Mike Stewart & the BRK&T gang

Don't hold your breath. I opened the boxes and to say I am less than pleased would be an understatement.

I have asked Cougar to delete this post. Once I have a reply from BRK&T I will re-post.
 
We don't delete threads at Bladeforums. Why not just tell us what happened? Just the facts, no one can blame you for that. (Well, some might, but some people will blame you no matter what you do....)
 
I for one would be very interested since I am currently considering ordering several of their knives.
 
OK I will do that, I'm pretty pissed off to tell the truth.

Around December of last year I decided to stock BRK&T knives. I ordered in a few to see how I liked them and how well they sold. One of the models was in Blaze Orange. It was a little dirty but I managed to clean it up enough to my standards before I sent it out. I re-ordered the same model and some additional models as I had liked what I saw.

In the next order I received some Gameskeepers, these also included a Blaze Orange handled model. Only this time it was impossible for me to clean it up as the there was black ground in around the NS bolster and in patches all over the handle.

Usually I just send them back to the distributor, but believing that it must have been a mistake on their part or a slip in the Q.C check I PM'd Mike on another forum where he moderates a section. Mike was quick to reply and asked me to send it in and that he would take care of me for the shipping I would have to pay.

I sent the knife back to him around the end of December. Fast forward to 23 Jan, then 16 Feb then 27 Feb and still nothing. The knives arrived this morning. I opened them up and there was another knife in there as compensation. Well, I was really happy they they had lived up to their word, albeit a little slower than I would have liked. So, while I dealt with email and coffee I wrote this post without actually checking the knives. Email out of the way and well caffiineated I cleared a space on my desk and gave them the once over.

The original knife I sent back, looked like the original knife in that it was filthy, but one of the holes in the scales was over size and I could see a space and polishing compound stuck in it, it also looked like it had been dropped.

The 'Compensation' knife is a Mini Slither custom. This had gouges in the lanyard tube, un-even bolsters and even different shaped bolsters.

Basically I received 2 knives that I couldn't sell and would be hard pushed to give away without being embarrased.
 
That doesn't give me warm fuzzies. I really like the BRK&T knives I have seen and handled up to this point, and have been considering carrying them for resale myself, but haven't gotten around to it yet. I will factor the reaction, and service resulting from this post into my decision as I still haven't made up my mind. This is, honestly, the first that I have heard of complaints against them. Please keep us updated.

Thanks
 
I know that I may sound like an ungrateful shite because I got a free knife. I understand the gesture and appreciate it. The fact remains though that Mike knows these are for resale and as it is I am out a fair bit of cash, not to mention the hassle of having to have chased this up for so long.

Don't get me wrong, I like the knives too, and for the money they are great value, but a screw up is a screw up all the same and I am just gob smacked that it went out of the door like this.
 
Temper,

I've been down the same road and quickly dropped BRKT knives for the same reasons. Quality isn't a priority for Bark River and your reputation would get tarnished peddling their knives.

whitie
 
Temper,, alot of dealers I have talked to have dropped Bark River from there inventory. Selling poor quality knives made the dealers look bad to there customers.

I posted on the other forum last year after hearing reports about poor QC and edges chipping out from cutting soft items like knot free pine. Mike Stewart and his henchmen jumped all over me. They would not admit there was a problem with there heat treat. They only tryed to shut me up. Then Stewart complained to his friend the forum owner who also began giving me sh*t in PM's and would not allow me in to the Secret Order of the SAK because I was a "trouble maker". He then said I had to give him my real name address and phnoe number if I wanted to be allowed in. :rolleyes: All this because I relaid information I had heard about Bark River. I was not looking to make trouble.

I will not own a Bark River knife because of that. I am also leary of any one who is a vocal cheer leader for that company.

-DD

P.S. I also do not like how BRK&T calls flaws in there knives "features" or "character". :jerkit:
 
Dirk Diggler- as a relative n00b, talking smack with :no argument, facts, or a dog in the fight shows what kind of person you are..... lame.
:jerkit: :rolleyes:

Ron



cheerleader chiming in*:barf:

here is the reply I got from "the man" himself~

Ron --Please reply with this.

