Question about paying for Spyderco clips

Fred Sanford · Feb 17, 2009

I just have a question about Spyderco clips.

I have had to call Spyderco about 5 times to order clips from them. All kinds of random Spyderco knives. Most of the time it's because I bent one on my own and I don't expect them to just give me the clip. Other times I have purchased a clip from their factory outlet just to have an extra on a knife I carry a lot so I'm not without a clip if I mess it up. I have no problems paying for clips when I want them just because.

Once just recently I had a Spyderco Salt that came with the clip so close to the handle that it was just useless. I called and talked to Charlynn, and she understood and sent me out one for free. I think that's awesome.

My question is this: Did someone or everyone start taking advantage of getting clips free or something and ruin it for the rest of us? I ask because anytime I have needed a clip from Benchmade or Kershaw they send the clip out no questions asked and I'm not charged anything.

Was Spyderco losing money like crazy or something? Anyone have any guesses here?

I'm not bitching.......I'm actually just wondering. Seems different. I can remember a time when they would just send me clips back around 2005 or so with no charge. Most of the time though now they charge you no matter what it seems.

Ideas?

jujigatame · Feb 17, 2009

If it's an issue with the clip having a problem on a brand new knife, perhaps it's the representative's discretion as to whether or not to charge you?

I'd imagine if one is in their customer database from buying/receiving something they can see how many clips or other parts have been requested, and if they run into a person who was trying to abuse their warranty or replacement policy they could take action.

Easy · Feb 17, 2009

I was recently told by a person who works at a home-improvement store that they are going to start charging for the metal paint-can openers that have been free for as long as I have been buying paint. I don't think Spyderco is alone in charging for something that once was free.

Unless they are getting the clips for free, why should they give them away? Or, stated another way: any "free" clip you get just means the next knife you buy will be priced high enough to cover the costs involved with providing "free" clips. I'd rather just pay for what I get, as opposed to subsidizing the free clip club.

trimcut123 · Feb 17, 2009

I dont know.. But all i can say is Kershaw and CRKT ... Give out everything and more...
Its too bad..

Condition 1 · Feb 18, 2009

A few weeks ago I emailed and asked for a clip and screws that I screwed up when swapping tip up/down positions. Phone rang (I HATE THE PHONE) scared the hell out of me and I ended up dropping everything. Screws & clip. I stepped on the clip with my work boot while looking for the screws. Spyderco emailed me back and said we'll send you the screws.

A heavy envelope arrived with ANOTHER (that's 3 now) catalog, a pack of 3 or 4 tiny screws and a stamp costing close to $2 plus cost of padded envelope. No clip however. That IMO may have been cheaper. Quality glossy catalog, padded envelope, shipping and oh yea tiny screws = $$$ more than clip in envelope. I could be wrong.

I am willing to pay for spare clips. I like having spares also. Spyderco clips are quality and probably not inexpensive to produce and I hope the quality continues. Nothing ruins a quality knife more than a crappy clip. Liberal clip replacement policy may have been taken advantage of. Customers have to treat excellent customer service with excellent consideration.

zombieHD55 · Feb 18, 2009

Charlynn helped me out a few months back via email. I needed some replacement screws for an old Delica clip. She sent them for free and even suggested loctite.
I wouldn't mind paying for a replacement clip if I needed one.

jill jackson · Feb 18, 2009

My Dad and I ordered a load of clips from Spyderco and the package never showed up!
A call to them and they resent the entire deal on our word alone (there was no insurance or tracking)
I thought that was pretty darn good of them! (some of the clips were for older models and on eBay go for a lot more than Spyderco charged us)

kbuzbee · Feb 18, 2009

To me, if the clip is damaged in normal use, I expect Spydeco to replace it. If I just want another (for whatever reason) I should pay them for it. Simple.

Ken

Josh K · Feb 18, 2009

Maybe a knife parts order system? I know I'd love to have a couple spare clips for Military's laying around. Can I order a bulk package of like ten clips and fifty or so screws? I always fear I'm going to loose them.

And those awesome catalogs they include in every single shipment to you? I don't mind them. I keep one on my desk and mark it all up with wants and dreams of owning every single variant of every single new knife, and the others I toss in my shoulder bag. Good things to browse through and read if you're bored.

