Negative experience with benchmade warranty and customer service.

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needler420

needler420

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Apr 29, 2011
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I sent in my 239 international series balisong from 1985.

They evaluate it and determine the cracks in handles and blade play fall under warranty.

After two weeks I get a call from a lady at customer service saying my knife was to old to repair that they no longer stock parts for it's. Ok understandable for it's age.

Then she goes on to say they won't replace it because they don't have anything comparable.

I said how is that my fault.

She said her warranty department gave me two options.

The knife retailed for $50 in 1985 so based on that they would issue a $75 gift certificate.

I even said that knife retailed for $50 when minimum wage was $3 a hour do the ratio to today's exchange rates. To get that $75 gift certificate(excludes towards limited edition sprints) I have to forfeit my 239 balisong and won't get it back.

The other option was keep the knife unserviced and get a 30% off any thing on site.

Everything on the site is expensive I'm not trying to spend more money on knives I just want a working benchmade balisong knife since I have lifetime warranty. I'll wait for what they call comparable to something equal to my knife. Or expect them to take the hit. Not say your knife retailed for $50 in 1985 so we came up with that value for a gift certificate for my warranty.

I told customer service I'm going to make a negative post on blsdeforums, Jersey devils and many other forums and social networking groups dedicated to cutlery.

Then left my number with someone higher up who happens to be on vacation for the next week and can't be reached.
 
They are offering you compensation for a 31 year old knife that is no longer made. Did you personally purchase the knife in 1985? If the 239 is too messed up for you to use, why would you want it back?

I disagree with your assesment that you have been wronged. Thanks for sharing how generous Benchmade was in this weird scenario. Good luck in your future endeavors trying to get free stuff.
 
Yes I live with my dad who is original purchaser of knife. It was sent in all on my dad's info. I just did the labor because my dad was passing it on to me.

I don't want a higher end replacement. One of equal value to mine would work. Or do the repair.
 
Assuming for purposes of discussion that the knife is presented for warranty fulfillment in the lifetime of the original owner, was purchased from a Benchmade dealer, and there was, as alleged, an acknowledged defect in the handle leading to the cracks, Benchmade's obligation is clear.

Each new Benchmade knife is packaged with written documentation of the Benchmade Lifetime Warranty. Benchmade Knife Company, Inc. warrants to the original owner that Benchmade knives purchased from authorized dealers will be free from defects in materials and workmanship. Benchmade will without charge, repair or replace at our (Benchmade's) option, any knife returned for Warranty work and found to be defective by Benchmade.
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So where is the repair or replacement?
 
Thomas Linton said:
Assuming for purposes of discussion that the knife is presented for warranty fulfillment in the lifetime of the original owner, was purchased from a Benchmade dealer, and there was, as alleged, an acknowledged defect in the handle leading to the cracks, Benchmade's obligation is clear.



So where is the repair or replacement?
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That's my point lol. Their $75 gift certificate for website was considered my replacement.

And Jazub says I'm trying to get free stuff. Benchmade is like a insurance company trying to deny claims lol.
 
needler420 said:
I sent in my 239 international series balisong from 1985.

They evaluate it and determine the cracks in handles and blade play fall under warranty.

After two weeks I get a call from a lady at customer service saying my knife was to old to repair that they no longer stock parts for it's. Ok understandable for it's age.

Then she goes on to say they won't replace it because they don't have anything comparable.

I said how is that my fault.

She said her warranty department gave me two options.

The knife retailed for $50 in 1985 so based on that they would issue a $75 gift certificate.

I even said that knife retailed for $50 when minimum wage was $3 a hour do the ratio to today's exchange rates. To get that $75 gift certificate(excludes towards limited edition sprints) I have to forfeit my 239 balisong and won't get it back.

The other option was keep the knife unserviced and get a 30% off any thing on site.

Everything on the site is expensive I'm not trying to spend more money on knives I just want a working benchmade balisong knife since I have lifetime warranty. I'll wait for what they call comparable to something equal to my knife. Or expect them to take the hit. Not say your knife retailed for $50 in 1985 so we came up with that value for a gift certificate for my warranty.

I told customer service I'm going to make a negative post on blsdeforums, Jersey devils and many other forums and social networking groups dedicated to cutlery.

Then left my number with someone higher up who happens to be on vacation for the next week and can't be reached.
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I think they should offer you more money. $50 from 1985 in today's dollars would be $111.82 when inflation is taken into account. Using their own logic they should offer more. However, the value of the knife now might be more important and it could be considerably lower. That said, threatening them was a poor choice and it will rarely get you what you want.
 
Thomas Linton said:
Assuming for purposes of discussion that the knife is presented for warranty fulfillment in the lifetime of the original owner, was purchased from a Benchmade dealer, and there was, as alleged, an acknowledged defect in the handle leading to the cracks, Benchmade's obligation is clear.



So where is the repair or replacement?
Click to expand...

$75 would be the replacement and it is not that off from the original value of the knife.
 
so they valued your knife at 50$ offered you 75$ gc or keep the knife from 1985 and get 30 percent off anything on their site?
so are you asking them since we all know that they dont have the knife to replace the broke one you want after market value ? agian im just asking not being a ass i just think that 75 gc or 30 percent is pretty fair knowing that 31 years later they wont have the knife parts or knife
 
That is not a threat to benchmade. I told them I would post about my negative experience with their warranty and customer service on all the cutlery groups I participate in. And then followed through doing exactly that.
 
My guess was correct, you didn't purchase the knife. So it is free to you.

Under your logic an item can be passed through multiple generations and a company has to keep supplying heirs with free stuff, right? I disagree with you.
 
The knife was already evaluated and passed credentials by benchmade to be serviced. I stated that previously.
 
needler420 said:
That is not a threat to benchmade. I told them I would post about my negative experience with their warranty and customer service on all the cutlery groups I participate in. And then followed through doing exactly that.
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You were attempting to leverage negative publicity in exchange for more free money or goods. You are correct, that is not a threat, it is blackmail.
 
You mean to have my knife repaired or replaced as it states under their warranty?

you seem to be hard at reading I keep stating multiple times I don't want a higher end replacement. I want one equal value or mine repaired not a gift card to equal the ratio to win the was purchased 31 years ago.
 
jazub said:
You were attempting to leverage negative publicity in exchange for more free money or goods. You are correct, that is not a threat, it is blackmail.
Click to expand...

Exactly. The entitlement of young people.
 
jazub said:
You were attempting to leverage negative publicity in exchange for more free money or goods. You are correct, that is not a threat, it is blackmail.
Click to expand...

Bingo!
To take it a step further.......in future dealings try to remember you are dealing with a real live person.
Not to be a smart ass, but how old are you??
 
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