knifeart.com

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Judge_Blackhawk

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Okay,

I am appauled and dismayed to say the least. I called knifeart.com to get a replacement pocket clip for my knife and I was told they don't sell them or even have them but that they do still carry the evolution knife. Well yippeee yahhooo. Gosh dang-it they still carry the knife. The fellow was extremely polite when he told me that he did not even have the slightest idea in what direction to point me.

I was so shocked that I could not purchase a replacement clip, that I actually was stuned. I just told him I would go to a local machine shop and see about getting one made.

If you sell merchandise you should in my not so humble opinion at least sell the dang replacement parts for the products. :mad:

To say that I will never own another of their knives is the "Understatement of the Century". There are plenty of other companies that I can spend my money and put my trust into to be there when I need a part or service.

Hell, I don't mind paying for parts that break or wear out. But to not be able to get a part at all, makes absolutely no sense to me.

Well, that is off my chest. I will go cut something.

Paul G.
Judge Blackhawk
 
Paul,

Is your knife produced by KnifeArt? If not, I don't think you have any reason to expect them to carry replacement parts for your knife.

However, whether your knife is produced or not produced by Knifeart - it does seem like they should be at least able to steer you in the right direction with contact information for whomever produced the knife. I'm assuming that custom knife dealers do collect that sort of information from makers...

Matthew
 
I guess you're saying that since Knifeart had some design input on the Evolution that they should stock parts for it. That would be nice, but from their point of view that would probably be a very bad business decision. They probably don't sell that many of these knifes, and any spares they buy are probably just going to sit on the shelf forever - wasted money. So I don't fault them for not carrying the spares (Wal-Mart probably sells millions of knives, but you aren't going to get any spares from them). However, I agree that they should be able to point you to the manufacturer so you can try to get a clip from them.
 
Hmm.

I'm right with the Judge. If you sell a knife that has YOUR name on it, you better well damn have replacement and repair parts for it.

I think in some states, if you sell a product to the public, you're required by law to support the product and carry replacement parts for 5 years. Doesn't mean you can't charge an arm and a leg, but you need to have them.

-j
 
These knives are obviously made in South Africa. Knife Art lists the makers as Mike Skellern and Fred Burger and these are both South African makers. You would think that Knife Art would at least have contact info for these makers.
 
biogon said:
Hmm.

I'm right with the Judge. If you sell a knife that has YOUR name on it, you better well damn have replacement and repair parts for it.

I think in some states, if you sell a product to the public, you're required by law to support the product and carry replacement parts for 5 years. Doesn't mean you can't charge an arm and a leg, but you need to have them.

-j
Click to expand...


i dont know about that, what would ya carry, the clip? blade?? handles?? everything?? really, probably other than the clip the maker would have to install them anyway (ie blade/etc) so why not contact the maker??

i just dont think its feasible, i got a darrel ralph madd maxx from bladeart, one with carbon fibre handles and talonite blade, of which darrel told me 3 were ever made, i doubt darrel has pocket clips for them.

i would dare say most knives from them are not even carried, and if carried not used hard to need any replacement parts anyway,and i mean can ya stock 3K worth of pocket clips?.

i say call the maker.

greg
 
It says they (knifeart.com) are proud to put their name on this knife and it is an exclusive offering threw them.

I don't expect them to carry every part for their knives. Nor even maybe carry any of them. They simply put their logo on the knife. But to not even have any idea where I can get a replacement clip is totally unexceptable.

Yes, Wal-Mart does not have replacement parts for their products, but if you have a problem with them, they will either replace it or at the very least point you in the right direction to get the problem resolved.

With my example there was not even an attempt to point me in any direction, other than to say check at knife shows... Gosh big help..... The fellow was nice as could be, but about as helpful as a pet rock.

In my opinion, if you put your name on it, you should stand behind it. PERIOD. If you don't then don't expect me,myself and I to be a repeat customer.

Granted, you dont have to stock replacement parts or even know where you can get them for your products. That is a business decision for the owners to make. Whether it is a good business decision or a bad one, only time will tell. But I can tell you this. Chris Reeve did not get the following he has, by not having customer service. And Wal-Mart did not get to be the largest discounter by having terrible customer service.

