• By The Sword InC

By The Sword InC

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Overview

By The Sword InC has a rating of 2.5 stars from 15 reviews, indicating that most customers are generally dissatisfied with their purchases. By The Sword InC ranks 127th among Costumes sites.

  • Service
    6
  • Value
    6
  • Shipping
    6
  • Returns
    1
  • Quality
    6
Positive reviews (last 12 months): 0%
Positive
0
Neutral
0
Negative
1
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How would you rate By The Sword InC?
Top Positive Review

“Halbred head shipped slow but good product (Covid Year)”

Cody W.
11/22/21

For 54 dollars i bought a halberd head which is the type of price i was looking for. I was able to contact the company by phone and they were able to help me to give me an estimated shipping time. The shipping was 20 dollars but seems fair for a heavy large item. It is my first weapon of this type I've bought, besides bowie knife from todd cutler (which cost 3x more.) Not sure if its hardened properly but once i get it onto the shaft soon well see how it fairs. For 54 dollars it seems like it is very solid and well constructed. It took 4.5 months to ship but it was in early 2021 when i ordered it so the pandemic nightmare was still taking its toll. Happy with my order

Top Critical Review

“HORRIBLE QUALITY and TERRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE”

Kathryn D.
12/19/23

My husband recently purchased a Capitano Hat which retails for $169.00. The hat did not fit but even if it did he would never wear something so cheaply made. When he called about returning it he was told it was not returnable. The quality and fit are so poor and it looks like something a child would wear on Halloween. He read the return policy on the bottom of their website before he ordered which does not say that their hats are not returnable. When I also called to inquire the very rude lady told me to pretend to place an order and read through the disclaimer that is found at the bottom of the Order Summary. It appears they intentionally hide that information since it is not found on their return policy.

Reviews (15)

Rating

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Thumbnail of user kathrynd636
1 review
4 helpful votes
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December 19th, 2023

My husband recently purchased a Capitano Hat which retails for $169.00. The hat did not fit but even if it did he would never wear something so cheaply made. When he called about returning it he was told it was not returnable. The quality and fit are so poor and it looks like something a child would wear on Halloween. He read the return policy on the bottom of their website before he ordered which does not say that their hats are not returnable. When I also called to inquire the very rude lady told me to pretend to place an order and read through the disclaimer that is found at the bottom of the Order Summary. It appears they intentionally hide that information since it is not found on their return policy.

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality
Thumbnail of user codyw181
1 review
1 helpful vote
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November 22nd, 2021
Verified purchase

For 54 dollars i bought a halberd head which is the type of price i was looking for. I was able to contact the company by phone and they were able to help me to give me an estimated shipping time. The shipping was 20 dollars but seems fair for a heavy large item. It is my first weapon of this type I've bought, besides bowie knife from todd cutler (which cost 3x more.) Not sure if its hardened properly but once i get it onto the shaft soon well see how it fairs. For 54 dollars it seems like it is very solid and well constructed. It took 4.5 months to ship but it was in early 2021 when i ordered it so the pandemic nightmare was still taking its toll. Happy with my order

Products used:
Poleaxe Head only

Service
Value
Shipping
Quality
Thumbnail of user johnb945
1 review
3 helpful votes
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August 27th, 2017

I ordered over $300 worth of merchandise from this company for Halloween. I never received the sword I ordered! I tried calling, tried emailing, nothing either way. Now I have to go through the charge back process with my credit card. What makes it difficult is that their shipping label says it was shipped to me with another product I ordered which I did get that, but the sword wasn't included! Makes it difficult to prove. Do yourself a favor and try to find an authentic costume store in your city if it is large enough. Avoid this company online unless you want the hassle and bad customer service.

Thumbnail of user lewisc19
1 review
7 helpful votes
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July 21st, 2014

This is just a really great company. The sheer multitude of items they have on their site is incredible. I wish I could have afforded some more stuff. Customer service was great. When I called a person answered and not a machine. These days that is priceless.

Thumbnail of user richardm3585
1 review
1 helpful vote
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May 2nd, 2022

I have been a customer for several years. Their prices are sometimes lower and sometimes higher than other sites, but their customer service has always been top notch. There have many times when they have items in stock when nowhere else does. Dependable.

Products used:
Court Sword.

Service
Value
Shipping
Quality
Thumbnail of user rickp119
2 reviews
12 helpful votes
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August 6th, 2018

Bought boots and asked for brown and they sent black. When I contacted them about this they outwardly lied about sending an email saying they told me that they could not provide brown. I also ordered custom boots and recieved a standard size. Extremely difficult to work with and customer service is non existent. There are many great stores out there with quality products and service, not to mention lower prices. Stay away

Thumbnail of user steven937
1 review
4 helpful votes
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September 16th, 2023
Verified purchase

Will offer items for sale they don't have in stock, will charge you the PayPal fees. Then they will tell you it's not in stock, if you opt for the refund instead of a store credit, they will only refund you item price. You have to eat the PayPal fees for an item they didn't even have in stock in the first place. Do not order from them!

