Thank you all for your helpful advice. I was really set on this particular razor, but due to the less than adequate customer service and questionable uneven blade grind, I am passing on it.
The email that I sent to the vendor last night: Thank you for your reply and the point regarding horn scales. I appreciate that you have taken the time to correspond with me. If you are able to give me the discount, the misalignment is only slight, and the uneven ground is only cosmetic (and does not appear that it will pose a problem when honing later), I'll take the razor with ebony scales.
The vendor wrote back telling me, “We think that you'll have a better shopping experience for you'll find a local supplier, that allows walk-in, in your area.”
I was treated as a problematic customer, when I had already purchased the razor and had only asked a few questions pertaining to what he thought noteworthy enough to offer me a refund. I called this vendor last week to ask if they offer any professional sharpening services or if the straight razors only come factory sharp. I’m sure that he has been asked this several times, but I had never had any communication with him prior to this, and he started yelling at me from a speaker phone without masking his irritation. After the phone call, I took a few days to determine whether I wanted the razor enough to overlook the call. I ordered the razor online and you know the rest of the story.
When I Google search Thiers-Issard, this Canadian vendor is the one that usually comes up first. If anyone has any suggestions for other TI vendors, please let me know. I’m looking for what I guess would be considered a mid-range TI (preferably one with wood scales).
Thank you again, everyone.
Christopher
