Top Gear NZ

I am a hunter and trapper and I have bought a couple of knives from Top Gear. One was a Svord Peasant and the other was a Victory drop point hunting knife with a plastic sheath. Both are excellent tools. Their prices, even with shipping, are competitive and they carry a pleasing range of stock. The service was thorough and prompt. The shipping was economical and quick. I have no hesitation in heartily recommending Top Gear. Best wishes from Nelson, NZ... Stephen Coote. Srcoote[AT]gmail.com

This review is probably going to cost me $50, but I'm so sick of the drama that I don't care! I ordered a knife online. Payment was processed and confirmation email received. The following day I had an email saying the knife was showing as out of stock when I ordered it (and yet it allowed me to make the purchase?), and when I asked if they were expecting more was told that they were unable to get them through customs (begs the question why it was still on website?) So, I chose another knife, this one considerably dearer, and after chasing them up about how to pay the additional funds, got a reply, and did a bank tfr. The next day I received shipping details, and 2 days later the knife arrived. Now it get's silly... It was the wrong knife. Very similar, but not what I ordered. I called and explained this to Tess, who asked me to take pictures, which I did and emailed them to her as requested. I asked if the knife I wanted was actually in stock and was told she would look the next day. I told Tess that if she couldn't find one, I'd keep the one they sent, but would need the $50 balance addressed, and a voucher would be fine. Then I get this email: --------------------------------------------- Hi Warren, I just found this strange as we never ever sell Spyderco Sage 1. From the very start we only sell 3 models of Sage 5 knives. Last year we sold 6 of the same knife and sold another 4 since February this year. Can you please provide another picture of the knife locking side. Kind regards Tess Top Gear www.top-gear.co.nz ------------------------------------------------- So I took another picture and emailed it as requested, and received this: ----------------------------- On 13/06/2022, at 9:14 PM, *******@top-gear.co.nz wrote:  Hi Warren, Thanks for another picture. This is what I mentioned to you when we spoke on the phone. I told you I have the knife but with the wrong box? Regards Tess Top Gear -------------------------------------- So now I'm confused, and reply with: I'm sorry but I don't follow you? Let me say again where I think we are… *I ordered the Kershaw Blur and paid for it. *You advised it was out of stock (apparently it said that on your website but I didn't notice that, and your online shop took my payment) *I then looked again on your website and chose the spyderco sage 5 and transferred the additional funds. *The knife arrived. It is a spyderco sage 1. I took pictures of that and its packaging after I called you and emailed them to you. Today you asked for more evidence that the knife I received was indeed a sage 1 in the form of pictures of the locking mechanism which I supplied an hour later. It's plainly a sage 1 liner lock, not a sage 5 compression lock. I'm becoming pretty frustrated with the amount of time I'm spending on this now. I've said several times now that if you do not have the knife I ordered I would settle for this one but there is a price difference of what appears to be $50. I haven't even asked for a refund, just a voucher which I think is more than reasonable. If this is problematic then I will return under your unconditional 10 day money back guarantee. Obviously time is ticking on that so I look forward to your earliest reply. -------------------------------------------------------- That was yesterday. Since then I have had no communication, and their phone goes unanswered. Tempted as I am to return the knife and buy elsewhere, I'm worried that I wouldn't get a refund, nor have a knife and be $400 out of pocket instead of just the current $50! So yeah, DO NOT SHOP HERE would be my advice. I'm reporting to Consumer NZ and calling Fair Go. It's my new hobby...