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Mr.dave.89 has been drinking something pretty strong!
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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is available! Price is $250 ea (shipped within CONUS).
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Possible scam
- Thread starter Gossman Knives
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Oh, that explains a bit. Thanks
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Talked with Spartan Blades. David is legit. David did an article on one of their knives which produced sales, and one of their knives being used on a survival show on Discovery Channel. Mr. Dave 89 is what he say's he is.
Did you happen to ask them when they were published?
Seems like the magazine just started.
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I just ask Curtis if he had heard of him. Here is his reply. Feel free to take it for what it's worth. I'm good with Curtis's word.
Andy,
Have talked to him a few times on the phone as he wrote a review about our knives in Spain. Don't really know much more about him but he has been sending people our way. As a matter of fact, he sent Mykel Hawke our way. Mykel is a former Special Forces guy who is starring in the new Discovery Channel series about survival and will be using some of our knives in the last episode of his show. Wish I could give you more information about him but I don't really know him well
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These days there are so many email scams that we tend to be suspicious of almost everything that comes to us by email. Especially when it arrives in a form letter format.
A couple years ago I sent out an email to more than two hundred knife makers offering to send free knife handle wood to introduce myself. There were only three makers who responded.
What I learned from this was that the way I presented myself through the email left about 99% of the knife makers thinking it was a scam.
It took a couple years here on the forum getting to know everybody before I began to earn the trust of the forum members.
Perhaps if you made posts in the appropriate sections of the forum with say, a link to your latest article about one of the knife makers, or an excerpt with the photos that were published. Instead of references, a list of your published articles about other knife makers. Maybe even a writers bio.
It's all in the presentation. In this case, you and your publisher.
A couple years ago I sent out an email to more than two hundred knife makers offering to send free knife handle wood to introduce myself. There were only three makers who responded.
What I learned from this was that the way I presented myself through the email left about 99% of the knife makers thinking it was a scam.
It took a couple years here on the forum getting to know everybody before I began to earn the trust of the forum members.
Perhaps if you made posts in the appropriate sections of the forum with say, a link to your latest article about one of the knife makers, or an excerpt with the photos that were published. Instead of references, a list of your published articles about other knife makers. Maybe even a writers bio.
It's all in the presentation. In this case, you and your publisher.
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A.Sharpe thanks for the post.
Scott
Scott
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A softer approach ... Yes, in deed. I was just startled by the statements and replies. I have been using, that e-mail for a while. I do change the intro, but the body is used again and again. The reason is those things don´t change. I ever had a problem before. Swear to God.
I am sorry I was not more friendly.
As for my response, I SHOULD HAVE NOT taken it soooooooooo PERSONALLY. Your time and effort is NOT cheap, nether is the experience, you had to learn for your craft.
I had no real idea how much scamming is done, in the knife industry. I have been following the forums for a couple of years now, and there isn´t much talk about it.
Many things are up in the air right, now. In my personal life, my wife´s work, both countries (Spain and America) countries economies, Spain´s is MUCH MUCH worse. As well as my son´s health. You see, I do writing and reviews as a stress release. I enjoy knives and guns, both working and playing with them. So after not having any problems, to have all this, I was bothered. No one said, hay we think you a fraud, come on the forums.
I would ASK for understanding and PARDON, from ALL on the forum. I am also moving on, and doing the same with everyone else. I REALLY enjoyknives and the work that has beenn shown on this forum, is outstanding.
As for a bio, I was born in Cleveland, Ohio, send almost six years in the Army reserves an active duty. I studied business at Old Dominion University, in Norfolk, VA. I have two minors one in Education the other in journalism. I meet my wife in VA, and moved here. We spoke Spanish and Italian in my family growing up, so the language, thing was that big of a deal. Here in Spain, I am a part time teacher and military surplus dealer. I started writing for a couple of free English newspapers and magazine over here. It was a love/ hate kind deal.
The knife thing more or less just happened. The editorial group owns an airsoft magazine. I sold some surplus to a couple of airssoft dealers, that advertise in the magazine. Later I did translation work, and testing. Then I was offered the chance to review knives. The editor knew I liked, guns and knives and had experience with both. The magazine is not an on-line magazine, so links to my articles are not possible. BUT, I will scan them and post them, when I can. My wife had them professionally framed. So, I cn´t just rip them out of the frames to scan. The magazine is bimonthly and we are going on issue five right now. before ``Aramas Blancas,´´ there was no other knife magazine in the country, ever. I can´t even get any, US mags over here. I have to have my mother send them to me.
I hope this helps straighten most things out. I wanted to wait, for a reference or two to come in first, before stating everything. Again, bad approach. I am sorry and hope can move on and hopefully work together.
I am sorry I was not more friendly.
As for my response, I SHOULD HAVE NOT taken it soooooooooo PERSONALLY. Your time and effort is NOT cheap, nether is the experience, you had to learn for your craft.
