Opinion on transaction where knife arrived damaged

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vanacres

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I was the buyer of the Vigil knife in this thread:

https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/vigil-3v-fighter.1530726/#post-17579641

After claiming that I would take it, I received an email where the buyer requested I pay by Friends and Family. I said "no" but that I would be willing to add $10 to cover fees using Goods and Services, and that's what I did. After sending funds, I was informed that the knife would ship from the United Kingdom. That was the first indication that this was an international transaction, and I had already paid.

The knife was promptly posted on Nov 6, but on November 16 the tracking showed as "delivered". Turned out the knife was delivered back to the seller. He informed me that they returned it with no indication why. He then posted it via Royal Mail and sent me new tracking.

I just received the knife today, almost a month later (after purchasing). As I unwrapped it, there was a lot of paper and tape, but when I got to the padded case that the knife was in, the knife was poking through the case, and I could see that the tip was broken off. (I'll post pictures in a few). The knife itself was not wrapped inside the padded case.

I sent the seller an email explaining the situation and told him I would follow up after soliciting suggestions.

So, long story, and my questions are: what is the best way to proceed? Am I "out of luck" because this is international, even though I didn't know that at the time of purchase? Can this be "sharpened out"?

I may have other questions, but this is long enough for now.

Thanks.

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1 option is to return it to the seller for a refund. If he isn't willing you can file a PP claim since you used G&S. If he bought insurance he may need your help on filing a claim.
2nd option is if it is fixable to get a partial refund if the seller is so inclined.
 
As the Buyer- What do you want to do? Where's Vigil? Can you send them the knife to fix?

Seems it was improperly packed. Being international adds some difficulty but you should expect to receive the knife as listed.

You're willing to work with the Seller- What's fair to you?
 
I'd like to keep the knife and see if Adam (Vigil) can fix it. So, I'll check with him, and that's what I'll propose. Vigil is in Chino, CA.

And I hope I didn't sound too accusatory in my original post. I don't believe the seller was trying to deceive me. I was just trying to explain how things happened from my perspective.
 
The seller has stepped up as I hoped he would. He suggested I contact the maker for repairs, which I had already done.
Problem now is that the maker won't touch it. I'm disappointed that he offers no warranty first of all, and that he won't even fix a knife he made for the cost of his labor.

I'm also surprised that the knife broke in the first place. The steel is 3V, which I thought was pretty difficult to break. I'm no expert on that though. And obviously the tip would be the weakest point.

So, now I have to try and find someone who can restore the tip. I contacted Josh at Razor Edge, but have not heard back. Any suggestions?

Thanks.
 
I'm surprised the maker won't touch it. That's pretty unusual in my experience. What was the reason? For another cutler, you could check the services offered subforum under knifemakers.
 
That doesn’t sound right. Most makers will do a repair.
Also, if the knife wasn’t damaged before packing, it seems to me it is the seller’s fault.....improper packaging.
Hope it works out.
Joe
 
I am curious where is the broken off tip and whether the knife also sticks out of the outer packaging of shipping. If it does not, the tiny tip should still be inside the package, assuming it broke during shipping. Otherwise, doesn't it suggest the tip was broken before it was even shipped?
 
brownshoe said:
I'm surprised the maker won't touch it. That's pretty unusual in my experience. What was the reason?
Click to expand...


This is a quote from Adam Vigil's reply to me:
"I currently am swamped and would not be able to get to it in a timely manner and it would be costly to fix due to the complex geometry of that tip."
 
sharp_edge said:
I am curious where is the broken off tip and whether the knife also sticks out of the outer packaging of shipping. If it does not, the tiny tip should still be inside the package, assuming it broke during shipping. Otherwise, doesn't it suggest the tip was broken before it was even shipped?
Click to expand...

Reinspecting the packaging, the blade did slice all the way through the packaging. And possibly through the outer box. I searched high and low for the tip, but can't find it.

I do not think it was broken prior to shipping. And anyway, the seller is stepping up to cover repairs.
 
The makers objection to fixing seems reasonable though it also could be an excuse I am not suggesting one way or the other merely stating my observations and interpretations. I will 2nd the suggestion to reach out to the makers and skilled people of BF to see if someone can do the repairs for you and get you a good fixed knife quickly.
 
I’m sure he’d love to, but it was purchased off the Exchange from an international seller.

At this point, if I loved the knife, and the seller is willing to spring for the repair.....not going to be cheap as that’s a tricky grind on an expensive knife in 3v......I would send it to Josh at REK.
V vanacres , maybe send Josh pics and get a price first. Also, you’ll be able to let the seller know BEFORE you send it off.
Good luck brother!
Joe

stonesell said:
You shouldn’t have to fix a knife that you just bought. Even though I have accepted less than satisfactory new knives in the past, it’s just not worth it. Now I just return damaged items for a full refund.
Click to expand...
 
