Warning to Cold Steel purchasers

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MG_Saldivar

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This is aimed at anyone who purchases a Cold Steel product from an eBay vendor:

I just received a large Trail Guide folder that I purchased from an eBay seller. The knife was new-in-box with original (sealed) packaging.

The lockback is malfunctioning -- the spring is screwed up so I can't depress the lock with my thumb. In fact, I had to lean the knife against a table, lock-side down, and press on the whole knife in order to depress the lock.

I contacted Cold Steel about warranty repair and they told me since I didn't buy from an authorized distributor or direct from them, I am not entitled to warranty repair (the phone rep was pretty rude, too). I've bought a few Cold Steel items over the last couple of years, all from eBay sellers, and I've never had a quality problem before, so this was all a shock to me. I guess that knife's going in my toolbox to use as a beater -- luckily, it cost less than $30 including shipping. $30 isn't pocket change but it could've been worse...

I **DONT'T** want to rehash the pro/con Cold Steel arguments already covered extensively in other threads. I don't even want to necessarily slam CS customer service. I just want to warn potential buyers -- if you buy a CS product and ever hope to get warranty service, buy from an authorized distributor or direct from CS.
 
...buy from an authorized distributor or direct from CS.
Click to expand...

Or just bypass the both of them and buy a Benchmade or a Spyderco and get decent customer service without the bad customer rep attitude. :mad: :rolleyes:

I will not buy product from a company that has no respect for the people who supply them with a paycheck. :barf:

This is one of several complaints I've seen lately about CS's bad attitude. What are these guys, the soup nazis of the cutlery world?!

NO KNIFE FOR YOU!! :eek: :confused: :rolleyes: :D
 
Hmm....Interesting. I don't what to say except that I find it hard to believe that they would not honor the warranty on your knife. What difference does it make whether you bought it on Ebay, an online retailer or a store? So much for their claim of standing behind their products 100%! I've always laughed at Cold Steal's 1 year warranty on their folding knives. Who the heck holds on to a knife receipt for a year in case they have a warranty issue? You're telling me that unless you buy it from an authorized dealer and hold on to the "proof of purchase" Cold Steal won't honor the warranty? Is that the picture? Because if it is, then that's truly lame.

Incidentally, those Trail Guides were made for Cold Steal by Camillus and if you notice, they no longer appear on Cold Steal's website. To be honest, every Trail Guide folder I saw was a piece of s**t. I'm talking up/down and side to side blade play as well as weak springs. About the only decent thing on it was the steel. Bottom line, steer clear from Cold Steal and buy a knife from a reputable company.
 
If I'm not mistaken Cold Steel's written warranty specifically states that it only applies to the "original" purchaser, IE: first guy to own it after it left the dealer.
 
From the CS web site:

Right now our return rate for defects is one half of one percent! This is remarkably lower than the industry standard. While we are growing in popularity, and producing ever larger quantities of knives, we are determined to never forget that we live or die by a single word, QUALITY.
Our fixed blade sheath knives have a 5 year warranty to the original owner against defects IN materials or workmanship. Our folding knives are likewise warranted for 1 year. If you ever have a warranty problem with one of our knives, please return it with your original receipt and a short note and we will be happy to evaluate the problem and resolve it.

------------------------------------------------------
I think the original owner thing is a huge out for the company. You either stand behind the knife or you don't.
 
Spyderco has never asked me for a receipt.

Nor has Blade Tech

Nor has Al Mar Knives

Nor has Benchmade

I just sent a Buck/Strider in to Buck Knives because the lockup was unsatisfactory, we'll see what they say...
 
I lucked out -- the eBay seller took pity on me and is exchanging my Trail Guide from his own stock. Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

I agree with some of you who were slamming Cold Steel -- I don't care for most of their products, but my personal experience with my medium Trail Guide (which is my EDC) has been positive. The Carbon V steel takes and holds a great edge, the lock is tight, and the grip is well-proportioned. I wanted the larger folder to have as a utility knife and a backup when I'm out in the country.

As I said in my original post, I wouldn't spend a lot of money on a knife I even SUSPECTED would not be backed up if I needed repair. Even if the eBayer hadn't done right by me, I wouldn't have been out too much money, but I did want to pass along the warning to others...
 
Thanks for the heads up about cold steel.Too many good knife companies around.Many of them with excellent customer service.One does not need to put up with a company which has very poor customer service,poor warranty and does not make any of their own knives.
Buck has an excellent customer service and if you are to run into any problems with their customer service ,please contact Mr Joe Houser at Buck.He is a fine gentleman and will do his best to make sure you are treated right.
 
I went through the exact same thing with a CS Laredo bowie.The grinds were uneven-I Mean Really Bad.They gave me the same freakin runaround.Didn't buy from an Authorized Dealer crap.It took me almost a year to get satisfaction from Cold Steel.I figure if the product is "New in Box" and not a Second,then they should damn well cover it.I stopped buying CS products after that.Besides that their Quality Control has Steadily gone Downhill in the last few years anyway.It Ain't worth the Trouble or Stress.Sorry you had to find out the hard way :cool:
 
imho its just a way for CS to weasal outta some warranty work, what a joke, i have been boycotting there products for several yrs now,
 
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