Summary of my recent Spyderco problem.

Send it back and get credit. Then get another one from newgraham.com while they still have a few in stock.
 
Spyderco's customer service is excellent, but there's a limit to what they can do. It's not so much a matter of "they won't fix it" as "they can't fix it." The knife is pinned together -- the only way to take it apart is to break it. Even if the Calypso Jr. wasn't out of production, they would only be able to replace it, not fix it. Were your repaired Benchmades pinned FRN or were they put together with screws/torx?
 
Fisher,

I personally wouldn't expect any company to maintain a backstock of parts of discontinued knives. Why? because discontinued knives have been discontinued. Perhaps there's something i'm missing here? If Benchmade makes extra stockpiles parts of all of their knives, then hallelujah, that's just WAY beyond the call of duty. If keeping a huge backstock of discontinued knife parts is what's gonna determine your patronage, then go over to benchmade products. Companies have to go with the larger voice of their market, move forward, & leave behind models that lack demand. This practice is certainly not gonna make me dump Spyderco.
 
I don't see any reason to be like that. They have to cover their own a$$ like anyone else. They offered a credit if they deem the knife faulty. That is more than you'd get from Cold Steel I can tell you that.

Also, I bought one just about a week ago and it is flawless. Get you another one from Newgraham in the limited edition section and send the other one back.

I've had Bench Mades with problems too. One I still have they didn't deem faulty but drives me nuts with blade wobble. They don't walk on water any more than the rest of the knife world.
 
Fisher of men, you wrote:

Not sure If I'm going to continue to be a Spyderco customer after this.
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You probably woudn't - because, as you declared at the BM Forum, you are a convert. Never mind, I still think you might be wrong, because many Spyderco knives have no counterpart in BM knives, and you might miss some beauty.

As an example, compare a Lil' Temperance to BM 710 HS. Quite different knives, but complementary IMO. I carefully compared both - Lil's fit and finish is excellent, equal to BM710, a superb steel, etc. I find both to be great knives.

As far as Calypso Jr. is concerned. My advice: ask Spyderco to get the new Calypso Jr. (comes soon) in ZDP-189 steel! There is almost a consensus among forumites that Calypso Jr. is the best cutter. Now, imagine the ZDP-189 blade. That one you will hardly find by BM. I wouldn't miss a Calypso in spite of the all beauty of the Axis lock. I would take both.

Franco
 
It seems like every time I see a topic by FoM is screams "drama". If you like Benchmade you like Benchmade, if you like Spyderco you like Spyderco. Making a big deal like this every few weeks is just silly...

A lot of us on these forums have knives from all different types of makers custom and production, full allegiance to either Spyderco or Benchmade is not required. Both companies make good knives, you just need to select the one(s) that suit you best.

I understand FoM that you say you are not trying to bash and such, but saying things like this don't help your case:
Fisher of Men said:
And before someone goes on a whole rant about "these are production knives". I already know that. That doesn't mean that I should spend my $40 on a heap of crap. I can spend 10 more bucks and get a Mini-Griptilian that blows away the Calypso Jr as far as quality goes.

Why would I want a knife that is a great cutter, but looks like crap and also has pits and flaws and is hard to open and close? That makes no sense at all.
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You've been on the forums enough that you should know better.
 
FoM, I honestly do understand a bit where Slvgx is coming from, even though I would not put it so bluntly. You come across as being a little sensitive about all sorts of issues, moreso than other forumites. I am judging that ofcourse purely subjectively from a medium that hardly allows for the nuance of non-verbal communication.

I am a die-hard Spydie fan, and I am not trying to convert you. I would sincerely like you to be happy with the knife of your choice. Us knifeknuts need more people like us in this increasingly knife-unfriendly world. Ofcourse I could jibber jabber all week long about why Spyderco is the best. However, in the end it is important what fits you. If that's Spyderco fine, if it's Benchmade, sure that's fine by me. Please try the Benchmade knives for a while and let us know in the appropriate forums what you think about them. Let's just focus on the knives.

Judging from your posts though, I think you would be much happier with a Chris Reeve Sebenza. I sincerely think you and a Chris Reeve product would make a very good match. You will appreciate the craftsmanship, attention to detail, fit/finish, customer support and performance. I once was a very happy Sebenza owner, so I know what I'm talking about. Yes they're more expensive than a Spydie or Benchmade, but how many Sebenza's could you have bought with the money you already spent on your Spydies and Benchmades?

Good luck and fun in your knife collecting career!

Wouter
 
Spyderco has a warranty. If the knife is as bad as you say you have no worries. They'll cover it. There are others available still. So, where is the real problem here?

