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Business Profile

Online Retailer

Knife Aid

This business is NOT BBB Accredited.

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Complaints

Customer Complaints Summary

  • 18 total complaints in the last 3 years.
  • 4 complaints closed in the last 12 months.

If you've experienced an issue

Submit a Complaint

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

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Complaint status

Complaint type

  • Initial Complaint

    Date:03/19/2025

    Type:Product Issues
    Status:
    UnresolvedMore info

    Complaint statuses

    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    Sent 5 Wuestof knives for sharpening, never received return of knives, When we inquired they stated in email our knives were returned to ******** on March *****we live in ****** and did not send our knives to Knife-Aid until March 5! We told them that wasn't possible as we had not sent our knives to them until March 5...now they refuse to answer all further email inquiries, or reply to phone messages left at ************. We want our knives returned!We sent the knives in our own packing via **** March 5, 2025 with tracking number 9534 6138 2531 5064 1457 40 they were delivered on March 10, **************************************************************** ***************. We want our knives returned **** whether sharpened or not.

    Business Response

    Date: 03/26/2025

    We have resolved this issue with the customer. He sent in his knives before paying for his order, so there was no paid for order to match up with the knives. We have sent him a link for where to pay for the order, once that is done we will sharpen the knives and send them right back to him. 

    Customer Answer

    Date: 04/03/2025

     
    Complaint: 23086902

    I am rejecting this response because: The person who took our order did not ask for payment, did not offer the knife shipping pack they use, just told us to ship the knives.After more than month of calling...they do have a phone despite telling customers they do not! Sending multiple emails, we got a response only after the BBB complaint had been sent to them. There were multiple excuses as to why the knives were not done...including telling us they had been done and returned to us...before we had actually mailed them! The order number given to us actually belonged to someone else. All this is verified in emails. We fianlly asked that our knives be returned without sharpening. 

    We were told on March 25, they would be sent and a confirmation with tracking would follow. More than a week of waiting and asking for confirmation & tracking of the return...they again havestopped replying. No confirmation of return or tracking has been recieved nor have we receievd our knives!!!

    Their reply above is not true at all.

    We are still waiting for our knives!!!



    Sincerely,

    ****** ******

  • Initial Complaint

    Date:02/24/2025

    Type:Delivery Issues
    Status:
    AnsweredMore info

    Complaint statuses

    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    I sent my knives to the company, they received them on 2/13/25. They state sharpening will take place within 24hrs and shipping back could take up to 3 days. It is now 2/20/25 and I do not have my knives. They have no phone number to call and are not responding to e-mails. My knives are worth about $1000 and I paid Knife Aid $90 for sharpening, so right now they have stolen about $1100 from me. I cannot get a response from the company. It seems as if they've lost my knives or stolen them.

    Business Response

    Date: 02/25/2025

    We sharpened the customer's knives and returned them to him. According to **** tracking number 92055903255591300000278714, he received them yesterday, 2/24/25:

    Delivered, Individual Picked Up at Post Office
    *****************, NM 87514 
    February 24, 2025, 1:16 pm

  • Initial Complaint

    Date:02/11/2025

    Type:Delivery Issues
    Status:
    AnsweredMore info

    Complaint statuses

    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    Sent 10 knives to Knife Aid in early January and received a response from knife aid dated 1/15/2025 stating that there were problems with sharpening some of the knives. I replied with instructions to use option 1 and sharpen those knives as best they can. I have sent multiple requests for an update on the order and only get a response that states my request has been closed and merged with my other requests. I cannot get anyone at knife aid to simply tell me the status of my order. I cannot find a method to communicate with this company please help

    Business Response

    Date: 02/25/2025

    The customer's reply email to our question was accidently closed instead of forwarded to the correct employee. It is now being dealt with, we will sharpen the customer's knives and return them to him. 
  • Initial Complaint

