Tom Krein problems?

Kohai999

Kohai999

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Is anyone ELSE getting the massive delay from Tom Krein?

I don't want to hear excuses, apologists or nut-huggers coming out of the woodwork.....:grumpy:

I sent Tom some great ironwood, and another piece of wood, $275 piece of damascus, and a new Busse SUS Scrofa to turn into a Wharncliffe back in April 2009, and was told 6 months...do the math.

Back in February, 2010, Tom told me it would just be a few weeks(I sent him an e-mail yesterday, and one today).

I like Tom, but if that boy is screwing up, the community needs to know.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Tom's been a little slow on the re-grinds, but, I haven't had any other issues lately. If you have worked with Tom before, which I suspect you have, you should know that emailing is the absolute worst way to contact him. His cell number is on his website, call him. He almost always answers and is prompt with voice mails in my experience.
 
spiralarchitect said:
Tom's been a little slow on the re-grinds, but, I haven't had any other issues lately. If you have worked with Tom before, which I suspect you have, you should know that emailing is the absolute worst way to contact him. His cell number is on his website, call him. He almost always answers and is prompt with voice mails in my experience.
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I have worked with Tom...and as I said, I like him....have left voicemails, and the reason for e-mails is documentation.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Steven,
Sorry for the long delay. What else can I say. Your knives are very close to being ready to ship. I worked on the Chef today.... before I saw this.

My apologies! Do you still want the knife? Do you want me to refund you for the materials?? Just let me know.

Tom
 
Tom Krein said:
Steven,
Sorry for the long delay. What else can I say. Your knives are very close to being ready to ship. I worked on the Chef today.... before I saw this.

My apologies! Do you still want the knife? Do you want me to refund you for the materials?? Just let me know.

Tom
Click to expand...

How about if you deliver it at Blade, Tom? Is that enough time to get it finished?

Would have liked it if we could have had a nice smooth transaction where I deliver my materials, you make the knife in the time you said it would take(or explain the conflicting issues to me), you get paid on the spot, and we both left happy. I don't want to be the only one tasting bile.

I'm sorry it had to come to this. What else can I say?

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
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Tom's a great guy, an excellent knifemaker, and obviously very busy. I've received a couple from him and enjoyed the experience (and using the knives even more), but also ordered a couple over the years that I guess have been long forgotten by Tom. I am not a squeaky wheel, and only followed up with him once maybe a year after I ordered them, but that was a couple years ago. Gave it up after a while, and don't hold any hard feelings, but do still occasionally dream about a TK-1 with a 0.625" longer than normal blade, or a thin stock TK-PSK.
 
I sennt him a blade 2 months ago and can't get a reply. Can't call, I'm in Australia.

Sent a dozen email and PM on various forums, had one reply a week ago saying he will try and ship, then nothing since.

I don't mind waiting at all, but lack of communication is a killer.
 
Must be because I'm an Aussie :p

It's cool though, just thought I'd mention it.

I feel bad for the guys who have been waiting for over a year!
 
I will vouch for Tom. He has made dozens of knives for me, I know he is a busy guy, Family, Sick father, and a bunch of knife orders. Toms reputation as a knife maker is in the no worries category with me.

Ren
 
Just to clarify so no one thinks I was ragging on Tom, I'm 100% sure he'll come through with the goods, and I know his work is brilliant :)

I just wish I had read a post saying how long he can take, and how he doesn't reply to emails after taking the order, before sending him the blade, that's all :)

So that's why I'm posting here, for others.

I'll definitely send him knives in future, but will be prepared to wait :)
 
Kohai999 said:
I don't want to hear excuses, apologists or nut-huggers coming out of the woodwork.....:grumpy:
Click to expand...

Hmmmm

This is always an interesting phenomenon to me. I've never really understood it. Perhaps it's because of the nature of the personal investment we make with those who do custom work for us I don't really know, but it seems like almost invariably when there is one of these threads there are apologists and excuse makers to go around. In this case the OP clearly spells out that the maker in question is not performing as advertised, he's not happy nor does it look like he is being particularly unreasonable to expect his order or at the very least some communication.
 
I wasn't sure how to approach this, and was hoping that it would "go away"...but here it is.

Tom sent my knives to me, got them on Friday. The workmanship is absolutely superb, stellar. This is a 6" chef's knife in Devin Thomas stainless ladder pattern damascus with ironwood scales, and a Krein regrind on a Busse SUS Scrofa.

The price was very fair, and as already said, the workmanship is first rate.....BUT...

Being a fairly experienced custom knife person, when the order was placed, I told Tom to give me the date he expected to deliver, and add 60 days to it.....not what he thought I wanted to hear, but what his realistic date would be....and was told 6 months, and it took just about 13 months.

I hope Tom is able to work on establishing realistic delivery dates....because he has just about everything else covered.....and for what it is worth, I would work with him again in a NY minute.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
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