Mr. Gilbert Norfleet received my money and ddin't deliver anything

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ghiromax

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Hello everyone,

I just would like to share my horrible experience with Mr. Gilbert Norfleet who received my money and after 2.5 years still didn't sent me the knife I ordered at the end of Febuary 2001, nor my money back.

During this long time there has been a very long exchange of emails in which all the excuses from his side were used, from father health troubles and death, to his own subsequent depression and so on, I showed a lot patience and even solidarity for months, then around the end of 2011 I started asking for a refund in case he wouldn't be able or willing to make my knife anymore.

Several promises came again and at the end of 2012 I received kind of non personalized email saying my knife was ready for shipping. I sent him shipping address and nothing came, A couple of months later I solicited again shipment and an email similar to previous one, without any personal detail on it like my name or reference to order, came. I sent him again the address remembering he already had it and soliciting him to finally deliver or refund me, but this email sadly remained the last thing I received from him: no knife, no money back !!!

I'm living in Europe so I think any legal action will be practically impossible. I see no other alternatives then considering this money as unwanted welfare subsidy to somebody who behaved more like a thief then a knifemaker, but at least I'd like to share my story with the other forum members to avoid this dishonest person keeps going ahead stealing money from knives enthusiasts' pockets.

All the best to everybody

Massimo Ghirardi
Prague (Czech Republic)

PS the full correspondence is available for moderators, if any check should be made about my statements
 
Massimo, I really fell your pain, I along with others here had knives being made by Mr. Norfleet that where finally completed 1.5 years later. The lesson I learned from all of this was, don't pay for a knife before it's made. There are many good makers here that would love to make a nice blade for you without taking your money until completed. I still got the promised blade, but have no faith in it because of his actions. Hopefully this works out for you and please keep us informed.
 
My message to the forum I guess was the catalyst to let things happen.

After it appeared here, Mr. Norfleet contacted me saying the knife was almost ready for shipping and now I have it in my hands.
I sincerely had some doubts since it wasn't possibile to track the announced shipping through the USPS site with the parcel code supplied, but finally it arrived!

The knife itself is a piece of beauty. I'm by no mean an expert collector of custom knives and I haven't had in my hands 100's of them but I find shape, finish and generally speaking level of craftsmanship up the the highest expectations I had. I'm definitely more than happy with my purchase.

If it wasn't because of this extraordinary long waiting time I would consider buying one or two more...

So far so good, I can now say I saw the positive end of a story I had bad feelings about since so long! Thanks to the forum and to Doug C and woodysone for your words

Massimo
 
Its a shame, that some makers only get their act together after a public calling out...12 years from ordering to recieving the actual knife? Thats outrageous.
 
You are now the most patient and magnanimous person I know. You waited twelve years for a knife and now are praising the maker, just a little upset about waiting twelve years.
 
I think he meant to write 2011 not 2001.....But anyway, it's still an appalling wait, prevarication and the knife only turning up when all this gets aired in public.

Still, if the knife's decent that's some consolation.
 
Hi Everybody,

this is to share with you the fact that I am currently making the same experience with Mr Gilbert Norfleet. I ordered and payed for a knife on Feb 2013 and have not received anything yet. Mr Norfleet does not answer Emails on a regular base and when he does, his answers are elusive. I hope this experience helps others avoiding doing the same.

Best regards
Carlo
 
Best to start yourself a new thread, and maybe try getting your money back. If this deal happened on a different venue, it should be discussed there instead of here.
 
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