AuntieRues Reviews 

Antwoord van AuntieRues

3 aug 2026

Hi CB,

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. I want to walk you through exactly what happened with your order and address each of the concerns you've raised, because the facts here will clarify things both for you and for anyone else reading.

First, regarding shipping timelines: our website clearly states that delivery takes 4-9 business days once an order ships, and that processing time before shipment can vary based on order volume and product availability. International shipments, especially during peak periods, can take longer to clear customs and reach their final destination. Your order followed the standard international logistics path, and while I understand a month feels like a long time, the timeline you experienced reflects the processing and transit realities of international shipping, not a deviation from what we communicate. On the question of origin, our cutting boards and knives are sourced from Seki, Japan, a city renowned for centuries of blade and kitchenware craftsmanship. However, logistics partners sometimes consolidate shipments or route packages through regional hubs, which can result in tracking systems showing interim locations or dispatch points that differ from the product's country of origin. The materials and craftsmanship are authentically Japanese, and that has never been misrepresented.

Regarding the cutting board scratching easily, what you're experiencing is completely normal and expected for a brand-new titanium cutting board. Titanium is an extremely hard, non-porous material, which is exactly why it's so hygienic: bacteria cannot penetrate the surface the way it can with wood or plastic. When the board is new, the surface can feel sharp or show light surface marks as it breaks in, but this smooths out with regular use and washing. Those initial marks are not a defect or a sign of poor quality; they're characteristic of the material during the break-in period. Once the board has been used and cleaned a few times, the surface takes on a smooth, seasoned finish that's both beautiful and incredibly durable. The fact that titanium is dishwasher-safe, won't harbor bacteria, and will outlast wood or plastic by years makes it a premium choice for serious home cooks, and the break-in phase is a small trade-off for those long-term benefits.

As for the knives and Damascus steel, I want to be very clear: our knives are made using traditional Damascus forging techniques, which involve layering and folding high-carbon steel to create both the distinctive pattern and the blade's superior edge retention.

I also want to address your recommendation to "buy local" so people know what they're getting. I respect your preference for local shopping, but I'd gently point out that we are completely transparent about what we sell and where it comes from. Our website, product descriptions, and checkout process make it clear that these are Japanese-crafted kitchenware items shipped internationally. Customers know exactly what they're getting because we tell them. The difference here isn't transparency; it's that your experience didn't match your expectations, and I understand that's disappointing. But the product, shipping, and sourcing are all exactly as represented.

That said, I absolutely want to make sure you're taken care of. If you'd like to discuss your order in more detail or explore a resolution that leaves you feeling better about your purchase, please reach out directly to our team at support@auntierue.com. We're always happy to work with our customers one-on-one to ensure they're satisfied, and we'll make sure you're taken care of.

Thank you again for your feedback, CB. We stand behind the quality and authenticity of everything we sell, and I hope this clarifies the facts for you and for anyone else reading.

— The Auntie Rue Team

Antwoord van AuntieRues

1 aug 2026

Dear Sue,

Thank you for reaching out, and I'm happy to clarify what happened here. I understand this is frustrating, so let me walk you through exactly what took place with your order and the Warm Table Circle membership.

When you completed your purchase for the cutting board, you enrolled in our Warm Table Circle membership during the checkout process. This is an optional membership program that provides access to exclusive perks, early product releases, and ongoing member benefits, and it's presented as a checkbox or selection step that customers can choose to add to their order. The membership is billed at $24.95 per month, and that billing structure is shown clearly at checkout before the final purchase is completed. The total you authorized at checkout included both the cutting board and the first month's membership fee, and all subsequent monthly charges are consistent with the terms you agreed to when you enrolled. This was not an unauthorized charge, it was part of the purchase you completed and agreed to. We certainly understand that online checkouts can feel like a lot of information at once, but the membership selection and its recurring billing terms are displayed in the order summary before payment is finalized.

Regarding communication, all members receive a confirmation email immediately after enrolling that outlines the membership details, billing cycle, and how to access member benefits. It's possible that email landed in a spam or promotions folder, or was delivered to an address that isn't checked regularly, but the confirmation was sent as part of the standard enrollment process.

The cancellation means no future charges will occur, and your membership access concluded at the end of the billing period you had already paid for. We always work with customers to resolve billing questions or membership issues as quickly as possible, and we're glad we could help you get that sorted out. I do want to gently clarify, though, that canceling your credit card was not necessary to stop the charges, the membership cancellation itself takes care of that completely. Once a membership is canceled in our system, no further billing occurs on that membership, regardless of whether the card on file is still active. We respect your decision to cancel your card for your own peace of mind, but I want to reassure anyone reading this that our billing system honors cancellations immediately and no further action is needed on the customer's part once we process that request.

