I think the point being made was that there is some chance the OP will still be made whole. I kind of doubt that Kailash is trying to act as an apologist for this guy who I am still reasonably convinced is a scammer.
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Seller does not deliver handmade kukri after 7 months, when I ask for a refund he does not reply !
- Thread starter kok yip
- Start date
Kailash Blades
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
- Joined
- Nov 21, 2015
- Messages
- 1,109
There's no intent from my side to excuse what's precipitated or even to suggest that people feel one way or the other. Just informing those who are following this thread and have been impacted of developments on other platforms.
I am actually very happy to hear that SOME people are getting their Khukuri. I can't speak to the whys and wherefores of the situation, but my order is about two and a half years old now. I'm pretty frustrated. I've been pretty patient .
I posted to ask if others had similar experiences, or very different experience, with a specific seller. I'm just hoping to see that others don't have the same unfortunate experience that I have so far had with the seller in question.
I had the same experience a few yrs back and he sent his personal kukri set. Blade had a very small crack in it and he replaced albeit about 6 months later. So I can't say he is dishonest by any means just major league slow. Both sets are the Americana series which I don't think is offered anymore. I'll also say that the kukuri's he offers are of excellent quality with 0 grinds on them. At least the series I received are. stay safe
Greetings,
I sent off an Email to the Website (Dragonfly Khukuri and Knives) , and another to a different Email address associated with the seller in question. I also sent off a "Facebook Messenger" message, to Blue Dragonfly Trading Post (Timothy McLaughlin's Facebook page for the business). These messages were all the same: "Should I still expect that you will someday send me a Khukuri, or should I just consider it a loss and move on with my life?"
I'm not a collector. Unlike many of the members of this group, I'm not interested in trying out all the different Khukuri houses, or comparing differences between them. I simply want "A" (just the one) Khukuri like the one I ordered. Again, I don't collect knives, axes, or other camping and hunting tools. I do take these things into the field and put them to use. For my purposes it's important to have tools that work. I was interested in what the Khukuri has to offer. I say this with regards to the mother blade (खुकुरी) itself, and the whole package. I use flint and steel fire starting method, almost exclusively, so a functional chakmak is also important.
I am not a kid with too much time on my hands. I don't spend long hours on social media (or forums like this one). I'm a very busy guy. Still, I searched high and low, and looked all over the internet, watched YouTube videos, and finally decided that Dragonfly Khukuri and Knives had what I needed. Mr. McLaughlin was offering something I never found elsewhere. His price for such an item was more than reasonable (since placing my order, almost two and a half years ago, the price has gone up by $25.00 U.S. Dollars). But the money is not really my concern. At this juncture it's really a question of principal.
So... My question to Mr. McLaughlin was not weather or not I would ever get "my money's worth" from him, but weather or not I should place a new order with a different seller, and give up on ever receiving anything from him. Afterall, since placing my order I've gone on several expeditions, involving mountain climbing and primitive camping. I have a limited amount of paid time off to pursue such things, and that time is precious to me. I have been wanting to experiment with a Khukuri setup. But I'm still waiting on that... And as far as I'm concerned, I've been more than patient in my waiting.
I have never asked for a refund. I'm not a wealthy person, but honestly the money has never really been my concern. I know it might sound crazy, but I paid what I consider to be very little money for the kind of Khukuri I ordered from Dragonfly Khukuri and Knives. So really I'm not at all angry with Timothy McLaughlin, but I am disappointed.
Communication would have made all the difference.
He did respond to my most recent messages. However, at this point I feel like it's more of the same from him. He's affable and likeable, but I don't believe what I'm being told anymore. He's said that a batch of Khukuri are supposed to be sent from Nepal this week. He will do his evaluation, quality control, and send my Khukuri after that. So... You tell me: another few weeks? I don't know... I've been told too many different things at this point to be hopeful that I will indeed see my order sent to me, but that is what I'm being told.
Naturally, if it does arrive (in a few weeks or whenever) I will report that information here.
Ultimately, and this will probably be my final entry here, I just want to say that I can not recommend dealing with Dragonfly Khukuri and Knives. This statement is not an attempt at being vindictive or something like that. Again, I'm not angry with anyone, I'm disappointed. Rather, I'm attempting to caution others. I maintain my belief that Timothy McLaughlin is a good person, who has bad luck. But I'll just repeat the same thing I've told him directly: "Communication would make all the difference".
