Not made in USA

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Atlas Knife Company

Atlas Knife Company

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Feb 16, 2010
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I just had my first customer want to return a forge. His problem was two-fold. First, the burner isn't a side-arm burner that he's read all about. Since my design isn't side-arm that he's read about, he's not at all interested despite excellent reviews from multiple ABS mastersmiths. The second reason is that the included regulator is made in China and uses crimped hoses. I'm rather confounded by this. Aside from hose clamps, I can't think of much else other than crimped hoses. I make the forges and burners here in my shop, but the lack of a USA made regulator prompts him to return the forge! I haven't even been able to find any USA made regulators that are comparable to what I need/use.

Thanks for letting me rant.
Charles

Charles,
We will be sending the entire forge back.
We unpacked, set up to our tank, checked for gas leak, we could smell it.
Those crimped chinese hoses with regulator I want nothing to due with.
Also the placement of the fitting welded to the tube is at the end , not anywhere near the picture.
I did not know there was a opening between the fitting and the tube.
All other forges I looked at have a sealed hose connection all the way to the burner.
Sorry, I can't use something like this.
Everything is back in the box as it came.
We never fired it up, so brand new.
Jon
Click to expand...
 
Sounds like an excuse to return the forge. Buyers remorse or whatever.

Crimped hoses are what I get from the welders supply when they make a hose for me, so I don't see any problem there. Pretty much any affordable tool or part is likely to be made in China today, so I don't see that either. As you say, you make the forges by hand in your USA shop...so that isn't it either.

I would just let it roll off your back and move on. From 40+ years of retail, I can tell you that you will NEVER please everybody.
 
Zaph, I wouldn't worry too much. I've been very pleased with everything you've sent me. I got more than what I paid for. Sounds like someone is quite pissy. I would test the hose for leaks to make sure there wasn't a problem. Other than that, I don't know how you could please everyone.
 
After he returns the forge and shops around, don't be surprised if he comes back.
Then it is up to you whether you will be willing to sell to him again.
 
In a different e-mail, he stated that he smelled the gas when he turned it on. He thinks that it's leaking right by the burner, but the only way you could know that is if it caught fire outside the burner. I just think that he doesn't know what he's doing and is having buyer's remorse.

Charles

Hey, Warren, you ready to be a Canadian distributor for me, yet? It would give me a great excuse to go north and get some fishing in!
 
I can see it now, .... a group of border agents standing around and starring at the six forges in the trunk of Charlie's car scratching their heads trying to figure out what he is smuggling into Canada.
 
Charles,
I moved the complaint thread to The Good, Bad, and the Ugly. I think it should be dealt with there.
 
I'm going to close this thread. Anyone wishing to comment on this situation should do it in the thread in The GBU.
 
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