2018 BF Traditional Knife

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Leslie Tomville said:
I wonder if any members have a business that is set up to receive payments, create receipts and mailing lists, and make disbursements?
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I'm curious whether or not GEC will deal with "some random person" rather than an established GEC dealer for this sort of thing. I have zero information to go on, just thinking aloud.
 
Dadpool said:
I'm curious whether or not GEC will deal with "some random person" rather than an established GEC dealer for this sort of thing. I have zero information to go on, just thinking aloud.
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I think GEC wouldn't have a conscience on the matter. Once the knives are paid for and they are received by the intended party, their hands are clean. It is not of GEC's concern what this party does with the knives.

That would be the concern of the porch members that paid for their knives, and will have to be relegated to trusting a third party.
 
gunstockjack said:
hand writing all communications and labels is really not feasible. It took me nearly a week last year to mail all the orders, so it's no small task.
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My hat is off to you Barry, that is a lot of time to give to the community, and I think anyone volunteering should seriously consider the task they are signing up for.

Even if someone has a USPS account and label making equipment, packaging, transporting, and mailing this volume of orders is not a small task, even with a dedicated packaging/ shipping station. It's not something that would be easily done on a kitchen table for instance... Then there is the cost of materials, filler, tape, plus the logistics of getting a couple hundred boxes on hand.
 
I have no problem putting the upfront money down with GEC until someone gets the individual monies collected. I also have no problem working with a point person to get the specifics of production lined out with GEC. I'm not a large dealer, but I do have an accountant - and he has told me I would be silly to collect the money and take on the liability of international shipments and satisfactions for the 3% loss it will cost in finance charges. So, if someone else will collect payments and have the money ready to pay in full and take factory delivery / make individual shipments - I don't think this would be any problem. I have already talked to Bill and I think we can work whatever quantity is required as long as it not crazy low. But they will make extras and need a plan for those; otherwise the last 10-20 buyers will need to be prepared to suffer any production defect loss.
 
knifeswapper said:
I have no problem putting the upfront money down with GEC until someone gets the individual monies collected. I also have no problem working with a point person to get the specifics of production lined out with GEC. I'm not a large dealer, but I do have an accountant - and he has told me I would be silly to collect the money and take on the liability of international shipments and satisfactions for the 3% loss it will cost in finance charges. So, if someone else will collect payments and have the money ready to pay in full and take factory delivery / make individual shipments - I don't think this would be any problem. I have already talked to Bill and I think we can work whatever quantity is required as long as it not crazy low. But they will make extras and need a plan for those; otherwise the last 10-20 buyers will need to be prepared to suffer any production defect loss.
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I appreciate the input and your offer, but I do think that the hurdle will be the receiving, divvying up, and reshipping of the knives.

It is good to know that we have someone that is willing to step up to the plate and deal as an intermediary between the general public and GEC. But I do believe we will have to figure out the shipping aspect prior to any major movement on the GEC side of the fence.
 
knifeswapper said:
I have no problem putting the upfront money down with GEC until someone gets the individual monies collected. I also have no problem working with a point person to get the specifics of production lined out with GEC. I'm not a large dealer, but I do have an accountant - and he has told me I would be silly to collect the money and take on the liability of international shipments and satisfactions for the 3% loss it will cost in finance charges. So, if someone else will collect payments and have the money ready to pay in full and take factory delivery / make individual shipments - I don't think this would be any problem. I have already talked to Bill and I think we can work whatever quantity is required as long as it not crazy low. But they will make extras and need a plan for those; otherwise the last 10-20 buyers will need to be prepared to suffer any production defect loss.
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Mike, would you be able to figure all of that into the cost
 
IF
I had access to my home pc I would be all over that label design like a bad dose of meakovirus on a trad forum thread.
A flea on aged bloodhound.

Thats a big positive from you Knifeswapper moving forward I believe in terms of 2019 and GEC.
 
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NJBillK said:
I appreciate the input and your offer, but I do think that the hurdle will be the receiving, divvying up, and reshipping of the knives.

It is good to know that we have someone that is willing to step up to the plate and deal as an intermediary between the general public and GEC. But I do believe we will have to figure out the shipping aspect prior to any major movement on the GEC side of the fence.
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I had this conversation with Leslie earlier. If someone has a verified paypal account, they could take payments which would also record shipping addresses and allow for shipment right from paypal itself. We have someone already to go get them - or they could be shipped from the factory to any individual. You take them out of a big box and put them in a lot of small boxes (USPS provides SFRB boxes free). There are some details that would need to be ironed out; but once you have someone to collect money and someone to pack boxes - the rest is fairly simple.

I have talked to Bill. He needs a configuration, and eventually some money. He will supply knives.
 
Thanks for stepping up, knifeswapper knifeswapper ! That's fantastic news. It seems like we're on the tipping point of having a viable path to a GEC option this year. :eek::D

I would consider throwing my hat into the ring as the "take payment, receive knives, ship out knives" person. I have experience (I run a small business that involves shipping packages) and the logistical hurdles don't seem overlarge; I would need to research the tax implications, though. However I suspect my membership here is too junior to make me the ideal choice (a perspective I understand completely, and respect). :thumbsup:
 
Dadpool Dadpool THANK YOU!

I have enjoyed your posts during my brief tenure here. If we are able to organize ourselves without a dealer, we are going to have to trust each other, and I am willing to do so with you. Please take the time you need to investigate. I have been in communication with Barry, Mike, and Charlie. Although they do not want to do the heavy lifting, I sincerely believe that each of them will help you, and us, with sound advice as we work through issues as they pop up.
 
