KAI/ZT charges for "premium" replacement parts?

[M3an]

I contacted KAI requesting a new pivot screw for one of my ZT 0562CFs. They sent an email stating that this is considered a premium part and is $10. They gave a number to call.

While on the phone they stated that on their "higher end models" the screws come in a set and are considered to be premium parts so they charge for them. I also inquired about a couple of other items, one being the pocket clip for a 0804CF. That too is a "premium part" and costs $25. Seemed like anything other than a spring clip has a fee with them.

Is this something new that they're doing? I've only ever gotten replacement body screws for a 0350 in the past when one fell out. While speaking to them it seemed almost all of the knives I asked about (carbon fiber models) required a fee.

Pretty crappy as I've bought a bunch of their CF knives and am finding out that I'm gonna get boned if I need almost any replacement part for them.

Anyone know of a place to get black anodized pivot screws instead? Namely for the 0562. If I have to pay for it, I figure I might as well get them in black since the rest of the screws on the knives are black as well.

Thanks for the help/incite.

 

[sharp_edge]

Couple of month ago I requested a pivot screw to replace the one on a ZT 0620cf (which was retailed at the same price as ZT 0562cf). Less than 2 weeks later, I received it. No question asked. KAI CS has always been for me.

 

[josh yu]

honestly, $10 for a pivot screw and $25 for the pocket clip, while not ideal, is relatively fair in my opinion.

I think we've been spoiled by the free screws and and clips from benchmade, but i don't think that's the norm. benchmade goes above and beyond in terms of CS, and that's their move to try to differentiate themselves from the rest of the big production market. i'm more than happy having access to replacement parts for a charge, compared to some who are reluctant to even sell replacement parts and outright ignore you...

 

[palonej]

Microtech......maybe???

honestly, $10 for a pivot screw and $25 for the pocket clip, while not ideal, is relatively fair in my opinion.

I think we've been spoiled by the free screws and and clips from benchmade, but i don't think that's the norm. benchmade goes above and beyond in terms of CS, and that's their move to try to differentiate themselves from the rest of the big production market. i'm more than happy having access to replacement parts for a charge, compared to some who are reluctant to even sell replacement parts and outright ignore you...

 

[halden.doerge]

I contacted KAI requesting a new pivot screw for one of my ZT 0562CFs. They sent an email stating that this is considered a premium part and is $10. They gave a number to call.

While on the phone they stated that on their "higher end models" the screws come in a set and are considered to be premium parts so they charge for them. I also inquired about a couple of other items, one being the pocket clip for a 0804CF. That too is a "premium part" and costs $25. Seemed like anything other than a spring clip has a fee with them.

Is this something new that they're doing? I've only ever gotten replacement body screws for a 0350 in the past when one fell out. While speaking to them it seemed almost all of the knives I asked about (carbon fiber models) required a fee.

Pretty crappy as I've bought a bunch of their CF knives and am finding out that I'm gonna get boned if I need almost any replacement part for them.

Anyone know of a place to get black anodized pivot screws instead? Namely for the 0562. If I have to pay for it, I figure I might as well get them in black since the rest of the screws on the knives are black as well.

Thanks for the help/incite.

Did you expect them to just give away any knife parts you want for free?

 

[M3an]

honestly, $10 for a pivot screw and $25 for the pocket clip, while not ideal, is relatively fair in my opinion.

I think we've been spoiled by the free screws and and clips from benchmade, but i don't think that's the norm. benchmade goes above and beyond in terms of CS, and that's their move to try to differentiate themselves from the rest of the big production market. i'm more than happy having access to replacement parts for a charge, compared to some who are reluctant to even sell replacement parts and outright ignore you...

I agree with you in that the prices are fair and it is cool that you can actually get replacement parts from them, albeit at a cost. I'm wondering if this is a new thing or not? It's weird that all replacement parts for their non-premium knives are free, but you'll come out of pocket on their more expensive knives if something goes wrong.

Did you expect them to just give away any knife parts you want for free?

Negative. Not what I'm saying at all. I figured the "lifetime warranty" would cover things like a pivot screw that won't hold, even with loctite. Part of the reason I have a bunch of ZTs and have recently bought more is that I've understood that if anything goes wrong, they'll fix replace the part that failed. Guess that's the case only on their cheap knives.

 

[gzb]

Did you expect them to just give away any knife parts you want for free?

OK, now I'm curious.
How did you guys find yourselves in need of pivot screws for your folders?
Did they fall out and get lost?
I've EDC'd a folder (mostly Autos) for 20+ years and never needed to replace one...

 

[hhmoore]

I figured the "lifetime warranty" would cover things like a pivot screw that won't hold, even with loctite. Part of the reason I have a bunch of ZTs and have recently bought more is that I've understood that if anything goes wrong, they'll fix replace the part that failed. Guess that's the case only on their cheap knives.

If the pivot screw "went bad", I'm sure they'd replace it under warranty... but you'd have to send the knife in for a warranty claim. There's a difference between wanting replacement parts, and wanting a problem fixed... you weren't clear about your situation being the latter, at least not here

 

[M3an]

OK, now I'm curious.
How did you guys find yourselves in need of pivot screws for your folders?
Did they fall out and get lost?
I've EDC'd a folder (mostly Autos) for 20+ years and never needed to replace one...

