Cheness issues
Dec 3, 2012 21:01:24 GMT
Post by Ulvbane on Dec 3, 2012 21:01:24 GMT
I was going to call this port "Cheness -Warning!", but thought that perhaps that was too aggressive.
Anyway, I recently bought a Cheness 30" Nagasa 9260 Spring Steel Katana and there were some issues that I think it could be good for other interested future buyers to be aware of.
I will post a review of the blade later, for now I will just say that I think it seems to be an OK budget katana, but I am not very happy with Cheness, read on to find out why.
Just keep one thing in mind, I am a beginner, this is how I experienced my purchase, read and judge for yourself.
:arrow: First mail from Cheness – Confirmation, two days after placing the order, I thought that was nice:
On 2012-11-12 18:48, Order at Cheness Inc. wrote:
Hi,
Thanks for purchasing my item. Confirming that your payment has been received and your item will be processed immediately for shipping ASAP.
Thanks again and it was certainly a pleasure doing business with you. Please let me know if there are any questions.
(This email serves as payment and processing confirmation. There will be no subsequent email sent for tracking numbers as our system is not integrated with UPS or USPS).
Best Regards,
Paul Chen
Cheness Incorporated
www.chenessinc.com
:arrow: My first mail – Two days after the sword arrived at my local post office:
From: Rickard
To: Order at Cheness Inc.
Sent: Wednesday, November 28, 2012 1:54 PM
Hello
I picked up my katana from the local post office a few hours ago. There are a couple of smaller issues:
- It is not very sharp. I confess to be inexperienced in this area, I don't know what is proper, but this seems quite dull. Describing sharpness is not easy but I can put my fingertip on the edge, apply some pressure and draw it along the entire length of the blade. A kitchen knife that unsharp would be useless.
- Tsuba is a bit bent. Not a lot but also more than just a little. It is not completely warped, will not affect performance really, but was kind of the first thing I saw.
- One mekugi is brass and looks like a part from some machine.
- One seppa is damaged, looks like someone has used a screwdriver and a hammer to hit the side of it, possibly to relocate it.
Apart from that I am quite happy.
Please advice.
Regards
Rickard
:arrow: Next day reply from Cheness – quick!
On 2012-11-29 20:10, Order at Cheness Inc. wrote:
Hi Rikard,
I am sorry to hear of the troubles.
Our katanas are all made for goza cutting, as such, they are not expected to be razor sharp. This is normal. If you want to touch up the edge, you can do so with a ceramic bar, but we do not make them razor sharp out of the box. By edge touch-ups, we generally recommend use of a ceramic bar such as the ones from Spyderco (triangular bars). Do not try to remove any steel, but the bars simply allows you to remove any microscopic rolls and re-align the burrs on the edge. This process is a part of the regular maintenance we recommend on the katana after every couple hundred cuts. After a few passes on each side of the blade, it will be sharp enough to slice paper.
The tubas were checked at the time of shipping to be straight, it is possible that the tsuba was dented during transit since the wiry frame of the crane tsuba is rather delicate. But for minor deviations, you should be able to tap it back to shape.
The mekugi pin is 1 brass 1 bamboo and is by design. The brass pin is grooved and allows the steel nakago to bite into it and is custom made for our swords. All of our swords use this configuration.
As for the seppa, I am sorry about that. If it was severely damaged, it should have been replaced prior to shipping. If you do order something from us again in the future, I will include a replacement seppa for you so you can replace it. Let me know if you should ever place an order from us again and I will make a note of it on your order.
Best Regards,
Paul Chen
Cheness Incorporated
www.chenessinc.com
:arrow: Had to work, took me three days to reply – also, I was not so enthusiastic anymore:
From: Rickard B
To: Order at Cheness Inc.
Sent: Sunday, December 02, 2012 12:24 AM
Hi Paul
Thanks for the quick and friendly reply! Not entirely happy with your replies though. Some quick comments.
-Sharpness, I sharpen my own kitchen and work-knives and gardening tools. I think the sword needs a wet stone, I would be truly amazed if a ceramic rod did the trick. I will give it a go though.
-Tsuba, I have examined the package and you might be right. Possible that it was damaged in the shipping. However I think this is your responsibility because packaging offers very limited protection. Agree that it should be possible to tap it back in shape and I want to replace it anyway.
- Mekugi. Your web site says 2xWood. Understand that brass might be functional but it does not look good and I don't want it.
- Seppa. I can tap that back for now and replace if/when I get to dismantle the thing.
None of these are major issues. The sword is, or at least will be, usable. Had it been just one of these that could have easily been overlooked but four is a bit much, it really dampens the experience. I think some compensation would be reasonable.
