Knifeart.com experience

Seems like this is the thread to report on Knifeart.com experiences. I just purchased a small Sebenza from them. The transaction went smoothly. They shipped quickly and even upgraded my shipping from FedEx 3rd Day to FedEx 2nd Day at no extra cost to me. I'll definitely do business with them again. :thumbup:
 
Wow, I was just thinking about ordering some things from Knifeart. After reading how they treat people I'll rethink that. :(
 
Their feedback is mixed. But if their reputation was really that bad, I doubt they'd be authorized dealers for William Henry, Chris Reeve, Rick Hinderer and others.

Are they going to be my first choice internet provider for the knives they carry? Perhaps not. But would I be willing to do business with them again based on my initial experience? You bet I would.
 
This is old news, as it transpired several years back, but I found a relatively scarce custom folder on Larry's site that was being offered for an unusually low price--$700, as opposed to the usual $950 or so--and I'd been looking for this pattern for some time, so I ordered it with no questions asked. Like all the custom knives displayed on the site, it was tacitly presented as new, but the knife I received had obvious signs of carry and light use (slightly worn anodizing on the ti frame and several hairline scratches on the blade. It may have been lightly sharpened, as well). I intended to use it anyway, and the price was right, so I didn't return it, but that was the last time I gave Knife Art my business.
 
I have tried on two occasions to buy a knife from that fellow, both times his responses to simple questions were off-putting. Never tried again.
 
My experience with Knifeart a few years ago was not good. My wife had ordered a set of sharpening stones for me for Christmas hoping to surprise me. When I showed her what I was looking for she realized she had ordered something that was both very costly (compared to other sites) and not what I was interested in. The stones came in and I contacted knifeart without ever opening the box it was shipped in. To say the owner was rude and unpleasant would be an understatement. He continually spoke over me, insisted that I had no right to return the stones and then finally relented stating that if I had even opened the shipping box (not the product packaging) he would hit me with a steep restocking fee.

Suffice it to say I decided then and there to not ever do business with him again.
 
Never had a problem with Larry or his Brother, Rodney. Many years of dealing with them, too.
 
...This is to add my experience with Knife Art to what is an interesting mix of stories on this thread. First, my thanks to those who took the time to give thorough details as part of their posts!
Last Sunday, I ordered a Lion Steel SR-1 in Damascus (Iguana, and it's a beauty) from KA after surfing the net for this model. It appears KA is the exclusive dealer for the SR-1 in Damascus :(
I admit that after reading this thread, I was holding my breath when I dropped the hammer, but I realized it would probably be tough to find one anywhere else at or below the msrp.
Anyway, KA sent me a tracking number on Monday morning, and the knife was delivered to my P.O. box on Wednesday, incredibly fast for my remote neck of the woods. Happily, thanks to Lion Steel, the knife was without any detectible flaws in re: fit and finish so I had no occasion to contact KA and try problem solving with them.
But, the question remains, how would my experience have differed if something had gone wrong? I may never know because the shadow of doubt was effectively cast by this thread. Also, KA prices tend to be higher than some, posters like Blue carry weight with me, and all of us are fortunate to almost always have other choices than to give our business to one with an apparently spotty customer service record.
Will I buy from them again; possibly but not probably. Am I being fair to them; well, under these specific circumstances, Scarlett, that just doesn't matter.:p
 
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I might chime in as well to put my two cents in on doing business with KnifeArt.com. It is interesting to hear the mix and variety of stories. I have ordered probably 6-7 knives from them in the past and for the most part have had good experiences. The other parts are as follows. I ordered an Umnumzaan from them a few months back and was quite suprised how quickly it arrived. However I too noticed it was not in brand new condition. There were obvious signs of handling and dirty scales. My first thought was "wow", my second thought led me to clean with a sponge and some soapy water and then everything was good as new. Still, for a knife of that price and advertised as new it should no doubt be exactly that. The thing that almost had me returning it was the misrepresentation of the photos in that there was no L.B.S. shown in the photos nor mentioned in the description. So I was under the impression I would be receiving a pre- L.B.S. model. If it wasn't so smooth OTB, I would have returned it. I did end up returning a mnandi purchased from them as I was dead set on the grain pattern in the photo, however, when the knife arrived, it was something altogether different. Does every one else think a knife dealer handling custom knives of that caliber should be keeping super up to date on listing accuracies or am I alone in that belief?

Suffice it to say I will probably do business with them in the future if they have a knife in particular others don't carry just for the fact that the majority of transactions have been on a pleasant note.
 
UrFrndlyNebrhoodS said:
I might chime in as well to put my two cents in ... I did end up returning a mnandi purchased from them as I was dead set on the grain pattern in the photo, however, when the knife arrived, it was something altogether different. Does every one else think a knife dealer handling custom knives of that caliber should be keeping super up to date on listing accuracies or am I alone in that belief?...
Click to expand...

