#34319 - 11/18/04 05:04 PM
Buck Knives Customer and Company Orientated
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newbie
Registered: 03/12/03
Posts: 45
Loc: South Central PA
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A couple of months ago, I was looking for an affordable small fixed blade to carry while hiking, hunting, camping, or even EDC. I seen a Buck Diamondback 3.25 at a local Sporting Goods Dept. chain. It was priced around $20. I carry Buck all the time and have since I was a kid. I got home, took it out of the package and was checking it out, liking the way it looked, felt and then it happened. I turned it over and stamped on the blade was "Made in Taiwan". I couldn't beleive it! An American company like Buck was putting out imported knives??? I was really upset by this. So I did something I don't do. I sat down and wrote Buck a letter telling them I was surprised that they did this, that I was a long time customer, but would seriously consider a different knife manufacturer next time. I faxed it to the number on the web site and didn't really expect to hear back. About 3 weeks later I got a letter in the mail from Buck. It was written by Charles Buck, Grandson of Hoyt Buck, founder. He explained that they do out soucre approx 30% of their knives to have a lower end product line. He said that even though people say that price isn't a problem to buy American that when it comes time to buy that doesn't hold true. He was very nice in the letter. He also enclosed a small catalog and personally marked all the US knives. He them highlighted all the knives in the price range of the fixed blade I purchased and told me to contact his secratary, (gave mne her name and direct number) and she would take care of sending me any knife I chose of the highlighted selection. My new folder made in the USA arrived via UPS last week. I was impressed to get the personal attention. Charles Buck is a good rep for the comapany and is obviously just trying to keep his company rolling along. Maybe I wouldn't have been upset if somewhere it said "imported" on the packaging. Just a heads up for us consumers. As it is, I will still continue to use Buck products. Charles BUck made an impression on me.
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#34320 - 11/18/04 05:24 PM
Re: Buck Knives Customer and Company Orientated
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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It's been a long while since I carried or bought a Buck knife, but...
Way back in the age of dinosaurs, maybe 1973?, I went into a sports store, and they had a little 1-page brochure of Buck knives. It had a brand-new model, the "Frontiersman", like the "Nemo" but with a an aluminum guard and pommel (instead of stainless) and a clip-point (Bowie-style) blade. I had carried the "General" on a lot of the AT at that point and liked it, so I had the sports store order the "Frontiersman" for me. I had to pay in advance.
When it showed up, the blade looked nothing like the brochure- there was a little bevel on the back edge toward the point, but no clip at all. I tried to refuse it, saying it wasn't what I ordered, but the sports store (which I never bought from again) refused to return it or my money, telling me to take it up with the Buck factory.
I sent the knife back to the factory with a letter. Some time later I got a call from the folks there (two guys named Buck, I think one was Frank) asking me for details about the problem- apparently they hadn't seen the brochure photo and didn't understand. I tried to explain, then sent them the copy of the brochure.
They sent the knife back, re-ground to match the photo. Very nice job, too.
The next time I saw the brochure, it had been re-printed with a new photo of the Frontiersman, that looked like the knife I received (just like the Nemo).
I still have that knife- unfortunately, there was no letter with it, and I sent the brochure back to Buck, so I can't "prove" any of it.
Not too many years later, I had big chunks come out of the edge of a Buck 110 folder while using it to shape a piece of soft white pine, and I lost faith in them. Probably just a bad batch, but there's nothing like a knife breaking for no good reason to change your brand loyalty.
Still, the concern for the customer was apparent, and I'm glad to hear it's still there.
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#34322 - 11/19/04 01:07 AM
Re: Buck Knives Customer and Company Orientated
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Veteran
Registered: 07/28/04
Posts: 1468
Loc: Texas
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Since we are talking about knive companies and customer service I will second the vote on Benchmade and also add in SOG. I have have excellent experiences with both companies in the past year.
_________________________
Learn to improvise everything.
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#34323 - 11/20/04 05:36 PM
Re: Buck Knives Customer and Company Orientated
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dedicated member
Registered: 03/25/04
Posts: 128
Loc: North Central IL
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Good to hear you had good customer service. I have had similar experiences with Bark River Knife and Tool. ALL of their knives are U.S. made, and are exceptional blades. Great company and even better people. I had a problem with my first knife I bought of theirs. Didn't buy it from them or one of their "authorized retailers", but they honored their lifetime waranty, and went above and beyond with replacing my knife with a new one and they made some modifications I asked for. Mike Stewart and the BRK&T Company are top notched.
_________________________
If only closed minds came with closed mouths.
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