How I lost more than $300 returning knives to BladeHQ [RESOLVED]

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UPDATE: BladeHQ reached out and refunded me for the lost knife. They have always had great customer service, even when we disagreed, but I appreciate them going above and beyond here. Lessons learned by both parties.

I’ve been wanting to write this for several weeks but at the same time I've been dreading it. This is my story of a knife return gone wrong with BladeHQ.

I’m not here to bash this company. As I’ll explain I made a few mistakes that may have contributed, but I'm out a significant amount of money and feel the situation is serious enough to warrant a post here.

In early November, I purchased a Mini Synergy by WE Knives from BladeHQ. Already logged into my account, with my payment info saved, I clicked submit order and it was processed. Only after did I realize I had purchased a duplicate (2) knife by mistake. With no way to cancel the order in the system, I shot them an email.
I then placed a new order for (1) Mini Synergy. This was all in the evening, after business hours. Well, it turned out that BladeHQ is so on top of the shipping that the next morning, before they got to my email requesting cancellation, the order had shipped out. I was told I could setup a return for them and I did just that. The return was requested and approved for the (2) mistakenly purchased knives the next day, well before their arrival.

Fast forward to all three knives having arrived: The (2) by mistake are in their own box, larger and noticeably heavier, shipped by FedEx while the other was by USPS. I decide, for a combination of reasons, to return the single knife as well. I had been in the market for just one small knife and the Nerd by TRM had become available during that time, it turned out to be the knife I was looking for

So anyway, I had left the two knives in their FedEx box unopened. Even though I had never meant to order them, I was well aware I was about to return 3 knives at once. I figure, let me leave them sealed in their original shipping box so BladeHQ has little doubt they were even handled. That was my logic anyway. And also, it just felt polite. I had never meant to order them in the first place, why open the box? Only to tape it again and ship them out.


A few weeks go by after the returns, and I notice only two refunds, each for approximately $300, the total of one knife. I call BladeHQ, and it turned out they believed they had only received one knife of the two knife order (the FedEx box I had never openned). I then learn I had mistakenly setup the return for only 1 of 2 the knives. But I was assured, the box would have been checked and if the second knife had been there, they would have issued me a refund for both. They insisted only one knife was ever in the box.

I went back and forth with them over the phone, arguing my case. Everything was professional on both ends but they would not relent despite my desperate ideas to resolve the situation, like, can you check the physical inventory against the computer to see if you have an extra in stock? (I was told they don't have a mechanism to do this) Can you ask the person who did the return? (they did, and she claimed there was only one knife, though this would have happened a few weeks prior by the time I made my inquiry).

It can get even more complicated, like they claimed the 1.2 lb shipped weight for the package makes it clear there were two knives sent to me, but the 7 ounce return label shows only one. This, however, is because the return label was premade, not weighed out at the post office, because again I had mistakenly made the return for only one knife of the two-knife order. edit: My last idea was to ask them to check if USPS charged their account the difference in weight, as the return certainly weighed more than the 7oz, and in doing so we could establish that the package did weigh 1.2 pounds, indicating it may have contained both knives. That idea went no where, and in their reply I was told they consider the matter resolved.

I tried everything I could think of to plead my case, but again they "determined that the proper adjustment has been issued" and considered their "investigation" (such as it was) complete.

The bottom line, I send them back an unopened box which I am certain had two knives (something they agree is not in doubt) to have them tell me there was only one, and refund only one. I was told by BladeHQ that the situation was also more difficult because I never checked to verify, but they don’t believe me anyway and swear themselves that there were two knives sent because everything is scanned in and out of the system, and two knives for that order were scanned out.

At this point what I believe most likely happened, is the employee (apparently an upper level employee who was filling in for returns because there were so many) opened a box that was connected with a single knife return, took out the one knife, and tossed the box that had the other one. I’m sure there are other possibilities, but one thing remains certain: I sent back a sealed unopened box for two knives and was only reimbursed for one. Perhaps the solo knife order, the one I returned because I changed my mind, also played a role here in confusing the return department. But again, they don't acknowledge any of these possibilities.