    Date:12/06/2024

    Type:Service or Repair Issues
    Status:
    AnsweredMore info

    Complaint statuses

    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    Getting a hold of this company is a nightmare. I've been a customer since 2020, with no issues, as I haven't had to deal with customer service. They sharpen and return very quickly.... Until this past order. Order number ******. The order has been "shipped" as of November 27th, however I still haven't received my package as of December 3, NOR is it tracking. I tried contacting customer service and it's an automated response. NO one is actually looking into my order. I have a huge party this weekend and I have no knives. I've always been able to rely on knife aid with reliable turnaround times and now I don't even know if Ill get my knives back! I sent them over a $1500 worth of knives!!!

    Business Response

    Date: 12/23/2024

    We spoke with ***** ******* by phone at ************, apologized for the delays and advised that her order was processed and will be upgraded to *** Next Day. Email confirmation with tracking will be sent once it has been has processed for shipment. 
  • Initial Complaint

    Date:02/05/2024

    Type:Delivery Issues
    Status:
    AnsweredMore info

    Complaint statuses

    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    Have a current 90 day sharpening subscription of 14 knives. Sent in 14 Wusthof Classic Ikon knives on 1/27/24 in their supplied package. Package was received on 1/29/24. **** tracking number **********************. On 1/29/24. Turn around on sharpening is 24 hrs from receipt. Left several voicemails and emails stating i need an update on these very expensive knives. $200+ per knife. Called again on 2/2 . No answer and states not accepting voice mail messages as system is not set ip. Not sure if business is no longer in existence since no way of contacting them. Forced to cancel current subscription as unknown status of company existence. Have been a customer with paid subscription since 2020. All i want is my hard earned knives that I trusted them to sharpened returned ASAP. Any help in getting someone from the company to respond would be greatly appreciated.

    Business Response

    Date: 02/06/2024

    Hello *****,

    Thank you so much for reaching out to us regarding your recent order. We want to sincerely apologize for the delay in processing your order. As a valued customer of over a year, your loyalty to our company means the world to us. We expect your order to be delivered on Thursday, February 8, ****, via ***** with tracking number 9405511206217794458369.
    This year, we've been overwhelmed with an unexpected number of orders. While we're thrilled with the positive response to our services, we're sorry that we weren't fully prepared. Our main goal is to never let our customers down, and we deeply regret any inconvenience that led you to contact us through the Better Business site. Going forward, we're actively working on an expansion plan to better meet the needs of our growing customer base.

    *****, we send you our warmest wishes and hope that you'll be delighted with your newly sharpened knives. If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out to us.

  • Initial Complaint

    Date:01/17/2024

    Type:Service or Repair Issues
    Status:
    AnsweredMore info

    Complaint statuses

    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    I sent in my expensive kitchen knives into Knife Aid on January 5th, received by them on January 8th by them. Their website clearly states a 24hr standard turnaround time for your knives. It is now January 17th and the canned response i get back from Knife Aid is that we are busy and cant give me any idea of when i will receive my knives back. I took a chance on this company, and would not do it again. It could be a month before I get my knives back or if at all. In the mean time, we have no kitchen knives to use.

    Business Response

    Date: 01/23/2024

    This was by far the busiest holiday season we have ever experienced since our company began, so we did get backed up on our orders. We are grateful for the overwhelming demand for our services, and we are working tirelessly to sharpen and ship orders promptly while maintaining the highest quality standards. We understand the inconvenience this may have caused. Our primary objective is to deliver exceptional workmanship that cannot be rushed. **************** sharpened knives were delivered to him via **** on 1/20/24. Tracking number 9405511206217311451507.
    Delivered, Front Door/Porch
    *******, ** 85083 
    January 20, ****, 11:44 am

     

  • Initial Complaint

    Date:01/17/2024

    Type:Sales and Advertising Issues
    Status:
    AnsweredMore info

    Complaint statuses

    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    I sent my knives for sharpening on December 23rd, 2023, and the company received them on December 26th. After emailing them on December 28th, I got confirmation of receipt without an automated email. Despite the understanding that the holidays (Christmas and New Years) affected this process, I havent received any further updates since. Typically, the knives should have been sharpened and sent back within 24 hours. Ive been emailing daily since January 2nd but havent received any updates. As my essential knives are with them, Im experiencing difficulty cooking. Im seeking an update on my orders status, particularly when I can expect to have my knives returned. At this stage, ** simply eager to have them back in my possession. Unfortunately, there's no phone number for contact, and the email support hasn't been reliable or responsive.