Not that it matters to me one way or the other but with all due respect you are trying to make Spyderco Cust. Srvc. out to be the bad guy here before you have even allowed them to evaluate the knife for you. You can't expect them to bend over backwards for you anymore than BM or any other company.

Send it to them and if they let you down after that, after all your descriptions of chipping and lock failing and what not then you have a complaint.

If nothing else send the knife in and get your credit after the new one comes out get you a new knife with the new steel to replace it when it comes and you'll be that much better ahead.
 
Thanks Wouter! I appreciate your post.

Perhaps I am more sensitive than others. I don't think that's a big deal. You're right, I may like a Sebenza. Right now I'm blown away with the quality, fit and finish of the Benchmade Axis folders for the price. For me Spyderco doesn't even compare.

I appreciate your post and thanks for being kind.

Cheers,
David
 
For everyone's info, I have called both Gerber's & Benchmade's customer service departments (with relatively simple questions), left a message --- and this was only for a single call per company; it's not like I was pestering them over petty stuff multiple times.

I never got a call back from either.

I've called Spyderco more than once. Not only did I usually end up speaking with a live person (luck perhaps?), but I got called back whenever I left a message. Not to mention, I was WELL taken care of each & every time.

This is not to slam BM or Gerber by any means. These could have been anomalous incidences. But my point is that sometimes our perspective of a company's great customer service (which includes easy stuff like returning calls) can be clouded by the emotion we might feel over not getting things exactly the way we want them.
 
I agree with Mr. Blonde that you should save your money and go for a Sebenza, and I'm not being sarcastic. The odds of getting a defective Sebenza are exactly zero. Worth every penny.

I know you're high on Benchmade right now. That's okay, I was too at one point. But of the four I've acquired, two had problems: 710HS dull and horribly uneven edge bevel, and a regular Grip with an off-center blade. I still really like Benchmade, especially the 710HS. I'm afraid at some point you'll end up feeling the same about Benchmade as you do about Spyderco right now. But never Sebenza.

A used Sebenza can be had for less than $300. CRK offers refurbishing for a modest fee that makes a used one like new. I really think you should consider it.
 
FOM,

If you're still reading this thread 'd like to make a couple of points.

I think it's unreasonable to expect "spare parts" be available for the knife, as has already been pointed out. Further, it would probably cost more in labor to try and fix then just give you a new one. But since they are out of production the best they can do is give you credit. That seems entirely reasonable to me.

As far as BM's being better are you comparing the same price range? I will say that when SPyderco switches to Bronze washers across the line they will be more competitive. If BM makes you happy then that's where you should go.

IMO, I think a sebenza would not be a good match for you, given your expectations for a $40 knife, I'm not sure even CRK could meet your expectation that would be nearly 10 times as high.
 
Since the Calypso Jr. is a pinned together knife send it back and get the credit towards the new sprint run model. If you really want the grey one then order another from Newgraham before they sell out of them.
 
Slvgx....

You hit the nail on the head.... Good job.

Read FoMs posts over the last few weeks. Funny he doesn't mention in this one, that he's owned 5 Calypso knives in the past few weeks that he's sold or traded off. Now all of a sudden he's mad because... he doesn't want another knife... he wants a Calypso, and after getting rid of 4 good ones.... now all of a sudden he wants a good Calypso???? :confused:

So, pull up his profile... read his posts.... form your own opinion.
 
Fisher of Men said:
None of my Benchmade's are pinned. Benchmade uses Torx head screws. If Spyderco did this then I could adjust the tightness of opening and closing the knife.

Well, If they don't keep spare parts that's just fine. I don't know if Benchmade does or not. I just know that Benchmade has extra blades to put in some of their discontinued knives. Do they have tons? I have no idea.

I'm not going to dertermine my patronage just by who has spare parts. I'm going to determine it on a quality product, along with great customer service. Right now Spyderco has 2 strikes against them for my Calypso Jr.

And before someone goes on a whole rant about "these are production knives". I already know that. That doesn't mean that I should spend my $40 on a heap of crap. I can spend 10 more bucks and get a Mini-Griptilian that blows away the Calypso Jr as far as quality goes.

Why would I want a knife that is a great cutter, but looks like crap and also has pits and flaws and is hard to open and close? That makes no sense at all.
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This dude sounds like a schizo. Tons of raves and accolades and then poof, the knife he raved about is a piece of crap, has pits and flaws. I used to like this guy but he's shown his true colors with this post and the crap he was posting on the Spydie forum. Good riddance, Spyderco needs customers like this like I need a hole in the head.
 
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