Wood Grain not matcing Internet Photo's

cat9050

cat9050

Joined
Sep 5, 2002
Messages
569
In the last month I have purchased a Honduran Rosewood Sebenza (BHQ) and a Damascus Box Elder Mnandi (KA) and each time found the knife was NOT the one pictured on-line. I don't know about others but when I am looking at a $500+ Chris Reeve Woodie I am choosing exactly the wood grain pictured. After all that is what makes them unique, collectible, and potentially valuable. Both vendors offered me the same old "we don't have time to photograph every knife, the pictures are just typical". Baloney, I say! I will phone orders in from this point forward, no more buying a $610 Pig-in-a-Poke that I have to go through the hassle of returning. Not to mention the disappointment of never obtaining that "Grail" Woodie I was expecting.
 
I don't blame you for being upset. On the wood models they should show you what you're getting IMO.
 
This happens with online dealers ALL the time. Some dealers take the time to show the actual knife you are going to get, others just post one pic. One key tip is when you see 3 are available. This tells you right away that the one pictured is the one you will NOT be getting. Others have in the fine print that the actual one you will receive may be different than the one pictured. I love Bocote and as you know, Bocote can vary. Some is highly figured, while others are plain. Woods like Box Elder vary even more. ANY TIME I am looking at a dealer site and IF I am even just a little UNSURE, I email them and ask for a pic of the actual knife. Some dealers refuse too, thus losing my business. Others will indeed email you the pics. For a plain sebenza, cgg, or micarta, we don't really need to see the actual pic, but for Wood Inlays, its A MUST.
 
Lesson well learned, although in both circumstances, only ONE knife was listed as available. I especially have a beef with BHQ as they required a 15% restocking fee for returns. Total Crap way of doing business - Lost this customer for sure!
 
cat9050 said:
Lesson well learned, although in both circumstances, only ONE knife was listed as available. I especially have a beef with BHQ as they required a 15% restocking fee for returns. Total Crap way of doing business - Lost this customer for sure!
Click to expand...

They don't all say how many are available, that is just a tip of when you DO see that.

I thought BHQ showed the actual knife.....??? If they showed one and it was not the one sent and there is nothing to say wood may vary, they should except the return and not charge the restocking fee if returned in new condition. I believe he is a bladeforums supporter. Try PMing him as I have dealt with him and bought wood inlays from him.
 
I just posted about this issue on another thread about BHQ not doing what should be done. After all you are spending $500+, it would sure be nice to know what you are buying. BHQ has 3 mammoth inlay Sebenzas instock but with no way of knowing what each one looks like, there is no way i can commit. After all there are some mammoth inlays i don't very much care for and they are all different. BHQ is pretty much my go to place when im looking for productions knives, but when it comes to CRK's i shop ells ware as i know what I'm getting.
 
cat9050 said:
Lesson well learned, although in both circumstances, only ONE knife was listed as available. I especially have a beef with BHQ as they required a 15% restocking fee for returns. Total Crap way of doing business - Lost this customer for sure!
Click to expand...

I just looked at some of their models with wood and they didn't state the knife you see may not be the knife you are getting.

I would do as nyefmaker advised and PM BHQ about this, and I feel he will give you the 15% back. I doubt you will get your return shipping back, but you should at least get the 15% back.
I sure hope they do.
Please let us know the outcome.

edit- I posted in the GB&U thread about this. He may see this and contact you, but if not send him the PM. Good luck.
 
Last edited:
Concur with the posts here, including the OP and Ken44.

Ken44 said:
I just looked at some of their models with wood and they didn't state the knife you see may not be the knife you are getting.

I would do as nyefmaker advised and PM BHQ about this, and I feel he will give you the 15% back. I doubt you will get your return shipping back, but you should at least get the 15% back.
I sure hope they do.
Please let us know the outcome.

I think they'll take care of it, and hope you won't need to start a thread in the GB&U Feedback section.
Good luck.
Click to expand...
 
It's been a few weeks and I only spoke to a receptionist/order-taker at BHQ. After evaluating the cost of restock and studying the Rosewood grain (as far as I know they are the exclusive source of Honduran Rosewood), I agreed to keep it. But they will not be a future source for my knives. It looks like I am not alone in less than 100% satisfaction with these guys. What strikes me is that they are in the business of selling high end knives. If it was my business I sure as hell would insure wood inlays matched the photo's. This kind of Customer Service SUCKS.
 
