Garrett Wade25 reviews
This score is based on 25 genuine reviews submitted via US-Reviews since 2023.
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Find companies you have experience with and write reviews about them! Your reviews contribute to a more transparent market and improve the reliability of companies.Quick shipping, great returns — almost perfect
it sliced the bark but didn’t really bite through cleanly, which was frustrating since that was the whole point for me.
So I returned it and that part went really smoothly. Return label, clear instructions, simple process — felt like switching on autopilot. They got the return, I waited the expected few days, and then I got the refund notification. At first I thought it was all done, but the refund didn’t include shipping and the small tax on shipping. That rubbed me the wrong way because their site wording made me expect a full refund if returned within the window. I wasn’t angry, more like disappointed — especially given how well everything else had gone.
I reached out and they actually fixed it. After a little back-and-forth they issued the missing shipping/tax refund, and that turned my whole experience around. So, keep in mind: the team is responsive and will make it right if something’s off, but the policy language could be clearer up front to avoid that brief annoyance. My take-away and advice for others: don’t assume everything on the refund page is crystal clear — ask or screenshot policies if it matters to you — but also don’t be afraid to return stuff because their process is painless and they follow through.
All in all, not flawless, but definitely positive. Quick delivery, easy returns, responsive service — I'd buy again, maybe try a different model next time. Small wish: clearer refund wording would save everyone a little hassle.Not what I expected from a specialty shop
the box was half held together with tape and one end was ripped wide open. So I set it down, took pictures, and started poking around. The ladder itself turned out to be cracked, and the owner's manual was nowhere to be found. That moment — holding what was supposed to be a solid, wooden extendable ladder and realizing it was damaged and not even the right material — was the start of a long, annoying back-and-forth. I called customer service, uploaded photos, they sent a UPS return label, but the fine print said it had to go back in its original box. Problem: the original box was trashed. I told them that and was told to buy a new box at UPS, get a receipt, and they'd "handle it" (the rep said they couldn't actually reimburse me, only issue store credit). I didn't want store credit — I want actual reimbursement for an out-of-pocket expense caused by their damaged shipping. I took the ladder to UPS thinking a box would be cheap; the clerk quoted me something like $97 + tax for a proper crate. So I ended up paying $102.82 out of pocket to box up their damaged shipment so I could send it back. I sent the receipt to customer service and asked for a check; they offered store credit. I said no, please escalate. Then silence, then "we're investigating," then "be patient." No timeline, no explanation of what was being investigated, just repetitions of "this takes time." To be fair, they did refund the original purchase price eventually — that was a relief. I'm grateful for that, and honestly, I appreciate that part, because at least I wasn't stuck with the ladder itself. But the lack of ownership over the extra shipping/packaging cost, plus the handoff between reps (Melvin, Rene, etc.), felt like being passed around. It could've been handled so much cleaner: authorize a box reimbursement immediately when the original was clearly unusable, offer a prepaid pickup, or just issue a check once the receipt was sent. I've had returns with other specialty stores where they just ate the box cost if it was their fault — that felt less bureaucratic. So overall: the product was disappointing out of the box, the feel and construction weren't what I expected, and the return process left a sour taste. Still, I'm glad the item price was refunded; I just wish they'd be quicker and more straightforward about reimbursing expenses they caused.
Not what I expected — and a pain to return
this isn’t wood. That was the first weird thing — I’d ordered a beechwood extendable ladder expecting the heft and scent of wood, and instead it felt flimsy and... different. Then I noticed the split in one of the rungs. So yeah, not great to find that while you’re balancing on it. The packaging was another mess. The box that arrived was basically held together with tape; corners blown out, long sides ripped, kind of a sad-looking package on my porch. No manual either, so I had to guess at the little knobs and stops. I took photos right away — the broken rung, the torn box, the missing paperwork — and contacted customer service like you do. They sent a UPS return label, which sounds fine until you actually try to hand the thing back. The return instructions said to drop it off in a boxed package. Problem: the original box was unusable. I called and explained that I couldn’t reuse the battered box and that buying a new one seemed reasonable. The rep told me to go ahead to UPS, buy a box, and send the receipt — but that the company would only issue store credit, not a refund, for that expense. That felt off to me, because I didn’t want to be forced to spend more there just to cover their shipping snafu. I took it to UPS anyway figuring it wouldn’t be huge; tell you what, the clerk quoted me over ninety dollars for a heavy-duty crate to safely return the ladder. I paid $102.82 total including tax, sent the receipt back, and asked for reimbursement by check. The response I got was basically “we’re investigating” with no timeline, and then nudges to “be patient.” They did refund the ladder price eventually, but months went by with no word about the $102.82 I had to pay just to return a damaged item. Beyond the money it’s the inconvenience that stuck with me — time off work, hauling the ladder around, that nagging feeling that I was being shuffled. If you’re buying this for home projects — painting, reaching gutters, light fixtures — think about the risk of getting a damaged unit and the hassle if you have to return it. When it did work, the extension mechanism felt smooth enough, and it would have been handy for the odd jobs I do around the house, but between the wrong material, the broken rung, and the return runaround, I’m left frustrated and wary of buying from them again.