Have a great day
I sent off an Email to the Website (Dragonfly Khukuri and Knives) , and another to a different Email address associated with the seller in question. I also sent off a "Facebook Messenger" message, to Blue Dragonfly Trading Post (Timothy McLaughlin's Facebook page for the business). These messages were all the same: "Should I still expect that you will someday send me a Khukuri, or should I just consider it a loss and move on with my life?"
I'm not a collector. Unlike many of the members of this group, I'm not interested in trying out all the different Khukuri houses, or comparing differences between them. I simply want "A" (just the one) Khukuri like the one I ordered. Again, I don't collect knives, axes, or other camping and hunting tools. I do take these things into the field and put them to use. For my purposes it's important to have tools that work. I was interested in what the Khukuri has to offer. I say this with regards to the mother blade (खुकुरी) itself, and the whole package. I use flint and steel fire starting method, almost exclusively, so a functional chakmak is also important.
I am not a kid with too much time on my hands. I don't spend long hours on social media (or forums like this one). I'm a very busy guy. Still, I searched high and low, and looked all over the internet, watched YouTube videos, and finally decided that Dragonfly Khukuri and Knives had what I needed. Mr. McLaughlin was offering something I never found elsewhere. His price for such an item was more than reasonable (since placing my order, almost two and a half years ago, the price has gone up by $25.00 U.S. Dollars). But the money is not really my concern. At this juncture it's really a question of principal.
So... My question to Mr. McLaughlin was not weather or not I would ever get "my money's worth" from him, but weather or not I should place a new order with a different seller, and give up on ever receiving anything from him. Afterall, since placing my order I've gone on several expeditions, involving mountain climbing and primitive camping. I have a limited amount of paid time off to pursue such things, and that time is precious to me. I have been wanting to experiment with a Khukuri setup. But I'm still waiting on that... And as far as I'm concerned, I've been more than patient in my waiting.
I have never asked for a refund. I'm not a wealthy person, but honestly the money has never really been my concern. I know it might sound crazy, but I paid what I consider to be very little money for the kind of Khukuri I ordered from Dragonfly Khukuri and Knives. So really I'm not at all angry with Timothy McLaughlin, but I am disappointed.
Communication would have made all the difference.
He did respond to my most recent messages. However, at this point I feel like it's more of the same from him. He's affable and likeable, but I don't believe what I'm being told anymore. He's said that a batch of Khukuri are supposed to be sent from Nepal this week. He will do his evaluation, quality control, and send my Khukuri after that. So... You tell me: another few weeks? I don't know... I've been told too many different things at this point to be hopeful that I will indeed see my order sent to me, but that is what I'm being told.
Naturally, if it does arrive (in a few weeks or whenever) I will report that information here.
Ultimately, and this will probably be my final entry here, I just want to say that I can not recommend dealing with Dragonfly Khukuri and Knives. This statement is not an attempt at being vindictive or something like that. Again, I'm not angry with anyone, I'm disappointed. Rather, I'm attempting to caution others. I maintain my belief that Timothy McLaughlin is a good person, who has bad luck. But I'll just repeat the same thing I've told him directly: "Communication would make all the difference".
Have a great day
Greetings,
I just wanted to take a minute to let everyone here know that I received my order from Dragonfly Khukuri and Knives yesterday.
It took over two years to arrive, and it isn't exactly what I asked for, but I suppose I should be happy to have received SOMETHING.
I maintain that my experience with this seller would have been different, if communication on his part had been better. He's probably a decent human being, but perhaps not the best businessman.
Have a great day
I just wanted to take a minute to let everyone here know that I received my order from Dragonfly Khukuri and Knives yesterday.
It took over two years to arrive, and it isn't exactly what I asked for, but I suppose I should be happy to have received SOMETHING.
I maintain that my experience with this seller would have been different, if communication on his part had been better. He's probably a decent human being, but perhaps not the best businessman.
Have a great day
- Joined
- Jun 16, 2003
- Messages
- 20,207
Happy that you got a khukuri of some sort.
Perhaps time for a reminder of the law regarding delivery timing that the U.S. imposes on all those selling into rthe U.S.
Federal Trade Commission “Mail, Internet, or Telephone Order Merchandise Trade Regulation Rule” (the "Rule").
The Rule requires that when you advertise merchandise [for sale in the Untied States], you must have a reasonable basis for stating or implying that you can ship within a certain time. If you make no shipment statement, you must have a reasonable basis for believing that you can ship within 30 days. That is why direct marketers sometimes call this the "30-day Rule."