From what I understand, they are indeed the only source for Honduran Rosewood. With unhappy customers, they will eventually have to change the way they do business and go that extra step to show the actual knife you will be getting, or risk losing customers. The people on this forum page I am sure have bought from them many times. We are a small, but yet powerful group. Hopefully they make buying from them a better experience.
 
Oh, I thought you returned the one to BHQ.
Well, I guess you would have if not for the 15% fee.
If you haven't carried it at all(or handled it much at all) they would probably take it back with no fee if you PM them here.
 
When I ordered my small sebbie in box elder from edged specialties I got the exact one pictured.
 
When I ordered my small sebbie in box elder from edged specialties I got the exact one pictured.
Click to expand...

Edged takes pictures of every Inlay. So what you buy is what you get, I love it!!!
 
so does KSF and OFK

I have had this happen that's why I really appreciate online vendors that do show all pics.
 
There are two that have lost my business ...HQ and KA...no more. They have been down right rude when asking for an actual photo of what I'm buying. Isn't it interesting how they use a beautiful example for the "stock" photo.
 
I got burned on a Spyderco Sage 4 from HQ before I knew better. The stock photo ironwood slabs were amazing and full of rich grain in the online pic, but when the knife appeared on my doorstep they were just dull blackish nothing......totally boring and disappointing. However, I kept that knife and have heaped more abuse on that S30V blade than anything I own (the knife lives rattling around in the bottom of my tool box.....I figured if it wasn't going to be pretty, it might as well get really ugly) , and I have a great respect for how durable that Sage has been. Anyways.....my point being.......its a common error we all make once.....now back to CRK.
 
When I ordered a Honduran Rosewood small 21 from BHQ I called and asked them to check them and send me one with good grain. They did exactly that and it is spectacular.

I ordered a Cocobolo from someone else because I liked the grain of the one in the photo. Only later did I notice a statement on the order page that the picture was representative and may not be the one I would get. Fortunately the one I received was nice, though not quite what I liked about the picture. I learned to check the fine print. This was before the Rosewood, which is why I followed up the order with the phone request.
 
I called BHQ when I wanted an HR inlaid Mnandi. I was aware that they use stock pictures and asked for pictures of the actual knives in stock. They were very accommodating, they sent me 8 pictures of 4 different Mnandis (front and back) each set with a postit with a letter (A to D) ... I ordered and got exactly what I picked. I ended up returning it as in the end it didn't do it for me and had no issue paying the restocking fee as those were the rules. All in all, no problems with them ... all the contrary.

Somebody mentioned KA above ... and I had a similar experience ... I called, spoke with Rodney and he texted me pictures. As a result I ended up with one of the favorites in my collection (a fantastic small Lignum Vitae 21).

In my experience, if you ask nicely ... most people are reasonable and will take care of you. Of course, key words are "in my experience". YMMV.

That said, I know which dealers post pictures of the actual items and I try to buy from them. It is easier for everybody involved.
 
masterserg said:
I called BHQ when I wanted an HR inlaid Mnandi. I was aware that they use stock pictures and asked for pictures of the actual knives in stock. They were very accommodating, they sent me 8 pictures of 4 different Mnandis (front and back) each set with a postit with a letter (A to D) ... I ordered and got exactly what I picked. I ended up returning it as in the end it didn't do it for me and had no issue paying the restocking fee as those were the rules. All in all, no problems with them ... all the contrary.


Somebody mentioned KA above ... and I had a similar experience ... I called, spoke with Rodney and he texted me pictures. As a result I ended up with one of the favorites in my collection (a fantastic small Lignum Vitae 21).


In my experience, if you ask nicely ... most people are reasonable and will take care of you. Of course, key words are "in my experience". YMMV.

That said, I know which dealers post pictures of the actual items and I try to buy from them. It is easier for everybody involved.
Click to expand...

I too have had good success with BHQ sending me photos of each knife they had available in HR. I buy from them frequently and always contact the same person, Tyson. I select the one I want or chose none. He now knows what i like and even tells me up front if any they have any that would be of interest or not. However, I have had conversations with others here on BF who were not treated the same and, as such, will no longer buy from BHQ. Strange that they don't have consistent CS.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top