Too picky?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Hard to know exactly why if they didn't offer explanation. I'm speculating they don't want your business.
 
kootenay joe said:
Quote: "Perhaps you should do your shopping in person and be able to check the knife yourself?"
That's ridiculous. There are good knife dealers scattered throughout the U.S. and some in Canada. To even check out one dealer might involve a long drive.
Internet shopping is now how it works for knives. This requires good pictures and good communication about the aspects of knives that cannot be seen, such as blade action, strength of pull, etc. It is absolutely reasonable to ask the dealer to check the knife over before shipping it.
kj
Click to expand...

There is good wording and bad wording on how to ask as well. If one is too picky, then doing the inspection yourself is probably best.
 
It could well be miscommunication. Email is a crappy way to communicate because you can't indicate tone; the reader has to guess how you meant something to sound. Depending on their mood etc they could read the same thing as being friendly or aggressive. If you add a couple of words in caps for emphasis it can look like shouting. I can definitely see how your comment could be misinterpreted as aggressive or picky. It's always worthwhile using friendly language and even throwing around a smilie or two.
 
You pissed him off.


Call him and try talking to him........................
 
Gastonknife said:
Overall, I would suggest changing the wording a bit - perhaps "can you please checkout the knife and make sure there are no majors issues from a quality standpoint".
Click to expand...

The request I made of TNK was identical to the one I made on another order that same day with a second prominent dealer in the knife community (KnifeArt.)

I got a response -- a nice thank you and a tracking number for my order.

Knife dealers are small business people. They often view themselves as among the last of the independents. I get that. They can do pretty much what they want.

What they can't do, and stay in business very long, is refuse to communicate with customers. Anyone who has ever bought something off the Exchange here understands the importance of good communications.

I like your suggestion for how to ask a dealer for help in making sure you won't need to return a knife for QC issues.

But however you word your request to a dealer, a polite response of some kind is expected -- and deserved. Do you want to spend your hard-earned dollars with someone who doesn't appreciate your business?
 
Dragon_Man said:
Sounds like a reasonable request. I do much the same thing with other dealers. I would count it as a lesson as to who not to deal with and move on.
Click to expand...
Find me an accurate definition for "reasonable" in this case. The old saying goes "one man's trash is another man's treasure".

flash900 said:
The dealer offered no explanation -- that's what makes his action so puzzling.

And he's still selling the item. Does that mean all of them have issues?

Or that he doesn't care to deal with what he considers a picky customer?
Click to expand...

While I cannot speak for the dealer, I would guess he chose to dodge a potential bullet and save time and hassle on a deal that would more than likely have gone bad. Your last phrase killed the deal in my mind. Every single person on here is picky, the difference is to what degree. I've seen some people literally have a virtual aneurism over a machining mark that was done during production, they decided it was a good idea at the time to slam the seller, make a huge girly style drama loaded fuss, and they ended up screwing themselves over when the thread backfired. It's tough to judge just how "picky", picky really is. Sounds to me like the seller followed your instructions to the letter.

flash900 said:
What they can't do, and stay in business very long, is refuse to communicate with customers. Anyone who has ever bought something off the Exchange here understands the importance of good communications.

I like your suggestion for how to ask a dealer for help in making sure you won't need to return a knife for QC issues.

But however you word your request to a dealer, a polite response of some kind is expected -- and deserved. Do you want to spend your hard-earned dollars with someone who doesn't appreciate your business?
Click to expand...

Apparently they can and do, all the time. Maybe had you been a little clearer and less blunt in your request it might have gone differently. You didn't ask for a response, you just said (in a nutshell) if it doesn't meet my requirements (whatever they might be), cancel the deal.
 
Last edited:
Yes, you were being too picky. It is a closeout item. Think about it for a minute and put yourself on the other side of that request you made.
 
EyeDog said:
Are you sure? If the seller could not find a knife with the buyers specifications then a refund was in order.
Click to expand...

True, but I feel that stating that would have been in order. Just how I see things with so many dealers to buy from. I've done the same with a few dealers for several years and never had an order not filled.
 
It sounds like he did exactly as you asked. I didn't see a request for explanation in your message. Is he supposed to email back with the reasons why all of the knives were too "flawed" to send out? Your money was returned quickly, sounds like you got exactly as you asked for- a qualifying knife or your money back. Emails can eat up a lot of time, especially if you answer all of them yourself, plus do the rest of the work in the business.

Sam Wilson :thumbup:
 
If TNK would have sent you an email saying that they did not find a knife to meet all of your needs/requests and issued you a refund, would you have been happy with that?

It seems to me that that is in essence what they did by issuing you a refund.
 
I don't think you should even have to ask, particularly at that price point. How cumbersome is it to check centering and open and close a knife before putting it in the packaging for shipment? If a dealer can't be arsed to do that, especially when asked...
 