    Business Response

    Date: 01/23/2024

    This was by far the busiest holiday season we have ever experienced since our company began, so we did get backed up on our orders. We are grateful for the overwhelming demand for our services, and we are working tirelessly to sharpen and ship orders promptly while maintaining the highest quality standards. We understand the inconvenience this may have caused. Our primary objective is to deliver exceptional workmanship that cannot be rushed. ***************************** sharpened knives were delivered via **** on 1/10/24. Tracking number 9405511206217325504336.
    Delivered, Parcel Locker
    ********, ** 92009 
    January 10, ****, 12:03 pm
  • Initial Complaint

    Date:01/12/2024

    Type:Product Issues
    Status:
    AnsweredMore info

    Complaint statuses

    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    I sent ************************************ an envelope provided by Knife Aid. The **** tracking shows that the knives were received on December 24. I have not gotten my knives back or any communication from Knife Aid since then. The turnaround time is supposed to be 3 days - even allowing a few extra days for the holidays, I should have my knives back by now. I contacted Knife Aid multiple times this week via email asking for an update and have not received a response. I paid $119 for ********************** and the replacement value of the knives that have not been returned is over $1000. I would like my knives back and never would have sent them in the first place if I knew that the timeframe would not be honored and that Knife Aids customer service operation is virtually nonexistent. If the knives are not going to be returned, I would like to be reimbursed for what I paid plus the cost of replacing the 10 knives.

    Business Response

    Date: 01/12/2024

    We experienced a much higher volume of sharpening orders this year than ever before. Even working through weekends it has taken us quite some time to catch up. This customer's knives were sharpened and were returned to her today via US *************** The tracking number was 9405511206217399942348. 
  • Initial Complaint

    Date:01/12/2024

    Type:Delivery Issues
    Status:
    ResolvedMore info

    Complaint statuses

    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    I'm filing a complaint regarding order #******, made on 12/2/23, for a 7-knife sharpening service priced at $89. The shipment for sending my knives arrived on 12/11/23, including an extra sleeve for an 8th knife, which I used. The knives reached Knife Aid by 12/15/23. With Knife Aid's 24-hour turnaround policy, I expected their return before the holidays for family gatherings at Christmas and New Year's. Unfortunately, the knives didn't arrive, and Knife Aid didn't update us. On 12/25/23, I queried about the delay, order status, and potential compensation. **************** from Knife Aid replied on 12/26/23, apologizing for the shipping delay, contradicting their 24-hour policy. She didn't update the order status, prompting another email from me. On 12/29/23, she informed me the knives were shipped (tracking number **********************), offering a 3-piece Henckels paring set as compensation. I replied, highlighting the inadequacy of this $15 set against our $89 expense and the necessity of purchasing a new knife set for the holidays due to the delay. That day, Knife Aid demanded an additional $10 for the extra knife sent. I contested this with ****************, who insisted the paring set was the only compensation available. My knives haven't been returned yet, and my last four emails to **************** and Knife Aid remain unanswered. This situation has been extremely disappointing and frustrating, particularly due to their poor customer service. I've been unable to locate a phone contact for direct communication. The tracking number provided is showing that the label has been created since 12/29/23, but the order has not shipped back to me. I expect to have a full reimbursement and my knives shipped back to me immediately.