If, after taking the customer’s order, you learn that you cannot ship within the time you stated or within 30 days, you must seek the customer’s consent to the delayed shipment. If you cannot obtain the customer’s consent to the delay -- either because it is not a situation in which you are permitted to treat the customer’s silence as consent and the customer has not expressly consented to the delay, or because the customer has expressly refused to consent -- you must, without being asked, promptly refund all the money the customer paid you for the unshipped merchandise.
Whenever you change the shipment date by providing a delay notice, you must have a "reasonable basis" for: the new shipment date, or any representation that you do not know when you can ship the merchandise.
"Reasonable basis" means that the merchant has, at the time of making the representation, such information as would under the circumstances satisfy a reasonable and prudent businessperson, acting in good faith, that the representation is true.
For details: https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidan...-internet-or-telephone-order-merchandise-rule
In 2020, on line vendor Fashion Nova [poorly rasted by customers: 1.7/5] paid $9.3 million U.S. to settle an FTC prosecution for violating the Rule. “According to the FTC, despite Fashion Nova’s use of phrases like ‘Fast Shipping,’ ‘2-Day Shipping,’ and ‘Expect Your Items Quick!,’ the company often failed to meet its shipping promises to consumers, and failed to meet the Mail Order Rule’s requirement that consumers must be notified of shipping delays and given the chance to cancel orders and receive prompt refunds. The upshot: The company violated consumers’ legal right to decide for themselves ‘OK, I’ll wait’ [for you to meet the newly stated delivery date] or ‘No way.’ Cancel and refund my money.” In addition, the complaint alleges that Fashion Nova at times failed to refund consumers for the items it didn’t ship. Instead, it was the company’s policy to issue gift cards, which aren’t considered refunds under the Mail Order Rule. The company also failed to cancel orders and provide refunds when it didn’t offer consumers delay option notices.”
Perhaps time for a reminder of the law regarding delivery timing that the U.S. imposes on all those selling into rthe U.S.
Federal Trade Commission “Mail, Internet, or Telephone Order Merchandise Trade Regulation Rule” (the "Rule").
The Rule requires that when you advertise merchandise [for sale in the Untied States], you must have a reasonable basis for stating or implying that you can ship within a certain time. If you make no shipment statement, you must have a reasonable basis for believing that you can ship within 30 days. That is why direct marketers sometimes call this the "30-day Rule."
If, after taking the customer’s order, you learn that you cannot ship within the time you stated or within 30 days, you must seek the customer’s consent to the delayed shipment. If you cannot obtain the customer’s consent to the delay -- either because it is not a situation in which you are permitted to treat the customer’s silence as consent and the customer has not expressly consented to the delay, or because the customer has expressly refused to consent -- you must, without being asked, promptly refund all the money the customer paid you for the unshipped merchandise.
Whenever you change the shipment date by providing a delay notice, you must have a "reasonable basis" for: the new shipment date, or any representation that you do not know when you can ship the merchandise.
"Reasonable basis" means that the merchant has, at the time of making the representation, such information as would under the circumstances satisfy a reasonable and prudent businessperson, acting in good faith, that the representation is true.
For details: https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidan...-internet-or-telephone-order-merchandise-rule
In 2020, on line vendor Fashion Nova [poorly rasted by customers: 1.7/5] paid $9.3 million U.S. to settle an FTC prosecution for violating the Rule. “According to the FTC, despite Fashion Nova’s use of phrases like ‘Fast Shipping,’ ‘2-Day Shipping,’ and ‘Expect Your Items Quick!,’ the company often failed to meet its shipping promises to consumers, and failed to meet the Mail Order Rule’s requirement that consumers must be notified of shipping delays and given the chance to cancel orders and receive prompt refunds. The upshot: The company violated consumers’ legal right to decide for themselves ‘OK, I’ll wait’ [for you to meet the newly stated delivery date] or ‘No way.’ Cancel and refund my money.” In addition, the complaint alleges that Fashion Nova at times failed to refund consumers for the items it didn’t ship. Instead, it was the company’s policy to issue gift cards, which aren’t considered refunds under the Mail Order Rule. The company also failed to cancel orders and provide refunds when it didn’t offer consumers delay option notices.”
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I really hesitated to share my experience, until I saw that it was not uncommon.