Regards from white and snowy Stockholm
Rickard
:arrow: Cheness seems to be losing patience with me:
On 2012-12-03 18:55, Order at Cheness Inc. wrote:
Hello Rickard,
I am sorry that your experience on the sword has been dampened. But we are very specific on our website regarding sharpness of the sword out of the box. Our swords are made and designed for tatami omote mats, and are appropriate for such application. We have a dedicated section on our site describing what is to be expected with our sword available on our site so people can know exactly what to expect prior to placing an order.
Likewise, we are a manufacturer, not shippers. The any shipping issue is between the third part shipping provider. As such, we do not take responsibility on shipping damages. This is also clearly stated in our policy.
I am sorry, but we do not issue compensation for these matters. Our sword are of a fixed quality that we provide to everyone. They are what they are, and our website describes what is to be expected in detail. We do not issue compensation based on varying expectations of individual customers.
Best Regards,
Paul Chen
Cheness Incorporated
www.chenessinc.com
:arrow: My final reply, sent today:
Hello
Understood. I will not waste much more of your time. No reply required. Read if you are interested.
Like I said, all these issues can easily be fixed. I have read your philosophy and I think it is great as it is stated, I expected basic. But not flawed. The shipping policy is not a nice one, sending wares across the globe in a flimsy box and denouncing any responsibility is ... well, I am sure you know.
"We do not issue compensation based on varying expectations of individual customers." That was unnecessary, I feel a bit offended by that. Without a doubt there are three flaws. That has little with "expectations" to do.
Finally, it is not easy to illustrate or describe sharpness. I have nowhere to make a test cut at the moment. Attached a video of the best test/illustration I could come up with. I am a strong and heavy man, kneeling I push the blade as hard as I can against a pair of tightly rolled jeans and then slice it back and forth several times. I would make the same amount of damage with a ruler, that is, none, none what so ever. Not a single thread is cut. On the video there is a thin white mark but that is just the fabric separating a bit from the pressure, a gentle rub an all traces are gone. Is that really the way it is supposed to be? I am trying to learn here.
Regards,
Rickard
:idea: My final (?) comment on all of this:
Here the story probably ends. For me these issues are after all minor. What really bugs me is that they are so unyielding. I would have been happy with any small token of good will, $10 back or a new tsuba, or, I don’t really like their tsubas, but even a just a replacement bamboo peg would have been fine and made me a lot happier. But they apparently think that they are infallible.
Anyway, I recently bought a Cheness 30" Nagasa 9260 Spring Steel Katana and there were some issues that I think it could be good for other interested future buyers to be aware of.
I will post a review of the blade later, for now I will just say that I think it seems to be an OK budget katana, but I am not very happy with Cheness, read on to find out why.
Just keep one thing in mind, I am a beginner, this is how I experienced my purchase, read and judge for yourself.
:arrow: First mail from Cheness – Confirmation, two days after placing the order, I thought that was nice:
On 2012-11-12 18:48, Order at Cheness Inc. wrote:
Hi,
Thanks for purchasing my item. Confirming that your payment has been received and your item will be processed immediately for shipping ASAP.
Thanks again and it was certainly a pleasure doing business with you. Please let me know if there are any questions.
(This email serves as payment and processing confirmation. There will be no subsequent email sent for tracking numbers as our system is not integrated with UPS or USPS).
Best Regards,
Paul Chen
Cheness Incorporated
www.chenessinc.com
:arrow: My first mail – Two days after the sword arrived at my local post office:
From: Rickard
To: Order at Cheness Inc.
Sent: Wednesday, November 28, 2012 1:54 PM
Hello
I picked up my katana from the local post office a few hours ago. There are a couple of smaller issues:
- It is not very sharp. I confess to be inexperienced in this area, I don't know what is proper, but this seems quite dull. Describing sharpness is not easy but I can put my fingertip on the edge, apply some pressure and draw it along the entire length of the blade. A kitchen knife that unsharp would be useless.
- Tsuba is a bit bent. Not a lot but also more than just a little. It is not completely warped, will not affect performance really, but was kind of the first thing I saw.
- One mekugi is brass and looks like a part from some machine.
- One seppa is damaged, looks like someone has used a screwdriver and a hammer to hit the side of it, possibly to relocate it.
Apart from that I am quite happy.
Please advice.
Regards
Rickard
:arrow: Next day reply from Cheness – quick!
On 2012-11-29 20:10, Order at Cheness Inc. wrote:
Hi Rikard,
I am sorry to hear of the troubles.