My God man, to not even know where a replacement clip could even be purchased, is to me so bottem of the barrel. Especially with all the competitors in the knife industry. At the very least he could have told me he would check or make some vailed attempt at trying to locate one. At least look like he was attempting.

If you don't think a company should stand behind their exclusives, then that's your decision. I however believe they should. I don't think they should give the service or parts away for free. But at least have something that mimics service.

I stand behind my words of disappointment, astonishment and anger. My knife collection shall not include any more of their "exclusives". Even though I dearly love their Silent Op knife. It will not grace my safe.

Paul G.
Judge Blackhawk :mad:
 
greg,

you have a point.

but it is knifeart's responsibility (imho) to get the parts from the maker. since they don't make a big deal about who -really- made it for them, it's become a "knifeart" knife, rather than a maker's knife.

this is in contrast with all the other exclusives, where the maker is still prominently stated and you go to the maker for service.

let's say you had the same problem with Terzuola's American Made series.

we all know Bob didn't make it. but you better well go to Bob for repairs, rather than the midtech company who actually manufactured it, right?

-j
 
I know of no "custom knife dealer" that carries "replacement parts" for knives that they carry. It just doesn't make sense. . .from a business stand point.

In fact, I don't know of very many "production knife dealers" that carry "replacement parts." Simply, there is such a wide variety of parts used in the vast number of knives available. . . .it just doesn't make sense. . .from a business stand point.


Honestly, "expecting" them to. . .is unrealistic.


As Keith mentioned:

Knife Art lists the makers as Mike Skellern and Fred Burger.
Click to expand...


If I purchased a knife from "any" custom or production knife dealer and it needed repairs or parts, etc. I would contact the maker. Of course, unless there was a stipulation that the knife must be returned to the dealer - as in some of the cases of auto makers when you're not a GI or LEO.


The "makers" for this particular knife, the Evolution, is "displayed." As Keith has shown. . .doesn't take much to find "most" makers contact info.


Personally, "expecting" a dealer to be a "logistics resource center" is unrealistic. Would it be benefitial if they were - - - SURE.


I don't know who you talked to at KnifeArt. . .but receiving the information that you did. . .you should have asked to speak to Larry or Rodney Connelley.


Now that you've got the makers info. . .contact them.


Better yet. . . .do a little search on the internet, there are number of knife supply outfits, who sell replacement parts. ;)
 
gigone,

think of it like this... KnifeArt is a midtech operation. they are the "front" for the two makers. it's a "knifeart" knife, not a "fred and mike" knife.

Again, what if you bought a Terzuola American Made midtech? we know he doesn't do the work. what about Jeff Hall Nemesis midtech? you wouldn't go to the firm who made it, you'd go to the "named" individual, in this case Bob or Jeff.

if it says Benchmade, you go to Benchmade. if it says American Made, you go to Terzuola. if it says ShivWorks, you go to Dan and Trace.

by the same token, if it says KnifeArt, you go to KnifeArt.

you don't go to aeroblades or whatever person or firm mfg'd it.

you'd go to the person who is the "front", the person whose name is on the knife.

I don't feel that KnifeArt is a dealer for a Fred and Mike knife -- it doesn't say Fred and Mike on it. In this case, KnifeArt has commissioned a series of knives to be made for them, AS knifeart.com knives. it's not a Fred and Mike knife.

it's disgraceful to have your name on it, take the customer's money for it, but not support it. at the VERY least, you should direct the customer to the person(s) responsible. (I think we've already established this though -- don't want to beat a dead horse. ;) )

i guess some of this is just semantics and sophistry.

the bottom line question is this: say I have a run of knives done up by a midtech house and i put my name on it. if a customer needs replacement parts, who do they go to?

-j
 
Posted by biogon:

Again, what if you bought a Terzuola American Made midtech? we know he doesn't do the work. what about Jeff Hall Nemesis midtech? you wouldn't go to the firm who made it, you'd go to the "named" individual, in this case Bob or Jeff.

if it says Benchmade, you go to Benchmade. if it says American Made, you go to Terzuola. if it says ShivWorks, you go to Dan and Trace.
Click to expand...

