Customer service faq's

Q. What payment methods can I use on the webshop?

A. Currently, the following payment methods are supported:

• Credit & Cheque cards: Visa or MasterCard via Payfast. Apologies we do not accept AMEX cards
• Debit cards (Note: not all Debit cards work with online shopping)
• SnapScan
• Masterpass
• SCode
• Zapper
• Instant EFT (via Payfast)
• Manual EFT. Note: We bank with Absa, inter-bank payments can take several days to clear

Q. Why is my credit card payment not accepted?

A. Due to privacy restrictions, we will not be able to tell you why our payment service provider or your credit company has refused to process your payment. We simply don't have access to those details about you and your credit card status. However, we would like to assist you should this be the case, the most common reasons for a credit card payment being refused are:

• The maximum credit on the card is exceeded (you need to pay down the outstanding balance)
• The name on your credit card is different from the name you have entered (carefully check for typos)
• The credit card is registered at a different address than the billing address you used on the order (this is to prevent fraudulent use of your card)
• The card is temporarily blocked after multiple failed payment attempts (you may need to contact your bank to have the card unblocked)
• The 3D Secure check (e.g. 'Verified by Visa', 'MasterCard SecureCode') was not successful (contact your bank to enable this or to get instructions)

Q. Can I pay in instalments or do you offer credit?

A. Unfortunately, we don't have a programme in place for paying in instalments or credit facilities at this time. All sales are charged at the full amount when we deduct payment from your chosen payment method.

Q. What does my order status mean?

A. If you have created an account on the website, you may monitor the progress of your order.
These are the different order statuses we use:

• Cancelled: The order has been cancelled and will not be processed.
• Pending payment: The order process was started, but no payment has been taken yet. If this is the case for several days, please contact us.
• Processing: The order has now been paid for and has been sent to our warehouse.
• Processing: The order has now been paid for and has been sent to our warehouse.

Q. Can I cancel or change my sales order?

A. Unfortunately, once a sales order is paid and gets the status 'Processing' it is final. Our warehouse processes large numbers of orders every day and once an order is in the process of picking and packing we cannot make changes anymore. In case an order is delivered that you don't want anymore, the best option is to refuse it. Our distribution partners will automatically return the parcel to us and upon receiving the parcel we will refund your money. In this case, it is best to contact us to advise us of the fact that you have refused the delivery to reduce delays in refunding or exchanging your order.

Q. I placed a sales order and did not receive an order confirmation. What happened?

A. In most cases, you will receive an order confirmation e-mail from us directly after you have placed an order online.
If you have not received an e-mail several hours after placing your order, there could be several different reasons:

• Our payment provider has had a delay in processing payments. In that case your payment order confirmation will still be sent once your payment has been confirmed.
• You have not entered your e-mail address correctly. In that case your order will be processed as usual, but you will not receive the e-mail notifications like the order confirmation or shipment confirmation. Please log in to the website to verify your e-mail address is correct.
• The e-mail has accidentally been placed in your 'spam-folder', 'promotional', 'junk' or 'unwanted e-mail folder'.
• Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) could be experiencing a problem with e-mail delivery.

Q. I have a promotion code, but it does not work. What to do now?

A. In most cases when a promotion code does not work, your sales order does not comply to the rules of the promotion. Please check the following:

• Has the promotion reached its end-date?
• Is the promotion valid in South Africa?
• Does your order meet the minimum order value for the promotion?
• If the promotion is aimed at specific products, did you add them to your order?
• In case the promotional code is personal or limited in use: have you already used this promotion code?
• Please note that promotional codes or vouchers may not be used in conjunction with any other promotion. i.e. if the order or product qualifies for any promotion, you may not apply any other promotion or voucher to the purchase for further discount or special offers.

