two days in business and I'm already being sued. help

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getsharptpe

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So I picked up the knives told the guy of it would be a dollar an inch. So he told me that he had already gotten them sharpened and the chef knife did not cut right. I explained to him that it had to do with the belly of the knife. I asked him if he would like me to fix this so that it would feel right when used to cut and he told me that he would. I explained to him that it was alter the side of the knives.so after i tell him it will be 20 for the fix he say he wants them all polished. After I polish the for free. Then he tells me that I ruined his knives because the shun symbol is now gone from it and the wave lines on the side are less aparent. He then tells me that I need to either replace those knives or pay him for them or he's going to take me to small claims court and report me to the Better Business Bureau. Help I'm already doing the buffing for free which is already taken about 12 hours on the three knives not sure what to do with this guy but I feel like charging him for the buffing and telling him that if he doesn't want to pay it then I'm just going to hold on to it - until he does. how about that what do you think PS I also told him about the blueing and the FC method for making the waves more apparent and told him that I did not have the FC but you get some although I admit I have never done this process before how about it?
 
Belly of the knife is the curved portion of the cutting edge. I'm using the term correctly?
You "buffed" the entire face of the blade, from cutting edge to spine. Not sure I understand why.
To get an idea of how much you buffed, is the Shun logo a deep etching or just printed on?

Random picture found online. Is this a similar knife?

SBK1---Shun-Bob-Kramer.jpg
 
I think you need to have a talk with a legal aide person in your area, a little more research on these liability issues certainly wouldn't hurt you, and possibly be more selective of the work you attempt to take on. based on your post, you don't have any kind of disclaimer for the customer. Regrinding a knife to effectively change it's shape is pretty above and beyond sharpening which is basically restoring the cutting edge. Buffing, bluing, and re-etching knives is "pimping" and effectively changes the knife itself. You should have explained to the customer what the effects of polishing would be on a knife with "wavy lines".

I think your customer has no idea what he has or is talking about. The "symbol" on the knife serves no purpose other than product branding and identification. It has zero effect on the performance of the product itself. If I paint the white sidewall of my tires black does that mean the tire can no longer hold the weight of the vehicle, safely allow me to reach my destination, or hold tire pressure according to the manufacturers specs? Does it stop being a tire all together? What should I do?

My advice would be the following:
Become a bit more familiar with the various types of knives, brands, steels, & makers.
Become proficient in discussion. Explaining the potential risks to modification BEFORE they are done can save you a lot of hassle, just like this.
Practice on your own knives before you start offering services which you might not be too experienced in. Learn the difference between what sharpening and pimping/modding knives is, there is a canyon of difference.
Sorry to be so brunt, but that is just my take on it.
 
I'm wondering how much steel would have to be removed in order to completely obliterate the Shun logo.

If I paint the white sidewall of my tires black...
Click to expand...
But if someone sanded the tires down until the whitewall was no longer visible, particularly if you liked the whitewalls... ;)
 
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So when I picked them up and he told me they whee not cutting right and I did explain that it would alter the side of the knife to do so. He said he understood but when I called him he said that a scratches needed to be gone. So I worked the whole knife with varying degrees of paper then a wheel. I tried to stay light but as I'm using a dimoond plate for corse I had to do it twice. The thing is I sent the pic of what I was doing before I was done and I think it just scared him. Should I have done anything different because I don't know any other way to thin a knife. Should I replace the set? Should I just hold on to them if he doesn't pay?
 
I think it was just printed on. I only did so light sanding on the top but I wanted to have it be a smooth transition.
 
As stated previously, It would be in your best interest to seek legal aid counsel to know what your rights and responsibilities are.
Advice from the internet is worth about as much as you've paid for it. At the best of times it may give some insight, at the worst of times it can cause you further legal issues.
 
Yes..Post up a pic . I would like to see what the deal is with these blades.

I also would like to ask.. What is you experience level regarding knife sharpening ? I know if I gave you a set of expensive knives and you ruined them because you took on something you had no business doing in the first place I would screw you to the wall. Again I don't know your skill level.. but if your just a guy with some diamond stones and a webpage and no skill I suggest you slow down before you get your self in trouble. My apologies if you have a ton of experience and you are just having trouble getting you point across .
 
JyNs5fo
I have not done my fine buffing wheel yet because the guy pis side me off but this is whit the sides reconditioned and buffed.
 
Yep, you done made it look like a regular knife. You polished away the Damascus layer look, one of the things that makes the knife look unique and cool. I don't blame the guy for being upset. In general, a mirror polish on Damascus defeats the purpose of what the steel is supposed to look like.
 
Woooowww...that knife is ruined aesthetically. If you were not crystal clear in your dealing with the customer on how that was going to be the end result, I'd say the customer has a strong case against you.
 
That needs a ferric chloride re-etch by someone who knows how. That customer does indeed have a leg to stand on.
 
Obviously we're only getting one side of the story here, but it sounds to me like you both messed up, and there was some misunderstanding or lack of communication on what exactly was happening with the knives, vs. what was wanted.

I don't really understand what the belly of the knife had to do with its sharpness, or why you had to touch anything but the secondary bevel? Had they been sharpened that many times that the primary edge was that thick? Sounds like you might have been better off to just let the secondary bevel ride a little higher if necessary.

At any rate, if somebody asks you to thin or polish a Damascus, etched, sandblasted, etc...blade, you need to explain before hand that doing so will remove said surface finish, as well as minimize or remove any printed or lightly laser/electro etched logos. A signed disclaimer may be helpful here as well, especially if you foresee having to do any significant alterations (which it sounds like you had to).

Right now, you have a few choices:
1. Take your chances in small claims court
2. Replace the knives and keep the originals (or try to sell and recoup some costs)
3. Damage control: send him back the knives, finished to the best of your ability, at no charge. Consider this a lesson learned.
 
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