I had no real idea how much scamming is done, in the knife industry. I have been following the forums for a couple of years now, and there isn´t much talk about it.
Many things are up in the air right, now. In my personal life, my wife´s work, both countries (Spain and America) countries economies, Spain´s is MUCH MUCH worse. As well as my son´s health. You see, I do writing and reviews as a stress release. I enjoy knives and guns, both working and playing with them. So after not having any problems, to have all this, I was bothered. No one said, hay we think you a fraud, come on the forums.
I would ASK for understanding and PARDON, from ALL on the forum. I am also moving on, and doing the same with everyone else. I REALLY enjoyknives and the work that has beenn shown on this forum, is outstanding.
As for a bio, I was born in Cleveland, Ohio, send almost six years in the Army reserves an active duty. I studied business at Old Dominion University, in Norfolk, VA. I have two minors one in Education the other in journalism. I meet my wife in VA, and moved here. We spoke Spanish and Italian in my family growing up, so the language, thing was that big of a deal. Here in Spain, I am a part time teacher and military surplus dealer. I started writing for a couple of free English newspapers and magazine over here. It was a love/ hate kind deal.
The knife thing more or less just happened. The editorial group owns an airsoft magazine. I sold some surplus to a couple of airssoft dealers, that advertise in the magazine. Later I did translation work, and testing. Then I was offered the chance to review knives. The editor knew I liked, guns and knives and had experience with both. The magazine is not an on-line magazine, so links to my articles are not possible. BUT, I will scan them and post them, when I can. My wife had them professionally framed. So, I cn´t just rip them out of the frames to scan. The magazine is bimonthly and we are going on issue five right now. before ``Aramas Blancas,´´ there was no other knife magazine in the country, ever. I can´t even get any, US mags over here. I have to have my mother send them to me.
I hope this helps straighten most things out. I wanted to wait, for a reference or two to come in first, before stating everything. Again, bad approach. I am sorry and hope can move on and hopefully work together.
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tattooedfreak
Steel mutilater is more like it.
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Mr Dave, I hesitated to post on this thread as everyone had said pretty much everything that needed to be said. Yes, some of it may have been a little petty and harsh but the best thing you did was stay in the forum and defend yourself. Having said that, I'm sure there will be some people that still have reservations about dealing with you but that happens in every line of work. People don't like to be scammed. Artists hate to be scammed even more since they put a tremendous amount of effort, skill, sweat and blood into their work and when someone expresses an interest in it, their heart soars, then crashes when their "baby" is now stolen or ruined in some way. It takes a lot out of them and it becomes hard to recover from it. Some will refuse to deal with mass marketing again, some will require hard work on your part to prove yourself and a few will even stop working or at least stop selling/giving to strangers. Miscommunications happen and the best thing to do (for everyone) is keep your calm and try to explain yourself. I love knives and guns as well as just about everyone on this (and the other) knife forum, so welcome, enjoy your time here and I wish you luck in your professional and personal life.
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David,
I was one of the first to think it was a scam. I'm not sorry for that because you sent me the first email request and didnt personalize it with my name at the top. It naturally got deleted. The second one was a couple months later and was simply a copy of the first one and treated the same way except I replied and wrote: "Not interested, Sorry, Bruce" in which you replied back in the most rude manner stating that " life is too short to deal with people like you". From that instant on I decided not to deal with you ever. Admittedly my answer was short but not insultive.
Now I see you are learning that we makers cant tolerate rudeness and decided to appologise publically. Good business move. Remember my advice on the PM? I said to get to know us first and not just send out a blanket of the same request emails. Its too impersonal and custom makers wont buy into that.
Now that you have at least stuck it out past the initial greetings and have given your bio I have gained some respect for you. You are an American, ex US soldier and a world traveler, educated, seem to be a good father, share the same stress as us, need an income just like the rest of us and can speak at least 2 languages more than I can. Now at least we know something about you.
Stick around, mingle and see what happens. Some of the makers here can use your services but to ask for a knife without payment and to send it to Spain to boot is something we cant do as small time makers. The knife companies can afford to take that chance in hopes to get their product around the world but we cant afford it. There must be payment made to us first. There can be some business opportunities for you and us if done correctly. People skills are learned the hard way it seems.
Bruce Bump
I was one of the first to think it was a scam. I'm not sorry for that because you sent me the first email request and didnt personalize it with my name at the top. It naturally got deleted. The second one was a couple months later and was simply a copy of the first one and treated the same way except I replied and wrote: "Not interested, Sorry, Bruce" in which you replied back in the most rude manner stating that " life is too short to deal with people like you". From that instant on I decided not to deal with you ever. Admittedly my answer was short but not insultive.
Now I see you are learning that we makers cant tolerate rudeness and decided to appologise publically. Good business move. Remember my advice on the PM? I said to get to know us first and not just send out a blanket of the same request emails. Its too impersonal and custom makers wont buy into that.
