- Joined
- Oct 20, 2016
- Messages
- 201
Hi guys and gals and everyone else in the gender-cloud! I’ve come to the end of my first full year here, so I thought I’d share my impressions as I close out my 2017 BladeForums experience.
I haven’t regretted signing up to the butchiest knife forum on the web (yet). Sure, knives have taken over my life and cost me north of $5000AU this year, but becoming part of the BladeForums community has amplified my masculinity to dangerous levels. In fact, I’d say the only other event that’s made me more of a man is puberty.
All my direct interactions with other humans have been wonderful, although clearly there are some members here who have not yet mastered the social nuances of our culture. Perhaps there are aliens among us? But yeah, almost everyone’s helpful and good-natured, even the spambots. There’s a genuine sense of community here. So thank you everyone.
There’s a lot of wisdom here too, a lot of teachers, a lot of lessons if you’re keen. After a year of observation, here’s what I’ve learned. You’re more than welcome to add any further tips.
For knife-makers:
COMMUNICATION, COMMUNICATION, COMMUNICATION. Silence doesn’t solve your problems. Avoidance isn’t effective. Keep your buyers informed and provide professional customer service. This one’s not an option.
If you take full payment up-front, then you’re just asking for trouble. I mean, I love a good Ponzi Scheme as much as the next guy, but if you want to Survive! in the knife world, don’t push it.
Keep your production schedule reasonable. Don’t promise 500 knives by the end of the week.
Don’t provide a stream of excuses for delays. People will accept one or two stumbles—life happens—as long as you convey that ASAP, with complete honesty. But a vague, never-ending stream of, “My dead Grandmother got lost in the post and my dog ate my email because my grinder died as a result of criticism on BladeForums, and I also have leprosy,” will quickly erode your customers’ trust and forever harm your reputation.
For sellers:
I love seeing a picture of a knife in hand. I can see how it fits and get an idea of scale, of how it might feel before I drop my sweet precious money on some metal hand-cactus of regret.
After it’s sold, I also like sellers leaving the price on their listing. That gives me an idea of a piece’s saleable value, and what I might need to save up and pay next time.
Be specific in your post titles. “For Sale” may not pull a lot of views.
If you insist on payment through PayPal Friends and Family, or low-balling the customs value, then please consider this: is saving 20 bucks and voiding your buyer’s protection really worth the public hit to your character? Also, it’s fraud, sunshine.
If you steal from your knife-world brethren, know that you are gutter-slime and shall reap what you have sown.
For everyone else here:
If a seller only accepts F&F, then keep on walkin’ girlfriend.
Do your research. If you give a criminal your money before searching BladeForums, you’ve fooled yourself first.
ALWAYS take a deep breath and re-read your post before uploading. Always. A) It might help de-rantify your message. And B) It might prevent you from butchering the English language, which doth make me bleed profusely from the anus. Butte then agin, qwhat doo; I nkow?
And please, remain calm. Don't burst a blood vessel - that’s a Moderators’ job!
So yeah, thanks again BladeForums. I hope everyone has a great 2018. Try not to stab yourself.
Cheers
I haven’t regretted signing up to the butchiest knife forum on the web (yet). Sure, knives have taken over my life and cost me north of $5000AU this year, but becoming part of the BladeForums community has amplified my masculinity to dangerous levels. In fact, I’d say the only other event that’s made me more of a man is puberty.
All my direct interactions with other humans have been wonderful, although clearly there are some members here who have not yet mastered the social nuances of our culture. Perhaps there are aliens among us? But yeah, almost everyone’s helpful and good-natured, even the spambots. There’s a genuine sense of community here. So thank you everyone.
There’s a lot of wisdom here too, a lot of teachers, a lot of lessons if you’re keen. After a year of observation, here’s what I’ve learned. You’re more than welcome to add any further tips.
For knife-makers:
COMMUNICATION, COMMUNICATION, COMMUNICATION. Silence doesn’t solve your problems. Avoidance isn’t effective. Keep your buyers informed and provide professional customer service. This one’s not an option.
If you take full payment up-front, then you’re just asking for trouble. I mean, I love a good Ponzi Scheme as much as the next guy, but if you want to Survive! in the knife world, don’t push it.
Keep your production schedule reasonable. Don’t promise 500 knives by the end of the week.
Don’t provide a stream of excuses for delays. People will accept one or two stumbles—life happens—as long as you convey that ASAP, with complete honesty. But a vague, never-ending stream of, “My dead Grandmother got lost in the post and my dog ate my email because my grinder died as a result of criticism on BladeForums, and I also have leprosy,” will quickly erode your customers’ trust and forever harm your reputation.
For sellers:
I love seeing a picture of a knife in hand. I can see how it fits and get an idea of scale, of how it might feel before I drop my sweet precious money on some metal hand-cactus of regret.
After it’s sold, I also like sellers leaving the price on their listing. That gives me an idea of a piece’s saleable value, and what I might need to save up and pay next time.
Be specific in your post titles. “For Sale” may not pull a lot of views.
If you insist on payment through PayPal Friends and Family, or low-balling the customs value, then please consider this: is saving 20 bucks and voiding your buyer’s protection really worth the public hit to your character? Also, it’s fraud, sunshine.
If you steal from your knife-world brethren, know that you are gutter-slime and shall reap what you have sown.
For everyone else here:
If a seller only accepts F&F, then keep on walkin’ girlfriend.
Do your research. If you give a criminal your money before searching BladeForums, you’ve fooled yourself first.
ALWAYS take a deep breath and re-read your post before uploading. Always. A) It might help de-rantify your message. And B) It might prevent you from butchering the English language, which doth make me bleed profusely from the anus. Butte then agin, qwhat doo; I nkow?
And please, remain calm. Don't burst a blood vessel - that’s a Moderators’ job!
So yeah, thanks again BladeForums. I hope everyone has a great 2018. Try not to stab yourself.
Cheers