I waited for a long time. The khukuri I was sent isn't really what I had ordered. But the larger issue was a profound lack of communication throughout.
I have learned a few things about the Nepalese khukuri houses, and ordering custom khukuri from them, since joining this forum. So for that anyway, I have no regrets.
I sincerely hope that Timothy McLaughlin and his company are able to survive. Although I want to believe that he is a decent human being, my larger reason for wishing him success is that, by proxy, he helps Nepalese smiths find success as well.
In the future, I'll be dealing directly with folks in Nepal and eliminate the middleman.
Have a great day
I certainly understand your legitimate aggravation but I encourage you to visit BladeForums very own HIMALAYAN IMPORTS.
Long standing - great reputation excellent service most excellent product and they DO IN FACT support their Nepalese knife makers and their families.
CHECK OUT THE SUB-FORUM
Kailash Blades
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
- Joined
- Nov 21, 2015
- Messages
- 1,109
Hey there guys- Andrew from Kailash here. I recently had a customer reach out to me and say that he had run into a similar issue as many of you- that he has placed an order with Blue Dragonfly Trading Post that never arrived. He asked that I get in touch with Timothy and see what the current situation was. I talked with my team and nobody was aware of him having worked with any smiths in Nepal for some time. I messaged him on facebook, presented the situation and proposed that if his connections with smiths had dissolved we could complete and ship these orders for him. I stated that I felt his business conduct had left a scar between the Nepalese industry and the rest of the world. I asserted that he still had the money from the orders and that we have a team who can confidently and professionally get the knives made and sent to hopefully tie a knot int he whole situation.
I'm including his response here with his permission with the hope that it can bring some closure to the situation.
"Hello Andrew it is good to hear from you, I wish that it wasn’t under these circumstances.
The aftermath of the Covid Pandemic, the loss of Raju who had the largest quantity of past unfulfilled orders, my declining health and the health challenges within my immediate family, I was sinking fast, yet I refused to accept defeat. Three years ago, I was determined to find a solution to provide the product for those who had ordered product from me, as you are aware of. You were kind enough to offer your assistance back then. In hindsight I wish I took you up on your offer.
I had a very good work relationship with Neem Tenji, and I assumed that his quality of workmanship had not changed. He agreed to help me fulfill these back orders. However, no fault to Neem, he was working with a brand new team who were not producing the same quality as he had done prior, when he was with GurkhaBlades. An additional note, Neem Tenji had a falling out with his partner at GurkhaBlades and left their forge. Later he started a new forge. The orders I had with Neem, stayed with GurkhaBlades. The product I received from them was horrible. Most of the product came damaged. I attempted three times to have them fix these orders but to no avail. 90% of what I received from them had cracked handles and rust on the blades. Neem with his new team helped me honor those outstanding orders, but the quality was not as before. At least when they arrived they came in good condition.
The financial resources which came from my customers to fill these orders was being depleted to the point it was not enough. I was having to double pay for some of the product and postage cost became very fluid. I endeavored to deal with this challenge, which inevitably required my to use my own money which I depended upon to support my family. This income came from my full time employment, not from Dragonfly Khukuri and Knives. It became evident that I was running out of my financial resources to fulfill my obligations to my customers.
From the time of the Pandemic my health worsened. I have survived Covid five times, had two neck surgeries and then on June 22, 2022, I nearly died while walking in my backyard; actually I did die, but it wasn’t my time yet, so I was sent back to my body. In 2023 I suffered an AFIB while at work and was taken by ambulance to the hospital. From that point my doctor kept me out of work and I was forced into retirement, which occurred in September 2024. The money I make from Social Security, which is the money I receive from the Government that I have paid into throughout my work history, is half of what I brought in monthly to support my family. My wife was not alway sable to work herself. Somehow by the grace of God we are able to keep our home with the lights on. To top this off, our oldest son’s health became an ongoing crisis and he has lost all financial and medical insurance support other than what is provided by the Government which is very limited. With great sacrifice my wife and I are doing all we can to help him. We have him in a medical facility until a time when he will be healthy enough to live his life. God willing.