The knives were inspected by Abby and by Jilly--Who is in tears after reading this.

These are production knives and he is expecting Custom Knives for Production Prices.

In the last 5 years we have delivered over 75,000 knives and very few ever get returned for anything and we are always 3 to 4 months backordered.

None of our knives are perfect.--they are performers not show pieces.

He can return the knives directly to us and we will give him a refund in full. It would be best if he did not carry our knives.

Thanks,

Mike...........................
__________________
BRKCA #01 Mike
NJKCA #041
 
Sounds as if the BRK&T gang take their custom satisfaction to heart. Which means they damm well care:thumbup: . Guess there are 2 sides to every story as Mike makes a darn good point as well, while i dont currently own one, I wouldnt hesitate for a moment to, actually a "Persian" is on my short list.;) I as well only have good to say, sorry, just sharing MY expierences since we have spoken on many occassions.

Loandr.
 
Well, Mike emailed me today and asked me to send all my inventory back and he would refund me the total.

I'm not on a smear campaign here, I was happy to get the stuff, I then realised its not up to snuff and wanted to delete the post. Cougar persuaded me to just say what I thought and in the interest of the knife public in general I did post my experience.

If anyone has doubts then can email me and I will send pictures of what I consider unacceptable quality control.

LaBella, I am not expecting custom knives for production prices, I am expecting that a simple visual be done before its packed up. I'm sorry to hear that the girls are upset, this wasn't my intent.:(
 
DD, I know 3 other dealers that dropped BRKT for quality reasons. You can't mention such things or yes you'll be attacked. BTW, it looks like the "henchmen" are still after you. :eek:

whitie
 
i have a few bark river knives and been very happy with every one--for me mikes customer service and quality of knife is second to none--i have never seen any problems with any Bark River knife:jerkit: :jerkit: :jerkit:
 
DirkDiggler said:
Temper,, alot of dealers I have talked to have dropped Bark River from there inventory. Selling poor quality knives made the dealers look bad to there customers.

I posted on the other forum last year after hearing reports about poor QC and edges chipping out from cutting soft items like knot free pine. Mike Stewart and his henchmen jumped all over me. They would not admit there was a problem with there heat treat. They only tryed to shut me up. Then Stewart complained to his friend the forum owner who also began giving me sh*t in PM's and would not allow me in to the Secret Order of the SAK because I was a "trouble maker". He then said I had to give him my real name address and phnoe number if I wanted to be allowed in. :rolleyes: All this because I relaid information I had heard about Bark River. I was not looking to make trouble.

I will not own a Bark River knife because of that. I am also leary of any one who is a vocal cheer leader for that company.

-DD

P.S. I also do not like how BRK&T calls flaws in there knives "features" or "character". :jerkit:
Click to expand...

I also have several BRKT knives. I haven't needed to use their customer service because the knives I own have never failed me. I'll chime in happily on the quality of the knives from BRKT that I own. Great knives for a very good price.
 
I have 7 Bark river knives. There is not one that I do not use. There is not one I do not like. Mike WILL make it right. I also think whitie has a ax to grind or they would name names.
 
I like their knives, but I have had a customer service issue also. It was eventially worked out, but it took some effort.
 
Number one... his name is Mike Stewart.... not Steward or Stuart.

Sorry you weren't satisfied with some of the Bark River knives. I have 4 Bark Rivers now with a 5th in the works and I find them to be more than what I expected for the price. I had a 5th Bark River knife that I had won in a raffle at our knife collector's group (NJKCA). A fellow member desired that knife so much that I parted with it so he could enjoy it. (I let him pay for my dinner ;) )
I collect both custom and production knives and haven't been disappointed by any Bark River knives!
 
As I stated, they were not what I would consider 'up to snuff' so I shall be sending the whole lot back as per Mike's request.

I will tell you what good CS is though.

email- I have a probelm with this, here is the pic
Answer (the same day) I have sent out a replacement this morning, we apologise sincerely.

This is from a company that has so many orders you can wait up to a year to get one.
 
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