Decide where you want to spend your money.
I placed an Internet order for a Hinderer XM-18 Harpoon Spanto in the stonewashed DLC finish. I paid extra for UPS 2 day air shipping. Unfortunately, my shipment was immediately lost. After 5 days I contacted UPS. UPS said they could not investigate as they never took custody of the knife. Their advice was to contact the shipper: Blade HQ.
So I called them. Customer service person B told me they have a 7 day policy before they consider a package lost. I said ok. I waited 8 days and called them again. Customer service person B was a little impatient as I tried to tell my story again. He was only interested in my order & tracking number. Ok. When he called it up, he said UPS had just updated my shipping status. That made no sense to me. I still saw nothing other than a shipping label being created. I realized he was looking at the page date and time his tracking inquiry was processed. Literally seconds ago. I tried to explain that to him. He said, no, that was just my opinion and I would need to wait another 7 days. I again insisted there was no update and if he refreshed the page he would see he was mistaken. Instead, he asked me if I would “stop talking” so he could investigate on his end. Then he placed me on hold.
But he didn’t place me on hold. So I was treated to listening to him complain to another Blade HQ employee about me, the loudmouth know-it-all he had on the phone line. He said I wouldn’t listen, was only interested in constantly giving my “opinion”, and would not stop talking. Just “blah, blah, blah” (his actual words). Then he started bad-mouthing Hinderer Knives: too many models, variation, and parts - and that there were plenty of better knives for a lot less money. Once he realized they did not have a replacement knife for me, he started talking about ways to avoid giving me a refund by redirecting me to something else.
When he turned his attention back to me I didn’t say anything about hearing all of the venom he spewed. I was more interested in getting my considerable money back (although I did mention I owned 14 Hinderers - some purchased from Blade HQ). After the refund hit my card 3 days later I sent an email to the Blade HQ manager relaying my negative experience. Sadly, no response at all.
I’m an experienced knife guy enjoying the golden age of EDC folders. I’ve spent more than $7,500 at Blade HQ over the last 7 years. But I think I am done with Blade HQ as there are dealers who treat their customers (and knife makers) with some modicum of respect. Actually a lot more. USA Made Blade, DLT Trading, and Knife Center come to mind.
Next stop is likely a talk with the Hinderer Facebook Group. They too should consider where they spend their money. Rick might be interested too.
I placed an Internet order for a Hinderer XM-18 Harpoon Spanto in the stonewashed DLC finish. I paid extra for UPS 2 day air shipping. Unfortunately, my shipment was immediately lost. After 5 days I contacted UPS. UPS said they could not investigate as they never took custody of the knife. Their advice was to contact the shipper: Blade HQ.
So I called them. Customer service person B told me they have a 7 day policy before they consider a package lost. I said ok. I waited 8 days and called them again. Customer service person B was a little impatient as I tried to tell my story again. He was only interested in my order & tracking number. Ok. When he called it up, he said UPS had just updated my shipping status. That made no sense to me. I still saw nothing other than a shipping label being created. I realized he was looking at the page date and time his tracking inquiry was processed. Literally seconds ago. I tried to explain that to him. He said, no, that was just my opinion and I would need to wait another 7 days. I again insisted there was no update and if he refreshed the page he would see he was mistaken. Instead, he asked me if I would “stop talking” so he could investigate on his end. Then he placed me on hold.
But he didn’t place me on hold. So I was treated to listening to him complain to another Blade HQ employee about me, the loudmouth know-it-all he had on the phone line. He said I wouldn’t listen, was only interested in constantly giving my “opinion”, and would not stop talking. Just “blah, blah, blah” (his actual words). Then he started bad-mouthing Hinderer Knives: too many models, variation, and parts - and that there were plenty of better knives for a lot less money. Once he realized they did not have a replacement knife for me, he started talking about ways to avoid giving me a refund by redirecting me to something else.
When he turned his attention back to me I didn’t say anything about hearing all of the venom he spewed. I was more interested in getting my considerable money back (although I did mention I owned 14 Hinderers - some purchased from Blade HQ). After the refund hit my card 3 days later I sent an email to the Blade HQ manager relaying my negative experience. Sadly, no response at all.
I’m an experienced knife guy enjoying the golden age of EDC folders. I’ve spent more than $7,500 at Blade HQ over the last 7 years. But I think I am done with Blade HQ as there are dealers who treat their customers (and knife makers) with some modicum of respect. Actually a lot more. USA Made Blade, DLT Trading, and Knife Center come to mind.
Next stop is likely a talk with the Hinderer Facebook Group. They too should consider where they spend their money. Rick might be interested too.