Has XIKAR Finally Managed to Overcome Its Recent QC and Warranty Problem?

[Connoisseur Kim]

From my recent Cigar Cutter Question posts, I saw some folks recommended me to try XIKAR Cutters like MTX Cigar Scissors. However, I'm still concerned about their QC and warranty issue.

Has XIKAR finally managed to restore it to former glory or continuing to go downhill to abyss? I haven't hear the news of XIKAR fixes its QC and warranty issue from all cigar forums yet...

[Bagman]

I have 2 of their cutters and they are great.  Never an issue.

I have 2 of their lighters and they both suck.  Sending them in for repair is a joke.  Be prepared to wait months only to get a lighter that exhibits the same issue shortly after receiving your replacement/fixed lighter.

I've spent years singing their praise.  Not anymore.

[Connoisseur Kim]

6 hours ago, Monterey said:

I have 2 of their cutters and they are great.  Never an issue. I have 2 of their lighters and they both suck.  Sending them in for repair is a joke.  Be prepared to wait months only to get a lighter that exhibits the same issue shortly after receiving your replacement/fixed lighter. I've spent years singing their praise.  Not anymore.  

Yeah, I saw you took really long time to get new lighter, and ended up with experiencing the same issue on our folk's XIKAR QC and Warranty rant post. This made me concerned about XIKAR products even more (interested in Xi1 though, will get Lotus Jaws Serrated Cutter too). 

[El Presidente]

From my experience the cutters are great value for money. 

[Nino]

The cutters and Multitool scissors are great - I've had issues with a pair of scissors and they were replaced, no problem.

Still - would Xikar still produce them in Solingen ( or Sheffield for that matter ) like they used to, there would be like 90% less issues ...

Xikar Lighters ? No thanks .... rather use matches ?

[Wookie]

Xikar has been good to me... probably have had at least 20 of their cutters, lighters, punches and travel cases over the years.  I've sent at least 6 broken lighters back and they've always replaced or upgraded me.  Latest return was under the new system 6-9 months ago.  I sent back a $40 lighter and received a $75+ value replacement that is working fine. Sorry to hear others have had a bad experience. (I always write a kind, appreciative note when I return something.)

[TBird55]

Have a cutter, works great(6years). Have 2 lighters, a double and a triple flame. Haven't had any issues in about 2 years.  Blow the jets occasional with compressed air to keep them clean. Last time I  had one quit, took it to the b&m where I  purchased it, and they just swapped it out for a new one. They said the Xikar rep. told them to just switch them out.

[meatball41]

I'm still on my first cutter although I had to superglue the wood grips back on it but that was a long time ago, its been fine other than that.  I've had it 7-8 years now.  I recently replaced my XTX dual jet lighter under warranty, it lasted about 3-4 years.  The adjustment wheel came off and I lost it.  I used it for several months without it then something happened to the valve seal and it would not hold gas anymore so I sent it back.  (The XTX was a warranty replacement for the first Xikar lighter I had that stopped working in less than a year)  I recently received the warranty replacement for the XTX so I'm on my third lighter now.  The XTX was back-ordered so I asked them if they could fill the replacement order with something comparable and they did.  I have the Turano or Tursimo something or other now - It's one of the "flat flame" models.  It took about six weeks to get it but it works and I like trigger slider button.  As long as they keep replacing them for free I'll keep sending them back when they wear out.  My only complaint is the time it takes to get the warranty replacement, six weeks is excessive.

[Connoisseur Kim]

6 hours ago, El Presidente said:

From my experience the cutters are great value for money. 

 

5 hours ago, nino said:

The cutters and Multitool scissors are great - I've had issues with a pair of scissors and they were replaced, no problem.

Still - would Xikar still produce them in Solingen ( or Sheffield for that matter ) like they used to, there would be like 90% less issues ...

Xikar Lighters ? No thanks .... rather use matches ?

Thanks, El Pres and El Señor Nino! I agree that XIKAR cutters are one of the great cigar cutters. For lighters, I found that FOH Torch is stronger than my XIKAR Executive II (still works like champ though) even at the lower setting ?! I might consider getting S.T. Dupont Defi Extreme in someday.

3 hours ago, Wookie said:

Xikar has been good to me... probably have had at least 20 of their cutters, lighters, punches and travel cases over the years.  I've sent at least 6 broken lighters back and they've always replaced or upgraded me.  Latest return was under the new system 6-9 months ago.  I sent back a $40 lighter and received a $75+ value replacement that is working fine. Sorry to hear others have had a bad experience. (I always write a kind, appreciative note when I return something.)

