Evil D wrote:
Having been a PC enthusiast for about 20 years now, I can tell you that probably the #1 reason for hardware failure is dirty components. If you were allowed to open your case and blow it out, you could avoid some of that failure. So, this is an argument FOR disassembly, but then it requires opening it up to clean, whereas a knife can be washed without disassembly.
I have been into pc since MS Dos with some 13mhz brand new top of the line computer back then. Assembled my first pc at the age of 9 from parts me and my bro afforded at the local shop with our money(must have been like 1 years both of us asking for money at Christmas and birthday, plus the small weekly $ we received). Been here, done that. Still, I don't see how you can compare opening a computer for cleaning to opening a knife.
With a knife, you can mess up: strip bolt thread, lose a bolt/washer/spring, mess the small pin on FRN lockback folder and then what? Install 2 washer on the same side of the blade because you're a retard? Opening my K2 for deep cleaning shouldn't void my warranty unless **I** mess something up. If everything is alright and that let's say the RIL lock fail, why shouldn't it be under warranty (starting from the idea it's not an abuse issue)?
On a computer, or any other electronical item, a simple electrostatic spark can mess up the board. A small misshandling of your screw driver could inardvertenly mess yup a cap, a resistance, one of the small conductors, create a electrical short if the guys is dumb enough not to remove the power first and so many other possibilities. From this points, it's often pretty hard for anyone to figure out if the trouble, which can also be an interminent one, was user induced or come from a failure of one of the hardware/software. The main reason, in my mind, why pre-built computer and electronical devices come with tamper-evidence sticker or device is to prevent having to deal with sorting out this kind of question. It is considered that many of those who will buy a pre-built system don't have enough skills to handle electronical board.
On the other hand, separate parts are sold for enthusiast to build their own system and are covered by warranty even if handled. That's because those pieces are aimed at another market in which most people are considered knowledgeable and skillful enough to handle them without voiding the warranty.
Is every body trying themselves at building their own computer skillful enough? I don't think so, and easy as it sound neither is EVERY one skillful enough to open a knife. Most are, but some are not. Should that leaves me out of warranty for easing my cleaning process when a knife is dirty? I don't think so.
That's but my humble opinion on how a slight something is wrong with the warranty statement, but not on how the warranty is handled by Spyderco.
I know Spyderco warranty team and Sal are able to sort whether the failure was created by the user or not most of the time and that they try to be fair with the customer. I'm also pretty sure the customer service, in pretty much all aspect, is one of the best I ever dealt with.
I simply disagree with the point of view many out there have about how opening up a knife is never needed. I disagree that simply opening a folding knife should automatically void the warranty. Stop saying knife are like computer, it is irrelevant.
Reading such thing make me ponder about the poster intention. I guess that's fanboyism to try to prevent trouble for Spyderco with the few inapt people that would open their knife without knowing what they are doing. Still, it's pretty much out of context and this kind of thought need to be contested.
I don't make this a claim that we should be allowed to open a knife, mess something up and call it on warranty. Simply that opening it up without messing something, shouldn't remove our right to have a valid warranty.
