ZT 350 Counterfeits...Be careful what you buy

[panoz77]

Just posting a note from a buddy on another forum as a warning. I asked his permission to quote him without a reference to his username.

"A associate of mine bought a ZT350 new, brought it to me because the pocket clip wouldn't tighten. and one screw was lost. so called up ZT/Kershaw, ordered a new clip. clip came in. screws didnt fit.

clip lined up, but there wasn't enough thread engagement to tighten. not just the 2 holes i thought could be stripped, but all 8 holes.


contacted ZT and promptly shipped the knife in.

from the get go, let me say the knife looked right. the number of screws, hole position scale thickness and type, jimping on the blade and back. everything was as it should be. even the pattern on the G10. even the tiger pattern was correct.

But for some reason, to me, the knife didnt feel right in the hand. dont know if it was the weight or the scale but gut said no.

got the message back from ZT today. Knife is a almost perfect copy, down to the lettering, but the material is not what its supposed to be, and the tell" was the 4 sets of clip positioning screws were the incorrect size and thread. it is a fake. a good one, one of the best they have seen, but a fake nonetheless.

im going to carry it back up to the shop he got it from tomorrow. give them a chance to make it right, maybe they got had by another customer who knows.but i will give them the option. they don't, i will have to find another place local to do business with.

350 is a popular model, you see a lot of them for sale on the auction sites, be wary, and pay attention to detail. this guy paid $200 for a ZT350TS, and it turns out to be a 40$ clone from XX Gate."

 

[jeffsenpai]

Scary if ZT even admits that it is so good.

But to resolve the problem, look around and see if you have any chinese cheapies to borrow pocket clip screws from. Some may be the same size as the fake ZT and fit.

 

[Mo2]

Stop buying crap from eBay and Amazon.

 

[jeepin]

Stop buying crap from eBay and Amazon.

Read his post again

 

[palonej]

Damn! Thanks for posting!

 

[Mo2]

im going to carry it back up to the shop he got it from tomorrow. give them a chance to make it right, maybe they got had by another customer who knows.but i will give them the option. they don't, i will have to find another place local to do business with

Where at? I've heard this happen to big box stores and online stores. Some scammer buys a clone and then goes to buy the real thing and returns the clone instead. Very common. Some retailers also buy clones not knowing too unless they are an authorized dealer getting them from the factory).

 

[Hickory n steel]

Wow, I'm not remotely interested in their stuff but it's really eye opening to know how close clones are getting.

I would really love to find out what the knife shop does about this.

 

[panoz77]

Where at? I've heard this happen to big box stores and online stores. Some scammer buys a clone and then goes to buy the real thing and returns the clone instead. Very common. Some retailers also buy clones not knowing too unless they are an authorized dealer getting them from the factory).

My buddy did not give a shop name, but it is likely a smaller local retailer, not big box and these are "used" knives, not sold as new, but the shop was apparently fooled and sold it as a legit ZT.

 

[miltmaldo]

Usually clone have the same serial number can you please let us know what the number is .

 

[panoz77]

Here is his update, (edit "for those that want to check any recent purchase ser#34284")

"part II, :: went into the location this morning. talked to a doe-eyed sales girl, and we started the whole "who's on first" routine
1. showed the receipt from the shop(which i placed on the counter)
2. set the knife on the said receipt (which was on the counter)
3. put the letter from zero tolerance on top of the knife.
and it began.italics are sales girl.
"you will have to talk to the manager. employees dont do refunds"
I dont want a refund . i want the correct knife that was paid for.
"That is the knife on the receipt, ZT0350"
its a counterfeit
"how do you know"
this letter from the people that make the correct knife. see? logo matches the ZT logo on your door
"but its not broken"
no, its not its a clone,counterfeit,fake,cheap ass copy
"then its not covered by ZT's warranty "
(by this time i am getting jus a wee bit annoyed

,)
Since this is going nowhere fast, i need to speak to the manager/owner
"He's not here"
(ok i will bite) when will he be here
"this afternoon after 1:00, but it might be later"
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
after that intellectual exchange, I gathered up everything put it in a bag, and left. on my way ouy, i looked the the glass case, saw 2 ZT350s Black, 1 stonewash,2 Camo, and a 301 with OD scales. I went back about 4:30 knowing he would have to lockup at 5, when the shop closes.

