Warning: Bestech Warranty Change & Clones

[Fire Beard]

I’ll continue to buy my Bestechs from an AD they have listed on their site, worry free. Simple. Great knives and value.

 

[Mo2]

As for requiring proof of purchase, I can't think of any reputable companies that require it. Even Microtech just serviced my second-hand Socom Delta with zero proof that I bought it from a valid retailer, and I think we're all aware of their history with warranty services. This isn't a consumer facing policy; this is asking the consumer to take up the role of counterfeit watchdog as well.

Giantmouse only do warranty for original owner and iirc require receipt too.

 

[Mo2]

Yeah, this doesn't bode well for the resale market.

They don't really have resale value in my eyes. But will hurt anyone that buys one in the exchange or elsewhere used. Unless they provide the recipient the receipt

 

[MSchott]

What about everyone that has already purchased Bestech knives and thrown away the receipt.

Why can’t Bestech tell a knife is real or fake by just looking at it?

The only reason why would be the factories that are producing for Bestech are making more than they are supposed to in order to sell on their own and thus the “clones” are actually identical to Bestechs.

Sounds like a problem Bestech should fix on their end rather than screwing their customers over.

A lot of assumptions here.

I'm not saying you are right or wrong but assuming that because a product is made in China means something shady is going on is not always warranted. I represent US companies that manufacture in China and have one customer who also makes products there. These two companies are on the up and up. While many Chinese manufacturer's can be unscrupulous, not all are.

As far as screwing their customer's over, how is asking for proof of purchase that? If it's such a burden, scan the receipt and save it digitally.

 

[marrenmiller]

Giantmouse only do warranty for original owner and iirc require receipt too.

I wouldn't consider them to be a prominent knife company, but I guess that makes one.

 

[marrenmiller]

They don't really have resale value in my eyes. But will hurt anyone that buys one in the exchange or elsewhere used. Unless they provide the recipient the receipt

I could have been more clear. That's all I'm referring to. Not that there's much of a market really at all, but that it hurts people who buy used.

 

[jbmonkey]

I find it ironic that a Chinese company is complaining about clones, lol

well maybe those chinese makers there will use or develop lobbying power to get their govt to protect them and in the end everyone. never know........

yeah I know wishful thinking.....

 

[kniferbro]

Are Bestech and We knives connected?

 

[Tankboyt]

I don't retain it at all.

That seems pretty ridiculous to me, unless Bestech can't tell the authentic knives from the clones.

That's exactly what it sounds like they can't tell the difference!

 

[dwdickey]

This isn't for returns. It's for warranty work. Name an established company that requires proof of purchase from a valid retailer for that.

That second option is actually fairly common and seems to be what a lot of US companies do when you send a clone in.

That may be common practice at Wal-Mart or Macy's but it's not common among knife manufacturers. I've never had a knife producer require a proof of purchase to service or repair a knife. I bought a used Spyderco here on the Exchange that I knew had issues and I wasn't able to fix them. I sent the knife to Spyderco with full disclosure that I'd bought the knife used, had no receipt from an authorized re-seller and they still made the knife right. That's stellar customer service!

What Bestech is doing is failing in their due diligence to root out the counterfeits and placing the burden on their customers.

"Recently we became aware of the fact some resellers (especially on Ebay & Amazon) are offering Bestech products for prices that are not possible. We have all reasons to assume these products are not authentic Bestech products."

That's not acceptable. If they suspect counterfeit knives on The Bay they need to buy some of those knives, disassemble them, learn how to identify real from fake. That's what Spyderco, ZT, Benchmade and even other reputable Chinese manufacturers have done and continue to do. All Bestech has is a "suspicion" based on price with no real research to back it up. That's lazy and that's bad customer service.

This is a total cop out on the part of Bestech and I won't be buying any more of their knives with this policy in place. I'm all for fighting counterfeits but not if the manufacturer places all the liability on the consumer.

In my previous lives I’ve been involved with the sales & service of firearms and accessories and many of the companies we dealt with required proof of purchase for repair/warranty work because their items were sold only through authorized dealer networks and any product not sold through an authorized dealer regardless of its authenticity carried no warranty coverage as it was considered to be sold black market. Same thing when I was heavy into photography, to receive warranty work on high end camera bodies & lenses they required proof that it was in fact purchased from an authorized dealer. I currently work in a home renovation materials supply job and the printed receipt with customers name & address is the statement of warranty & without it we will not warranty or process returns on good previously sold.