This is my story; I want to document it somewhere because I have no other options. If I can share it here, and perhaps someone else in the future has a similar experience and reads this, maybe it can be another data point. I believe BladeHQ should have more ways to troubleshoot these situations. This is a my word against their’s situation, I don’t dispute that. But it is frustrating knowing they lost track of the knife somewhere in the return process, and their best option to resolve it was to rely on the recollection of an employee for a single return weeks prior.

TLDR: I sent an unopened box for a 2 knife order back to BladeHQ and they insist they only got 1 knife, refunding only half the order. It didn’t help I had mistakenly processed the return for one knife, but they insist this would not have affected the return, saying if there had been two, they would have processed it for two. As it stands now I am out the money with no other recourse.
 
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unfortunately too many mistakes on your part for them to verify anything. You really did a lousy job on your end, and someone may have done one on theirs also. If the return showed for 1 knife, that is all they likely looked for.
strange part-buyers usually complain about slow shipping
but it does sound like you have told the honest story, and it still is going to suck on your end
 
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I’ve been wanting to write this for several weeks but at the same time I've been dreading it. This is my story of a knife return gone wrong with BladeHQ.

I’m not here to bash this company. As I’ll explain I made a few mistakes that may have contributed, but I'm out a significant amount of money and feel the situation is serious enough to warrant a post here.

In early November, I purchased a Mini Synergy by WE Knives from BladeHQ. Already logged into my account, with my payment info saved, I clicked submit order and it was processed. Only after did I realize I had purchased a duplicate (2) knife by mistake. With no way to cancel the order in the system, I shot them an email.
I then placed a new order for (1) Mini Synergy. This was all in the evening, after business hours. Well, it turned out that BladeHQ is so on top of the shipping that the next morning, before they got to my email requesting cancellation, the order had shipped out. I was told I could setup a return for them and I did just that. The return was requested and approved for the (2) mistakenly purchased knives the next day, well before their arrival.

Fast forward to all three knives having arrived: The (2) by mistake are in their own box, larger and noticeably heavier, shipped by FedEx while the other was by USPS. I decide, for a combination of reasons, to return the single knife as well. I had been in the market for just one small knife and the Nerd by TRM had become available during that time, it turned out to be the knife I was looking for

So anyway, I had left the two knives in their FedEx box unopened. Even though I had never meant to order them, I was well aware I was about to return 3 knives at once. I figure, let me leave them sealed in their original shipping box so BladeHQ has little doubt they were even handled. That was my logic anyway. And also, it just felt polite. I had never meant to order them in the first place, why open the box? Only to tape it again and ship them out.


A few weeks go by after the returns, and I notice only two refunds, each for approximately $300, the total of one knife. I call BladeHQ, and it turned out they believed they had only received one knife of the two knife order (the FedEx box I had never openned). I then learn I had mistakenly setup the return for only 1 of 2 the knives. But I was assured, the box would have been checked and if the second knife had been there, they would have issued me a refund for both. They insisted only one knife was ever in the box.

I went back and forth with them over the phone, arguing my case. Everything was professional on both ends but they would not relent despite my desperate ideas to resolve the situation, like, can you check the physical inventory against the computer to see if you have an extra in stock? (I was told they don't have a mechanism to do this) Can you ask the person who did the return? (they did, and she claimed there was only one knife, though this would have happened a few weeks prior by the time I made my inquiry).

It can get even more complicated, like they claimed the 1.2 lb shipped weight for the package makes it clear there were two knives sent to me, but the 7 ounce return label shows only one. This, however, is because the return label was premade, not weighed out at the post office, because again I had mistakenly made the return for only one knife of the two-knife order. edit: My last idea was to ask them to check if USPS charged their account the difference in weight, as the return certainly weighed more than the 7oz, and in doing so we could establish that the package did weigh 1.2 pounds, indicating it may have contained both knives. That idea went no where, and in their reply I was told they consider the matter resolved.

I tried everything I could think of to plead my case, but again they "determined that the proper adjustment has been issued" and considered their "investigation" (such as it was) complete.

The bottom line, I send them back an unopened box which I am certain had two knives (something they agree is not in doubt) to have them tell me there was only one, and refund only one. I was told by BladeHQ that the situation was also more difficult because I never checked to verify, but they don’t believe me anyway and swear themselves that there were two knives sent because everything is scanned in and out of the system, and two knives for that order were scanned out.

