in the first place. It's apparently not sold as a cheap second so I think it is wrong to try and sell it, he should state that the pictures are not of the knife you will get either. Dealer should inspect stock and send back sub-standard knives to the manufacturer, that way you establish trust from your customers.

Nor should the QC dept of that company be releasing such obviously defective knives for sale - or perhaps it was a job lot of seconds that got out....

Either way, this is a present from your wife and it's important that it brings happiness not discontent. By being polite and firm I really hope you will get what you are entitled to. Full refund and start again be best, I would not send it to Queen as this could be a lengthy business, let the dealer do that. (Mine does, on the one occasion I had a problem GEC knife he sent me another and sent back the wrong 'un which had developed a pin fracture after 2 days ownership)

All the very best, Will
 
Welcome sir. Always particularly annoying when a loved one gifts you a knife, which turns out to be defective. I've had the same experience on a number of occasions, and a girlfriend once bought me a $200 straight razor with a chunk out of the edge! :eek: Very sorry that you and your wife have had to go this.

Plenty of good advice above, and I think you should ask for a refund and spend it with one of the BF registered dealers, from whom I'm sure you'll get infinitely better service. I agree that the dealer probably sent this out inadvertently rather than deliberately, but I DO think dealers should be taking the time to inspect EVERY knife prior to shipping them. It doesn't take long and shouldn't be too much to ask.
 
I doubt the dealer was out to snooker you or your wife. They should exchange it. If not, I have no doubt Queen will take care of you.
 
The abalone issue aside, the pen blade play and the nail nick sitting below the liner would break the deal for me. I would expect blade play on a used knife but never to that extent on a new knife.
 
Give the dealer a call this morning. I don't know who you bought it from, but I'm pretty sure they will swap it out.
I also don't think they will charge you shipping fee's or a restocking fee, but if they try don't pay it.
Good luck, and let us know what they say.
 
I'm afraid that I think a dealer should NOT be selling a knife like that in the first place. It's apparently not sold as a cheap second so I think it is wrong to try and sell it, he should state that the pictures are not of the knife you will get either. Dealer should inspect stock and send back sub-standard knives to the manufacturer, that way you establish trust from your customers.
Click to expand...

These pocketknives are mass-produced in a factory, and dealers likely order them by the dozens. When you buy a car you don't get the exact same one that's shown in the television commercial either. ;)
 
Lot's of good advice already in this thread, so I'll just say 'welcome' and wish you luck with your refund/replacement.
 
I wouldn't hang the dealer quite so quickly. Online dealers don't always check all their stock. Duds happen. See if they make it right :)
 
Interesting responses.

I wouldn't blame the dealer at all, yet.
Unless a dealer claims to inspect every knife he sells, I would assume none get removed from the box. It's 100% on the manufacturer to see to it that something like this never makes it out, if they care.
It's what the dealer does now that there is an issue that's important.

Does anyone know if this is a Daniels made Queen product?
That knife doesn't surprise me at all if the 'old' queen built it, but it saddens me if the 'new' queen is behind that piece of garbage.
 
FLymon said:
Does anyone know if this is a Daniels made Queen product?
That knife doesn't surprise me at all if the 'old' queen built it, but it saddens me if the 'new' queen is behind that piece of garbage.
Click to expand...

I doubt it. I've seen this model around for a few years, before the Daniels purchase.
 
I agree with the the crowd. Stay calm, check with the dealer and they will probably make it right. if they dont make it right I bet Queen will. It is a pain and a disappointment but it is fixable.

FWIW most online dealers use stock photos, even many on the big auction sites. I suspect many of the knives are not even taken out of their boxes at these dealers. There are exceptions though such as knivesshipfree.com and would be a good choice in seeing things were right the first time when you buy your next knife.
 
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