Lightweight garden hose purchase
I bought a new lightweight garden hose from this company not too long ago. But man, I was super bummed out by how bad it turned out to be. After just a year of using it, the hose started leaking about 18 inches back from the nozzle. And to make matters worse, the nozzle straight up came off the hose completely. I've got other garden hoses that are ancient and still going strong, so I definitely didn't think this new one would poop out on me after one summer of use.
Tool set purchase
I bought a tool set from this company, and man, I was really let down by their lack of communication and service. They took my money right away, but it took them a whole 10 days to give me any info on my order. I had to bug them with a bunch of phone calls just to find out that one of the things I bought was out of stock. That's just not cool. It's totally unprofessional.
Tool items purchase
I bought four tools back in January, hoping they'd arrive quickly. But it turned into a mess when all I got was an email saying they'd ship soon, and nothing happened for weeks. I tried talking to customer service, but all they did was say they'd get back to me, which they never did. Eventually, I got some money back on my card, but in a weird currency and with no explanation. I'd rather have the tools late than not get them at all. This whole ordeal taught me to not trust Garrett Wade's promises or shipping. From now on, I'll stick with a more reliable supplier like Lee Valley.
wood-carving chisel set
The wood-carving chisel set I bought was really good, just what I needed. But one of the chisels was messed up, so I had to return it. That's when things went south. I used the return tag and label they gave me, but I had to bug customer service a bunch of times to make sure they got it and when I'd get my money back. Dealing with the chat bot was annoying, and when I finally reached a real person, it still took forever to fix the problem. It ended up taking weeks for me to get my refund. It's frustrating that a company that sells awesome stuff doesn't have their act together when it comes to returns.
Wrong item delivery, slow delivery time
I can't believe how incompetent this company is. My order took way longer to arrive than they said it would, and when it finally got here, it was sent to the wrong address! On top of that, they sent the wrong item. I asked for a refund right away and to cancel my order, but nothing has happened yet. It's been days and there's been no sign of a refund. This is totally unacceptable, and I won't be shopping here again.
Refund Policy
The 90-day return policy may sound good on paper, but let me tell you, it's a total joke. I tried to return something for a refund, but they kept giving me less money back than I should have gotten. And don't even get me started on their customer service - they were so rude and unhelpful. It was a total nightmare trying to get this sorted out, spent hours on the phone arguing with them and being put on hold. In the end, I got absolutely nowhere. My advice? Stay away from these incompetent fools.
Garden hose
The stuff they sell at this store isn't all that great, even though they say it is. I bought a garden hose from them and it burst after only a year. When I contacted customer service, they wouldn't do anything about it because it was just over a year old. I was really let down because I thought the product would be better. I'll definitely think twice before buying anything else from them.
Ratcheting pruning shears
I've always thought highly of your products, but I was let down by the ratcheting pruning shears I recently bought. They were made in Taiwan and just didn't meet my expectations. The manufacturing quality wasn't great, and they had too much plastic, making for a below average product. Being an engineer, I could tell the blade wasn't lining up with the strike plate properly, and the ratcheting mechanism felt cheap. Those are pretty big issues in my book. I was disappointed with the shears, so I ended up returning them, figuring I could find better ones at Home Depot or somewhere else. It's sad to see a brand I used to trust put out products like this.
Hand carved duck call from a specific location
I recently bought a hand carved duck call from a particular store, but I never got an email confirming my order with the tracking number. It's frustrating and makes me unsure about where my order is. I tried contacting customer service through email, but haven't gotten a reply with the tracking info I need. The lack of communication has been disappointing and not what I'm used to when shopping online.