he wasnt real glad to see me, but, I showed him everything, the original receipt, the knife, and the letter from ZT.
he declined a full refund, But he did offer to trade for a knife, so, I told him, order me another ZT0350TS (the ones in the case by the register must have all sold that day, nothing there

) so he finally agreed, and i added, just not from the same dealer you got the first one from, because i will send this off to ZT to verify upon receipt
Told him I would surrender the paperwork and knife upon receipt of the new ZT
and walked on out.

supposed to call me when it comes in. 10 days give or take.

understand, I have no dog in this fight. wasn't my money, nor knife, but i truly despise a counterfeit shell game, trying to pass something off as genuine article to the unknowing public.if they were clones, priced and advertised as such ( tribute knives i just heard them called, who knew) then you get what you get.

ain't life grand......
I will keep this updated as it transpires."

 

[Mo2]

I know it's already done and all, but this is why it's best to stick to authorized dealers. Ask your friend to purchase from the forum vendors or for used knives, the exchange is great with feedback ratings and the good bad and ugly section.

 

[panoz77]

Obviously, but this is a local store, it is what it is. Not everyone buys "new" knives.

 

[danbot]

Here is his update, (edit "for those that want to check any recent purchase ser#34284")

"part II, :: went into the location this morning. talked to a doe-eyed sales girl, and we started the whole "who's on first" routine
1. showed the receipt from the shop(which i placed on the counter)
2. set the knife on the said receipt (which was on the counter)
3. put the letter from zero tolerance on top of the knife.
and it began.italics are sales girl.
"you will have to talk to the manager. employees dont do refunds"
I dont want a refund . i want the correct knife that was paid for.
"That is the knife on the receipt, ZT0350"
its a counterfeit
"how do you know"
this letter from the people that make the correct knife. see? logo matches the ZT logo on your door
"but its not broken"
no, its not its a clone,counterfeit,fake,cheap ass copy
"then its not covered by ZT's warranty "
(by this time i am getting jus a wee bit annoyed

,)
Since this is going nowhere fast, i need to speak to the manager/owner
"He's not here"
(ok i will bite) when will he be here
"this afternoon after 1:00, but it might be later"
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
after that intellectual exchange, I gathered up everything put it in a bag, and left. on my way ouy, i looked the the glass case, saw 2 ZT350s Black, 1 stonewash,2 Camo, and a 301 with OD scales. I went back about 4:30 knowing he would have to lockup at 5, when the shop closes.

he wasnt real glad to see me, but, I showed him everything, the original receipt, the knife, and the letter from ZT.
he declined a full refund, But he did offer to trade for a knife, so, I told him, order me another ZT0350TS (the ones in the case by the register must have all sold that day, nothing there

) so he finally agreed, and i added, just not from the same dealer you got the first one from, because i will send this off to ZT to verify upon receipt
Told him I would surrender the paperwork and knife upon receipt of the new ZT
and walked on out.

supposed to call me when it comes in. 10 days give or take.

understand, I have no dog in this fight. wasn't my money, nor knife, but i truly despise a counterfeit shell game, trying to pass something off as genuine article to the unknowing public.if they were clones, priced and advertised as such ( tribute knives i just heard them called, who knew) then you get what you get.

ain't life grand......
I will keep this updated as it transpires."

There is no doubt in my mind that this guy knows exactly what he's selling. If he didn't know, he would be VERY interested in your discovery and wanting to get things straightened out with his supplier.

Anyway, nice of you(Edit:him) to help out a friend with all this crap! Hopefully this seller will feel that its not worth the hassle to keep trying to pawn off fakes and just stick to the real deal! But I somehow doubt it.

 

[panoz77]

Just for the record, this is not my story, I am relating it third hand.

 

[lzeplin]

Kinda odd that he sold both of his 350's that day... I would bet there both fakes also, I'd say your friend will get the run around. In 10 days they'll be out of stock where he ordered it from.. If it wasn't there in 10 days I'd contact the police and tell them he's selling fake knife's and show them the proof...

 

[panoz77]

He went to the brick and motor store, my bet is the sales girl from earlier told the store owner about the return and he pulled the knives off the shelf so that he could not compare the fake to the knives on the shelf.