StrigaMort Report post Posted April 28, 2014 So I plan to start selling knife sheaths soon. I've never been in the business of selling anything other than goods on ebay and a few transactions elsewhere. I'm curious about guarantees and warranties on hand made goods. From my time in watching how knifemakers do it, the general standard is to offer a short money back guarantee, followed with a lifetime guarantee against defects, sometimes extras like free lifetime sharpening and maintenance (often referred to as a "spa" treatment which includes refinishing of steel and/or handle materials). User error and abuse is excluded in nearly every case, although there are exceptions. So what is a good balanced policy for the consumer, and also for me? I'd hate to instate a policy only to realize that I overextended myself in some unforseen way. All opinions are welcome. Bonus points for examples or stories. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
electrathon Report post Posted April 28, 2014 Lifetime guaranties are generally a good thing to offer. Most people will never utilize it, some will abuse it. It will balance out and you will tend to sell more because you are a stand up person/shop. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chief31794 Report post Posted April 28, 2014 On Lifetime guarantees, make sure you include an exclusion clause that only guarantees against defects and specifically excludes "wear and tear" because most leather items are made to be used and in use they will wear. Most items last many decades but wear and tear is inevitable and not something you wish to provide protection for. If so, customers could get a new wallet or belt or holster any time their old one started to wear. On leather items wear and aging add to the "character" of the item, but legal terms are legal terms and it is not good to provide a blanket guarantee it should be a limited guarantee with everything spelled out in the document. Another note, when you provide a guarantee against defects you might want to make it for workmanship and not materials because I doubt your material vendors are providing you a lifetime guarantee against defects in their materials. Chief Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wild Bill46 Report post Posted May 12, 2014 Im still a novelist/hobbiest , and have never sold any type of leather goods, However, these two gentlemen are giving you what I concider expert advise. when I make a few more pieces and begin selling a few items here and there This is exactly what I will do, as far as a contract Guarentee/Warrenty is needed, if at all. Although it will be good to cover yourself to begin with. How many points have I gotten so far ? huh ? huh ? huh ? .. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
StrigaMort Report post Posted May 12, 2014 Points? Great stuff guys. Definitely a good idea to include a clause. My friend got a sheath back recently because the owner had been inserting the knife in the wrong way! He is making a new sheath for the guy, but that would normally not be covered as I understand it. I think knife sheaths are at the high end when it comes to possible failure. Even if the sheath is constructed correctly using high quality materials, it still has to deal with a pretty rough life. A limited lifetime warranty sounds perfect. Thanks for the advice. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