Salt and pepper shakers
My partner and I bought a pair of wooden salt and pepper shakers from this company about a year ago. They came in great condition, and we were really happy with how nice they looked. We recently got another set to give as a gift, but when they arrived, they were both messed up with nicks and chips because they were just in a flimsy plastic bag. We reached out to customer service and sent over some pictures of the damage. They said they would send us a new set, but sadly, the replacement arrived with the same issues from being in a thin plastic bag. We were pretty let down by the lack of care when they shipped it, so now we've decided we won't be buying anything else from them in the future.
'garden kneeler'
I recently bought this thing called a 'garden kneeler' and boy, it's been a real mess. I ordered it weeks ago, thinking I'll get it in time for a special event, but turns out it's on back order. They keep saying it'll ship soon, but here I am, still waiting. And those constant emails about other products on back order are just annoying and feel like a waste of time. I won't be buying from them again, that's for sure.
Hand tools, knives, knife sharpeners, chain saw chain sharpener, Gerstner chests.
I have to say, I am completely blown away by all the negative reviews circulating about this company. I've been a customer for a long time and I can tell you they offer a bunch of cool and inventive products that always catch my eye. Whether it's the Yankee Drill, the German Hand Drill, knives, knife sharpeners, or even a chain saw chain sharpener, Garrett and Wade have consistently delivered top-notch quality items. As someone who knows their tools, I really test out each purchase and every time, I'm impressed by how well their products hold up and perform. And let me tell you, their Gerstner chests are just beautiful - I've got one of them storing my prized knife collection right now. In my experience, their customer service has always been great, and while they might not ship as fast as Amazon, it's still reasonable.
Tool set
I was really let down by my purchase from this company. The packaging was terrible, which led to the box getting damaged during shipping. And when I finally opened it up, the items inside were also damaged and looked used. I tried reaching out to Customer Service but ran into a problem because they weren't in the US. I gave them tracking information to show what happened, but they just couldn't seem to get it. So now I'm thinking of disputing the charge on my credit card. And trying to call their customer service line was like a comedy sketch where no one actually picks up. It's just so frustrating.
Lopping shears with extendable handles
I bought some lopping shears with extendable handles recently, and I ran into a problem with the plastic buttons that release the handles to extend. One of the buttons broke, so now the handle won't stay locked in place. I contacted customer service, but they told me they couldn't fix it and suggested I just buy another pair. I wasn't happy with that answer, so I've decided not to buy anything from them again.
Incorrect item received
I got the wrong item and had to deal with really bad customer service to fix it. They didn't even follow their own return policy, so I had to spend extra time and money to make it right. Definitely not shopping there again.
Mini tool set
I got this mini tool set and it's awesome! It's like my very own little toolbox that I can take with me wherever I go. The tools are strong and work great. Plus, they come in this adorable little case that helps me keep them all in place.
Master-Select Crafts Tool Set
I bought the Master-Select Crafts Tool Set because I needed a bunch of tools for my DIY projects. Turns out, I was really let down by the quality. The tool case showed up broken, some tool accessories were loose, and the hammering block was ripped out of the case. When I tried using the small handheld vise, the handle broke off after only one use. On top of that, the hammer had a big dent on it, and the metal shear latch was completely stuck shut. Honestly, the quality of these tools was pretty bad, especially for Chinese manufacturers.
About Garrett Wade
Garrett Wade is a company that specializes in providing high-quality hand tools and woodworking tools, catering to professionals, hobbyists, and DIY enthusiasts. Founded in 1975, the company has established itself by focusing on offering unique, hard-to-find tools from around the world, emphasizing durability, performance, and craftsmanship. Garrett Wade sources their products globally, ensuring that they meet their high standards for functionality and design. Over the years, it has built a reputation for its exceptional customer service, comprehensive product guides, and commitment to quality, appealing to a clientele that values traditional tools and techniques in their work.
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Categories Garrett Wade
Online Shop | Home and Garden | Office, Hobby & Party Supplies | Sport & Outdoor | Children & Baby
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Last update: May 2026
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Review with most votes
A Review of Garrett Wade
I have been a customer of Garrett Wade for several years now and I have always been impressed with their products and customer service. The quality of their woodworking and gard... Read onBy: Hoyt Rath