Q. Does the web shop also sell to businesses?

A. The web shop only sells to end consumers. If you want to order from this store on behalf of a company or business, you can do so, but please note that your order will be treated as a consumer order. That means that prices are VAT inclusive and there is no opportunity to negotiate trade discounts, payment terms or other aspects of the order. You will only receive an electronic invoice with the VAT amount specified, but we cannot provide you with a printed invoice or an invoice with requested extra information such as purchase order numbers. For business-to-business sales, orders above 5 of the same product or more, please contact us via the contact form.

Q. How long will my order take to arrive?

A. All orders are shipped from our warehouse which is located in Cape Town, South Africa
Estimated order delivery times are as follows:

• Cape Town: 1-2 Days
• Main Centres (larger cities): 2-3 Days
• Regional Areas (smaller cities and towns): 3-5 Days
• Remote and outlying areas: 5-7 Days
• Please note: these are estimated times and are guidelines only. Factors such as holidays, time your order is placed and seasonal peaks may affect these estimates.
  We, and our delivery partners, do our best to deliver within these target time frames, but unforeseen circumstances may cause delays with your order.

Q. an I track my order online?

A. When your product is dispatched from our warehouse, we will e-mail you with a tracking reference.You may use this reference to track your order online on the website using the "Track my order" link in the site menu.If you do not receive an e-mail and/or SMS with this reference, please contact our customer service department who will assist you.

Q. Can I collect my order?

A. We unfortunately do not offer customer collections for products purchased on this website.

Q. Do you offer international delivery?

A. Unfortunately we cannot ship internationally at this time.

Q. Do you deliver on weekends or public holidays?

A. Unfortunately our delivery partners do not deliver on weekends or public holidays.

Q. What products can I return?

A. Most products that have been purchased in South Africa from this web store can be returned for free, within 14 days of delivery to you.

• Products can be returned, provided they are returned un-used, in the original condition and are returned in their full original packaging.
• We will bear the cost of returning products (courier collection) in most cases.
• We reserve the right to charge a nominal return administration fee where the cost of the return is deemed to be significant (e.g. from an outlying area). This cost will be deducted from your refund of the purchase price.
• Where an order qualifies for a Free Gift with purchase (such as where a gift is included when purchasing a specific product, or when your order value is over a certain amount, or as part of any promotion), the Free Gift must also be returned with the other item(s), un-used and in its original packaging, should you return your order - either in full, or in part.
• In the case of a part-returned order (some items kept), where the value of the items you keep, or the specific product kept still qualifies the order for a Free Gift, you will be entitled to keep the Free Gift. Should a Free Gift not be returned with other items, in new condition, we will deduct the value of the Free Gift (determined as retail value, as indicated when ordered i.e. "To the value of" or "Worth") from the order refund amount when the return order is processed.
• In case of damaged or missing products, please contact us immediately so we can provide a solution as soon as possible.

Q. How do I return my order?

A. If you want to return an order, please contact us providing the following information:

• The original order number. You can get this number from the order confirmation e-mail or from the website account area if you registered an account on the website.
• What product(s) you want to return (which ones, if your order contained multiple products)
• The reason for returning the products (we value and rely your feedback - please let us know if you are unhappy about something!)
• Please ensure you are within the 14 day free return period (unless this is a product warranty issue)

Q. How long does it take to receive my refund after I have returned a product?

A. Please allow up to 2 weeks from the collection or posting date for us to credit your account.

• We will refund the payment method of the person who originally placed and paid for the order.
• We may need to contact you in some cases for extra information before being able to refund your money.
• In some cases we may not be able to refund to the original payment method in which case we will require your banking details so an EFT payment can be made.
• For EFT refunds, we will require proof of your bank account details (top part of your statement or bank letter).
• We will request further information should this be the case.

