When you receive a lemon…

[MadeinUSA]

I received a lemon in the mail today… a USA-made Gerber US-Assist model

I know it’s only a $64 dollar knife… But I really wanted to like it.

it’s an assisted-opening button lock with:

- cross-bolt safety (holds blade either open, or closed, when actuated)
- ambi ramped, serrated thumb studs
- the wire clip I love (like on my spuderco)

Unfortunately, the cross-bolt safety won’t function in one direction (it binds,,, has to be tapped with plastic hammer to take off safe)

Even more unfortunate… DLT Trading won’t stand behind it… since I had it engraved by them for $6 extra dollars (WTH!)

Also… you can’t call Gerber and when I submitted an online warranty request… the email response was ‘we are busy… expect to hear back in 8 weeks’

Well—- stuff them both, I will never do business with either of those companies again.

So… I put it on eBay for $9.99 starting bid and disclosing that someone will need to ‘fix’ the safety is they intend to use it. https://www.ebay.com/itm/364255945558

I’ll eat the loss but am so upset with DLT Trading and Gerber I just had to post this. Don’t they realize unhappy customers share experiences with others at a rate 10x as much as happy customers? Who is running those companies?

[Madmarco]

That's a shame, Jim.
Might I suggest a drop of Quick Release oil under the part that's binding whether you keep it or sell it, no guarantee it'll work but it's incredible lubricating oil for knife pivots and likely worth a try.
I've had similar experience with irresponsible sellers and their companies, fortunately they're the losers in the long run due to bad publicity being spread, just like in the OP.
A couple of middle of the road companies that can ill afford to be blowing off customers!
Talk again in 8 weeks! lol!

[MadeinUSA]

That's a shame, Jim.
Might I suggest a drop of Quick Release oil under the part that's binding whether you keep it or sell it, no guarantee it'll work but it's incredible lubricating oil for knife pivots and likely worth a try.
I've had similar experience with irresponsible sellers and their companies, fortunately they're the losers in the long run due to bad publicity being spread, just like in the OP.
A couple of middle of the road companies that can ill afford to be blowing off customers!
Talk again in 8 weeks! lol!

Yep… tried everything… lubrication, loosening/adjusting screws, etc.

Oh well… I’m over it now… just a bit frustrating

So I just bought another Spyderco from a different online retailer—- just because

[Madmarco]

Wow, a true lemon if Q R oil can't help it!
Good on you for getting yourself a Spydie "comfort" knife!

[MadeinUSA]

It's very easy to tell the cross bolt gets hung up on the metal liner (as in they didn't machine the hole or the cross bolt well) you can feel the "hard stop" of metal against metal when it gets hung up

Hence why lubrication didn't fix

[Madmarco]

I get it, Jim, thanks!

[tvic]

I can empathize, Jim. You get a brand new knife, it should be perfect. I know a lot of people say they do t buy unless they can buy in person, but p, unfortunately, I wouldn’t have a whole lot if I hadn’t gotten a lot of my collection online. Yep, you just have to put it behind you. Hope the auction does better than you think.

[mqqn]

That is a bad experience for sure!

Good to know the lack of responsiveness on both companies part.

The engraving costs them only a small labor and power charge, I imagine the engraving equipment is sunk cost by now.

Sorry to hear of your experience.

To contrast, my wife ordered a teakwood floating shelf from Wayfair (absolutely no affiliation, and our first purchase...).

The item was bespoke because it was made from naturally irregular shaped pieces of teak.

The shelf was not sized according to description and it had a small chip in the wall-facing edge.

I initiated a return and Wayfair apologized, refunded our money in full, and told us to keep the item.

Just some encouragement that not all companies turn their backs on customers....

[Madmarco]

I had a similar experience with Wayfair 6 or 7 yrs. ago, Andy, so it's nice to know their excellent policies haven't changed with time.