ZT 0551 Help

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Update...I just called up the warranty department. The woman was very friendly and said that it sounded like the knife was not new to her and I should probably just send it back to the store I bought it from. She said that this is the first complaint she heard of blade-play and poor centering on a 0551. She also did offer to send it in for repair but suggested because it was supposed to be "new" and was missing the right packaging and paperwork I should just send it back instead. I'm going to send it back to the place I got it from right now. Maybe I'll try my luck on another one sometime... or just wait for the 0560. Thanks for the help everyone.
 
Wharn said:
Update...I just called up the warranty department. The woman was very friendly and said that it sounded like the knife was not new to her and I should probably just send it back to the store I bought it from. She said that this is the first complaint she heard of blade-play and poor centering on a 0551. She also did offer to send it in for repair but suggested because it was supposed to be "new" and was missing the right packaging and paperwork I should just send it back instead. I'm going to send it back to the place I got it from right now. Maybe I'll try my luck on another one sometime... or just wait for the 0560. Thanks for the help everyone.
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Odd. Their normal response is to send it to them. Possibly she thought the dealer might exchange it. Not sure how much more I'd want to deal with that vendor; practices seem a little iffy. If the vendor gives you any flak about returning it, be sure to let us know or post in GB&U.

If you've given up on it, you could just put the money toward a 777. :D
 
That's a good idea, keep you eyes on the knife exchange they still pop up and for much cheaper than $270+.
 
I'll preface my final remarks on this matter with one undeniable fact - the ZT 0551 is my favorite ZT knife - and whatever it's MSRP was, $240 - today - is not a bad price. I still don't know about the shipping - if it included s/t, for example, the local Ma/Pa store that had them would have to charge $21.60 s/t for an in-state sale. Perhaps that is part of the $36? Not knowing where Mr. Wharn is - or how the knife was shipped - leaves the question of $36 s/h 'in the air', so to speak. Then there is the off-center and looseness. I'm not the only one who suggested the OP try tightening the pivot screw - and that wouldn't affect the warranty. I'm sorry about the OP's troubles - but perplexed, too. Not every knife is right for everyone - perhaps that bears here as well. Thinking you got a demo may have dissuaded you as well.

One final caveat - not all stores give a cash refund. You may have to settle for a 'store credit'. Good luck!

Stainz
 
Stainz said:
I'll preface my final remarks on this matter with one undeniable fact - the ZT 0551 is my favorite ZT knife - and whatever it's MSRP was, $240 - today - is not a bad price. I still don't know about the shipping - if it included s/t, for example, the local Ma/Pa store that had them would have to charge $21.60 s/t for an in-state sale. Perhaps that is part of the $36? Not knowing where Mr. Wharn is - or how the knife was shipped - leaves the question of $36 s/h 'in the air', so to speak. Then there is the off-center and looseness. I'm not the only one who suggested the OP try tightening the pivot screw - and that wouldn't affect the warranty. I'm sorry about the OP's troubles - but perplexed, too. Not every knife is right for everyone - perhaps that bears here as well. Thinking you got a demo may have dissuaded you as well.

One final caveat - not all stores give a cash refund. You may have to settle for a 'store credit'. Good luck!

Stainz
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To answer the part about the shipping, I am located in Hawaii. The store is in Alabama. I placed the order and asked how much shipping would be. He told me he would call me back when he figured it out (moral of the story is never give someone your credit card number over the phone and trust them to figure out a price and call you back). He never did call me back and a few days later I see a charge for $275, making the shipping $36. I didn't mind... I was guessing they had sent it overnight or 2 day air. After over a week of not getting the knife I call up and ask if they could track it. It turns out they sent it "UPS ground, insured for $300 and that's why it was so expensive". When I sent the knife back yesterday I sent it USPS first class mail, delivery confirmation insured for the full amount and it cost me a little under $9. The shipping part really didn't bug me until I opened the knife and found what I found.
 
Wharn said:
To answer the part about the shipping, I am located in Hawaii. The store is in Alabama. I placed the order and asked how much shipping would be. He told me he would call me back when he figured it out (moral of the story is never give someone your credit card number over the phone and trust them to figure out a price and call you back). He never did call me back and a few days later I see a charge for $275, making the shipping $36. I didn't mind... I was guessing they had sent it overnight or 2 day air. After over a week of not getting the knife I call up and ask if they could track it. It turns out they sent it "UPS ground, insured for $300 and that's why it was so expensive". When I sent the knife back yesterday I sent it USPS first class mail, delivery confirmation insured for the full amount and it cost me a little under $9. The shipping part really didn't bug me until I opened the knife and found what I found.
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I got nailed before by UPS Ground shipping charges too. $11.xx product, and almost $30 in shipping. Thing is, I went to the UPS site and plugged in the info and the shipping charges were accurate. I wish every company had a USPS shipping option.
 
