Is this wrong?

A

AnklePocket

Joined
May 5, 2001
Messages
919
Please delete this thread if it's totally inappropriate, but I lose my "Rookie" status in a month so I guess that I can still be stupid for a short time. I won't mention the maker no matter what happens.
I ordered a custom knife late last year (November, I think) that was a little under $1,000. I was told that it would take 3 weeks and my credit card was charged in full at that time. I raised an eyebrow, but moved forward with my life.
About 6 weeks or so went by and I emailed just to make sure that I wasn't forgotten. I said to take as much time as you like, but just wanted to check (didn't want to seem like a PIA). The reply was, "thanks, I will".
A little time went by and I thought, WTF, so I sent off a friendly email with a response of it'll be about another 12 weeks.
Well, it's about 12 weeks and I'd like a refund. Sent a very friendly email early this morning to the man and his little buddy with no response, yet. Basically said that I'll maintain my commitment if underway, but that I'd prefer a refund if not and that either way I'm still a fan and always will be. Just found another knife that works.
So, am I a dick?
 
No maker who plans on being in the community very long takes full payment up front. If it's a short lead time, no sweat, they'll be done with the knife quickly, so they'll be paid quickly. If it's a long lead time, full payment up front is a recipie for disaster as things tend to come up along the way.

Seems like the maker at least owes some kind of explaination about the delays. Hopefully it'll work out. Otherwise, you can let us know who he/she is so we can be careful in future dealings. :)

~Mitch
 
the only time you should pay for a knife is when it is DONE!

call your credit card company and let them take care of it!! :(
 
first, its very out of the norm for a maker that comands that price to make such a knife in three weeks. i tell people it could be as little as a month but up to ---- depending on what they want. i do generally get half as deposit. but all the bucks up front can bring problems for both parties. i have a general rule. i tell people that i do biz with that, if you get hit by a bus! call me, we will make other plans but don't give me the brush off or make me track you down everytime i want to know what is up.
 
One exception to Tom's comment ...expect to pay up front up front for very unusual materials that are not readily marketable. If someone wants a dinosaur copralite handle I would insist on up front payment for the handle because it is so unusual and expensive. If the deal falls through the customer gets a set of copralite handles which he has already paid for.
 
About six feet up his knifemaker's hindquarters.....hell, even custom suit makers don't require payment in full.....If you've not had satisfaction by now, I think you owe it to all of us to identify this character:mad:
 
I think you actually should spread the word. This is not someone I want to ever do business with.

JD
 
Many thanks, gentlemen. I can't say as I said that I wouldn't. I left the Marine Corps 10 1/2 years ago and just realized that I was able to do whatever it took to get the job done without any remorse due to unyielding integrity. Maintaining the highest level conceivably possible gives you the right. The same priciples hold true in business which is why I'm a leader in my little niche of the orthopaedic product sales industry (many are more "successful", but I'll be around longer).
So it looks like it'll be resolved today.
 
I appreciate and respect your fortitude to hold to what you originally said. *And no, I'm not the maker in quenstion ;) *

As has been said, this is a really good reason to not pay for a knife before it's done. What George said makes sense as well.

I hope this works out for you :)
Nick
 
Originally posted by AnklePocket
So it looks like it'll be resolved today.
Click to expand...

And the reason it will be resolved is........? Did he say he's sending the knife out, or sending you your money or....

Keep us posted.

Coop
 
AnklePocket

You are correct is not naming the maker. Even though you have clearly been deceived, if there is even a remote chance that there could be some explaination from him, then he deserves the benefit of the doubt.

This industry has some of the nicest people that I have met. However, there are good and (very rarely) bad knifemakers along with good and bad cops, doctors, judges, car salesmen....

I am a dealer and I am having a similar situaiton with a young and well known knifemaker who is acting just like your knifemaker. In my case he is not following through on a promise to refund my payment for a knife of his that arrived in very poor shape (it never should have left his shop) which I returned to him for credit. I would not have offered that piece to my customers nor would any other dealer.

But the advantage that you have over me is that I paid him by cheque and you paid by credit card.

The best advice so far here was from Tom Mayo. Simple and effective.

Call the credit card company and tell them that you are a victim of a fraud (which is exactly the case) and that you want your funds returned. If the payment was by Visa or Mastercard then more than likely you will get your money back quickly and the maker will have those funds removed from his bank account- along with chargeback of around $25.00.

He cannot prove that he sent you the knife (because he didn't) so it seems that you have a good case.

Then... move on and forget it. This industry is so full of honourable and nice people to deal with that you need not think about this guy again.

Neil
 
Thanks again and hopefully this'll close out the thread so that it can drift away. The check's in the mail and the maker was a real gentleman. We ended on good terms with a mutual respect. I actually felt very uncomfortable with someone's balls in my hand as sometimes the details can get away from a person as well as all kinds of extenuating circumstances. No real harm done.
Please don't respond that I'm a good guy or anything because there's rumor that two of my customer service personnel want me dead for my training meathods. They're good now, though.

Matthew:
Not personal nor technical. Just one of those things. No biggie at this point. Drift thread, drift. Good was made.
 
Well, I'm curious to some extent about the issue itself. If the problem was personal (for example the some tragedy happend and the knife maker's attention was directed elsewhere for 12+ weeks) that's one thing, but if the problem was technical, for example you asked him/her to do something that in the end, they just couldn't do, then I'd like to know about it a little, so I can be extra careful about unusual requests in the future...

Thanks.
 
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