Re-stocking fees....sound off here !!

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EChoil

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Just multi-posted to a thread in General Discussion, also dated today, regarding a prominent B&M knife retailer who caught an unsuspecting customer with a 5% re-stock fee on an $1800 knife. I won't mention names here but it's difficult not to.

What about re-stocking fees?? Is it really right to charge a customer nearly $100 because he returned a knife, with documentation, he felt was defective or not up to standard for a supposedly stellar and unimpeachable brand?

And doesn't "re-stocking" imply they're putting it back in the rack to send out again for another try.....or another return bonanza?

Hopefully dealers as well as buyers will post. I'd like to hear some of the justifications.....
 
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This is more about business practices than knives so off to Feedback we go.
 
Not sure if $90 is justified but there is cost assumed by the seller for processing, handling, shipping and insurance(if applicable). If the restocking fee is made aware prior to sale then I think that's fair.
 
Mikael Andersson said:
If you can afford a $1800 knife then a $90 re-stocking fee should be chump change. :rolleyes:
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Not really, that was a lot of saving and skipping morning coffee! haha, http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1382626-Knifecenter-Rockstead-woe
I read there return policy but didn't think I would be effected by it, ......but hurt launched ....lesson learned :rolleyes:

KnifeCenter Return Policy

If you are unhappy with your factory made purchase, please return it to us in its original, new and unused condition within 60 days. Include the manufacturer's packaging.on The exceptions include:
1. Custom and mid-tech (semi custom) products. The custom and mid-tech items are hard to get and purchasers will incur a 5% restocking fee upon return. The items must be in absolutely new condition.
 
Im sure there were so many people standing in line to get that knife....Im so glad my 90 bucks helped them recover there lost costs....

...............Thanks for contacting KnifeCenter. Once the item was received, we carefully inspected the knife and did not see any defect whatsoever. The fit, finish and function of the knife were flawless, which is why the 5% restocking fee was applied and is appropriate with this return.
 
If there was some sort of material defect, no I would not pay a restocking fee. I would speak to someone in a managerial position of the retailer & make myself clear. If necessary, I would contact manufacturer. However, because you change your mind, yes a restocking fee is fair. The terms of KnifeCenter could not be more clear.
 
Yeah I just checked out the knife... it's actually $1810 with a blade in ZDP-189.

The blade steel is very very good but not $1810 good.
 
I went through the same garbage as you Brandoak and I'll never deal with them again.
Sent me a Sukhoi 2.0 with no edge on the blade.....nothing. Returned it and they told me it shaved arm hair........no friggin way!! Tried to be nice and not call her a liar, but got nowhere.
The problem with this policy is they determine if it's ok or not. And it seems it goes their way quite often.
Cost me like $30.
Horrible customer service.
Joe

And ignore the 2 trolls above.
 
Defending of a charge of nearly $100 to put a knife back on a shelf is absurd. Greed. They brag on it at the end of the day...

In this specific case, If the knife's returned in same condition and sellable, should be no fee, they're already making $100's and 100's in profit from this single knife. If it's returned blemished, full price charged and the return disallowed, not a fee.

At the least, cap the fee. Anything over $25 to put a knife back on a shelf is a rip....and even the 25 is borderlline.
 
EChoil said:
Defending of a charge of nearly $100 to put a knife back on a shelf is absurd. Greed. They brag on it at the end of the day...

In this specific case, If the knife's returned in same condition and sellable, should be no fee, they're already making $100's and 100's in profit from this single knife. If it's returned blemished, full price charged and the return disallowed, not a fee.

At the least, cap the fee. Anything over $25 to put a knife back on a shelf is a rip....and even the 25 is borderlline.
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You would pay someone $25 to put a knife back on a shelf?

I wonder how many knives one guy could put back on the shelf in one work day. :p
 
Two threads on the same subject....great.

This is simple folks. KCs restocking fee is well stated. Complaining about it after the fact is stupid. It is like complaining about the price of something you already paid for. You did it. Get over it. You certainly can't argue that you should get money back you already agreed to pay. It makes you look foolish.

Now, if there is a real problem with the item and still you get a restocking fee, you have a point of contention. If you bad mouth a company in such a circumstance you need to provide proof. If you can't provide proof. Take your medicine. Learn from it. Move on. Make better choices in the future.
 
What I'd like to get across is the simple fact that KC decides what's acceptable. How is a blade without any edge whatsoever on a $400 knife acceptable. How is a gritty pivot on a $2000 knife acceptable???
Buyer's remorse???? Pay the fee and shut up.
Joe
 
palonej said:
What I'd like to get across is the simple fact that KC decides what's acceptable. How is a blade without any edge whatsoever on a $400 knife acceptable. How is a gritty pivot on a $2000 knife acceptable???
Buyer's remorse???? Pay the fee and shut up.
Joe
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That is certainly a valid question. If they do business like that on the regular they will see more threads with their name attached negatively.
 
EChoil said:
Defending of a charge of nearly $100 to put a knife back on a shelf is absurd. Greed. They brag on it at the end of the day...

In this specific case, If the knife's returned in same condition and sellable, should be no fee, they're already making $100's and 100's in profit from this single knife. If it's returned blemished, full price charged and the return disallowed, not a fee.

At the least, cap the fee. Anything over $25 to put a knife back on a shelf is a rip....and even the 25 is borderlline.
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If you agreed to the T&C when you made a purchase, there is little to no point whining after-the-fact. What you can certainly do, is find a different dealer next time on.

My best guess: customers' abused the liberal and friendly return policies, making re-stocking fees necessary as a deterrent. But I can only guess, since I am no dealer. Maybe someone from the dealer side can chime in and clarify.

Oh, and sharpness, gritty pivot, etc. are opinions and are bound to be highly subjective. One way to avoid conflicting opinions is to discuss the issue with the dealer before initiating any exchange or return, and then decide the course of action. Typically for high-value customs, the maker might get involved and offer a solution. And until a resolution is found, best not to touch the knife - since there are people who may flip it endlessly to reduce grittiness and when that doesn't happen start the returns process.
 
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KC is far from the only reputable dealer that imposes a restocking fee.

BHQ and KSF both have stellar reputations and both charge restocking fees on returns. I've returned knives to both of these companies. However, the restocking fees only apply if you request a refund, not an exchange. If a new knife had a problem, then why would an exchange (with no fee) not be a satisfactory resolution?
 
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