I am very grateful for your offer and that of your team mates, to assist me in fulfilling my obligations to my customers. I have had to close Dragonfly Khukuri and Knives. I took down the website and my PayPal no longer provides me with the list of my past orders received. Being a middleman with very limited resources has turned out to be a very non lucrative endeavor that had little chance of survival after the Pandemic and the challenges it caused in its wake. My intention was to assist in promoting the beautiful, very useful and culturally rich Khukuri and the very talented blacksmiths of Nepal, after the devastating earthquake of April 2015. The same year our second oldest son’s health became passed away at 22 years of age. The earthquake in Nepal happened the day before his birthday. He passed on June 19th 2015, which still feels like yesterday.
It greatly saddens me to think that I have caused more harm than good in this service to promote the blacksmiths and the amazing work of their hands of Nepal. I live with deep remorse over not providing the products which my customers had paid and entrusted me to provide. I have many time thought of going on line, FaceBook, Instagram and YouTube with at least and explanation and beg for their mercy and forgiveness with the offer of some form of restitution. My challenge is financial. I no longer have the resources to pay anyone to build these products, nor can I pay the expensive shipping cost to deliver any Khukuri I have in my possession. With all that being said, under the circumstances I am currently in, I do not know what I am able to do. However, this does not mean I am not willing to do something to resolve this. Especially to rectify the harm to others that I have caused. Therefore I am open and willing to search for a solution with you Andrew."
The timeline of manufacturing operations described here has been independently verified by our team in Nepal as more or less accurate but there is murkiness. At points he left nepalese makers short changed and at points he was left short changed by Nepalese makers. He has previously claimed that the funds from the original orders were depleted during his attempts to clear his backlog- based on the sequence of events that we have verified this would be expected. He also has claimed to have paid out of pocket for works after these funds were depleted- this we cannot verify but seems realistic based on what we learned.
We cannot verify anything on the personal side and while it is a compelling story in business these things are cut and dry. He took orders and did not deliver them. I spoke with him about potential solutions but we are limited by his lack of funding. It has been established that he doesn't have the money anymore to give refunds and doesn't have the money or the smiths to get these orders made. I will continue to press him towards a better outcome.
At Kailash we recognise that ordering a blade from Nepal is often an intimidating prospect. The websites are often confusing, outdated and don't inspire great trust. The ways that you pay for blades are limited, antiquated and can sometimes not be a particulalry smooth process. Customer service is often challenging both with cultural and language barriers. Behind all this though are a community of bladesmiths that spend their lives trying to make a living doing the only way they know how- by making khukuris. The last thing that they need is a relatively high profile business collapse like this eroding their trust and reputation.
While we cannot fulfill these orders we would like to try and extend a gesture of goodwill to those affected by his business failing from Nepal on behalf of the industry in general.
If customers can provide me with proof of purchase I will confirm with Timothy that this is an order that remains unfulfilled. If so then this impacted customer will qualify for an equivalent replacement blade from Kailash at half price- enough to cover the smith's labour and some materials. We won't be able to remake the exact blades as they are not within our smith's skillsets but drawing from our current lineup, semi custom options and past custom orders we should be able to get pretty close. So far we have two such orders on the books and there are no hiccups.
We recognise that this is not an ideal resolution but it is something. Feel free to share this post anywhere you deem appropriate- it is not bladeforums specific.
If you'd like to take us up on this offer get in touch by bladeforums DM or email me at websupport@kailashblades.com.
Take care,
Andrew and the team at Kailash
I'm including his response here with his permission with the hope that it can bring some closure to the situation.
"Hello Andrew it is good to hear from you, I wish that it wasn’t under these circumstances.
The aftermath of the Covid Pandemic, the loss of Raju who had the largest quantity of past unfulfilled orders, my declining health and the health challenges within my immediate family, I was sinking fast, yet I refused to accept defeat. Three years ago, I was determined to find a solution to provide the product for those who had ordered product from me, as you are aware of. You were kind enough to offer your assistance back then. In hindsight I wish I took you up on your offer.
I had a very good work relationship with Neem Tenji, and I assumed that his quality of workmanship had not changed. He agreed to help me fulfill these back orders. However, no fault to Neem, he was working with a brand new team who were not producing the same quality as he had done prior, when he was with GurkhaBlades. An additional note, Neem Tenji had a falling out with his partner at GurkhaBlades and left their forge. Later he started a new forge. The orders I had with Neem, stayed with GurkhaBlades. The product I received from them was horrible. Most of the product came damaged. I attempted three times to have them fix these orders but to no avail. 90% of what I received from them had cracked handles and rust on the blades. Neem with his new team helped me honor those outstanding orders, but the quality was not as before. At least when they arrived they came in good condition.