It’s not about blaming the customer-it’s about establishing the product origin which helps protect the manufacturer, dealer & end user as a unit.

 

[Lapedog]

I mean where do you draw the line on a clone I guess is the question?

If you look up Wayeah Knives & Tools Co which lists the same address as WE Knives there are definitely some kit carson looking knives and quite a few fixed blades with very similar handle milling and talon holes to a Busse.

Does it have to have the trademark to be a clone?

So wait. WE’s address is exactly the same as Wayeah Knife and Tool? The exact same address or just the same industrial park?

The reason I ask is Wayeah definitely has some clones. I have long heard people saying that supporting WE doesn’t support cloners. I would be disappointed to learn that they are producing clones as well under a different name.

 

[Hackenslash]

In my previous lives I’ve been involved with the sales & service of firearms and accessories and many of the companies we dealt with required proof of purchase for repair/warranty work because their items were sold only through authorized dealer networks and any product not sold through an authorized dealer regardless of its authenticity carried no warranty coverage as it was considered to be sold black market. Same thing when I was heavy into photography, to receive warranty work on high end camera bodies & lenses they required proof that it was in fact purchased from an authorized dealer. I currently work in a home renovation materials supply job and the printed receipt with customers name & address is the statement of warranty & without it we will not warranty or process returns on good previously sold.

It’s not about blaming the customer-it’s about establishing the product origin which helps protect the manufacturer, dealer & end user as a unit.

It doesn’t matter what industries have used this policy. Can you deny that it doesn’t currently exist, with some minor exception, in the knife industry?

I understand the point of retaining receipt of purchase. I understand the role it plays in identifying the point of purchase. It doesn’t matter.

If Bestech wants to trailblaze and create a new “normal” for their marketing plan, all the more power to them. As for me and other knifeknuts, we don’t currently have to put up with that BS from anyone else. There are too many other choices in the knife market and Bestech isn’t special enough to warrant an exception for my knife dollars.

The production knife business is competitive. If a manufacturer chooses to add a hardship to their customers that they don’t experience elsewhere, the maker becomes less compelling. That’s all I’ve said all along, whether a policy “seems” logical or not.

Of course, I’m not even touching on the creepy fact that this policy exposes Bestech as being unable to discern a genuine knife from a counterfeit. I’ve lost all faith in them as a reputable manufacturer.

 

[Lapedog]

It doesn’t matter what industries have used this policy. Can you deny that it doesn’t currently exist, with some minor exception, in the knife industry?

I understand the point of retaining receipt of purchase. I understand the role it plays in identifying the point of purchase. It doesn’t matter.

If Bestech wants to trailblaze and create a new “normal” for their marketing plan, all the more power to them. As for me and other knifeknuts, we don’t currently have to put up with that BS from anyone else. There are too many other choices in the knife market and Bestech isn’t special enough to warrant an exception for my knife dollars.

The production knife business is competitive. If a manufacturer chooses to add a hardship to their customers that they don’t experience elsewhere, the maker becomes less compelling. That’s all I’ve said all along, whether a policy “seems” logical or not.

Of course, I’m not even touching on the creepy fact that this policy exposes Bestech as being unable to discern a genuine knife from a counterfeit. I’ve lost all faith in them as a reputable manufacturer.

No!

Don’t you see they’re making it hard for you for your own good. To warn you that there are chinese clones out there.

How else would you know the $50 knife you are buying off ali express for 8$ isn’t legit!?

 

[marrenmiller]

In my previous lives I’ve been involved with the sales & service of firearms and accessories and many of the companies we dealt with required proof of purchase for repair/warranty work because their items were sold only through authorized dealer networks and any product not sold through an authorized dealer regardless of its authenticity carried no warranty coverage as it was considered to be sold black market. Same thing when I was heavy into photography, to receive warranty work on high end camera bodies & lenses they required proof that it was in fact purchased from an authorized dealer. I currently work in a home renovation materials supply job and the printed receipt with customers name & address is the statement of warranty & without it we will not warranty or process returns on good previously sold.