At this point what I believe most likely happened, is the employee (apparently an upper level employee who was filling in for returns because there were so many) opened a box that was connected with a single knife return, took out the one knife, and tossed the box that had the other one. I’m sure there are other possibilities, but one thing remains certain: I sent back a sealed unopened box for two knives and was only reimbursed for one. Perhaps the solo knife order, the one I returned because I changed my mind, also played a role here in confusing the return department. But again, they don't acknowledge any of these possibilities.

This is my story; I want to document it somewhere because I have no other options. If I can share it here, and perhaps someone else in the future has a similar experience and reads this, maybe it can be another data point. I believe BladeHQ should have more ways to troubleshoot these situations. This is a my word against their’s situation, I don’t dispute that. But it is frustrating knowing they lost track of the knife somewhere in the return process, and their best option to resolve it was to rely on the recollection of an employee for a single return weeks prior.

TLDR: I sent an unopened box for a 2 knife order back to BladeHQ and they insist they only got 1 knife, refunding only half the order. It didn’t help I had mistakenly processed the return for one knife, but they insist this would not have affected the return, saying if there had been two, they would have processed it for two. As it stands now I am out the money with no other recourse.
I’m on your side here, I think what you did was reasonable and anyone with customer service experience should have given you the benefit of the doubt to keep you as a happy customer. Just my two cents.
 
Every company has good customer service until there is a problem. Then the real customer service is shown.

Definitely some errors on your part, but crap happens. I've had errors in purchasing from websites too.

Sounds like someone got a free knife at blade hq.
 
unfortunately too many mistakes on your part for them to verify anything. You really did a lousy job on your end, and someone may have done one on theirs also. If the return showed for 1 knife, that is all they likely looked for.
strange part-buyers usually complain about slow shipping
but it does sound like you have told the honest story, and it still is going to suck on your end

Have to agree with Peter here. Not sure why you ordered a third knife after you already ordered two. Then wanting to return it all. Seems like there are other issues you created as well. If I was the vendor I would possibly be concerned you might even be trying to attempting some type of scam.
I believe all you are saying, but man you made a total mess of it. I can understand why the vendor is confused here.
 
Sorry for your ordeal and monetary loss, but I don't see this as throwing any negative shade on Blade HQ. As a consumer, you shot yourself multiple times in both feet.

If my understanding is correct, you:

1. ordered 2 items instead of 1.
2. ordered a 3rd copy of the item.
3. did not actually open the first box you received to confirm it contained items that you ordered.
4. requested a return authorization for 1 item, affixed it to a box containing 2 items, and sent it to Blade HQ.

With each additional action, you compounded the probability that something would go wrong. At the end of the day, Blade HQ shipped you 3 knives and processed 1 return, which from their perspective is exactly what you asked them to do.

Note this could have been worse if Blade HQ had actually made a mistake and sent you $50 worth of items instead of $600 worth of items in the first box. Since you did not explicitly verify that you received exactly what you ordered, and just blindly returned that original box, you opened yourself up to losing more money. The hope that the hungover kid getting paid $10 an hour to tear through a pile of customer returns was going to recognize that the packing tape on your box is unbroken, was at best misplaced.
 
This is unfortunate and I'm not disbelieving or casting aspersions, but this is also functionally identical to a very standard quick change trick, so it's hard for me to blame BladeHQ for this.
 
An expensive mistake on your part.

Maybe slow down- In 1 evening you bought a knife but ordered 2 of the same by mistake. Asked for a cancellation then immediately ordered the same knife again. Then asked to return 1 of the 2 and returned all 3 upon receipt. Not hard to see why there was a mixup.
 
thanks for the feedback so far, I agree with what’s been said.
This situation I created for myself is the perfect storm to make it more likely BladeHQ would get confused and make a mistake of their own.
I should have just waited to hear back about the 2 knife order cancellation, braillediver braillediver was right. I was impatient and assumed when I emailed to cancel it, within a few hours, all after business hours, it wouldn’t be shipped. That’s why I made another “correct” order for the one knife. I returned 3 knives because I changed my mind on one knife, not all three, as bad as it sounds.