This is the 2nd knife I've had to change the pivot out in. The first being a PM2, but that was due to the screw face rounding out over many years. (Spyderco fans know how soft their screws are).

I live in the desert and also work outdoors so I take my knives apart to clean then when they get real gritty. The ball bearings on the 0562 are a dust magnet. The threads no longer lock up well even with blue loctite.

Oh well no biggie, new info for me and for others I'm sure.

 

[LadyEarth]

I've ordered parts from Kershaw/Zero Tolerance for years including this year and it's always free. I'm pretty sure absolutely nothing has changed in that regard going forward.

Are you sure you're asking for the parts from the right website and not from some scam website? If you are asking from the right website, did you challenge them by stating that it has always been free and that they should stand by it instead of having double standards?

Or were you just rolling over and playing dead by accepting whatever comes?

 

[josh yu]

OK, now I'm curious.
How did you guys find yourselves in need of pivot screws for your folders?
Did they fall out and get lost?
I've EDC'd a folder (mostly Autos) for 20+ years and never needed to replace one...

good point, i've never had a problem with pivot screws. i have had issues with stripping smaller stand off screws that were cemented shut with red loctite

 

[Misanthropia]

I've ordered parts from Kershaw/Zero Tolerance for years including this year and it's always free. I'm pretty sure absolutely nothing has changed in that regard going forward.

Are you sure you're asking for the parts from the right website and not from some scam website? If you are asking from the right website, did you challenge them by stating that it has always been free and that they should stand by it instead of having double standards?

Or were you just rolling over and playing dead by accepting whatever comes?

Expecting a 3D milled titanium clip with DLC to be free is kind of absurd, it's not something that can be made quickly and cheaply. $25 is actually pretty cheap for a replacement, I know Liong Mah charges $50 for replacement milled clips for his Reate made knives.

 

[gzb]

Loctite works, but only if you do the correct prep.
By that I mean degreasing both the male and female threads thoroughly first.
Then using only a single drop and letting that have time to set up before use.

If you're "rounding" screw heads, easy fix is to invest in a quality precision bit set like Wiha.
Pricey but worth every penny. And they'll outlast you...

 

[LadyEarth]

Expecting a 3D milled titanium clip with DLC to be free is kind of absurd, it's not something that can be made quickly and cheaply. $25 is actually pretty cheap for a replacement, I know Liong Mah charges $50 for replacement milled clips for his Reate made knives.

Just because you compared to another company that isn't part of this discussion doesn't justify what Kershaw has done.

I Have ordered Titanium clips before...got it for free. Why aren't you reading what I wrote?

 

[Misanthropia]

Just because you compared to another company that isn't part of this discussion justifies what Kershaw has done.

I Have ordered Titanium clips before...got it for free. Why aren't you reading what I wrote?

Milled clips or stamped clips? And the comparison is to illustrate what is expected in the broader market. If no one is giving out an expensive part for free, suddenly expecting KAI to do it is odd.

 

[LadyEarth]

Milled clips or stamped clips? And the comparison is to illustrate what is expected in the broader market. If no one is giving out an expensive part for free, suddenly expecting KAI to do it is odd.

I find it more odd that you don't know what Kershaw does as a business model for years; if we ordered some parts from them, they send for free. Always have, always will. You realize that it is preceisely this that set Kershaw apart from "broader market", yeah? That is why I am a fan of Kershaw because of how they do business and that is why I would suggest OP to challenge Kershaw if they're not abiding by their original practice.

There is no more discussion, Misanthropia, about this line of "broader market" topic because that is a non-issue and is not part of the original post. But then again, based on your own username, I wont be surprised if you decide to push the issue. If you do, I wont be a part of it because I already stated my valid case based on my prior experiences. G'day.

 

[Misanthropia]

I find it more odd that you don't know what Kershaw does as a business model for years; if we ordered some parts from them, they send for free. Always have, always will. You realize that it is preceisely this that set Kershaw apart from "broader market", yeah? That is why I am a fan of Kershaw because of how they do business and that is why I would suggest OP to challenge Kershaw if they're not abiding by their original practice.

There is no more discussion, Misanthropia, about this line of "broader market" topic because that is a non-issue and is not part of the original post. But then again, based on your own username, I wont be surprised if you decide to push the issue. If you do, I wont be a part of it because I already stated my valid case based on my prior experiences. G'day.

If you think KAI should exist in a bubble, then that's fine. But they do not, and nor do they promise explicitly on their website that replacement parts are free.

 

[austonh]

In speaking with manufacturers, milled clips are the most expensive part to machine. I wouldn't be surprised if the $25 was under cost, esp if you consider that they had to send it out for the DLC coating.

 

[sharp_edge]

I find it more odd that you don't know what Kershaw does as a business model for years; if we ordered some parts from them, they send for free. Always have, always will.

Just curious - are you talking about Kershaw or ZT? I know there are a few expensive kershaws like the Tilt, but most are budget knives abd hence it is no surprise to see parts are given for free. But I doubt it is also the case for expensive ZTs like 0392 and 0804. I dont expect KAI to give free clips, pivots, standoffs etc of these models.

 

[M3an]

I didn't mean to start a debate here, my bad. Just wanted to see if there were changes made, etc.

Regardless, I got some clarification that they charge for "premium parts" which are beyond basic screws, clips, etc if they require extra machining and/or made out of specific materials like titanium etc.

Makes sense to me now. Thanks for all of the replies and input.