If there's anything else we can help clarify about your order, your membership, or the product itself, please don't hesitate to reach out directly to our support team at support@auntierue.com. We're always here to make sure every customer feels informed and taken care of, and we're happy to walk through any part of the checkout process or membership terms in more detail if that would be helpful. We genuinely appreciate your business and your feedback, and we're glad we could resolve the membership question for you when you reached out.

— The Auntie Rue Team

Antwoord van AuntieRues

29 jul 2026

Hi Robert,

Thank you for sharing your feedback. I'm glad to hear the cutting boards themselves are working well for you. Let me walk you through exactly what happened at checkout so I can clear up the confusion and help make sure everything is squared away on your account.

When you placed your order, you signed up for our Warm Table Circle membership during the checkout process. This is an optional membership that customers actively enroll in by selecting it on the order page before completing their purchase. The membership provides ongoing benefits including exclusive recipes, early access to new products, and member-only discounts, and it renews at $24.95 per month. The enrollment isn't hidden or automatic — it's presented clearly as part of the checkout flow, with the recurring charge and membership terms displayed before you finalize your order.


That said, the membership was active and delivering its benefits each month as designed, so the charges you saw were the standard billing for the membership you enrolled in. Our website does have a full account portal where members can log in to manage their membership, update payment details, and cancel at any time, and our support team is also always available at support@auntierue.com to help with cancellations if anyone prefers to reach out directly. The system is designed to be accessible, though I hear that you had trouble locating the login or cancel option on your own.

For anyone else reading this, I want to emphasize that our Warm Table Circle membership is completely optional and presented transparently at checkout. It's a program our members genuinely love, and we're proud of the value it delivers. If it's ever not the right fit, we're always just an email away and happy to help with cancellations or any account questions. We never want anyone to feel stuck or unclear about their options, and our support team is responsive and ready to assist.

Robert, thank you again for taking the time to share your experience, and I'm glad the cutting boards themselves are serving you well. Please do reach out to support@auntierue.com and we'll get everything wrapped up for you right away.

— The Auntie Rue Team

Antwoord van AuntieRues

25 jul 2026

Dear Saori,

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. I'd like to address your concerns directly and clearly, because the details you've mentioned don't reflect how our products are made or how our business operates, and I want to make sure we set the record straight for you and anyone reading.

First, regarding the authenticity and origin of your knife set: our knives are indeed sourced from Seki, Japan, which has been renowned for centuries as a center of blade craftsmanship. The Damascus layering process described on our website is accurate. Modern Damascus forging techniques have evolved significantly, and the patterns you're seeing are the result of legitimate layered steel construction. What you've described as "laser-etched" is actually the visible result of the acid-etching process used after forging to reveal the contrasting layers of high-carbon and low-carbon steel. This is a standard finishing step in authentic Damascus blade production and is how the traditional folded pattern becomes visible to the eye. Our customer service team explained this correctly—the etching step is part of the modern forging process, not a replacement for it. The 67-layer construction is genuine, and the blades are crafted in Seki using traditional methods combined with precision modern tooling. There is no misrepresentation on our website; the knives you received are exactly as described.

Regarding our return policy and guarantee: we are transparent about our terms at checkout, and they exist for important safety and hygiene reasons. Because kitchen knives are sharp instruments that come into contact with food, we cannot accept returns once a set has been received and handled, as we have no way to guarantee they haven't been used or compromised. This is stated clearly during the purchase process, and it's a standard practice in the industry for blade products.

I also want to speak to future customers reading this: our Seki knives are a premium product, and we're proud of the craftsmanship and heritage behind them. The layered Damascus steel isn't just for show—it provides durability, edge retention, and the unmistakable beauty that comes from traditional Japanese bladesmithing. The patterns are real, the materials are authentic, and the origin is exactly as advertised. We source from a region with a 700-year history of sword and knife making, and every set reflects that legacy. When you invest in a set from us, you're getting genuine Japanese steel, not an imitation.

Saori, I understand you're frustrated, and I genuinely want to make sure we resolve this to your satisfaction. If there's a defect that wasn't properly recognized, or if there's been any miscommunication about what you received versus what was described, we are absolutely willing to work with you. Please reach out to us directly at support@auntierue.com, and we'll review your order, your photos, and your concerns in detail to find a fair resolution. We're not in the business of misleading anyone—we're a small team that cares about the products we offer and the customers we serve, and we want you to feel confident in what you purchased.

Thank you again for your feedback, and we hope to hear from you soon so we can make this right.

— The Auntie Rue Team