A question for those who shop a private dealers

T

TheEdge01

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Apr 3, 2015
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I'm kind of picky when I shop for knives, especially expensive ones. I prefer the knives I purchase to be NIB, not the ones on display that have possibly been handled dozens of times before. IMO, the ones on display shouldn't even be considered new. I realize private stores probably don't keep as much merchandise in stock as larger retailers. I'm probably just overly particular about my knives. When you buy a new knife, do you just accept the display knife, or do you prefer NIB?
 
The knife shops I have bought from have always kept the display knife to put back on display and got me a NIB one from their stock.

If it was the last one they had and I really wanted it, well how much damage could have been done to it just being inspected by people at the counter? Maybe ask for a lightly used discount?

But ideally I do prefer NIB.
 
I generally don't care for disply knives, but if I really want that knife, I will look it over very carefully in bright light. A shop I buy from a lot called Recon in Los Angeles will let you take the knife outside in the sunlight if you want to.
 
TheEdge01 said:
I'm kind of picky when I shop for knives, especially expensive ones. I prefer the knives I purchase to be NIB, not the ones on display that have possibly been handled dozens of times before. IMO, the ones on display shouldn't even be considered new. I realize private stores probably don't keep as much merchandise in stock as larger retailers. I'm probably just overly particular about my knives. When you buy a new knife, do you just accept the display knife, or do you prefer NIB?
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My experience is that the display knife at larger knife stores is not sold unless it's the last one in stock. Typically "one from the back" is presented to customers buying a particular knife. You need to check out the knife you're buying before you buy.

Now. My attitude is generally I want one that has not been handled a lot and a lot is not definable by the customer unless their are visual clues such as you'll see with firearms. But in general, I don't don't particularly have a big problem buying the display piece after I look it over. Stuff is considered "new" until it's sold by the dealer assuming it has not been used to cut things inside the store by employees. Display pieces are often discounted slightly as well.
 
Agreed, one who pays good money
Should expect nothing but spanking new items.
Doesn't make sense to pay full retail for brand new models
Showing signs of being "shelf worn".
Exceptions would be made if for instance
The said item has a high rarity value or
at the time of purchase, being sold at a rock bottom price too hard to resist.
 
I also don't buy a display product ... only exception would be if it's something I really want that I cannot get anywhere else. And then I would inspect it as long as it took to make sure everything was as I would expect buying a NIB product.

And then I might buy it but I would ask for a discount because it is a display model. And make sure what their return policy is in case you get home and find something you over looked.
 
I bought a few knives from knife center that were even the incorrect boxes, tools left out etc. But the knife was new and correct. So I would probably avoid knife center for yourself.

Some vendors will inspect the knives before shipping them, you can ask them to do this for you to verify for you everything is legit... That is unless you don't want anyone going into boxes at all. Then I dunno.
 
Like several others, I've only bought display items when they were the last of that model in stock or a rare item. Hopefully the more rare knives will be handled carefully, but I did once come across a ZT 0600 that had a broken tip due to customer negligence. Thankfully they had another pristine one that I snagged :cool:
 
I like knife stores and go to any that I can find. They almost always will either get one from stock or ask you if you want "that one in your hand or one from the back." I am picky, so I always ask for two to compare. I don't mind buying the display model if it's the last one or better than those not on display. You usually won't get a display model discount unless it is flawed. Once I wanted a flawed display model at a discount and the owner told me, "No discount, that one's going back to Queen. They need to know it's flawed." It was the last one too :(
 
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