My first Gareth Bull Large Shamwari bought on the secondary market (from knife36) was sheer perfection. Loved it but sold it. When I saw Gareth post some Large Shamwaris back in July, I jumped on one. He agreed to make a custom G10 scale which was awesome and I waited about 3 or 4 more weeks for it to ship even though I saw that it was done much earlier from his pics on Instagram. I finally received the knife via DHL but when I got it, I was seriously disappointed. Unfortunately, I didn't take any photos before I returned it but here are the issues that mine had:
I emailed him complementing the things I liked about the knife but also listing the things I disliked (above) and asked him about returning it but got no response so I sent it back via DHL which cost me $95 US. He finally answered my email after I posted a question on IG. Now the return package has been stuck in South Africa for the last 3 weeks and they want me to pay duties/import taxes even though it's a return. Gareth is not returning my emails again and I'm really stuck here.
- The blade was not centered and I couldn't get it centered.
- The polished flats were all scratched up and there were other small marks on the blade. (I might be okay with those if it was used but this one is brand-new).
- There was a funky grind at the the tip of the blade on both sides.
- The orange scale that I waited for was a dark muddy color not the bright orange g10 that I'm used to.
Mr. Bull seems like a nice guy and he's always pleasant when communicating but one of the problems is that he often doesn't communicate. My knife shouldn't have been sent out in the condition it was in and now I'm on the hook for my original $625 plus $95 return shipping and possibly the duties/import taxes and that's all with no guarantee of getting a refund or replacement as far as I can tell.
If Gareth had sent the knife without issues, I wouldn't be writing this and dealing with this mess.
If Gareth has answered my email when I asked to return it and if he had communicated with DHL, I wouldn't have had this hassle with the import taxes, etc.
If Gareth would communicate with DHL now, we might be able to resolve the issue with the import taxes and with the package being a return/repair.
So far I haven't received any help and I will be very hesitant about buying knives from any South African maker because of the hassle I've gone through with this transaction.
My whole purpose in posting about my experience is to warn others of the risk involved. Perhaps Mr. Bull is just very busy (aren't we all?) and maybe he will step up the plate and take care of this but at this point I am not holding my breath.
So far I haven't received any help and I will be very hesitant about buying knives from any South African maker because of the hassle I've gone through with this transaction.
My first Gareth Bull Large Shamwari bought on the secondary market (from knife36) was sheer perfection. Loved it but sold it. When I saw Gareth post some Large Shamwaris back in July, I jumped on one. He agreed to make a custom G10 scale which was awesome and I waited about 3 or 4 more weeks for it to ship even though I saw that it was done much earlier from his pics on Instagram. I finally received the knife via DHL but when I got it, I was seriously disappointed. Unfortunately, I didn't take any photos before I returned it but here are the issues that mine had:
I emailed him complementing the things I liked about the knife but also listing the things I disliked (above) and asked him about returning it but got no response so I sent it back via DHL which cost me $95 US. He finally answered my email after I posted a question on IG. Now the return package has been stuck in South Africa for the last 3 weeks and they want me to pay duties/import taxes even though it's a return. Gareth is not returning my emails again and I'm really stuck here.
- The blade was not centered and I couldn't get it centered.
- The polished flats were all scratched up and there were other small marks on the blade. (I might be okay with those if it was used but this one is brand-new).
- There was a funky grind at the the tip of the blade on both sides.
- The orange scale that I waited for was a dark muddy color not the bright orange g10 that I'm used to.
Mr. Bull seems like a nice guy and he's always pleasant when communicating but one of the problems is that he often doesn't communicate. My knife shouldn't have been sent out in the condition it was in and now I'm on the hook for my original $625 plus $95 return shipping and possibly the duties/import taxes and that's all with no guarantee of getting a refund or replacement as far as I can tell.
If Gareth had sent the knife without issues, I wouldn't be writing this and dealing with this mess.
If Gareth has answered my email when I asked to return it and if he had communicated with DHL, I wouldn't have had this hassle with the import taxes, etc.
If Gareth would communicate with DHL now, we might be able to resolve the issue with the import taxes and with the package being a return/repair.
So far I haven't received any help and I will be very hesitant about buying knives from any South African maker because of the hassle I've gone through with this transaction.
My whole purpose in posting about my experience is to warn others of the risk involved. Perhaps Mr. Bull is just very busy (aren't we all?) and maybe he will step up the plate and take care of this but at this point I am not holding my breath.
I am sorry that this has happened to you. You are another customer that Gareth has treated very badly and you join a long suffering club.
However, if you go back and read this thread from the beginning it quickly becomes apparent that anyone doing business with Gareth may and probably will end up in your position. All the warning signs are here in this thread going back several years.
South Africa has some of the best and most trusted knife makers on the planet. At Blade this year the single largest non-US contingent was from South Africa. Let's not forget Chris Reeve who is still a paid up member of the Knifemakers Guild of South Africa. A Guild I might add that expelled Gareth for the same offence that you have just posted above.
There are so many talented, trustworthy and brilliant makers in South Africa. So why people insist on sending money to the one guy who is constantly a problem is a mystery to me.
Thanks, guys. Yes, I heard the warnings but wanted to give the guy a shot. Like I said, he's certainly very friendly through email, etc. And he can make an amazing folder so I don't know what happened with mine.
At this point, I've tried to communicate and don't get adequate responses and DHL is a pain in the rear end so I'd just like a refund from him and he can do whatever he likes with my knife. I should not be on the hook for the return shipping or the import duties. Sure wish things were different.
You are 100% correct Steven, Plenty of good South African knife makers that deserve money more :thumbup:
Regards,
Ryan
Yes, I don't mean to disparage other SA makers. Just wanted people to know that there could be trouble with returns/repairs unless they do it right and with a cooperative maker.
I just received a refund from Gareth for my knife purchase plus the return shipping. He did indeed come through and I thank him for that.
I have at least two unanswered emails after the last round of promises for completion/delivery.
Yes, I don't mean to disparage other SA makers. Just wanted people to know that there could be trouble with returns/repairs unless they do it right and with a cooperative maker.