Bad experience from Customer Service

[BrianMcCord]

I've been thinking about this one, and I do agree that replacement parts should be available for purchase. However, I also agree that a bearing flipper is not the best choice for hard use, such as shucking oysters in a salty environment. That constitutes abuse, in my opinion.

Sorry you're having trouble with the first generation bearings, that's a major bummer.

[Evil D]

I'm sure it sucks, that's the routine I go through any time I buy from overseas. I have a watch from across the pond that I have to mail over just to get the battery replaced. It's always a potential issue with overseas business so sometimes I just avoid buying certain things if I can't get them from the states. I do feel like Spyderco do enough international business to tweak their policy a bit but who knows I'm not privileged with that info. I bought some Solovair boots a couple years ago and got the wrong size, I just bought another pair and sold the first pair because shipping was like $40 and a PITA anyway.

[archangel08]

You knife/package could also get stolen when you send it in- like mine did just today after requesting some replacement screws (and PB bushings to be fair), complying with sending it in and then having it sent back and unfortunately stolen after being delivered or by the UPS dude himself (maybe).

:eek:

[jpm2]

Take some measurements and find the parts local. If no bearings are available, convert it to washers only.

[BrianMcCord]

Take some measurements and find the parts local. If no bearings are available, convert it to washers only.

I tried this myself, but those pockets in the titanium are problematic. I will try and add a thicker set to counter the milled out pockets.

[The Mastiff]

There are a lot of common sense reasons Spyderco and most other companies won't send parts that may need fitting and could affect safety of their product.

I don't get why people can't accept that a company won't jeopardize themselves and their customers just because someone says "Man, I thought you were cool! "

A lot of the people who ask really shouldn't be trying to rebuild their knife. We have seen a lot of people who buggered their knives up or couldn't put it back after taking it apart just for cleaning or other reason where it began in perfect condition. We have heard " It's only a knife, how hard can it be? " a few times here. I do not blame Spyderco one bit.

Now the idea of a Europe based W&R agent does have some merit.

[Squawk]

I understand your frustration. It can be difficult If you don't live in the US. I once asked for a few replacement screws though and although Spyderco could not provide all of them, they've sent me those that they could scrape together for the knives i requested - free of charge. Thanks again for that. What frustrates me though, is the fact that i specifically asked for a replacement pivot screw, which already came stripped new in box, more than 2 months ago but i didn't get a response yet. Again, after 5-6 weeks of waiting i decided to send the whole E-Mail again, maybe something happened with the first one or it was forgotten. No big deal, i get it that the past weeks have been quite busy for Spyderco. Now, i'm still waiting for a response on the second Email that i wrote over a month ago... And to be honest, i own a lot of Spyderco knives, more than a hundred, some users, some collectors. I'm not the guy that rages about bad centering and such "issues" but when i get one knife from a trusted spyderco distributor with a simple to fix problem as in this case, i'd like to get a response at least. I would at least think that it would be easier to ship one tiny pivot screw overseas than to ship a whole knife in box back to the distributor and/or spyderco. On the other hand, after the long wait there is no chance for me to send it back to the dealer anyway.
Edit and just for the record - of course i didn't even touch mentioned screw. The first time i asked for other replacement screws was because after many times of disassembly and servicing, the screws weren't that good anymore despite always using quality tools. That's alright and in that case spyderco sent me the screws anyway although they didn't have to. This one bugs me though because this knife was bought brand new and it'll be near impossible to even adjust the pivot without totally destroying the screw, that's why i'd like to put a new one in so i would only have to take this one out and not stress it any further.

[CaptainT]

Maybe your Tasman Salt should be your EDC, given the conditions you work in? :)

It's too **** ugly. :)
FRN might be lightweight and cheap, but it looks like crap in my opinion. Besides, the Tasman is my wife's running knife.

[CaptainT]

Thanks a bunch for all the comments, folks.
It certainly looks like Spyderco have some picking up to do in their Customer Service department.

A huge thank you to the user who sent me an email with a link to a seller he has bought washers and bearings from. <3

This forum is still the best, a dysfunctional service policy does not change that.

[quantico]

i would not ever consider a spyderco knife in your situation. i did not know that they don’t sell parts. that is a fairly crummy policy. i am glad i have only the cheaper knives.

i got parts free and easily from kershaw. better company i guess.

[SpyderEdgeForever]

I'm sure it sucks, that's the routine I go through any time I buy from overseas. I have a watch from across the pond that I have to mail over just to get the battery replaced. It's always a potential issue with overseas business so sometimes I just avoid buying certain things if I can't get them from the states. I do feel like Spyderco do enough international business to tweak their policy a bit but who knows I'm not privileged with that info. I bought some Solovair boots a couple years ago and got the wrong size, I just bought another pair and sold the first pair because shipping was like $40 and a PITA anyway.

David, without taking this off topic, are there any watch repair places in the USA where you can send the watch to that would allow a lower cost shipping and replacement battery for you? You have probably already looked into that idea, though.

[SpyderEdgeForever]

Captain T, have you owned or used the Spyderco Pacific Salt folders? Those may be the perfect knife for you. Just wondering.