It’s not about blaming the customer-it’s about establishing the product origin which helps protect the manufacturer, dealer & end user as a unit.

Totally different. I'm sure that, with firearms, it's prudent to ensure valid and legal ownership of a weapon before servicing it and returning it, hence the requirement. No such federal and legal quandaries surround knives.

Home construction equipment and materials would definitely require it if it's not being serviced or replaced by the OEM. That's an entirely different case than with knives, which always go back to the OEM.

You're right, it's clear this is to protect the manufacturer. It just does it to the inconvenience of the customer, in a market that has never traditionally required it and has no good reason to start requiring it.

 

[Mo2]

So wait. WE’s address is exactly the same as Wayeah Knife and Tool? The exact same address or just the same industrial park?

The reason I ask is Wayeah definitely has some clones. I have long heard people saying that supporting WE doesn’t support cloners. I would be disappointed to learn that they are producing clones as well under a different name.

Wayeah Knife and Tool turned into we knives. They are one in the same.

 

[DocJD]

So WE is just a high end Ganzo !?!

Wayeah Knife and Tool turned into we knives. They are one in the same.

Expect they'll get a free pass , anyway .

 

[henkh]

Are Bestech and We knives connected?

No they are competitors. Both started as OEM manufacturers and both are building their own brand.

 

[MolokaiRider]

Press Release from Bestech: Changed Warranty Policy
Important Announcement
Yangjiang, Guangdong, China, September 17th 2018 — Recently we became aware of the fact some resellers (especially on Ebay & Amazon) are offering Bestech products for prices that are not possible. We have all reasons to assume these products are not authentic Bestech products. We are fully commited to expose these practices in cooperation with our partners

To protect our valued resellers, our company and our customers, we have changed our warranty policy with immediate effect. When a customer has an issue or problem with one of our products which is warranted, the customer needs to include a proof of purchase (like an invoice) of one of our authorized resellers.

With immediate effect we started the proces of authorization of our resellers. All authorized resellers are listed on our website under the section Dealers. Not only direct buying resellers but also resellers who buy at our distributors can be authorized. All resellers are informed.

Customer who wants to buy Bestech products, please better be informed about the status of the reseller who you intend to make the purchase.

OEM customers approached by Bestech
Important Warning

Also a serious warning for our OEM customers/companies. Some of these are approached by email and/or phone by people who pretend they are representing Bestech Knives to get production orders. Please make sure you are dealing with our company and not an obscure clone manufacturer.

Kind Regards,
Bestech Knives Team

Good luck. Obscure clone manufacturers are abundant in China.

 

[henkh]

I like you, henkh, but you can't have it both ways.

What do you mean by "installed customer base?"
Going forward, will warranty issues ever require a proof of purchase?
If yes, under what conditions?

Please be specific because your statements could reasonably be construed as contradictory.

Yes the proof of purchase will be relevant in the future, but the company also is aware of the fact that already a lot of knife buyers have made their purchase before the change of policy was announced. The warning was announced pretty much immediately after becoming aware of clones circulating and a company emailing/calling companies with their own brands produced by oem manufacturers, pretening they are representing Bestech. Bestech decided that all stakeholders needed to be informed/warned about this happening. (Retorical question: What is wrong with a warning clones are distributed?)

So all warranty requests will be handled with care and leniency. Bestech does not want their current customers be out of warranty. Yes proof of purchase is requested in the future, but when not available because of being purchased before of during the broad transition period (and this is also handled with leniency!) the warranty request will be dealt.

The intention of the company is sincerely well meant: to protect/warn customers, resellers and the brand it self. And abolutely not at the expense of current customers. They value their customers. Besides, this is a learning company. As oem manufacturer they never had to deal with this kind of issues. Now, starting to build their own brand, they have to. And they will listen to constructive criticism. And this is a better way then only being negativ and drawing conclusions.

But i guess no company can do it right for 100% of the customers/consumers. So many opinions. And there will be always people around who tend to initially approach everything negatively. It says a lot of those people and not so much about that particular company.

 

[KooKooforKukripuffs]

It's very hard to feel sorry for a company who is a victim of their own. Like an animal that's eats their own young when they are starving.