Our katanas are all made for goza cutting, as such, they are not expected to be razor sharp. This is normal. If you want to touch up the edge, you can do so with a ceramic bar, but we do not make them razor sharp out of the box. By edge touch-ups, we generally recommend use of a ceramic bar such as the ones from Spyderco (triangular bars). Do not try to remove any steel, but the bars simply allows you to remove any microscopic rolls and re-align the burrs on the edge. This process is a part of the regular maintenance we recommend on the katana after every couple hundred cuts. After a few passes on each side of the blade, it will be sharp enough to slice paper.
The tubas were checked at the time of shipping to be straight, it is possible that the tsuba was dented during transit since the wiry frame of the crane tsuba is rather delicate. But for minor deviations, you should be able to tap it back to shape.
The mekugi pin is 1 brass 1 bamboo and is by design. The brass pin is grooved and allows the steel nakago to bite into it and is custom made for our swords. All of our swords use this configuration.
As for the seppa, I am sorry about that. If it was severely damaged, it should have been replaced prior to shipping. If you do order something from us again in the future, I will include a replacement seppa for you so you can replace it. Let me know if you should ever place an order from us again and I will make a note of it on your order.
Best Regards,
Paul Chen
Cheness Incorporated
www.chenessinc.com
:arrow: Had to work, took me three days to reply – also, I was not so enthusiastic anymore:
From: Rickard B
To: Order at Cheness Inc.
Sent: Sunday, December 02, 2012 12:24 AM
Hi Paul
Thanks for the quick and friendly reply! Not entirely happy with your replies though. Some quick comments.
-Sharpness, I sharpen my own kitchen and work-knives and gardening tools. I think the sword needs a wet stone, I would be truly amazed if a ceramic rod did the trick. I will give it a go though.
-Tsuba, I have examined the package and you might be right. Possible that it was damaged in the shipping. However I think this is your responsibility because packaging offers very limited protection. Agree that it should be possible to tap it back in shape and I want to replace it anyway.
- Mekugi. Your web site says 2xWood. Understand that brass might be functional but it does not look good and I don't want it.
- Seppa. I can tap that back for now and replace if/when I get to dismantle the thing.
None of these are major issues. The sword is, or at least will be, usable. Had it been just one of these that could have easily been overlooked but four is a bit much, it really dampens the experience. I think some compensation would be reasonable.
Regards from white and snowy Stockholm
Rickard
:arrow: Cheness seems to be losing patience with me:
On 2012-12-03 18:55, Order at Cheness Inc. wrote:
Hello Rickard,
I am sorry that your experience on the sword has been dampened. But we are very specific on our website regarding sharpness of the sword out of the box. Our swords are made and designed for tatami omote mats, and are appropriate for such application. We have a dedicated section on our site describing what is to be expected with our sword available on our site so people can know exactly what to expect prior to placing an order.
Likewise, we are a manufacturer, not shippers. The any shipping issue is between the third part shipping provider. As such, we do not take responsibility on shipping damages. This is also clearly stated in our policy.
I am sorry, but we do not issue compensation for these matters. Our sword are of a fixed quality that we provide to everyone. They are what they are, and our website describes what is to be expected in detail. We do not issue compensation based on varying expectations of individual customers.
Best Regards,
Paul Chen
Cheness Incorporated
www.chenessinc.com
:arrow: My final reply, sent today:
Hello
Understood. I will not waste much more of your time. No reply required. Read if you are interested.
Like I said, all these issues can easily be fixed. I have read your philosophy and I think it is great as it is stated, I expected basic. But not flawed. The shipping policy is not a nice one, sending wares across the globe in a flimsy box and denouncing any responsibility is ... well, I am sure you know.
"We do not issue compensation based on varying expectations of individual customers." That was unnecessary, I feel a bit offended by that. Without a doubt there are three flaws. That has little with "expectations" to do.
Finally, it is not easy to illustrate or describe sharpness. I have nowhere to make a test cut at the moment. Attached a video of the best test/illustration I could come up with. I am a strong and heavy man, kneeling I push the blade as hard as I can against a pair of tightly rolled jeans and then slice it back and forth several times. I would make the same amount of damage with a ruler, that is, none, none what so ever. Not a single thread is cut. On the video there is a thin white mark but that is just the fabric separating a bit from the pressure, a gentle rub an all traces are gone. Is that really the way it is supposed to be? I am trying to learn here.
Regards,
Rickard
:idea: My final (?) comment on all of this:
Here the story probably ends. For me these issues are after all minor. What really bugs me is that they are so unyielding. I would have been happy with any small token of good will, $10 back or a new tsuba, or, I don’t really like their tsubas, but even a just a replacement bamboo peg would have been fine and made me a lot happier. But they apparently think that they are infallible.