The financial resources which came from my customers to fill these orders was being depleted to the point it was not enough. I was having to double pay for some of the product and postage cost became very fluid. I endeavored to deal with this challenge, which inevitably required my to use my own money which I depended upon to support my family. This income came from my full time employment, not from Dragonfly Khukuri and Knives. It became evident that I was running out of my financial resources to fulfill my obligations to my customers.
From the time of the Pandemic my health worsened. I have survived Covid five times, had two neck surgeries and then on June 22, 2022, I nearly died while walking in my backyard; actually I did die, but it wasn’t my time yet, so I was sent back to my body. In 2023 I suffered an AFIB while at work and was taken by ambulance to the hospital. From that point my doctor kept me out of work and I was forced into retirement, which occurred in September 2024. The money I make from Social Security, which is the money I receive from the Government that I have paid into throughout my work history, is half of what I brought in monthly to support my family. My wife was not alway sable to work herself. Somehow by the grace of God we are able to keep our home with the lights on. To top this off, our oldest son’s health became an ongoing crisis and he has lost all financial and medical insurance support other than what is provided by the Government which is very limited. With great sacrifice my wife and I are doing all we can to help him. We have him in a medical facility until a time when he will be healthy enough to live his life. God willing.
I am very grateful for your offer and that of your team mates, to assist me in fulfilling my obligations to my customers. I have had to close Dragonfly Khukuri and Knives. I took down the website and my PayPal no longer provides me with the list of my past orders received. Being a middleman with very limited resources has turned out to be a very non lucrative endeavor that had little chance of survival after the Pandemic and the challenges it caused in its wake. My intention was to assist in promoting the beautiful, very useful and culturally rich Khukuri and the very talented blacksmiths of Nepal, after the devastating earthquake of April 2015. The same year our second oldest son’s health became passed away at 22 years of age. The earthquake in Nepal happened the day before his birthday. He passed on June 19th 2015, which still feels like yesterday.
It greatly saddens me to think that I have caused more harm than good in this service to promote the blacksmiths and the amazing work of their hands of Nepal. I live with deep remorse over not providing the products which my customers had paid and entrusted me to provide. I have many time thought of going on line, FaceBook, Instagram and YouTube with at least and explanation and beg for their mercy and forgiveness with the offer of some form of restitution. My challenge is financial. I no longer have the resources to pay anyone to build these products, nor can I pay the expensive shipping cost to deliver any Khukuri I have in my possession. With all that being said, under the circumstances I am currently in, I do not know what I am able to do. However, this does not mean I am not willing to do something to resolve this. Especially to rectify the harm to others that I have caused. Therefore I am open and willing to search for a solution with you Andrew."
The timeline of manufacturing operations described here has been independently verified by our team in Nepal as more or less accurate but there is murkiness. At points he left nepalese makers short changed and at points he was left short changed by Nepalese makers. He has previously claimed that the funds from the original orders were depleted during his attempts to clear his backlog- based on the sequence of events that we have verified this would be expected. He also has claimed to have paid out of pocket for works after these funds were depleted- this we cannot verify but seems realistic based on what we learned.
We cannot verify anything on the personal side and while it is a compelling story in business these things are cut and dry. He took orders and did not deliver them. I spoke with him about potential solutions but we are limited by his lack of funding. It has been established that he doesn't have the money anymore to give refunds and doesn't have the money or the smiths to get these orders made. I will continue to press him towards a better outcome.
At Kailash we recognise that ordering a blade from Nepal is often an intimidating prospect. The websites are often confusing, outdated and don't inspire great trust. The ways that you pay for blades are limited, antiquated and can sometimes not be a particulalry smooth process. Customer service is often challenging both with cultural and language barriers. Behind all this though are a community of bladesmiths that spend their lives trying to make a living doing the only way they know how- by making khukuris. The last thing that they need is a relatively high profile business collapse like this eroding their trust and reputation.
While we cannot fulfill these orders we would like to try and extend a gesture of goodwill to those affected by his business failing from Nepal on behalf of the industry in general.
If customers can provide me with proof of purchase I will confirm with Timothy that this is an order that remains unfulfilled. If so then this impacted customer will qualify for an equivalent replacement blade from Kailash at half price- enough to cover the smith's labour and some materials. We won't be able to remake the exact blades as they are not within our smith's skillsets but drawing from our current lineup, semi custom options and past custom orders we should be able to get pretty close. So far we have two such orders on the books and there are no hiccups.