    Business Response

    Date: 01/23/2024

    This was by far the busiest holiday season we have ever experienced since our company began, so we did get backed up on our orders. We are grateful for the overwhelming demand for our services, and we are working tirelessly to sharpen and ship orders promptly while maintaining the highest quality standards. We understand the inconvenience this may have caused. Our primary objective is to deliver exceptional workmanship that cannot be rushed. We did offer a free $15 set to the customer as compensation but she declined. Her sharpened knives were delivered to her via **** on 1/6/24. Tracking number 9405511206217903477496.

    Delivered, Parcel Locker

    ************, ** 27278 
    January 6, ****, 12:52 pm

    Customer Answer

    Date: 01/24/2024

     
    Complaint: 21095505

    I am rejecting this response because:

    1. Misidentification: First and foremost, the response incorrectly refers to me as "she" when I am a "he." This error demonstrates a lack of attention to detail in addressing customer concerns.
    Inadequate Compensation: Despite my clear communication that the $15 knife set was not an acceptable form of compensation, it was sent regardless. My request was for a full reimbursement, considering the significant delay in service and the inconvenience it caused. The compensation provided does not align with the magnitude of the inconvenience and additional expenses incurred.

    2. Responsibility for Business Capacity: While I understand the holiday season can be busy, it is the responsibility of the business to adequately prepare for increased demand. Customers should not bear the consequences of the companys lack of planning. A guarantee of a 24-hour turnaround was given, and it should have been honored or appropriately communicated if it could not be met.

    3. Poor **************** and Communication: The lack of proactive communication regarding the delay in my order was unacceptable. There was a significant gap in the updates provided about the status of my order, and when responses were received, they were inadequate and unhelpful. The absence of direct phone communication further compounded the issue.

    4. Additional Expenses Incurred: Due to the delayed return of my knives, I was forced to spend over $100 on replacement knives for the holidays. This was a direct result of the service failure and should be taken into account in the compensation offered.

    5. Entitlement to Full Refund: Given the breach of the promised service agreement, the additional expenses incurred, and the overall poor customer experience, I believe I am *********** a full refund of the original service fee. This would be a more appropriate and fair resolution to the situation.

    In light of these points, I find the response from the company to be unsatisfactory and not addressing the core issues of my complaint. I am seeking a revised response that acknowledges these concerns and provides a fair and just resolution.



    Sincerely,

    *********************

    Business Response

    Date: 02/13/2024

    Hello *****,

    I wanted to follow up with you and address your complaint. However, before I consider this matter closed, I would like to ensure that you are satisfied with the resolution that you and ******* have reached a few weeks back. Most importantly, I want to apologize once again for your recent negative experience with our company.

    Your experience does not reflect the values of our company. We have always prided ourselves on providing prompt knife-sharpening services with great attention to detail. Unfortunately, this craft has been lost over time. While we are thrilled that Knife Aid is growing and our customers love our services, we are committed to maintaining our small business charm. We want every customer to feel like family. Falling short of your expectations with your knife sharpening is an experience that we never want to repeat.

    I sincerely appreciate your kindness and for giving us the opportunity to make things right for you. *****, if you have any further questions or if you would like a phone call, please email me at ********************************** with the subject line "ATT: *****". I will contact you immediately.

    I hope that we can continue to earn your trust and business in the future.

    Best Regards,

    Ismet 

    Customer Answer

    Date: 02/14/2024

     
    Better Business Bureau:

    I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.