Well, I guess I have a different view now - Mr. Wharn's dealer was none other than my favorite knife emporium, part of a locally owned sporting goods store. I was there for other goodies as well as a knife which my favorite pusher/enabler, aka knife salesman, had put back for me a couple of months back. This weekend in Alabama is 'Sales Tax free', to help with 'back to school' expenses. As it seems guns and knives aren't big 'on campus' these days, I didn't save the 9% s/t - oh well - left the new AR purchase off, too. He had put back a ZT-0551, my second one, just in case I didn't get what I wanted last week for my b'day - and because I love that knife! As he retrieved it from the locked cabinet, I asked him if he had sold one to a fellow in Hawaii recently. He said yes, he had - and the fellow wasn't happy and was returning it. So, now I've found the source! I tried to remember his explanations re Mr. Wharn's complaints. He said they only ship UPS - and the charges were from their in-house shipping dept - and he couldn't do anything about it. He said he would give him a full refund once his knife arrived - odd, because their register receipts state no cash refunds - just exchanges/store credits. I asked him about the packaging - he said he very well could have done that - he remembered it rattled in the box (Mine did as well - and it was in bubblewrap!) and wrapped it in paper to settle it down for it's long trip. Made sense to me. Like me, he seemed sure Kershaw would have sent him a copy of the generic ZT 'Operating Instructions' (Mine are dated 12/08 - quite a bit earlier than the 0551!), if he had just asked. He has no idea what happened to them or the bubblewrap. I guess I feel I have to hold the standard high for this local store - they are all good guys there. There prices aren't always the cheapest - but you cannot beat the service or the selection.

I did an experiment when I got home - both my older one and the one from today behaved similarly. Turning that pivot screw 1/4 turn CCW put the blade over towards the G10 scale side - that lockbar's side pressure acting on the slightly loose blade. Yep, slight blade movement, too! Returning it 1/4 turn CW re-centered the blade and took up the play in both of them. Careful - too much CW and you won't be able to open the blade. If Mr. Wharn had just tried that - he might be as elated over the 0551 as I am. Not every knife is right for everyone - and, his ownership didn't start out well. I guess they will have another one for sale there soon...

Stainz
 
Wow it truely is a small world.

I'm still a bit confused about why Wharn didn't just ship it to Kershaw. They would have fixed it up nicely and he would have had the knife he wanted.
Cost of shipping to Kershaw or returing would have been the same and, at the time, the dealer sounded a bit suspect...why continue with them?

At least now we know it will be handled correctly and I guess everyone is happy.
 
Stainz said:
Well, I guess I have a different view now - Mr. Wharn's dealer was none other than my favorite knife emporium, part of a locally owned sporting goods store. I was there for other goodies as well as a knife which my favorite pusher/enabler, aka knife salesman, had put back for me a couple of months back. This weekend in Alabama is 'Sales Tax free', to help with 'back to school' expenses. As it seems guns and knives aren't big 'on campus' these days, I didn't save the 9% s/t - oh well - left the new AR purchase off, too. He had put back a ZT-0551, my second one, just in case I didn't get what I wanted last week for my b'day - and because I love that knife! As he retrieved it from the locked cabinet, I asked him if he had sold one to a fellow in Hawaii recently. He said yes, he had - and the fellow wasn't happy and was returning it. So, now I've found the source! I tried to remember his explanations re Mr. Wharn's complaints. He said they only ship UPS - and the charges were from their in-house shipping dept - and he couldn't do anything about it. He said he would give him a full refund once his knife arrived - odd, because their register receipts state no cash refunds - just exchanges/store credits. I asked him about the packaging - he said he very well could have done that - he remembered it rattled in the box (Mine did as well - and it was in bubblewrap!) and wrapped it in paper to settle it down for it's long trip. Made sense to me. Like me, he seemed sure Kershaw would have sent him a copy of the generic ZT 'Operating Instructions' (Mine are dated 12/08 - quite a bit earlier than the 0551!), if he had just asked. He has no idea what happened to them or the bubblewrap. I guess I feel I have to hold the standard high for this local store - they are all good guys there. There prices aren't always the cheapest - but you cannot beat the service or the selection.

I did an experiment when I got home - both my older one and the one from today behaved similarly. Turning that pivot screw 1/4 turn CCW put the blade over towards the G10 scale side - that lockbar's side pressure acting on the slightly loose blade. Yep, slight blade movement, too! Returning it 1/4 turn CW re-centered the blade and took up the play in both of them. Careful - too much CW and you won't be able to open the blade. If Mr. Wharn had just tried that - he might be as elated over the 0551 as I am. Not every knife is right for everyone - and, his ownership didn't start out well. I guess they will have another one for sale there soon...

Stainz
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Stainz,

The people at the store were actually super friendly and told me they would take the knife back and refund me. I have no problems with them and I am sure everything will be fine once they receive the knife. That is why I didn't post anything in the GBU forum or ever mention their name here. In fact if you see them again I would appreciate if you told them I said thanks for all of the help. You can understand why I was disappointed though for something that cost me $275. (I know the paper work and bubble wrap thing may sound dumb, but for a knife that is valued to collectors and the fact that the knife was in the shape it was, I wasn't happy with it). Also, I did contact Kershaw and it was recommended to just send it back to the dealer.
 
Just an update. They contacted me and went above and beyond by giving me a total refund including shipping, which I was not expecting back. The guy in the knife department was also extremely helpful and friendly. Thanks everyone for all of the help. I'm going to close this thread as there is no sense in keeping it open. Now I need to decide whether to track down another 0551 or get the production 0550 when it is released. I already preordered the 0560, too.
 
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