Exactly. And the makers for the knife in question are "named."

None of the "exclusive" models that they sell have the makers stamp on the knife. . .they have the dealerships logo. Knowing that DDR, Duncan, Dozier, etc. made a limited series of knives for them. . .there would be no need for me to contact a knife dealership who doesn't nor wouldn't carry replacement parts. The only time that I would need to contact the dealer is if the "exclusive" knife arrived and there were, let's say, defects.

KnifeArt isn't a "midtech" operation, it is a "custom knife dealership." They didn't manufacture the knife, will not have replacement parts nor would they be able to repair the knife.


Should they have provided Judge_Blackhawk with the makers information ?

To requote:

Personally, "expecting" a dealer to be a "logistics resource center" is unrealistic. Would it be benefitial if they were - - - SURE.
Click to expand...



Should they have a source catalog of where a customer could obtain any or all of the materials/parts, from a business other than the maker, that make up the knives that they sell ?

Unrealistic. But. . .if you know of one that does. . . .PLEASE. . . .let me know who it is.
 
So if the blade on my custom knife [purchased through Bladeart] breaks, Bladeart better have a replacement in stock?

How ludicrous!!!!

nah, go to the maker, not the dealer.....
 
I don't believe that a dealer should be required to carry parts for the knives they sell. Not even the ones that have their name on them. I do however think that the dealer should be able to supply contact info for the makers of their knives and not leave it up to the person that purchased the knife to track down the maker themselves. In fact, I believe that the dealer should be willing and able to contact the maker for their customer.

I work in a retail establishment and we carry a large number of the most commonly needed parts in our store, but we don't carry every part that might be needed. That would require that we stock a few thousand parts and tie up a huge amount of cash to be able to do this. We will however order any part for a product that we sell or sold in the past that a customer requires as long as the part is still available.

It would be great to hear from a representative from Knife Art to get their take on this whole situation. It is very difficult when you don't hear from both sides to know exactly what was done and what could have been done better.
 
As Gig One stated
"I don't know who you talked to at KnifeArt. . .but receiving the information that you did. . .you should have asked to speak to Larry or Rodney Connelley."

I met thses guys at different knife shows and are good people in my eyes. Call them and ask for them.

I agree with Keith Montgomery in that

"I don't believe that a dealer should be required to carry parts for the knives they sell. Not even the ones that have their name on them. I do however think that the dealer should be able to supply contact info for the makers of their knives and not leave it up to the person that purchased the knife to track down the maker themselves. In fact, I believe that the dealer should be willing and able to contact the maker for their customer. "


They should get in contact with the makers and state the problem and fix what they can. Then they should contact the buyer and state what was done and will be done to fix the problem.

S/F,
CEYA!
CEYA KNIFE DesignZ
 
agree they certainly should be able to point ya in the right direction for any parts/etc.

greg
 
I guess I'm outnumbered, but I stand by my opinion in this case. Ah, well...

What about for knives where the "true maker" isn't revealed and the item in question is just being "published"? Who's responsible then?

-j
 
Posted by biogon:

I guess I'm outnumbered, but I stand by my opinion in this case. Ah, well...
Click to expand...

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

It would be hard to fathom the idea that we "all" had the same opinion(s) ? :D

The most important thing. . .here. . .is that we all (the members of this forum) have a love for edged weaponry. . .err. . . .tools. :)


Posted by biogon:

What about for knives where the "true maker" isn't revealed and the item in question is just being "published"? Who's responsible then?
Click to expand...

I don't know of any "custom dealer" or "production makers" who advertises an "exclusive line/collaboration" and doesn't mention the maker.

That's part of the sell factor.
 
GigOne said:
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

It would be hard to fathom the idea that we "all" had the same opinion(s) ? :D

The most important thing. . .here. . .is that we all (the members of this forum) have a love for edged weaponry. . .err. . . .tools. :)




I don't know of any "custom dealer" or "production makers" who advertises an "exclusive line/collaboration" and doesn't mention the maker.

That's part of the sell factor.
Click to expand...

really, like if not why bother w/the collaboration?? i can see needing contact info,


greg
 
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