Little off topic, BUT am I the only one that was a little surprised A. Vigil refused to do the repair??
Pretty lame reason also. I can just see the reaction I’d get from a customer after I install an AC system and the landscaper, for example, smashes the unit and puts a freon leak in the tubing.......I tell him I’m too busy to do the repair?? Or it looks like too tough of a fix??
Not cool.
Joe

Sorry for the derail......just curious.
 
This one is a little tricky. I think the seller is clearly at fault for bad packaging- if the knife was not shipped in its sheath or did not have a sheath, it should have had a sturdy cardboard 'sheath' made that covered the blade and the tip and been heavily secured in paper and bubble wrap.

That being said, I don't think anyone should pile onto the seller, as it sounds like he's doing his best to make it right.

So mostly this thread stands as a warning to package knives properly when shipping, I guess.

palonej said:
Little off topic, BUT am I the only one that was a little surprised A. Vigil refused to do the repair??
Pretty lame reason also. I can just see the reaction I’d get from a customer after I install an AC system and the landscaper, for example, smashes the unit and puts a freon leak in the tubing.......I tell him I’m too busy to do the repair?? Or it looks like too tough of a fix??
Not cool.
Joe
Click to expand...

I'm a bit surprised to find myself thinking the same. Adam has always seemed a straight-up sort. I can get that he's swamped, and I'm not qualified to say how much work it would take to re-grind the tip. If I were him I might have stated how long it would be before I could get to it and offer several different 'repair' options and let the buyer choose.

@AVigil for his $0.02.
 
palonej said:
I’m sure he’d love to, but it was purchased off the Exchange from an international seller.

At this point, if I loved the knife, and the seller is willing to spring for the repair.....not going to be cheap as that’s a tricky grind on an expensive knife in 3v......I would send it to Josh at REK.
V vanacres , maybe send Josh pics and get a price first. Also, you’ll be able to let the seller know BEFORE you send it off.
Good luck brother!
Joe
Click to expand...
The international aspect really does complicate a return, and I agree that it compels one to look for reasonable alternatives.
I think that the knife in this case was inappropriately packaged.
 
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Adam Vigil is under no obligation to fix a carelessly damaged knife. There is possible and real potential disappointments to him attempting to regrind and refinish this.

At best, if it came out good it would be 'normal' business, not extraordinary service, and if it came out unsatisfactory he'd look like a hack, and/or his original design would look wonky. Doing this puts him behind on others. Where's the upside?

I understand why he'd walk. He's too busy making quality work for others. He said so. I'm sure if it broke under normal usage THAT'S another topic.
 
SharpByCoop said:
Adam Vigil is under no obligation to fix a carelessly damaged knife. There is possible and real potential disappointments to him attempting to regrind and refinish this.

At best, if it came out good it would be 'normal' business, not extraordinary service, and if it came out unsatisfactory he'd look like a hack, and/or his original design would look wonky. Doing this puts him behind on others. Where's the upside?

I understand why he'd walk. He's too busy making quality work for others. He said so. I'm sure if it broke under normal usage THAT'S another topic.
Click to expand...

The Op said he would "pay" A Vigil to re-grind and attempt a fix, he wasn't asking for free warranty repair. For a $450 knife that shouldn't have broke from being shipped, seems like less than stellar CS to me.
 
palonej said:
I’m sure he’d love to, but it was purchased off the Exchange from an international seller.

At this point, if I loved the knife, and the seller is willing to spring for the repair.....not going to be cheap as that’s a tricky grind on an expensive knife in 3v......I would send it to Josh at REK.
V vanacres , maybe send Josh pics and get a price first. Also, you’ll be able to let the seller know BEFORE you send it off.
Good luck brother!
Joe
Click to expand...

You're exactly right. Returning it would be the easiest option-IF it were domestic. I think returning it to the U.K. is opening a can of worms.

And I'm already ahead of you regarding REK. I sent pictures to Josh asking for a quote to restore the tip to a point. I told him it was 3V. He got back to me today, and to my surprise he quoted me $5 plus $2 per inch to sharpen. I had to read it twice. Pretty sure that's the avenue we'll end up using.

I can see both sides of the argument as it relates to Vigil. Yes, I was willing to pay (the seller was, anyway) and I'm not really in any hurry, so his response seemed pretty crappy to me. But as has been stated; he doesn't really have anything to gain. Except maybe a happy customer. But now a "customer" is something I will surely never be to him. From now on, I'll stick to CPK and Busse.
 
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