No more "Factory Blem" markings?

[Plumberdv]

There's a seller who recently added this to their description for factory blems that they sell. The seller has a great reputation, seems to have a good connection with Buck and sells hundreds of their knives. I've bought a bunch from them with never an issue. I recently bought a FB from the seller and true to his statement, it was only marked FB on the box and not the knife.

I have no reason to doubt the following statement, but I'd like to see it verified by someone (Joe?) at Buck.

"According to Bucks recently changed policy, this knife is not etched with the "FB" (factory blemish) marking as has previously been on blades. Because all factory blemished knives are covered for structural or functional problems by Bucks Forever Warranty, they have decided to discontinue marking blemished knives. The only essential policy change is that no Buck knife can be exchanged because of a cosmetic blemish, from now on, without the original receipt. Otherwise, the best part about this change is that your blade will not have the unsightly "FB" on the blade (the box will state "Factory Blem"). We will ALWAYS let our customers know when a knife that they are bidding on is a factory blemish."

 

[THE_LONGBOW]

Irrelavant

 

[cm64]

I'm a little concerned about this. I have been dealing on eBay for long enough to know that not all dealers are 100% honest. The possibility of a FB Buck being passed off as without a blemish becomes a lot easier. All the dealer has to do is not post the box "to save on postage" or some other excuse & the buyer is none the wiser.
I have bought a knife from a dealer & it was made very clear that the knife was a FB. I was happy to pay a few dollars less than the going rate. I guess the answer is to stick with ebay dealers who have a good reputation.
With postage costs & customs it could be a problem for international buyers to return a knife that they thought was a bit suspect.

 

[midnight flyer]

I can see both sides of the argument for blade marking.

On the other hand, there will absolutely no doubt be rampant abuse. No doubt in my mind, and ebay will be where it starts.

All the more reason to only buy from a reputable dealer. Think too, that there will be a lot of boxes left on shelves (for one reason or another) can be salvaged for not so honorable sales of Bucks. It would be all too easy enough for a dealer to hang onto a box if they pull the "saves on shipping" or "box was lost". Slip in a blem, and it's a new knife.

Personally, I think Buck is just trying to save a few dollars by not separating the knives from the packing line, cleaning the blade, etching the blade, cleaning them off, and packing them back up just a few at a time. More and more, the makers are having us do their QC for them and I am thinking that like the rest of them, Buck is betting on us looking at the cosmetic blems as "no big deal" and "not worth the hassle" of sending them back if we have a doubt.

With enough unmarked seconds on the market, that will certainly contaminate the quality of the rest of the Buck knives as unless you know that the box is the only thing marked to indicate a blem, you will NEVER know or have a way to find out. That unbuffed, poorly assembled or poorly ground blade may have gotten by QC and sold as a first (it happens), or may indeed have actually been a blem to start with sold at a lesser price. Who will know? Soon we won't be able to tell one from another.

Think what a bonanza this will be for ebay, smaller dealers, guns shows, knife shows, etc.

As with all sales jobs, I am glad they were actually thinking of us with the best part about this change is that your blade will not have the unsightly "FB" on the blade. Very thoughtful of them.

Nice spin from them, though.

Robert