There was a class action lawsuit filed in the state of California on Feb 13, 2020 against Hattori Hanzo. It was filed by a consumer who had purchased shears and stated that the metal used to produce Hattori Hanzo shears was not of Japanese steel because they did not contain the country of origin label behind the pivot.
It's pretty crazy how this information is difficult to find online and was originally found in a forum through a stylist group on Facebook. Hattori Hanzo does do business with Pingyang Yonghe Scissor Co. in Wenzhou City, China but it's unknown of what they have manufactured there. Pingyang Yonghe Scissor Co. does use Chinese metals to make their own shears (and sell them for a fraction of what HH sells their’s for), so there is a possibility that Hattori Hanzo shears are made using these cheap metals.
Not only do I operate Denver Shears Co. but I'm also a licensed cosmetologist and barber and I too have fallen victim to buying $600 Hattori Hanzo shears back in beauty school. Hattori Hanzo's high prices were the reason I started Denver Shears Co. They were controlling the market as one of the monopolies in the industry which is absolutely atrocious. They were charging double...triple the price of shears that other companies were selling and they were able to because of their top-notch marketing. I'm able to sell similar shears for much less than those prices, the only difference is that DSC shears are made of Japanese steel!
The only shear company that I believe is fair with larger price tags is Mizutani Scissors. They come from a 100 year long history of quality shears that are handcrafted in Japan and are ergonomically designed to perfection. They are the kind of shears that you buy yourself as the "ultimate gift". I only wrote this post to avoid having this company scam customers into buying hundreds of dollars worth of products that aren't made of the advertised steel.
If you too have been duped by Hattori Hanzo, check out these links below that can help with potentially getting a refund and a little bit of justice that I stumbled across on a hair forum through Facebook...
Lawsuit:https://www.facebook.com/670735187/posts/10163161651885188/?d=n
How to Report a Consumer Complaint
- File a complaint with your state’s Attorney General online
- Describe your HH marketing scam experience (ex. Country of Origin claim)
- Request a refund
Also report to the Federal Trade Commission...
https://www.ftc.gov/faq/consumer-protection/submit-consumer-complaint-ftc
I’ve never paid that much for shears. I bought a used pair of Hattori’s from eBay for $200.00 and they fold the hair.
We have a sales rep that comes to the shop and tries to get me to buy them for $750.00. I’ve had true Japanese shears ($125.00) that last 30+ years!
It’s disgraceful how people have been treated.
I would like more information about this if possible . I would be interested in adding my story as well
Yeah, they got my ass too. They won’t get another penny and haven’t since I found out. Mind you I have one payment left, they’ve hounded me for it left and right after I canceled my card the payment was under. They got me for 700+ overall and I’d love to hop on this lawsuit.
Please don’t ever get your shears sharpen by a Hanzo Rep! Mine were lost and the rep claims she returned them when it was my day off. She failed to remember she had given me a loaner pair. This company is awful to work with. They will come up with every excuse they can to not take any ownership to their mistakes.
1- took my shears to be sharpened. Only returned 1 pair and said I never gave her the other pair
2- the pair she gave me back weren’t mine so had to throw fit to get right ones that I gave her
3- had insurance on mine. My car was stolen with them inside it and Hanson didn’t replace them like they said they would. I had a total of 5 pairs of shears
4- never got a response from them
Summary- 7 pairs of shears gone and about $3000 total for nothing