Why won't Benchmade sell omega springs?

[onetrickpony]

On the bright side, Benchmade will do a really nice job fixing up your knife, when I sent my Contego in the only original part that came back was the scales.

Seriously, just the scales. And they even fixed those up a bit.

 

[gooeytek]

Funny you should use this analogy. My buddy has had homemade omega springs that he made himself out of an Ernie Ball guitar string. They've been in there for at least 3 years I think. One of the originals failed not too long after he got the knife, and he only had the one in there for about 6 months before that one failed too. That's when he decided to make his own and the guitar string springs have been there ever since.

Benchmade is similar to Ernie Ball Music Man. If you have a problem with a Music Man product such as a pickup in your bass, the preamp, or the neck, you have to send the part (or bass) into them to get it replaced. It's their way of protecting the proprietary designs. Fender on the other hand mass produces and makes available EVERY part because they want you to buy Fender parts. Nothing is wrong with either business model.

When I was playing Music Man I was pretty ticked that I had to send a bass in. I gotta tell you though, it was a great experience and my bass came back like it was new. A local tech screwed the nut up on the bass so EBMM said, send it to us we'll take care of you. Their product was so good that I only had to send 1 bass in out of probably 10. I got back a new bass, fresh strings on the bass with a couple of extra packs (50 dollar value) as well as some other case candy.

 

[dkb45]

I think it has something that may be related to this case. Not a knife case, but I think she was pretty stupid.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stella_Liebeck

She spilled hot coffee on herself and sued McDonalds for making coffee that was too hot, pretty much. Myabe BM is trying to avoid a fiasco like that.

That is what is normally known about the case. Third degree burns and actual proof that they served coffee way too bloody hot to consume immediately give the story a whole new level.

I honestly don't see why BM doesn't send out omega springs, same as why Spyderco won't send out a lock bar (lock back), and nobody seems to be willing to send out a steel insert for a frame lock (defeating a main purpose of the insert, life span and ease of repair). I wish companies had a competent department that would ship most small and cheap parts, like blade stops, pins, bolts, and washers. I can take apart any knife aside from an axis lock well enough to never screw up (unless the damn washer jumps out as I put the liner or scale in place...), so I can obviously replace all of the cheap parts myself.

 

[Cursum Perficio]

For those of us in the antipodes, mailing a folder half way round the world and back to replace an omega spring isn't that attractive an idea.
I have 6 Axis lock BM's, no omega spring problems yet. Guess if one does break I'll email BM and ask, see if they would send me a replacement. Give them the chance to help.
But if I end up fiddling with guitar wire and pliers myself I will feel dissatisfied as a customer.

 

[BMCGear]

For those of us in the antipodes, mailing a folder half way round the world and back to replace an omega spring isn't that attractive an idea.
I have 6 Axis lock BM's, no omega spring problems yet. Guess if one does break I'll email BM and ask, see if they would send me a replacement. Give them the chance to help.
But if I end up fiddling with guitar wire and pliers myself I will feel dissatisfied as a customer.

I believe that BM will send an Omega spring to you since sending the knife in is not feasible.

 

[Cursum Perficio]

I believe that BM will send an Omega spring to you since sending the knife in is not feasible.

Awesome, thanks for letting me know.

 

[BMCGear]

Awesome, thanks for letting me know.

No problem. In my experience with BM's customer service; it is TOP NOTCH. There's a thread in the Benchmade forum where a person in the company made some mistakes on a guy's knife and BM went above and beyond to make it right.

 

[JNewell]

I believe that BM will send an Omega spring to you since sending the knife in is not feasible.

I've read accounts of BM doing that in cases like that. I've read similar accounts of Spyderco mailing out parts overseas when returning the knife was not practical. People don't understand, or don't want to understand, that companies like these are not trying to engage in a giant game of "gotcha" with their customers.