 

2 hours ago, TBird55 said:

Have a cutter, works great(6years). Have 2 lighters, a double and a triple flame. Haven't had any issues in about 2 years.  Blow the jets occasional with compressed air to keep them clean. Last time I  had one quit, took it to the b&m where I  purchased it, and they just swapped it out for a new one. They said the Xikar rep. told them to just switch them out.

Thank you for sharing the positive experience! Surprised to hear that XIKAR still allows B&M to swap faulty products to new one! Also, I didn't expect that XIKAR continues to give upgraded replacement as warranty!

1 hour ago, meatball41 said:

I'm still on my first cutter although I had to superglue the wood grips back on it but that was a long time ago, its been fine other than that.  I've had it 7-8 years now.  I recently replaced my XTX dual jet lighter under warranty, it lasted about 3-4 years.  The adjustment wheel came off and I lost it.  I used it for several months without it then something happened to the valve seal and it would not hold gas anymore so I sent it back.  (The XTX was a warranty replacement for the first Xikar lighter I had that stopped working in less than a year)  I recently received the warranty replacement for the XTX so I'm on my third lighter now.  The XTX was back-ordered so I asked them if they could fill the replacement order with something comparable and they did.  I have the Turano or Tursimo something or other now - It's one of the "flat flame" models.  It took about six weeks to get it but it works and I like trigger slider button.  As long as they keep replacing them for free I'll keep sending them back when they wear out.  My only complaint is the time it takes to get the warranty replacement, six weeks is excessive.

Much appreciated! Taking six weeks for getting warranty replacement is torture to me as well ?! Glad that XIKAR still provides its signature lifetime warranty at least. By the way, is XTX already being discontinued a long time ago (Allume and Xidris replaced XTX if I'm not mistaken) ??

[meatball41]

yeah I think so, XTX and Allume look very similar - I considered that as well and thought that was part of the issue with it being on back order.  I didn't want to wait six weeks and have them tell me it was discontinued and to select something else and then have to wait another six weeks.

[Connoisseur Kim]

1 minute ago, meatball41 said:

yeah I think so, XTX and Allume look very similar - I considered that as well and thought that was part of the issue with it being on back order.  I didn't want to wait six weeks and have them tell me it was discontinued and to select something else and then have to wait another six weeks.

Such a long time to get replacement from XIKAR! I have Executive II which is side squeeze action torch from XIKAR. Is Verano worth to get (I think you're referring Verano for XIKAR flat flame torch)?

[dobbs]

14 hours ago, LonesomeHabanoAficionado said:

Is Verano worth to get (I think you're referring Verano for XIKAR flat flame torch)?

i have a verano and like it a lot for touchups on small ring cigars. easy to use and effective.

-dobbs

[Connoisseur Kim]

i have a verano and like it a lot for touchups on small ring cigars. easy to use and effective.
-dobbs

Much appreciated! I haven't tried flat flame torches yet other than single flame torches. Is flat flame torches behave the same manner as single jet flame torches? I found that flat flame is some kind of mixture with power of double flame and breadth of triple flame according to XIKAR Verano Lighter description.

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[meatball41]

20 hours ago, LonesomeHabanoAficionado said:

Such a long time to get replacement from XIKAR! I have Executive II which is side squeeze action torch from XIKAR. Is Verano worth to get (I think you're referring Verano for XIKAR flat flame torch)?

It is the Verano!  Thanks I couldn't remember the name - I like it so far, it lights every time, nice big fuel window, good flame power.

[dobbs]

7 hours ago, LonesomeHabanoAficionado said:

I found that flat flame is some kind of mixture with power of double flame and breadth of triple flame according to XIKAR Verano Lighter description.

the best way i can describe it is like a cross between a soft-flame and a single jet, or think of it as a soft-flame that doesn't blow out in the wind. that said, the wind affects the flat-flame much more than a jet lighter, just not as bad as a soft-flame.

hope that makes sense, and sorry for the thread-jacking.

-dobbs

[Connoisseur Kim]

4 hours ago, dobbs said:

the best way i can describe it is like a cross between a soft-flame and a single jet, or think of it as a soft-flame that doesn't blow out in the wind. that said, the wind affects the flat-flame much more than a jet lighter, just not as bad as a soft-flame.
hope that makes sense, and sorry for the thread-jacking.
-dobbs

No problem! I really appreciate for your explanation ?!

[Connoisseur Kim]

5 hours ago, meatball41 said:

It is the Verano!  Thanks I couldn't remember the name - I like it so far, it lights every time, nice big fuel window, good flame power.

No problem mate! I really like Single Jet Flame for accurate powerhouse lighting! I'll try Verano Flat Flame Torch in future ?!