We recognise that this is not an ideal resolution but it is something. Feel free to share this post anywhere you deem appropriate- it is not bladeforums specific.
If you'd like to take us up on this offer get in touch by bladeforums DM or email me at websupport@kailashblades.com.
Take care,
Andrew and the team at Kailash
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Sorry for his struggles and personal loss but to be fair - we ALL have our struggles in life and loss is tragic but inevitable. I have my own stories. How we respond, how we rise above is a choice. Tim - stop crying. You made commitments that you are unable to deliver on - in the short term - borrow some money, work some overtime, pay your financial debts no matter that you have now way to honor the material commitments of Nepalese Kukris. Really how much can you owe your trusting clients? If you can't put blades to the grind stone at the least put yourself to it and pay up. Make a commitment and do it. Not simple but it is the honorable response.
Thank you
Kailash Blades
for your generous outreach but now it is Tim's turn. And NO, I have no stake in the outcomes. You have made the situation public and so I offer my 2¢.
Andrew no offence mate but you are making a big mistake getting into the middle of this. I can all but guarantee it will cost you reputation and money.
Some free advice for what it's worth.......Don't get involved and distance yourself from these people immediately.
Kailash Blades
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
- Joined
- Nov 21, 2015
- Messages
- 1,109
Thanks very much your concern guys.
We agree that Tim should get these funds together and make good on these orders to make things right.
From our side in Nepal we have used all the tools and levers available to us to help create that outcome to no avail. With that it mind we think this is the best we can realistically do to help those impacted. We are not doing this for Tim or to rehabilitate his reputation in any way- this is forfeit. We are just extending a kindness to the knife community directly and don't see how we are engendering risk to ourselves in the process beyond taking reduced profit on a handful of replacement blades if people want to take up the offer.
It's just an option we are making available- if anyone, particularly those affected and in the US want to take further action again Tim then by all means they can and should.
We agree that Tim should get these funds together and make good on these orders to make things right.
From our side in Nepal we have used all the tools and levers available to us to help create that outcome to no avail. With that it mind we think this is the best we can realistically do to help those impacted. We are not doing this for Tim or to rehabilitate his reputation in any way- this is forfeit. We are just extending a kindness to the knife community directly and don't see how we are engendering risk to ourselves in the process beyond taking reduced profit on a handful of replacement blades if people want to take up the offer.
It's just an option we are making available- if anyone, particularly those affected and in the US want to take further action again Tim then by all means they can and should.
Sphinx3000
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Jun 8, 2018
- Messages
- 283
I am also one of the people who paid and did not get my Khukuri. I can prove this, of course. Back then I decided to let it go. I somehow felt for the guy because he sounded sincere. Looking backwards, perhaps I should have made a post here because I don't know if more people lost their money after I did. If that is the case, I could have helped prevent that. I would like to believe that Tim did not do this intentionally, but it still has to be resolved somehow by him. Hopefully he will do that. I bought two beautiful Khukuris from Kailash Blades and could not be happier with them. The last thing I would want is to pay half for them. It is a great offer, but for me, it would not feel good to take it. Regarding the advice Steven gave Andrew, I would take it. Before you know it, your name will be mentioned in one breath with Tim. If Tim is a scammer, he is damn good at it and probably a complete sociopath who will drag you along. I worked with these people; he did not give the usual vibes. I hope I haven't become naive.
K80Shooter
Basic Member
- Joined
- Sep 10, 2018
- Messages
- 343
I have no dog in this fight, but this is my take on it.
He offered a product, he took money for the product, he then did not deliver plus he spent the money that he did take for them. The buyer's got nothing.
This is nothing short of fraud and theft and that's how it should be seen, period.
Tim should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The problem is that he's in another country whose law just might not be the same as ours.
Paying for something 100% up front should be looked at very carefully, especially when it's in another country. Only spend what you can afford to lose.
I hope that there is some type of resolution to this, but I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for it.
He offered a product, he took money for the product, he then did not deliver plus he spent the money that he did take for them. The buyer's got nothing.
This is nothing short of fraud and theft and that's how it should be seen, period.
Tim should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The problem is that he's in another country whose law just might not be the same as ours.
Paying for something 100% up front should be looked at very carefully, especially when it's in another country. Only spend what you can afford to lose.
I hope that there is some type of resolution to this, but I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for it.