Now that you have at least stuck it out past the initial greetings and have given your bio I have gained some respect for you. You are an American, ex US soldier and a world traveler, educated, seem to be a good father, share the same stress as us, need an income just like the rest of us and can speak at least 2 languages more than I can. Now at least we know something about you.
Stick around, mingle and see what happens. Some of the makers here can use your services but to ask for a knife without payment and to send it to Spain to boot is something we cant do as small time makers. The knife companies can afford to take that chance in hopes to get their product around the world but we cant afford it. There must be payment made to us first. There can be some business opportunities for you and us if done correctly. People skills are learned the hard way it seems.
Bruce Bump
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I have to agree with Bruce, And also thank you for putting up some info about yourself.
I know I was also one of the first to call you a spammer, But when you come to me with a phishing email more than once, and then after I tell you that I would happily sell one to you you said you nor the magazine buys them(even though in your email is states that you or the mag will)then when I ask for a refundable deposit you then put me down, and tell me that I am not worth your time and that I am not the type of person you are interested in writing a review about.
Hello................. sounds like a scam to me.
That is why i started a thread about you and took part in this one.
I will admit that there is still some stuff that is kinda fishy about you even with your bio I will tell you that I am sorry for calling you a spammer like I did and I apologize if I caused you any grief.
I hope you the best of luck in your endeavors!
I know I was also one of the first to call you a spammer, But when you come to me with a phishing email more than once, and then after I tell you that I would happily sell one to you you said you nor the magazine buys them(even though in your email is states that you or the mag will)then when I ask for a refundable deposit you then put me down, and tell me that I am not worth your time and that I am not the type of person you are interested in writing a review about.
Hello................. sounds like a scam to me.
That is why i started a thread about you and took part in this one.
I will admit that there is still some stuff that is kinda fishy about you even with your bio I will tell you that I am sorry for calling you a spammer like I did and I apologize if I caused you any grief.
I hope you the best of luck in your endeavors!
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The next question is, how do we know that the fellow Jeff Randell is referring to is the same fellow that is posting here?
The fellow posting here has some serious mistakes in his writing, especially in his form letter that he uses repeatedly, I would expect that it should be flawless. Especially considering that he is native to the USA and is university educated ?
Thats why I said that things still seem a bit fishy, A writer that grew up in the USA and went to a university should have better spelling and grammar than me! Although he does like to use the excuse that its late in the evening when he posts.
Also still really confused about the whole "cold steel riquires us to buy the knives" but yet if a maker says that they are in the wrong and he then refuses to work with them.
But hey i am trying to give David a chance, I emailed everyone of the references he gave me and I am still trying to get a hold of the magazine.
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i sure his english grammer is a little spotty because it looks like he's been in spain for a while and probably writing in spanish, so i guess between the two languages in casual writing somethings might get muddied up a bit, a lot of people have trouble with english grammer when its their only language. probably some mistakes in this post. lol
Ok, I got another email from one of Davids Referances,
This one is from Alan Elishewitz.
http://www.elishewitzknives.com/
This is what his email said, I did not change anything. If anyone would like me to forward this to them, email me!
Ernie,
He lost his credibility because he can not back up his articles. Do not send him one of your knives. I sent him a production knife; I wasnt about to send him one of my customs.
On the Dog Knife forum he was brought up and the majority of the people believe that he is a scammer. Pass this along to all the other knifemakers; be aware of this guy.
Allen
I also contacted Kabar,
All they said was that they Sent David a couple samples in Janurary.
I replied, to see if they know anything about a review of their samples.
This one is from Alan Elishewitz.
http://www.elishewitzknives.com/
This is what his email said, I did not change anything. If anyone would like me to forward this to them, email me!
Ernie,
He lost his credibility because he can not back up his articles. Do not send him one of your knives. I sent him a production knife; I wasnt about to send him one of my customs.
On the Dog Knife forum he was brought up and the majority of the people believe that he is a scammer. Pass this along to all the other knifemakers; be aware of this guy.
Allen
I also contacted Kabar,
All they said was that they Sent David a couple samples in Janurary.
I replied, to see if they know anything about a review of their samples.
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This is really interesting and I'm glad I started this thread. I emailed him again a couple of days ago, no reply.
Scott
Scott
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Alan´s knife is on my list to review. I will scan my past articles soon. My wife had framed and I am not about to rip them out. I also purchased a tee-shirt from Alan.
Ka-bar wouldn´t ship out of the US, so my mother is bring me the samples this summer.
Ka-bar wouldn´t ship out of the US, so my mother is bring me the samples this summer.
Wow you must be pretty busy writing reviews if you need to have the knives 6 months before an article is written.
Kabar not shipping out of the US
Ok I am confirming this with them.........waiting on email!!
So do you have excuses for the rest of your references?
I would like to know before I post every email up here for everyone to see.