Products used:
None

Service
Value
Shipping
Quality
Thumbnail of user carij1
1 review
6 helpful votes
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March 26th, 2019

This company is absolute crap! DO NOT ORDER! My mother bought an outfit from here for my sister's renaissance wedding, it came in damaged with a loose grommet and a ripped grommet. Also the colors on the website were of an olive green which is one of the wedding colors and the item came in as a light Kelly green. I do know that colors differ on computers being a graphic designer, also my sister worked through college as a seamstress, but they don't differ THAT much. We contacted the company and we were completely talked down to. Also we received an email after the conversations stating that the green shown was not available. Not only did they not allow a return, they wouldn't even give STORE CREDIT if the items were returned. Not that we wanted to place an order for a different item or have anything else to do with them. I am absolutely disgusted with their business practice.

Thumbnail of user robrichmond56
1 review
0 helpful votes
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April 1st, 2023

I ordered Brown Bess bayonet from them. I received it the same week I ordered it. It is a high quality product. The price on it could not be beat anywhere. They offer High quality products at a reasonable price.

Products used:
bayonet

Service
Value
Shipping
Quality
Thumbnail of user jimn665
1 review
1 helpful vote
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April 27th, 2023

I spoke with a lady who checked the inventory before I ordered. She was friendly and extremely helpful. I ordered a couple WW2 uniform items and they shipped out quickly and I received them much sooner than I expected. The prices were good and they had an item I couldn't find elsewhere on the net. I recommend BTS.

Products used:
2 WW2 uniforms

Service
Value
Shipping
Quality
Thumbnail of user jackm482
1 review
8 helpful votes
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January 2nd, 2020

I do not usually write reviews, but I'm compelled to in this case. I received crappy service from By the Sword.

I ordered a replica cossack sword for my son's Christmas present. I ordered this item online on the afternoon of December 20th and paid a premium for 2-day priority shipping. The sword finally arrived the evening of January 2nd by UPS ground delivery.

My purchase order number was not the purchase order number of the sword I received. It was the cossack sword.

I called BTS multiple times and left a voicemail message for customer service. I also emailed their customer service. I didn't hear squat from these people.

Crappy service was my experience with BTS. I will never do business with them again.

Thumbnail of user joanm752
1 review
5 helpful votes
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November 12th, 2021

I returned a damaged sword at my expense $80 and they won't refund me as promised. Hasn't answered quite a few emails etc.
Besides being damaged the sword was garbage

Thumbnail of user bruceb7
1 review
8 helpful votes
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May 6th, 2012

Looking for a good Halloween costume? Do yourself a favor and avoid this nightmare. Eight months ago (yes EIGHT!), I placed an order online for various items for a nifty medieval Halloween costume. Everything arrived on time except a pair of poulaines... those are shoes. By the Sword did not inform me till after I sent three emails to them that my poulaines were on back order, and would arrive shortly- 6 to 8 weeks...

Eight MONTHS later, my poulaines showed up. When I asked if my unopened, unused poulaines could be refunded, By the Sword informed me they were custom made for me (I feel so special)... not returnable, non-refundable. I understand this must be very precise work cobbling shoes to such exacting detail... namely, check the box next to your size-- "10". Okay, all sarcasm aside, this lack of professionalism, lack of courtesy, and lack of honesty on the part of this business puts By the Sword at the absolute bottom of my list. I don't often write negative reviews, but if I can save one honest customer the headache By the Sword gave me, then this review was worth writing.

Thumbnail of user ethanf83
1 review
7 helpful votes
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September 23rd, 2021

I had ordered a plaster cast figurine which arrived shattered. It was packed terribly, loose in the box, in only a plastic bag wrapped in two pieces of packing paper. The woman who answered the call was rude, accepted no responsibility, was not forthcoming in offering any information as to how to rectify and ship a new one. She asked me to send pictures of the damaged product, which I had already offered to do, and got snippy with me when I asked for an email address to send them to. I explained that there was no email contact info on the invoice and asked if the sales@ on the business card that was in the box will suffice. "The address in on the website," she snapped. I told her I wanted a refund. "I don't know what I did to piss you off," she said, then without resolving any issues, she hung up on me. Yes, I was a dissatisfied customer and was frustrated by her attitude from the beginning of the call, but I kept my cool. Will I get another shipment or a refund? Time will tell, but I can assure you this outfit will never get my business again.

Tip for consumers:
Find another company to do business with.

Products used:
Sculplure

Thumbnail of user jamesm136
1 review
6 helpful votes
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July 30th, 2013

By the sword has some great medieval products that are very authentic. I mostly bought the clothing they also have a wide variety of weapons as well

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About the business

Fine Quality Medieval and Renaissance Reproductions for the Serious Collector, Reenactor and Live Action Role Player. We've been serving collectors and re-enactors since 1990 and been Online since 1995!

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