    Sincerely,

    *********************
  • Initial Complaint

    Date:01/04/2024

    Type:Product Issues
    Status:
    ResolvedMore info

    Complaint statuses

    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    Unfortunately, Knife Aid lost 6 WSTHOF knives, a Kitchen Aid knife, and a set of WSTHOF sheers, together valued at nearly $1,000. We successfully sent in our knives per their instructions and using the kit they supplied (Order ******). Knife Aid received the package full of our knives via *** on December 15, but after being in their possession for ******************************************** turned them over to *** for shipping. Their website clearly advertises a 24-hour turn around time for sharpening, from receipt at their facility to return shipment. That period for us is now 13 days and counting. Based on their commitment, our knives should have been sharpened by December 18, 2023 and turned over to *** for return shipping by December 19 or 20, 2023. Their outsourced customer service is so poor, our only choice was to file a claim with our credit card company, contact the BBB, and post reviews of our experience. *****, the credit card provider we used to pay the service fee to Knife Aid, did accept a dispute for the $99 charged by Knife Aid, which they are investigating. However, we are still missing nearly $1,000 in knives. The only customer service we're received is a link to the *** tracking information, which simply shows a label 'created' on December 19, 2023, but with no item or package ever turned over to *** by Knife Aid. I contacted *** directly to validate the the items are not in their possession (see email). This implies strongly that the knives are still in their possession, that they've lost them, or have just simply not turned them over to *** for return shipping. We request they finish the job and return our knives and sheers, replace the 8 items if they've indeed lost them, or cut us a check for $1,000 so we can replace the knives. Thank you for your support, ********************* ************ ******************

    Business Response

    Date: 01/23/2024

    This was by far the busiest holiday season we have ever experienced since our company began, so we did get backed up on our orders. We are grateful for the overwhelming demand for our services, and we are working tirelessly to sharpen and ship orders promptly while maintaining the highest quality standards. We understand the inconvenience this may have caused. Our primary objective is to deliver exceptional workmanship that cannot be rushed. ******************** sharpened knives were delivered to him via *** on 1/3/24. Tracking number 1Z35895V0318722148
     Delivered On
    Wednesday, January 03 at 4:21 P.M. at Rear Door

    Customer Answer

    Date: 01/25/2024

     
    Complaint: 21067419

    I am rejecting this response because:

    I acknowledge our knives were finally received, and that we received a refund from our credit card company (not Knifeaid, of course). Knifeaid is running a laughable operation and doesnt deserve a single additional customer or investor. They provided limited and unsatisfactory communication to customers during their alleged holiday backup A backup fueled by social media advertising, and unmetered by their own order-acceptance processes, which could have easily limited incoming requests to a manageable level.
    Their outsourced customer service is abysmal. A simple email to customers, from an actual employee at Knifeaid vs a paid bot at Zendesk, would have satisfied customers and prevented the many 1-star December complaints they are now receiving on ****** and Yelp. Their stubborn, entitled, and defensive posture shines through in their inability to accept fault, or modify their approach. By reading the online responses they proved to negative reviews, its clear that the customer is always wrong.     

    Sincerely,

    *********************

    Business Response

    Date: 02/13/2024

    Dear ****,

    We sincerely hope this message finds you well. We want to express our deepest apologies for the delay you experienced with your recent order shipment. In the festive month of December, we faced an unprecedented surge in orders, placing immense strain on our fulfillment processes. Additionally, unforeseen staff illnesses further impacted our ability to meet our service standards. Despite these challenges, our team has worked tirelessly to ensure each order is treated with the care and priority it deserves.

    We understand that our service did not meet the timely delivery we promised, and for that, we are truly sorry. We recognize the inconvenience this may have caused you, particularly during a time when prompt delivery is of utmost importance.

    ****, it was never our intention to disappoint you or force you to seek a resolution. For years, we took pride in our ***** hour turnaround time. However, due to the overwhelming support from customers like yourself, our business has grown positively, and we were simply unprepared to handle the increased volume. While we have implemented numerous changes for the future, one being better communication with our customers, we understand that it does not alleviate the current situation for you.

    Once again, we sincerely apologize for the delay and want to assure you that we are taking robust measures to prevent such occurrences in the future. We highly value your patronage and eagerly look forward to serving you better. 

    Warm regards,

    *******************************

    Customer Answer

    Date: 02/13/2024

     
    Better Business Bureau:

    I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.

    Sincerely,

    *********************

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