|
|
Post by Rockindad on Dec 12, 2021 21:17:46 GMT -5
Kind of forgot about this thread until I saw holajonathan had a similar experience: forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/thread/97445/blairrock-satisfied?page=1&scrollTo=1196851I never named the retailer because I wanted to wait to see if the situation would be resolved fairly. As stated previously: "Update: I got a response back from the seller and they seem open to making it right. Been going back and forth via messaging through their website so it's a little slow. They asked if I wanted a refund or if I would provide them with a list of the ones I wanted replaced. I responded that I would rather have the slabs and would even accept substitutions of similar materials if direct replacements are not available, trying to keep this as easy as possible. Sent them the list and am waiting to hear back. I would much rather just have a phone conversation and handle everything at once (and requested it) but trying not to rock the boat too much as it seems to be moving in the right direction." So I did get the replacements and unfortunately they were very low grade and about half of them were wedge cuts again. What really pissed me off is that I was trying to be helpful by offering to take substitutions for any materials they may not have more of. As I was going through the replacements that were sent I made a list of substitutions they made. I then went on the website and saw that they were still offering slabs of many of these materials. Attempts to contact them went unanswered and then eventually they were offline for some time and I forgot about it. I don't think I see myself doing business with BLAIRROCK any time soon. |
|
|
|
Post by rmf on Dec 13, 2021 6:06:59 GMT -5
That is two strikes in a week or so. Thanks for the info/warning.
|
|
|
|
Post by holajonathan on Dec 13, 2021 11:37:07 GMT -5
Kind of forgot about this thread until I saw holajonathan had a similar experience: forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/thread/97445/blairrock-satisfied?page=1&scrollTo=1196851I never named the retailer because I wanted to wait to see if the situation would be resolved fairly. As stated previously: "Update: I got a response back from the seller and they seem open to making it right. Been going back and forth via messaging through their website so it's a little slow. They asked if I wanted a refund or if I would provide them with a list of the ones I wanted replaced. I responded that I would rather have the slabs and would even accept substitutions of similar materials if direct replacements are not available, trying to keep this as easy as possible. Sent them the list and am waiting to hear back. I would much rather just have a phone conversation and handle everything at once (and requested it) but trying not to rock the boat too much as it seems to be moving in the right direction." So I did get the replacements and unfortunately they were very low grade and about half of them were wedge cuts again. What really pissed me off is that I was trying to be helpful by offering to take substitutions for any materials they may not have more of. As I was going through the replacements that were sent I made a list of substitutions they made. I then went on the website and saw that they were still offering slabs of many of these materials. Attempts to contact them went unanswered and then eventually they were offline for some time and I forgot about it. I don't think I see myself doing business with BLAIRROCK any time soon. I'm sorry to hear about your bad experience, but I am a little relieved that I am not the only one. I own many saws -- tile saws, trim saws, slab saws, and large masonry saws. I have cut much better slabs on all of those saws than what I received from Blairrock. A few of the the slabs I received look like someone cut them with an angle grinder. I paid $9 for one of them, which is not particularly cheap for a slab that is less than 3 square inches. I am all for giving people the opportunity to fix honest mistakes. Oftentimes I am not completely satisfied with rocks bought online, but rarely do I even contact the seller, much less complain about them in a public forum. Nevertheless, the slabs I received are so bad that the website descriptions are either intentionally misleading or they reflect an utter disinterest in accurate disclosure. The seller must know that customers don't like being surprised with wedge shaped slabs. No doubt you and I are not the only customers to complain about them. Even so, the website contains no profile photos of slabs and does not disclose that any slabs are wedges. A profile photo or adding the words "wedge shaped" to the description would take absolutely no additional work for the seller. In other words, the utter lack of disclosure is telling... |
|
|
|
Post by stardiamond on Dec 13, 2021 12:42:26 GMT -5
I can't disagree with the issues with Blairrock slabs. I have ordered from them 12 times going back 7 years. I am a repeat buyer because I have low expectations and believe I am getting value and material that is not available elsewhere. Their pictures could and description could be better. It comes down to risk/reward. My goal when buying is cabs sold is 3x the cost of the slab. With Blair it's typically 6-10x so I don't mind some duds.
When buying slabs there a lot of possible issues beside uneven cuts; hidden fractures and vugs. I do a lot of study before buying and ask questions.
When I pay $30 for a slab, I expect a $90 return and at worse a $60 return. I study the slab before cutting looking for defects and still have the slab go kaboom and am lucky to break even.
I am very fussy about pattern. The nice scene should be toward the center and the center is going to be more even than the entire slab. I don't mind buying a slab with problems as long as I know what they are and can work around them.
|
|
|
|
Post by Rockoonz on Dec 13, 2021 16:50:55 GMT -5
I suspect that some of the wedged slabs are a result of cutting slabs from a glued-to-wood rock. The wood block face is not always parallel to the blade and then the last slab will be wedged. I know I have a few of those, of course I am not selling slabs. Yet! I glue up about half the rocks I cut. Unless I purposely angle the wood to get the direction of cut I want, the last slab is barely distinguishable from the rest. It's easy to do, I could teach most people in 5 or 10 minutes. If I know it's going to be wedge shaped, and it's a slab I want to be usable, I add a turn or more to the cross feed when setting it up so I will get a thicker slab at the end, also easy to do, and if you plan to sell or cut cabs from it, not a wasted cut. |
|
|
|
Post by stardiamond on Dec 13, 2021 17:34:16 GMT -5
The other consideration when slabbing is kerf. Don't cut a small rock with a big saw.
|
|