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knifeswapper said:
I had this conversation with Leslie earlier. If someone has a verified paypal account, they could take payments which would also record shipping addresses and allow for shipment right from paypal itself. We have someone already to go get them - or they could be shipped from the factory to any individual. You take them out of a big box and put them in a lot of small boxes (USPS provides SFRB boxes free). There are some details that would need to be ironed out; but once you have someone to collect money and someone to pack boxes - the rest is fairly simple.

I have talked to Bill. He needs a configuration, and eventually some money. He will supply knives.
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If he wants a configuration for 2019, I would call for a #66 scout.
- Clip main preferred, but not opposed to a spear.
- Secondaries, Sheepsfoot, cap lifter, awl.
- Bail is a take it or leave it. I don't mind either way about its inclusion, but I will remove mine on my user.
- Price point... I know that this would likely be over $100, and I would be ok with that. Considering that many folks want a GEC scout, I am sure the pattern would be worth the investment for GEC to make for future runs.
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If not a #66 Scout, I would want a Sowbelly. Clip main, Sheepsfoot secondary, open on a third blade (if necessary). I would be absolutely fine with a single spring two bladed Sowbelly.

One Sowbelly with this modification has been dubbed a "Beerbelly". A cap lifter would work nicely alongside the main. This would offer more legroom for the Sheepsfoot to have some length added.
 
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NJBillK said:
If he wants a configuration for 2019, I would call for a #66 scout.
- Clip main preferred, but not opposed to a spear.
- Secondaries, Sheepsfoot, cap lifter, awl.
- Bail is a take it or leave it. I don't mind either way about its inclusion, but I will remove mine on my user.
- Price point... I know that this would likely be over $100, and I would be ok with that. Considering that many folks want a GEC scout, I am sure the pattern would be worth the investment for GEC to make for future runs.
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If not a #66 Scout, I would want a Sowbelly. Clip main, Sheepsfoot secondary, open on a third blade (if necessary). I would be absolutely fine with a single spring two bladed Sowbelly.

One Sowbelly with this modification has been dubbed a "Beerbelly". A cap lifter would work nicely alongside the main. This would offer more legroom for the Sheepsfoot to have some length added.
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As for 2019 this would be a fantastic choice just as described and I second the sowbelly (beer belly) as well.
 
NJBillK NJBillK My understanding is that there can be no profit, but actual costs can be included. There is no requirement that anyone spend their own money. We obviously would never let that happen, and we must put safeguards in place. All the details must be gone over with Spark if and when we have a plan. However Stephen at SKblades told me that Spark’s primary concern when they spoke was that it not be for profit.

With reference to patterns for 2019, with Mikes help, I believe many things are possible. But I hope we can work with Dadpool Dadpool first to work out a logistical system.
 
Please get all the information you need Dadpool Dadpool . We should take this one step at a time and try to develop the best system we can for the future. Most important is the effect it would have on you. We are fortunate to have Buck and SKblades with us for this year. There is no need to rush things.
 
The issue of volunteering time and money by individuals for zero recompense has come up before...maybe 4 years?? ago.
My suggestion was to all chip in and shout the doers and their partners out for a top of town meal in a swank restaraunt.
Mainly to say Thanks for the fantastic effort and work they put in.
That never happened:oops:.
Taking the idea a step further in terms of the last few posts how about establishing a slush fund in the paypal account of him who takes the responsibilty.
This way it is a gift and could not be considered profit .@ say 20bux a head.
?? 5 star food drinks included for thought.
 
I was made aware of this thread last night. And although the conversation with Leslie seemed beneficial via PM, it has taken the tone now of any dealer that won't take it on completely is not a friend of the forum. Generally I don't feel compelled to outline my entire line of thought, but for those that feel like a dealer (more specifically me) should take this on, I will explain at this point.

You are welcome to use my Early Reserve System to gather emails. But it does not have a quantity, so anybody wanting more than one will need to be dealt with separately.
I would be glad to put the product on my site for sales, but I don't allow an international shipping address.
I would be glad to send a pdf of all the labels, but I still don't process international addresses.

-Now, any store that accepts and prints labels for international customers could handle the money collection. They could sell at costs, so no tax implications.
-Or any two members that have a verified paypal account can post pay.me links (one link for U.S. and one for international). I say two because $20k in sales or 200 transactions is going to prompt a 1099 and two people could split them up (even birth months to one, odd to the other)
-Estimated shipping costs and paypal finance charges could be added to the price so the collecting members don't lose money.
-The money could be taken to GEC or F/F paypal to me and I will front money to GEC.
-GEC will deliver the knives to one or two members as needed.
-Two members can print labels directly from paypal and ship their half of the orders.

I don't think it will be very complicated as I have said before. But I simply am not going to take orders shipping to international addresses or ship boxes to international addresses. I would love to, but this was part of a past negotiation with Fish & Wildlife that I am not willing to flirt with.
 
That is very helpful information Mike, thank you. This is just a big brainstorming session, and we are only trying to search for a way for GEC to be in competition for the Forum Knife, if not this year in future years. I find it very hard to communicate nuances in these short written posts and hope the tone was not misunderstood. Yes, we would love to see a dealer, any dealer, take this on. But we can also all clearly see how difficult it is to do this without profit, and we can understand why someone would choose not to. You have helped us take a few steps forward, and I appreciate that very much. We just need to keep pushing forward and hope that a workable solution emerges.

I have been communicating with Dadpool Dadpool as well. He is working hard to research his ability to take this on. It is already apparent that he might need the assistance of two other volunteers with verified PayPal accounts. If anyone has ideas or thoughts in that regard, you might want to reach out to him or announce it here.
 
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