Fred Sanford · Feb 18, 2009

On a side note, I just got a new Titanium clip for one of my Salt 1's, and it came without the little washer that goes on the barrel bolt screw. I'm gonna see if they will send me that washer. I mean for $13.00 shipped I would think I would get the little washer too.

hugh_jorgan · Feb 18, 2009

I am new to Spyderco so if anyone can help me out with this I would greatly appreciate it. I just recently purchased a Paramilitary D2 in Foliage Green, and also a Rookie in Foliage Green. I have seen a few pictures on this forum of members knives that have wire clips instead of the black or silver flat metal clips. I like the way the wire clips look, and I was wondering if I could get those through Spyderco. If possible, what exactly would I ask them for(is there a specific name for these clips?), and would they even fit either of the knives that I have ordered?

Again this is probably noobish, but that is what I am and it is what it is. I really want one of these clips so I had to ask. I really appreciate any help!

Josh K · Feb 18, 2009

hugh_jorgan said:
I am new to Spyderco so if anyone can help me out with this I would greatly appreciate it. I just recently purchased a Paramilitary D2 in Foliage Green, and also a Rookie in Foliage Green. I have seen a few pictures on this forum of members knives that have wire clips instead of the black or silver flat metal clips. I like the way the wire clips look, and I was wondering if I could get those through Spyderco. If possible, what exactly would I ask them for(is there a specific name for these clips?), and would they even fit either of the knives that I have ordered?

Again this is probably noobish, but that is what I am and it is what it is. I really want one of these clips so I had to ask. I really appreciate any help!

Those clips are most likely custom mods by STR. He's got a subform under the "Makers" section.

KaliGman · Feb 18, 2009

David,

I don't really understand your first post. You say:

Most of the time it's because I bent one on my own and I don't expect them to just give me the clip. Other times I have purchased a clip from their factory outlet just to have an extra on a knife I carry a lot so I'm not without a clip if I mess it up. I have no problems paying for clips when I want them just because.

Then:

Once just recently I had a Spyderco Salt that came with the clip so close to the handle that it was just useless. I called and talked to Charlynn, and she understood and sent me out one for free. I think that's awesome.

OK, so far I am with you. Then:

I ask because anytime I have needed a clip from Benchmade or Kershaw they send the clip out no questions asked and I'm not charged anything.

Was Spyderco losing money like crazy or something? Anyone have any guesses here?

I'm not bitching.......I'm actually just wondering. Seems different. I can remember a time when they would just send me clips back around 2005 or so with no charge. Most of the time though now they charge you no matter what it seems.

You lose me there. If it you have no problem with paying when you want an extra clip or you have damaged one, and you get free clips from Warranty and Repair if there was a defect in the knife, what is the problem?

I don't know if Kershaw hands out free clips to anyone who asks for one, basically passing them out like Santa with candy at Christmas, but I do know that I used to deal with Benchmade on a law enforcement basis and their warranty and repair were--well, out of respect for Sal's "shiny footprints" philosophy, let us just say I was not as satisfied as I have been with Spyderco. I have been a law enforcement representative/dealer purchasing Spydercos for the use of Special Agents in my organization since before Kristi worked for the company. I have purchased thousands of dollars worth of Spydercos. I've done single orders well into the four figure range, even with the dealer discount. I recommend Spydercos to law enforcement and have done videos promoting the use of Spydercos in a martial arts/self-defense/law enforcement context. I put photos of Spydercos in a recent magazine article I wrote, and discussed some Spyderco products, including the Lava, in two other magazine articles (one of which is still pending publication). Even after all of that, if I mess up a clip through my actions, like the time I literally bent the clip on a black Yojimbo into a U when it caught on the door of an SUV I was bailing out of while wearing tactical gear, I fully expect to pay for it. In that instance, Spyderco did not charge me, because Kristi was being nice and thought the complete story regarding the incident was pretty funny (not as funny as the time a SWAT Chevy Suburban ran over a Spyderco--don't ask

), but funny. I expected to pay and would have had no problem if Spyderco did not show me "professional courtesy."