TOMBSTONE said:
Hard to know exactly why if they didn't offer explanation. I'm speculating they don't want your business.
Click to expand...

Chris Larrikin said:
It could well be miscommunication. Email is a crappy way to communicate because you can't indicate tone; the reader has to guess how you meant something to sound. Depending on their mood etc they could read the same thing as being friendly or aggressive. If you add a couple of words in caps for emphasis it can look like shouting. I can definitely see how your comment could be misinterpreted as aggressive or picky. It's always worthwhile using friendly language and even throwing around a smilie or two.
Click to expand...

wolfmann601 said:
You pissed him off.


Call him and try talking to him........................
Click to expand...

Ajack60 said:
Yes, you were being too picky. It is a closeout item. Think about it for a minute and put yourself on the other side of that request you made.
Click to expand...

Sam Wilson said:
It sounds like he did exactly as you asked. I didn't see a request for explanation in your message. Is he supposed to email back with the reasons why all of the knives were too "flawed" to send out? Your money was returned quickly, sounds like you got exactly as you asked for- a qualifying knife or your money back. Emails can eat up a lot of time, especially if you answer all of them yourself, plus do the rest of the work in the business.

Sam Wilson :thumbup:
Click to expand...

RevDevil said:
Find me an accurate definition for "reasonable" in this case. The old saying goes "one man's trash is another man's treasure".



While I cannot speak for the dealer, I would guess he chose to dodge a potential bullet and save time and hassle on a deal that would more than likely have gone bad. Your last phrase killed the deal in my mind. Every single person on here is picky, the difference is to what degree. I've seen some people literally have a virtual aneurism over a machining mark that was done during production, they decided it was a good idea at the time to slam the seller, make a huge girly style drama loaded fuss, and they ended up screwing themselves over when the thread backfired. It's tough to judge just how "picky", picky really is. Sounds to me like the seller followed your instructions to the letter.



Apparently they can and do, all the time. Maybe had you been a little clearer and less blunt in your request it might have gone differently. You didn't ask for a response, you just said (in a nutshell) if it doesn't meet my requirements (whatever they might be), cancel the deal.
Click to expand...

^^^
These

TNK/Neil, have been the topic of conversation, in a couple of past GBU thread's. Neil, appears to have an innate ability to weed out the people he feels will be problematic, for HIM, to do business with. I highly respect the way he has come on this forum (in the past), & addressed this very subject.

On a positive note: there is an impending House Resolution going before Congress, regarding amending Obama care. :grumpy:

Best of luck, finding another retailer with this knife, flash!
 
What's to tell? He didn't want to bother being sure the knife was centered and opened and closed properly, or he didn't want to deal with a customer to whom those kinds of things are important.
 
HappyDaddy said:
What's to tell? He didn't want to bother being sure the knife was centered and opened and closed properly, or he didn't want to deal with a customer to whom those kinds of things are important.
Click to expand...

Are you really being serious?

Hey Happy Daddy-
Do you always believe everything that you read on the internet as being 100% accurate, & completely truthful- especially considering that it is ONE sided? Possibly, there was a word that was used, that perhaps, the OP failed to mention? There could be a myriad of reasons. The fact is: nobody knows BOTH sides, until we've heard from Neil.

There have been other thread's (regarding TNK), & once Neil appeared, & addressed the issue, it kind of gave the thread an entirely different perspective.

Flash, should be happy that he found the same knife somewhere else (where he feels appreciated), & focus on the positive. He's not obligated to ever do business with TNK knives again, just as Neil, should have the prerogative to do business with whom he see's fit, & not do business with the OP. Only Neil, knows the real reason, WHY, he refunded the OP, his money.

It's the same here on BladeForums (selling a knife). How often do we see some person throwing a hissy fit, because a seller chose to sell his knife to another member, over the first person who posted in the thread? On some of these occasions- these butt hurt, drama queens, post a thread in the GBU, & retaliate with, negative feedback, because of these type of ridiculous situations. Thankfully, BF's has made some major changes to try & rectify this seemingly growing problem.

I'm not saying that, flash, did anything wrong; what I am saying, is that any person/or business, has the right to deal with whomever they choose.

I've given many estimates in my profession, instantly knowing, that I would never want to do business with the person I was dealing with...

Neil, probably felt the very same way, regarding flash!
 
Unlike some here, I would not presume to speak for someone else.

I wish well to all dealers who service our relatively small community.

But I will continue to do business with those dealers whom I trust. Who want my business. Who are good communicators and respectful of their customers. Those are the ones who will get my hard-earned cash. And I will be proud to help support them.
 
I thought your communication was clear and to the point. Neal followed your instructions to the letter. I'm with you when it comes to wanting the dealer to inspect the knife. The difference is, I would have called and asked politely over the phone, not in a curt, off-putting note. I get your point. Do you see mine?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top