Q. How do I know if a product is in stock?

A. If your desired product is in stock, the text 'In stock' appears in green on the product details page and you're able to add the product to your cart. If the product isn't in stock, a red text 'Out of stock' appears, and you won't be able to add the product to your cart. We do our very best to keep warehouse stock levels synchronised with our web shop to prevent you from ordering products that aren't (yet) in stock

Q. WHAT WARRANTEE OR GUARANTEE IS THERE ON MY GLOBAL KNIVES PRODUCT?

A. Global Knives are hand made by experts to very high standards and exacting specifications.

A Global Knives Lifetime Guarantee is a guarantee valid for the lifetime of the actual product, not the individual or business purchasing the product. Knives that are used every day in a professional kitchen, or those that are repeatedly sharpened, will naturally have a shorter lifespan than knives which are used more infrequently in the home.

Certain types of knives are normally used more frequently than others, for example, a Cooks Knife will be used far often more than a Cheese Knife. Therefore, it is reasonable to expect that certain knife models will not last as long as others. It is for these very reasons that Global Knives South Africa is not able to accurately say just how long a knife should be guaranteed for and we will therefore use our discretion when evaluating any guarantee claim.

We offer a guarantee that reflects the quality and price level of our knives and we will always do our best to use good judgement when assessing guarantee claims from our customers. The Global Knives lifetime guarantee is in place to assure all of our customers that any knives with genuine manufacturing faults will be replaced, or repaired within a reasonable time frame (at our discretion).

Global Knives South Africa reserves the right to reject any claims for knives that have been obviously mistreated or are old and have clearly reached the end of their useful lives through repeated re-sharpening or normal wear and tear - i.e. We can only guarantee Global Knives against manufacturing defects for a lifetime of normal use.

A guarantee claim for a genuine manufacturing defect must be as a result of normal use of the knife as directed by the manufacturer. From experience we know that most genuine manufacturing faults tend to reveal themselves within a year or two. We urge you to immediately report manufacturing defects to us when it becomes apparent.

Our guarantee does not cover:

Q. CAN I GET MY GLOBAL KNIVES SHARPENED PROFESSIONALLY?

A. General Sharpening
Global knives are shipped from the factory in Japan with very sharp blades and the material used, CROMOVA 18, which is Global 's unique blade material, ensures that this sharpness will be maintained longer than most other knives. However, Global knives need to be re sharpened from time to time to maintain their keen edge. As a general rule, the best sharpening tool for use is an individual choice. Each tool performs differently but the end result is basically the same and may be easy or difficult for the user depending on the individual and their level of experience or skill.
Global recommends periodically re sharpening your knives using either a Waterstone or ceramic stone. In between stone sharpenings, it is recommended that you use the Global fine ceramic or diamond rod to keep the blade of your knife sharp. (Global serrated knives do not need to be sharpened)
It is recommended that you view the individual videos to understand which may be your best personal choice.

Sharpening your Global Knives

Waterstones and Ceramic Stones – There are various types and sizes available. Normally, a medium grit is sufficient to start. However, if the blade is blunt or damaged, it may be necessary to start with a rough grit stone. There are several differences between Waterstones and ceramic stones. A water stone must be placed in water and allowed to soak for 10-15 minutes to allow it to absorb sufficient moisture. A ceramic stone also requires water and soaking in water for 1-2 minutes. A ceramic stone is harder than a Waterstone, so it will sharpen your knives more quickly. A ceramic stone will last longer and will not develop valleys or grooves as easily as a Waterstone.

Regardless of knife size or type of stone you are using, the procedure for sharpening are as follows:

1. The ceramic stone should be soaked in the water for 1-2 minutes before you use.
2. Hold the knife so that the blade meets the stone at a 10-15 degree angle and then push back and forth across the stone in smooth steady strokes maintaining the same angle. A special knife guide is available to hold the knife at the correct angle if necessary.
3. Repeat (above) on both sides of the blade going from one side to the other until your knife is sharp and there are no burrs on either side.
4. During sharpening, a certain amount of whet powder will appear as the stone abrades but do not wash or wipe off this residue and just continue sharpening. This residue actually sharpens the knives.
5. After sharpening, your knives they should be washed in hot water and then towel dried.