I know that Spyderco does a lot of business with law enforcement and the military. I also know, from personal experience, that the average soldier, sailor, agent or cop can break an anvil with a glass hammer. I've seen new gear squeal in fright just from having some new rookie look at it like he was going to use it hard

. Spyderco does an awful lot of "warranty work" on knives that really have been abused, and eats the cost of some repairs and replacements when it is not really necessary to honor the conditions of the guarantee. The company goes beyond the norm and beyond what it has to do, simply because the people who own and work in the company care about their customers and respect and help out those who serve and guard the public. So they won't always hand you a free clip? Who cares? I don't expect to go to the GMC dealer and say, "Hey, I am afraid I am going to mess up the shiny chrome lug nuts you put on my new Yukon, how about you give me eight or ten free so I can replace them if I want?" I don't expect Spyderco to pay for my mistakes or my desire for spare parts either.

So, what is the problem here?

hugh_jorgan · Feb 18, 2009

Josh K said:
Those clips are most likely custom mods by STR. He's got a subform under the "Makers" section.

Thanks a lot for the info, I am checking that out now.

Another one that I have noticed that I like is on the 2nd page of the thread about d2 Para pics: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=620238&page=2

But I see that the person said they had to do some work to rig it for their knife, so I think maybe going with STR makes more sense for me. I think I'll look into that soon, once I get my knives(tomorrow) and think about it a bit more. Thanks again!

Josh K · Feb 18, 2009

hugh_jorgan said:
Thanks a lot for the info, I am checking that out now.

Another one that I have noticed that I like is on the 2nd page of the thread about d2 Para pics: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=620238&page=2

But I see that the person said they had to do some work to rig it for their knife, so I think maybe going with STR makes more sense for me. I think I'll look into that soon, once I get my knives(tomorrow) and think about it a bit more. Thanks again!

Pictures or it didn't happen.

That knife mod actually looks like a clip from the Caly3 or UKPK done under the original base (broke the original clip off to make room or something) of the original clip. Interesting mod, but I still prefer the current configuration on my paras and millies. Enough to grab, and the curve of it rocks. Sets it just right in my pocket, so please don't change it spyderco.

Fred Sanford · Feb 18, 2009

KaliGman,

I left some out due to the "shiny footprints" thing.

Just understand that I have ZERO Problems with Spyderco and their people. They rock.

Let's just say......I have a problem with the people that took advantage of the warranty service which forced Spyderco to now charge for them.

I didn't mean to be confusing.

I will also say that I left out a lot more as a courtesy. So I think I'll close this thread down now before it gets out of hand with drama when it was never meant to be.

tazkristi · Feb 18, 2009

David Lowry said:
.... So I think I'll close this thread down now before it gets out of hand with drama when it was never meant to be.

Sorry David, I don't see a reason to close it. It's a valid discussion. I'll see if I can add more tomorrow from a Spyderco perspective. I'm opening it back up.

The ability to close threads, I believe, is really intended for the "For Sale" section, not the discussion areas.

Kristi

Fred Sanford · Feb 18, 2009

Kristi,

Yeah that's fine. But like I said "I will also say that I left out a lot more as a courtesy". I'm not going to say anymore.

kbuzbee · Feb 19, 2009

Josh K said:
That knife mod actually looks like a clip from the Caly3 or UKPK done under the original base (broke the original clip off to make room or something) of the original clip.

Hugh, Josh is spot on here. I actually damaged a clip from my Caly3 and so ordered (and paid for, since I did it

) three from Spyderco. Since I now had an extra, I decided to put in on my Para thus:

Josh is right, I cut two slits in the G10 for the clip and held it down with the base plate after I cut the rest of the clip off. I also mentioned in the thread you cite that I'm sure STR would have done a MUCH nicer job but this is quite functional. With a Dremel, it only took about an hour (and that's because I don't do much of this. A knowledgeable craftsman could probably have done this in 15 minutes. I need to go back and loctite the screws but, for now, it seems quite secure.

Steve does great work and I'm sure you'll be happy having him do yours.

Josh K said:
Interesting mod, but I still prefer the current configuration on my paras and millies. Enough to grab, and the curve of it rocks. Sets it just right in my pocket, so please don't change it spyderco.

Sorry you don't like it Josh. I love the way the knife carries now much better than before. And it draws very easily. We each have our own preferences...

Ken

Josh K · Feb 19, 2009

kbuzbee said:
Sorry you don't like it Josh. I love the way the knife carries now much better than before. And it draws very easily. We each have our own preferences...

Ken

No problem.

Actually, that clip convert you did is one I've never seen. A lot of people go for the tip down/deep pocket STR carry. It's nice, but it's just not me. It's not that I don't like your mod, love it in fact, but I just like a little more to grab onto.

Question about paying for Spyderco clips

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