Replacement arrived today; all is well....sort of:

[bren10man]

Well, I got me another Traveller Lite from Gunther Gifts, INC located in the Peoples' Republik of Kalifornia.

I put the battery in.  Made a long "beep" noise..and that was it.  So, off to WalMart I go to get another battery (I HOPE it is just the battery).

UPDATE: looks like they sent me the WRONG battery...and WalMart does not carry it.  Off to Batteries Plus tomorrow....sheesh!!!

Funny thing is, this U.S. packaged one is the same package as the one I got in Korea, except:

1. sticker on both ends with U.S. item numbers

2. U.S. one did NOT come with ANY instructions of ANY kind.  That was ODD.  GOOD thing I have the packaging with instructions that came with the stolen one I bought in Korea.  Good thing the thieves stole just the knife and not the package with instructions...they were SOOO kind for that, NOT!!!

Will keep all informed.  If the battery solution is not it, return to sender after a phone call it goes.   I didn't blow $100 for something that  does not work.....Jeez!!!!!

[bren10man]

Well, looks like I was DUPED!!!!

Name of the company I bought it from was Swiss Knives Express:   http://www.swissknivesexpress.com/index.html

I checked with Felinevet's online catalog, and he didn't have it or I would have ordered from him......

I took a battery out of a Huntsman Lite flashlight....started to set it.

Guess what: it only shows- time, alarm, countdown....no altitude, barometer, temperature, etc.

They sent me a Voyager Lite in a Traveler Lite box.

Looks like it is gettting RETURNED TOMORROW!!!

Idiots!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I guess they thought I was a FOOL:

1. wrong battery

2. no instructions

3. not even the correct knife!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

4. mislabled packaging.

[Turnstone]

That sucks 

I hope you can get a Traveller Lite from them asap, with no more trouble!

[nuphoria]

That's pretty bad form 

[Gareth]

I hope you get that sorted out mate.

[Benner]

All this anger... has anyone considered that this could just be a genuine mistake?

Not everyone is a SAK nerd like some here.

[Gareth]

All this anger... has anyone considered that this could just be a genuine mistake?

Not everyone is a SAK nerd like some here.

Well it did come form a site that sells nothing but Vic and Wenger products (so far as I can see), so I'd expect a certain level of competence.  I'd be willing to give them the benefit of the doubt and say it's unlikely to be a deliberate attempt at a rip-off, but it's still pretty poor service when the only thing they got right was the name on the box.

[Benner]

Yep, valid point, but bren10man is pretty SAK savvy and has even owned the SAK he attempted to buy before, and he didn't and couldn't tell until he put the battery in.  Could just be a simple case of the wrong knife being put in the wrong box.  Could happen to any SAK retailer.

[bren10man]

Here is the e-mail response from them:

It has recently been brought to our attention that Victorinox has packaged the Traveller Lite Swiss Army knife you received incorrectly. They actually packaged the Voyager knife in the box for the Traveller. We have the following options available:

1)      We can send you a UPS label to get the knife back and replace it with the correct item (We are currently out of stock due to Victorinox’s packaging issue so it will be approximately 2 weeks for our next shipment)
2)      We can send you a UPS label, get the knife back and issue a full refund
3)      You can keep the Voyager and we can issue a refund for the price difference ($17.50)
 
We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. Please let us know how you would like to proceed. We’d be more than happy to make you happy!

Sincerely,
Ofelia
Gunther Gifts

www.gunthergifts.com

Swiss Knives Express

www.swissknivesexpress.com

Gunther Watch

www.guntherwatch.com

[Mr. Whippy]

Here is the e-mail response from them:

It has recently been brought to our attention that Victorinox has packaged the Traveller Lite Swiss Army knife you received incorrectly. They actually packaged the Voyager knife in the box for the Traveller. We have the following options available:

1)      We can send you a UPS label to get the knife back and replace it with the correct item (We are currently out of stock due to Victorinox’s packaging issue so it will be approximately 2 weeks for our next shipment)
2)      We can send you a UPS label, get the knife back and issue a full refund
3)      You can keep the Voyager and we can issue a refund for the price difference ($17.50)
 
We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. Please let us know how you would like to proceed. We’d be more than happy to make you happy!

Sincerely,
Ofelia
Gunther Gifts

www.gunthergifts.com

Swiss Knives Express

www.swissknivesexpress.com

Gunther Watch

www.guntherwatch.com

Personally, I have had very good interactions with Gunther Gifts.  I suspect they'll make it right. 

[bren10man]

I replied  back to them that I had already USPS'ed the knife back to them with a tracking number.

I told them if someone would have verified the knife was complete, i.e. correct battery and with instructions, etc. that would have probably set off some alarms to check and verify.  

All Vic knives come with materials when NIB.  

I will keep you guys informed when and if it finally shows up.  

Man, what bad luck: first, it was stolen.  Second, replacement was bogus..........

I want to jump with it after I attend basic airborne refresher to see how good the altimeter is....LOL.

[Chako]

That is definitely a string of bad luck.

[Jmora]

Here is the e-mail response from them:

It has recently been brought to our attention that Victorinox has packaged the Traveller Lite Swiss Army knife you received incorrectly. They actually packaged the Voyager knife in the box for the Traveller. We have the following options available:

1)      We can send you a UPS label to get the knife back and replace it with the correct item (We are currently out of stock due to Victorinox’s packaging issue so it will be approximately 2 weeks for our next shipment)
2)      We can send you a UPS label, get the knife back and issue a full refund
3)      You can keep the Voyager and we can issue a refund for the price difference ($17.50)
 
We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. Please let us know how you would like to proceed. We’d be more than happy to make you happy!

Sincerely,
Ofelia
Gunther Gifts

www.gunthergifts.com

Swiss Knives Express

www.swissknivesexpress.com

Gunther Watch

www.guntherwatch.com

I'd be inclined to give them the benefit of the doubt, looks like a mistake. The level of frustration you have to endure must be awful though, I once ordered a soldier and got a pioneer instead, for the user this makes no difference (this is what the seller argued), its the same knife, but for me, wanting the authentic swiss army issue knife, it was a big let down. He replaced it for me anyway. Obviously I'm not saying the traveler and the voyager are the same knife, they have different functions, etc.

[VicX]

I'd be inclined to give them the benefit of the doubt, looks like a mistake.

I agree, it seems to me they are more than willing to sort things out.
But these things can happen, let's face it.

Although I totally understand the frustration: being a SAK-addicted tends to make you  SAK-hungry. 

[bren10man]

I called them today.   The following is what I was told:

1. I am not the only one.  Apparently, 4 others have the same problem.   More were shipped out, and Swiss Knives Express is trying to contact all of this mistake, and give them the same options I listed above.

2. Will be 2 weeks before they get more from Victorinox.  This is a hard knife to get in the USA...I told her my story, about Korea, thieves, Namdamun Market Vic store, etc.   

3. The ones shipped out, Victorinox mislabled them all...no instructions, wrong battery, etc.   

Will keep all informed!!  At least they are doing the right thing.

P.S.  I repacked all my knives last night in 1 Rubbermaid container, a BIG one......Lord, I am swimming in SAK's!!!!