Regardless, I totally made this worse for myself by ordering 2 knives by mistake, and then doing a return for only 1 of the 2 (there must have been a pull down menu or selection I failed to make), but sending both back. Those are my two mistakes that lead to blade hq losing track of a knife and not refunding the money. That and not opening the box, but BladeHQ insists they scanned both knifes out for the shipment and that the weight reflects this. Also had I opened to verify, what would have stopped them from saying the same things?

Anyway thanks again
William
 
This sucks man. Sounds fishy to me on their end. That third knife probably ended up in an employee’s pocket.
 
I'm guilty of those four points. My openness and honesty about my side however doesn't mean they have directly connect with or compound what happened.
This can also be looked at in isolation.
I sent a return back for 2 knives, accidently checking off only one for the return. They said the other knife was never in the box. So, either way it was BladeHQ that made a mistake there (edit: either they sent only one or overlooked one of the two in the box during the return). And they assured me the package shipped with two knifes because they were scanned when shipped and the package weight is consistent with both knives being in the box. I asked them to check the returned item shipping weight and they were either unable to or declined.
Again, you're not wrong about me shooting myself in the foot! But for all four points to directly work against me and shift blame to me and not BladeHQ might not be fair either.
Sorry for your ordeal and monetary loss, but I don't see this as throwing any negative shade on Blade HQ. As a consumer, you shot yourself multiple times in both feet.

If my understanding is correct, you:

1. ordered 2 items instead of 1.
2. ordered a 3rd copy of the item.
3. did not actually open the first box you received to confirm it contained items that you ordered.
4. requested a return authorization for 1 item, affixed it to a box containing 2 items, and sent it to Blade HQ.

With each additional action, you compounded the probability that something would go wrong. At the end of the day, Blade HQ shipped you 3 knives and processed 1 return, which from their perspective is exactly what you asked them to do.

Note this could have been worse if Blade HQ had actually made a mistake and sent you $50 worth of items instead of $600 worth of items in the first box. Since you did not explicitly verify that you received exactly what you ordered, and just blindly returned that original box, you opened yourself up to losing more money. The hope that the hungover kid getting paid $10 an hour to tear through a pile of customer returns was going to recognize that the packing tape on your box is unbroken, was at best misplaced.
 
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The fact that you were honest and didn't try to spin this away from you is why most(if not all) believe you are telling a true story.
However the last nail in the coffin was the prepaid shipping label with the reduced weight. So now you have set up a return for 1 knife(instead of the 2) and the shipping weight reflects 1 being sent back-even though that was a mistake also. It is just going to be hard for them to buy the story enough to give you money when all physical evidence points to 1 knife. No idea if you ever got the second knife, if it was overlooked at their return department, or pocketed, but without it being logged in what can they say. Unfortunate situation, but I can't blame them.
 
I wouldn't characterize it as blame, but rather a failure to protect yourself as the customer. It was very unlikely they were going to recognize that you never opened the original package. And while the shipping weight could be confirmed, how can you expect them to simply take your word that the other item, which was never found, was a $300 knife? The employee that opened the box only found one knife. The other one was probably buried under the packing material. He dug down until he found the one knife slated for return and tossed the box. I recently had to return two knives to one dealer and I was concerned about this very possibility. I wrapped both knife boxes together with rubber bands to defend against such a scenario. Also, I always call my returns in to customer service and let them fill out the info on their end. Your order activity would have looked suspicious, so calling them to apologize and explain your intent may have prevented this. They can make notes in the system that can later be referenced. Again, I'm sorry you lost so much money on the transaction. I know I would be pissed.
 
I appreciate it everyone. I have for sure learned several important lessons.
If I went back I would do it differently, of course. Including opening the package (yes it seems very silly to me now, along with a lot of this). Even if it would still be my word against theirs that there were indeed two knives sent back, at least I would know for myself with 100% certainty.
Bryan gives what I also believe to be the most likely scenario. And I understand BladeHQ's position. Their repeated assurances the box would have been thoroughly checked and it was all but impossible two knives were sent back to them and equally impossible one knife was sent out, that probably got under my skin. But we all make mistakes, myself very much included.
You live and you learn. Thanks everyone.
 
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