Ceramic or Diamond coated Rods – Stone sharpening is the best way to sharpen not only GLOBAL knives but any knives. In between stone sharpening or in place of stone sharpening, if you so desire, you can use GLOBAL’s ceramic or diamond rods. These sharpeners are made from the two hardest materials known to man. They are suitable for sharpening all good quality knives. The diamond rod is harder than the ceramic rod and will bring back an edge quicker, but both are quite acceptable for sharpening your GLOBAL knives. The angle of 10-15 degrees must be maintained.

Water Wheel Sharpeners

For some people, learning the skill of intermediate sharpening with a ceramic or diamond rod is difficult to master due to the necessity of maintaining the correct sharpening angle of 10-15 degrees.

It is important that you keep your Global knives sharp as it will be easier to maintain them for the long term. A simpler method of intermediate sharpening is to use a water wheel sharpener from MinoSharp or MinoSharp Plus. These are hand held ceramic sharpeners and no experience or skill is required to use them. Simply fill the reservoir with water and run your knife backwards and forwards a few times as instructed on the packaging that comes with the product. The revolutionary ceramic wheels ensure the blade is sharpened at the correct angle.

Q. HOW TO STORE GLOBAL KNIVES CORRECTLY?

A. Global knives are extremely sharp and should be carefully stored to avoid accidents and damage and kept out of the reach of children.

Global recommends the use of the Global knife blocks, magnetic wall racks, blade guards and knife rolls/cases to protect humans, pets and your knives. These not only provide superior protection for your knives, but can also make a stylish addition to your kitchen!

Our knife storage products are all produced by Global and are designed to help keep your knives safe, sharp and in good condition. Please see our range of knife storage products, available on this web shop.

Q. HOW TO WASH AND CARE FOR GLOBAL KNIVES CORRECTLY?

To keep the knife in sharp and good condition it is recommended that you wash your Global knives by hand using a mild dishwashing liquid and plain water. Rinse with water after washing and dry thoroughly with a towel. Global knives should NOT be put in the dishwasher as doing so could damage the sharp edges should they come into contact with other objects in the dishwasher. In addition, exposure to the extreme heat and powerful detergents found in dishwashers can be harmful to the CROMOVA 18 high carbon stainless steel. Washing your knives in the dishwasher will also void your Lifetime Guarantee.

If your knife is not stored or cleaned correctly, you may find that brown stains can start to develop on it. General household stainless steel cleaners are available on the market, and any of these can be used to remove rust from your stainless steel safely. Please ensure you do not clean your knives with an abrasive pad or brush that could damage the finish.

Q. DOES THE WEB SHOP ALSO SELL TO BUSINESSES?

 

A. GLOBAL KNIVES - BUSINESS TO BUSINESS ENQUIRIES

 

Global Knives, MinoSharp, Benriner products and accessories are available for sale in South Africa to businesses, end-consumers, professionals alike. These products are of a very high quality and can have many years of useful service, which makes them a worthwhile investment for any business. Global Knives are backed up by a Lifetime Guarantee against manufacturing defects, so you can be sure your investment is protected.

Global Knives in South Africa has a long history of supplying professional quality knives, utensils and sharpening accessories to restaurants, hotels & guest houses, interior designers and to professional chefs. Global Knives deservedly hold a place in the premium knife market. Besides their undeniably unique design and function, our products are visually appealing and will add flair to live demonstrations and open kitchens. Global Knives have appeared on many television shows (such as MasterChef Australia and MasterChef South Africa), chef competitions and at high profile food events throughout South Africa.

For all Gobal Knives, MinoSharp and Benriner B2B queries relating to Trade sales, Restaurant Tenders, Procurement, Trade orders, Trade catalog/pricing enquires, Sponsorship or Hotel industry suppliers, please contact the Global Knives South Africa Trade Sales team:

E-mail: [email protected]

Tel: + 27 (0)21 674 0294