Raleigh area knife nuts beware

[Arcanus]

To all the knife and gun enthusiasts in the Raleigh Durham area of North Carolina, sadly I have found that the shop known as Davi's Indoor Range and Shooting sports is a store to avoid. Their knife selection is not what it used to be and unless one specific person, Richard, is working there I've had to walk the sales people through the counter like a child. They don't even know the difference between the Endura and Delica at this point, except for Richard. What's really got me avoiding this place is due to how they handled my business. I called up about a Spyderco Endura, wave blade, and was told the item was in and priced at 61.95 which is as I see it a very good price. When I drove in to get the item it was tagged at that price. When I got to the counter the price was 78 dollars before tax, still not bad but not what was tagged or what I was quoted on the phone before I came in. They refused to match the tagged price which they had quoted to me before I came in and was labeled on the merchandise. Afterwards when I called the head of the store, who labels himself the "President" and is named Randy, I was informed that what happened to me was not uncommon and he was very snide about it. He said it was simply not their corporate policy to match the price labeled on the product or quoted to a customer if it was a mistake. I understand human error but for something like this to be "not uncommon" and for a person to rudely brush off complaints about it as if it's nothing means I will never return to that store for anything. I urge anyone with any self respect to shop elsewhere, a complaint with the better business bureau has been filed.

My apologies for posting this on the Spyderco forums but I believe customers should be treated with respect and not have to deal with activities bordering on fraud, especially when selling a high quality product such as spyderco.

[RIOT]

bad business = no business eventually

[The Mastiff]

The knife manager there is a very decent guy but I too have had a run in with the president over mislabled merchandise. He gets quite rude and is unapolagetic about it.

Richard on the other hand is very pleasant , helpfull and knowledgeable. The problem is that when he's not there no one will really be much use except to try to find out who has the keys to the case.

Their prices have went down a bit lately to more reflect the prices online. That you can't say about the otherv regional store which never drops below MSRP for any reason.

When there's not a lot of competition that's the way it goes.

There's always The Knifecenter, New Graham, GP, etc. Joe

[amen74]

Arcanus. Welcome to the Forums! Here is a great buy on a E4W. I've bought from this seller twice before. They respond quickly, ship fast, and have great merchandise. :D

Just click on the link: http://cgi.ebay.com/SPYDERCO-ENDURA-4-W ... 286.c0.m14

[Arcanus]

Mastiff, you are absolutely right about Richard. He's been very nice and he's very knowledgeable, every knife I've gotten there has been from him. Every time I've dealt with Richard I've been happy but I'm sick of going in there when he's not there and the rest of the staff don't know anything at all about knives. This was just the last straw for me, I can't spend my money or direct my friends to a store that is so disrespectful. Hopefully Richard can find a job somewhere else or set up his own store. Sadly though I couldn't spend my money in that store again no matter how good the deal or even if Richard is there because the money will be going to people I now loathe. Thanks for mentioning the other stores to check out, I'll be sure to go there.

[The Mastiff]

Arcanus, I know what you're saying. Randy himself told me that it didn't matter one bit to him or the store if I stopped giving them my business. He seemed proud of his own rudeness and acted as if he wanted others to see just how tough he was in dealing with people.

Everybody else there has been polite though.

In my case they sold me something mismarked ( a firearm) as something it wasn't. He refused to refund my money, provide the parts that were supposed to be there, in fact any attempt at a solution.

Richard on the other hand has more than made up for it in deals and markdowns. He even bought some knives for the store from me as I got them faster than he could.

I'm not going to be stubborn to the point of hurting myself though. Just the deal on the closeouts on some Cuda Maxx's & EDC's he gave me ( back when I worked a table at the Dixie Gun & Knife selling knives), and other stuff he sold me wholesale more than made up for any loss I had on the Firearm.

I just only deal with Richard. On the other hand if they lost him they likely would lose my business.

BTW, there used to be a store in Raleigh whose owner was much worse than Randy. That place is gone now though. :D Joe

[kimjune01]

Commerce laws state that they have to give you what they advertise for. Bait-and-switch is very illegal and you should talk to an authority(cops, etc.) to straighten things out.

[amen74]

"Bait and Switch"! I knew there was a term for that! Good work kimjune01. :D

[rlw1979777]

Arcanus. Welcome to the Forums! Here is a great buy on a E4W. I've bought from this seller twice before. They respond quickly, ship fast, and have great merchandise. :D

Just click on the link: http://cgi.ebay.com/SPYDERCO-ENDURA-4-W ... 286.c0.m14

Poor Fish is good people. A few others to look at are Gizmoejoes, and yourknifeconnection... All are reputable and I have personally bought from them all on more the one occasion.

