- Joined
- Apr 7, 2002
- Messages
- 721
TonyKnives said:
So, we're all familiar with the Assault Weapons Ban, right? (Bear with me; I promise this geta back to the point
)The AWB banned certain cosmetic features of "military-style" semi-auto weapons, like folding stocks, barrel shrouds, and bayonet mounts. So some companies altered their guns to come in line with that law. The bill outlawed barrel shrouds, so they removed the barrel shrouds. The bill outlawed bayonet mounts, so they removed the bayonet mounts. Those companies were pilloried in the media as irresponsible death merchants who were "crawling through" loopholes in the law. But that's absurd, of course. They were _obeying_ the law.
Spyderco's warranty says (and I'm quoting from the box my Police model came in):
"Spyderco warrants that all of our products are free from defects in mamaterial and workmanship....If a knife fails to function as it was designed we will examine its condition on its return to us, identify why it failed and respond in an appropriate manner. If we determine that there is a defect in the manufacture or materials we will repair, or replace that product with the same model or one of equal value. If the problem is determined not to be caused by defects in manufacture or materials we will inform you of the cost for repair. Upon agreement and payment, we will perform the repair. If we are unable to improve the condition of the knife, we will return it to you with the recommendation that it be retired from use."
Folding knives do sometimes wear out. That's not "a defect in the manufacture or materials", and that's all that's covered by the warranty you paid for. You _expected_ more than Spyderco promised you, and now you're crying foul that they didn't give it to you. I understand that it feels "JUST LOWDOWN DIRTY ROTTEN CHEAP" to you, but they met their obligations exactly as they promised to. Nobody ever promised you that when your well-used knife finally started to give out, they'd buy you a shiny new one. And that's what you're asking for. "Sal, I wore out this knife. Would'ja buy me a new one?" It doesn't _feel_ that way, 'cause you're dealing with a company, but it's what you're asking.
Buck sent you a new knife because there was a lock defect, and because a large knife company can afford to be looser with warranty "gifts" than a small company like Spyderco.
Others have gotten Factory Outlet credit because they sent in discontinued knives with defects in manufacture or materials. Not because their original Spyderkey finally gave out after 12 years of being used on construction sites.
If they're sending back defective discontinued knives, or refusing to repair or replace LNIB knives (as u812 suggested), that _sounds_ like a violation of the warranty agreement on Spyderco's part. But without knowing the specifics of those cases, who knows.
'Course, knowing how customers can sometimes react when they don't get what they think they're entitled to, it might be in Spyderco's best interest to add a specific "reasonable wear in use" statement in the printed warranty, and to have some diplomatic, helpful form letters drawn up to send back with "irreparable" knives. You can't honestly expect the warranty & repair guys to play one-way-diplomat with angry customers.