[Johnnie1801]

Using the Domino as a salt knife seems a poor decision to me. Personally I consider my Domino as more of gent's knife or edc knife. Spyderco make so many variants for harsh environments there must be something else that fits the bill, you have the Tusk and Spydeichef at the higher end and the Salt range at the lower end.

The problem with the Domino is that it is made in Taiwan with parts sourced in Taiwan, apart from the steel I don't think Spyderco ship any other parts there. Now with the Domino being discontinued getting parts might be even harder than before.

It would be great to have a customer service rep in Europe, even if it was just for clips and screws and nowadays with Skype etc. it's very easy to communicate with the mother ship back in Golden.

[CaptainT]

Captain T, have you owned or used the Spyderco Pacific Salt folders? Those may be the perfect knife for you. Just wondering.

Hi,

No, I have not handled the Pacific at all, but the FRN ruins the knife's chance to become my EDC. I don't like the feeling of it and would not dare to clip it to more fragile fabrics either. All FRN knives I've handled have been a bit rough on the scales (Tasman, Assist and Jumpmaster). Awesome grip of course, but not so good for your clothes.

[CaptainT]

Using the Domino as a salt knife seems a poor decision to me. Personally I consider my Domino as more of gent's knife or edc knife. Spyderco make so many variants for harsh environments there must be something else that fits the bill, you have the Tusk and Spydeichef at the higher end and the Salt range at the lower end.

The problem with the Domino is that it is made in Taiwan with parts sourced in Taiwan, apart from the steel I don't think Spyderco ship any other parts there. Now with the Domino being discontinued getting parts might be even harder than before.

It would be great to have a customer service rep in Europe, even if it was just for clips and screws and nowadays with Skype etc. it's very easy to communicate with the mother ship back in Golden.

Well, I don't use it as a Salt knife - my Salt knife almost never get cleaned, just the occasional rinse in fresh water.
I clip the Domino as my EDC. It's with me all days and therefor it gets to do stuff when no more suitable tool is at hand. Since I sail, the EDC has been used to cut ropes, since I like too cook it has sliced raw meat, opened oysters, peeled potatoes etc. My definition of a EDC is that it has to be good enough to do ALL tasks presented good enough. Not as good as the proper tool would have, but good enough.

I am aware that the Domino is not meant to be a oyster opener (that's my Caly3). Nor the dedicated rope cutter (for that I have the Harpy). I don't claim that my problem is due to poor quality. I KNOW that my problems are caused by my choice of what to cut and how to use it.
This is NOT about the quality of Spyderco knives. The quality is excellent.
This is about the need to have proper spares when your precious darling needs to be fixed.

[Evil D]

I'm sure it sucks, that's the routine I go through any time I buy from overseas. I have a watch from across the pond that I have to mail over just to get the battery replaced. It's always a potential issue with overseas business so sometimes I just avoid buying certain things if I can't get them from the states. I do feel like Spyderco do enough international business to tweak their policy a bit but who knows I'm not privileged with that info. I bought some Solovair boots a couple years ago and got the wrong size, I just bought another pair and sold the first pair because shipping was like $40 and a PITA anyway.

David, without taking this off topic, are there any watch repair places in the USA where you can send the watch to that would allow a lower cost shipping and replacement battery for you? You have probably already looked into that idea, though.

I haven't looked into it but their warranty is void if anyone else does it. They just don't have a forum I can complain on about it :rolleyes:

[ChrisinHove]

I can sympathise with both sides on this one, for all of the above reasons.

Just a thought, though.... I assembled a new Bike Shield cover at the weekend. This uses square steel tubes with plastic connectors, that fit fine IF the burrs on the cut ends of tube are filed off. The very last section, I got complacent, tried too much force, and the connector snapped. I emailed the manufacturer Monday, explained, and today, Friday, a whole packet of them arrives with me, in the U.K, ..... from S.Korea. How impressive is that?

[anagarika]

Captain T, have you owned or used the Spyderco Pacific Salt folders? Those may be the perfect knife for you. Just wondering.

Hi,

No, I have not handled the Pacific at all, but the FRN ruins the knife's chance to become my EDC. I don't like the feeling of it and would not dare to clip it to more fragile fabrics either. All FRN knives I've handled have been a bit rough on the scales (Tasman, Assist and Jumpmaster). Awesome grip of course, but not so good for your clothes.

I believe in most designs, the clip rests on a flat smooth surface of the FRN, minimizing the friction. What kind of fabric it is that got ruined by Spyderco FRN clipit?

[CaptainT]

I believe in most designs, the clip rests on a flat smooth surface of the FRN, minimizing the friction. What kind of fabric it is that got ruined by Spyderco FRN clipit?

Uhu, must admit that I never really have looked under the clip of my Tasman. But on all knives that allow multiple clip positions the surface under the clip will be the same rough FRN surface that gives that awesome grip. Or am I mistaken here?
My wool suits, for instance is made of a fabric that would not come out as a winner in a close combat with FRN.

[SharpieB]

This is a huge problem for me as the clowns at Canadian Border Services recently ruled that basically any locking folder is illegal to import into Canada and will be confiscated. If I have to ship my knife to Colorado for a little part, there is a VERY good chance that I will never see my knife again.

Not cool.