-You're sure not alone in your stated expectation of a high-end internet knife dealer:positive:

And I'm really interested in how it played out for you:

Would you please describe your experience with KA when you returned the Mnandi? For example, did you experience a cordial response, did you have to pay any extra S&H, did you get a timely and satisfactory explanation/apology and the actual knife you had ordered based on their posted picture or a prompt full refund? In your opinion, did they show respect to you?
Thanks,
-Reston
 
Reston said:
-You're sure not alone in your stated expectation of a high-end internet knife dealer:positive:

And I'm really interested in how it played out for you:

Would you please describe your experience with KA when you returned the Mnandi? For example, did you experience a cordial response, did you have to pay any extra S&H, did you get a timely and satisfactory explanation/apology and the actual knife you had ordered based on their posted picture or a prompt full refund? In your opinion, did they show respect to you?
Thanks,
-Reston
Click to expand...



Glad to hear I am not alone. :) Well, I wrote them a nice, respectful e-mail or called them (can't remember now) describing how the assumption of my purchase what based on the cool even two-tone pattern of the wood grain and the knife they shipped me had a different wood grain pattern. They did reply respectfully and in a timely fashion. I can't remember if I had to pay return shipping on the knife but I am pretty sure they didn't offer to send me a return label and of course I had to insure it just to be on the safe side. I believe they did treat me with respect but at the same time there was no apology, only saying that with all the knives that come and go, sometimes things like that happen and they can't take pictures of all. I would have preferred a full refund back to my paypal account but they said they will give me store credit. At the time KA had another knife for sale I was interested in so I didn't press them further about the full refund thing.
 
Here's my experience: I ordered a smooth carbon fiber scale for a Hinderer XM-18. I was a little concerned about my order because they list both the 18 AND 24 under the same picture. You have to click the arrow to either select one or the other. Well, i made sure, placed the order, and even got my receipt for order via email....all looked good.

I was still worried that they might send the wrong one, so with some apprehension, i emailed them to politely say, "hey, wanted to just confirm my order for the XM-18 scale". I really felt that i didn't need to do this, so i felt like an ass. The response i got was a simple.... "correct".

Um, ok? Well the package showed up a few days later, no problems with packaging, shipping was fast etc. but alas! They sent an XM-24 scale!!!!!!!! I was beside myself pissed!! I couldn't believe they had actually sent the wrong one!! I immediately called them and was verbally aggravated with whomever i spoke with. He was very apologetic, and shipped out the XM-18 scale next day(really 2 days) I shipped the XM-24 scale back, and that was the end of it.

I've since ordered from them again, and item came in great shape and very fast. I would consider ordering again.
 
UrFrndlyNebrhoodS said:
*snip*

I believe they did treat me with respect but at the same time there was no apology, only saying that with all the knives that come and go, sometimes things like that happen and they can't take pictures of all.

*snip*
Click to expand...

I'm sure they turn over a lot of knives but when we're talking about a $400 folder, as opposed to a black delrin sodbuster, I don't think it's unreasonable in any way to expect that the image you're looking at for the listing be of the very same knife you will be sent if you buy it. This is even more important on a piece with natural handle material where there are going to be variations between every single one. Some will look largely the same and some will look nothing alike. Point is they're all different. You as the customer should have that information up front and without having to ask as far as I am concerned.
 
Once again, search comes through. BF rocks!

I was on the verge of making a KA purchase but this old thread has me rethinking it. Any more recent experiences?
 
I bought 4 knives from them over a six month period last year (all $800 and above). One I returned. No problems whatsoever, and Larry was happy to discuss details about specific knives. They can be a bit pricey (especially Hinderers).

I had only one bad experience with a knife vendor (not KA) but I don't use them much and forgot the name. Most knife vendors are good to deal with.

I would order from KA again.
 
I have ordered twice from KA, a small insingo and a WH e6. Both came perfect and very fast the only issue I have with them is they use Fedex which is horrible for customs charges coming into canada but thats not an issue with KA really. I wouldnt be opposed to going back to them I still want a CF seb and a WH e10 so probably will go back.
 
No problems whatseover with KA. Rodney was good enough to text me additional pictures of something I was looking for. And they have a good return policy. They can be be a bit prickly on the right (wrong) day, but I can live with that.

I just wish they would not post stock photos (hence the text).
 
I've ordered five or six knives from them in the last couple of years and the transactions have all gone smoothly. Shipping was always within a day or so and the packages arrived in perfect condition. On two occasions I emailed them with questions and received a prompt response. Mike
 
Well, I just placed an order with KA for a WH E10-1. While the item was still sitting in my shopping cart (I was debating on whether to pull the trigger) a window popped up offering free 2-day shipping, which I accepted. But evidently there was an error that did not process the request. I placed the order anyway and immediately sent an email asking whether the 2-day shipping offer had taken. Larry responded back to me within minutes and said it had not processed but they would send it 2-day anyway.

So far I have no complaints.
 
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