[G-2]

bad business = no business eventually

+1000 RIOT, you said it.

[Crowbar1]

Just go online ----A business that is run like that will eventually have to close it's doors.

[ryan28801]

Go check out Beck's Fine Cutlery in Cary if you're in the area. Mr. Ronnie Beck is a quiet fellow and has a great selection of some really nice stuff. You're also going to deal with the same person every time you go.

[The Mastiff]

Mr.Beck is indeed a gentleman. He has a great selection of all kinds of knife & related gear. If you can afford to buy at MSRP and support his business than indeed that's the place to go around here. Joe

[Slick]

Mr.Beck is indeed a gentleman. He has a great selection of all kinds of knife & related gear. If you can afford to buy at MSRP and support his business than indeed that's the place to go around here. Joe

I am willing to pay a premium for premium service and knowledge but MSRP is...

I am not in Raleigh and I've not found much around me knowledgable or otherwise. 80 miles to Smoky Mtn Knife Works. 120 miles to New Graham Pharmacy. 100 miles to Charlotte. If you triangulate you will see I am in Bum Stuff Nowhere. Some of us have little but the internet.

[ozspyder]

I'm not in Raleigh either, but have dealt with my fair share of knobs and snobs. When your hard earned money is not respected, and you are treated with contempt, you should walk away and never turn back. Thanks for letting everyone know about this idiot. It seems he either doesn't know how to run a business or has a lot of time and money to burn !

Having dealt with a few knife dealers online I know that once I have been burnt or deceived I usually do not return. Mistakes are sometimes made, it is human to err. But this practice which you guys call "bait and switch" is called "bait advertising" here in Australia. Highly illegal, and your local, state or federal consumer advocacy group should be able to stand up for your rights if you have been deceived by them. If you haven't, you can still report them and they can be investigated for this fraudulent and dangerous activity.

Best of luck for future knife hunting..... there are many more places to look..... bad luck Randy ! :P

[buglerbilly]

I'll be honest when I started off I made one or two mistakes and paid far more for my Spydies than I should have, without exception because I bought thru' local dealers/stores and paid far too much for the knives even including the shipping and Customs charges they picked up, possibly a 40% mark up on US prices.

Some have tried to charge up to 200-250% of the USA price so guess who I don't go back to! :mad:

I have to say I buy most of my older Spydies via BF Personal Sales/KnifeBST never Ebay. Bad experiences with the latter has soured me for life.

There are some excellent and very well known and liked Dealers out there, and I wouldn't hesitate to go to NGK, Spydercovt and Knife Center, There are others I've bought from but these are consistent and quality performers.

So far no one has obtained my shiny stuff and not delivered the goods but there is always a first time for everything! :rolleyes:

Don't bother with the local idiot if he doesn't want to deal properly. Life is too short to suffer fools gladly.

There are some wonderful people out there.............. :D

Regards,

BRIAN

[The Mastiff]

I am not in Raleigh and I've not found much around me knowledgable or otherwise. 80 miles to Smoky Mtn Knife Works. 120 miles to New Graham Pharmacy. 100 miles to Charlotte. If you triangulate you will see I am in Bum Stuff Nowhere. Some of us have little but the internet

Slick, if my triangulations are near to true you are a lucky person to be living in an area with lots of other things that more than make up for it. Having the stores nearby is nice but on days like yesterday with the temp at 101, and the air a poisonous haze of smoke and ozone burning gas to drive around isn't on my list of priorities.

I'd let someone deliver to me too, saving time , and headache. No offense meant to either store. Joe

[Arcanus]

Thank you all for your suggestions on knife stores and online companies to check out. I managed to get over to Beck's Cutlery today and was simply blown away. The customer service and selection of knives was everything I was led to believe by the members of this forum and then some. After I managed to pull myself away from the William Henry folders and wipe off the drool I found exactly what I've been wanting, the Chinook III, and it was on sale!!!. Just goes to show that good service pays off because I was willing to pay the extra money for the Chinook at Beck's instead of the Wave Endura at Davi's. This place definitely rates my seal of approval for any work knives you might want for carry or the kitchen. Thanks again to everyone for your advice and I hope we can all avoid the bait and switch scams and shoddy service.

[The Mastiff]

Glad that worked out for you Arcanus. I try to get over there when can and give him business for several good reasons and always walk away with sweaty palms and desires for knives I never knew I needed before. It's a dangerous place.

Last time I went there I bought a NIB, OS blackhawk still at original MSRP. A Ti Salsa also. It's a great place to grope knives with no pressure.

Mr. Beck is a decent guy all around too, and very knowledgeable. IIRC, he used to sell his own line of knives he designed and had made somewhere in Colorado. Joe