Jay Fisher - Fine Custom Knives
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"Ari B'Lilah"
I now ship only by FedEx. The reason for that is because I've had some expensive knives and artwork stolen when shipping USPS and I must do my best to protect my labor and your investment, and I can no longer trust the United States Postal Service. What this means is a bit more expensive shipping charge, but when a knife of $1000, $3000, or $6000 is lost, there really is no shipping fee to expensive to locate, track, and keep account of that knife or artwork. With FedEx, you'll get accurate tracking and guaranteed delivery.
Here is an email typical of the example of why I no longer ship United States Postal Service:
Jay,
I figured I ought to update you on the status of the knife you sent
off for my son-in-law. Despite your best efforts to get it to him, it
did not arrive before he deployed. It got to the bulk mail center in
Federal Way, WA on the 21st, was sent to Austin, returned to Federal
Way, was sent to Dallas and was back in Federal Way on the 3rd of April.
I spoke to several folks at the bulk mail facility and they
characterized the knife as being "loose in the mail." As of Friday, they
were relatively confident based upon the scanner data they had that it
had actually gone out to the Dupont, WA post office for delivery on Sat,
5 Apr. Unfortunately, my daughter is coming home tomorrow for the time
of her husband's deployment, and had put in a change of address with the
local post office, effective 5 Apr. So...I guess we will wait another
week or so to see if it actually gets redirected here. I'm not sure if
the tracking data will still allow it to be tracked since it ostensibly
was released to delivery. If it does arrive here, I won't trust the mail
to get it to him in Afghanistan; I'll hold it until he returns home in
July. He already knows he'll have another opportunity to take it with
him when he deploys again in December. That's the update. I'm still
hopeful it will show up.
This is why I now ship exclusively with FedEx.
FedEx shipping charges will have to be detailed on an individual basis. The weight, dimensions, and type of shipment must be known before the charges can be figured. Currently, I'll pay for the boxes, packing materials, and travel to the drop off destination (handling), and I'll expect the client to pay for the FedEx shipping. When the knife is complete, I'll pack it, detail the shipping type and time, and let you know the cost. Then, you can add shipping to your final knife payment, and the package will be ready to go.
A big advantage is that FedEx offers some additional services, like specific delivery times, arranged delivery, and Saturday delivery. The delivery can be rushed, held until its convenient, and tracked along the way. The delivery can be signed for by anyone at the address, someone in the area, or it can be released to the location if it's a safe area. You can even make sure someone over 21 signs for the package. For my international clients, you can get customs-cleared door to door delivery. FedEx can deliver to any place except a P.O. box. If you have a P.O. box only, let me know and we'll work that out.
By having FedEx handle shipping, I hope to never lose another knife to pilferage or theft or to have any unreasonable delays that are typical of the bureaucratic mis-function that is our postal service.
You have a package coming from me. FedEx is going to deliver it to your doorstep. They'll need you to sign for it; knives are far to expensive to be left on a doorstep, unsecured, no matter how safe you think your neighborhood is. The bad news is you're not going to be there to receive it! What to do?
No problem! FedEx has a custom delivery program called "Custom Delivery Manager" and they will coordinate with you to receive your package. In fact, you can set up your address so that FedEx will deliver all of your FedEx packages at a certain time or day from now on, so that they will never leave you a slip of paper saying "we tried to deliver, but you weren't home." It's all available in FedEx's Custom Delivery Manager.
With this program, you can:
You have to call and set this up for yourself; obviously, I can't set up this personalized service for your address. But it's easy to do, just call 1-800-GOFEDEX (1-800-463-3339) and ask for Delivery Manager. You can also do this online, just go to FedEx.com, and look for Delivery Manager.
Unfortunately, no, as there are fools everywhere. Take the TSA. Yes, our fantastic Transportation Security Administration run by our federal government. I've discovered that they have the propensity and inclination to protect your family's safety during travel from any dangerous knives that may be hiding in the cargo hold with the rest of the FedEx packages, so they are allowed to scan, X-ray, and then (apparently) open the packages, and handle, molest, and even damage knives or sheaths. So, also, are customs officials in both the sender's country (ours) and the recipient's country (yours). Yes, this has happened to knives I've shipped.
The knives are hard to damage, though the monkeys do leave greasy fingerprints on the blades, but they have damaged leather sheaths while carelessly handling and re-sheathing the knives, in a hurry, no doubt, before their boss finds out they are shopping for Christmas presents. Okay, I'm being a bit facetious here (just a tiny bit), but it's happened to my clients. Look, I understand the panic that occurs when the silhouette of a menacing-looking knife pops up in an X-ray scanner, but really, that sheathed and bagged knife packed in brown paper and taped up inside a heavy cardboard box won't harm anyone. The best I can hope for is that they get a nasty cut drooling over the workmanship...
The truth is, the TSA and customs officials have the authority (so does any shipper or carrier) to open any package in their care. They do. I can't stop it, but at least FedEx lets me know where the package is. Know that if your knife arrives disheveled, with fingerprints on the blade, or shows signs of mishandling, this is NOT how it was shipped. I ship the knives clean, properly sheathed, carefully wrapped, and tidy because that is how I would want to receive them. Unfortunately, goons in polyester don't care, and there is nothing I can do about it.
So, here's the shipping disclaimer: I can't be responsible for the knife package once it's shipped and has left my hands. If there is damage to the package, item, or contents caused by careless handling, it is the recipient's responsibility to file a claim with the shipper, TSA, or other authority that has caused the damage. I'll help with what information and record I have (the photo set and description page is a good reference for condition), but I can't be responsible for anything they do.
Since all of my current shipments are FedEx and insured, I'll help initiate and complete any claim from my end.
It may help to know that I've never had a knife permanently lost or confiscated by any authority in over three decades of making and shipping knives. There have been a couple rare instances where packages were opened, and one where a knife was "lost" for six months (rat-holed in a customs facility in a foreign country), but, thankfully, this is rare. If you are seriously concerned about the knife's condition, know that you are invited by the studio to pick it up in person! I always love meeting my clients face to face, and I'll put a cup of coffee on for you.
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| My Curriculum Vitae | Sternum Harness | Knife Handles: Manmade Materials | |||
| Funny Letters and Emails, Pg. 1 | Blades and Steels | Sharpeners, Lanyards | Knife Embellishment | ||
| Funny Letters and Emails, Pg. 2 | Blades | Bags, Cases, Duffles, Gear | |||
| Funny Letters and Emails, Pg. 3 | Knife Blade Testing | Modular Sheath Systems | |||
| Funny Letters and Emails, Pg. 4 | 440C: A Love/Hate Affair | PSD Principle Security Detail Sheaths | |||
| Funny Letters and Emails, Pg. 5 | ATS-34: Chrome/Moly Tough | ||||
| Funny Letters and Emails, Pg. 6 | D2: Wear Resistance King | ||||
| The Curious Case of the "Sandia" | O1: Oil Hardened Blued Beauty | ||||
| The Sword, the Veil, the Legend |
Elasticity, Stiffness, Stress, and Strain in Knife Blades |
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| Professional Knife Consultant |
Heat Treating and Cryogenic Processing of Knife Blade Steels |