You could all solve the problem by not using internet knife suppliers. If you go into a store, pay what the knife is really worth, you can pick your version of the knife and get the edge you want. The knives you reject will go back to the factory and they will know why it's been rejected. Better yet, if you buy from a real knife store and its dull, they will sharpen it for free.
What a lovely, noble sentiment. In a perfect world we would all have wonderful knife stores within driving distance (say.... 75 miles? ) that carried the knife brands we wanted, the knife styles we wanted, etc. We have the normal sporting goods stores around here, but the only "knife store" we have around here closed some time back.
BTW, we are a city of about 1.5 million people when you include the entire metropolitan area.
It is off base to think that the only reason someone buys on the internet is attributed to your faulty reasoning. For me, no internet means no knives from the upper end makers I want. Perhaps your experience is different, no?
As for having someone else sharpen my knife..... NOPE. If I knew them, OK. A knife store clerk or sporting goods store clerk? Not a chance. I have seen them "go get Bill because he knows how to work that machine" at the Bass Pro Shops when someone wants a new edge on their knife. No thanks.
Remember, you get an internet discount and instant internet gratification for a lower price...however there is still an additional cost, since you get pot-luck when it comes to edge and fit/finish. That being said, instead of bellyaching on this forum, send your dull knives back to the factory so they will know what their customers really want.
If they had good QC, it wouldn't be pot luck. They would turn out a good product in a reliable basis, and QC would be a small part of their operation. The problem is that they used to have it, now they don't.
I shouldn't have to send a brand new factory fresh knife anywhere... to a factory, seller, or store to make it cut since I consider a knife by definition to be a cutting tool. Sending it back to make it a cutting tool is total hogwash. I do my own QC for my company, and they can do theirs for their own product.
Since there are a great deal more people that have sharpening challenges than those that sharpen easily, I often wonder just how many sales have been lost by makers that don't put in that last 45 seconds for the finish pass at the belt. Just as many people brag about sharp blades as complain about dull ones. I think "out of the box sharp" blades sell knives, and I think dull knives put customers off. If I had challenges sharpening (as many of my friends do) I would be thrilled to have the knife (a cutting tool) come sharp and ready to used. I would buy another of that brand. If I got it and it was like cutting with a screwdriver, I would never buy that brand again.
Elliot brought up a
great point, too.
I buy from three different guys on the net, and some of the brands touched on here are my favorites. All three of the internet vendors have not only
made sure I got what I wanted (not gonna do it Elliot.....
) but even if there was a question they stood behind me 100%. One even called the factory for me on a knife that was no longer made to make sure they could get a couple of extra scales since the scales on the knife fit poorly. Thanks Tom!
I am lucky I guess. Since I have NO knife stores locally to buy the products I want, I have found some great vendors on the internet. I buy with great confidence from fellow knifeknuts that know their stuff.
Robert
