A simply stunning knife (moved here from the Custom forum)

[Kohai999]

I did far better than competitive pricing, and it was a decision made as much for the love of having my own business, and pricing things in a fair manner. I was not as much of a businessman 15 years ago, more utopian in thought process, driven by different priorities.

The thread was started as a goof, you are free to like or dislike that, to join or not to join the fray.

It is not going to change the way that PTGDVC or myself occasionally go adolescent publicly.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

To respond to point #2, I would point out that you chose a smaller profit margin in order to maintain competitive pricing, and generate accessory sales. You decided that taking a smaller profit margin would benefit your business.

In other words, you made the judgment that the market would not sustain a higher prices, and that the short-term losses in profit per transaction would be outweighed by long-term benefits in sales volume.

Now, as I understand it, Strider Knives is doing quite well. I have yet to hear any news that their sales volume is decreasing, or of used prices declining. But instead of respectfully offering the opinion that the custom knife market may not sustain the current prices in future years, a thread was started to mock the appearance and price of a particular knife.

 

[Cougar Allen]

People who are enjoying this thread might also enjoy The Most Hideous Knife?

I usually try to avoid expressing my personal opinions on TGB&U, but for what it's worth I think smartbutt is a good word. Not as good as richardsmack, but good.

 

[jdm61]

1. Thank you for the thoughts on the subject. This is generally how I try to conduct myself, when not having a goof, or pissed off about something. It is a work in progress.

2. I would question it for a few reasons a) is it sustainable?, b) what monies is it removing from the "limited pool"?, c) I DID run a business that was successful(knife shop) on a 25% profit margin for knives. Why??? Because I was tired of getting "skinned" by mall stores, and thought that others would be of the same mind....and they were. We made up the difference in lost profits on accessory sales, and commercial knife sharpening for restaurants. Would still have that business if the building had not been sold.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

Shame you had to close, Steven. I notice that most of the "mall" stores ended up getting "skinned" by the net purveyros who tend to charge more like what you did. What made you have to close? New landlord/new rent structure or new landlord/didn't want knife knuts as tenants? How was it doing business in SoCal? I went by the knife shop on Pier 39 when i was in San Francisco. i have heard people complain that they charge at or close to retail, but i can only imagine what their rent must be and, of course, they have to put away money for potential legal fees in that town..... Any thoughts about starting up again?

 

[mgeoffriau]

I did far better than competitive pricing, and it was a decision made as much for the love of having my own business, and pricing things in a fair manner.

What's "fair"?

I ask because I work in an independent bookstore, trying to survive against the big chains, and I'm curious about this concept of "fair" pricing.

 

[jdm61]

What's "fair"?

I ask because I work in an independent bookstore, trying to survive against the big chains, and I'm curious about this concept of "fair" pricing.

nfortunately, you almost have to match the Barnes and Noble/Borders of the world on price.....or have a niche and demonstrate that you actually know what you are selling:thumbup: At least with knives, you don't have much in the way of storefront retail competition. But the net and the big outdoor and miltary gear guys could give you a hard time. The one advantage that you have with a real live retail location is that you are there to sell knives to folks who hadn't really focused on the fact that they wanted or needed a new knife until they saw your store or your local ad. The downside, obviouslt, is overhead.

 

[Kohai999]

Shame you had to close, Steven. I notice that most of the "mall" stores ended up getting "skinned" by the net purveyros who tend to charge more like what you did. What made you have to close? New landlord/new rent structure or new landlord/didn't want knife knuts as tenants? How was it doing business in SoCal? I went by the knife shop on Pier 39 when i was in San Francisco. i have heard people complain that they charge at or close to retail, but i can only imagine what their rent must be and, of course, they have to put away money for potential legal fees in that town..... Any thoughts about starting up again?

1. Joe, the shop was in Seattle, WA on Pike & Boren. We did $40,000 in renovations, and the building was sold 3 years later, and gutted, then rebuilt. We had just recouped most of the outlay, and did not have the time or inclination to find another location. Our rent was fairly inexpensive, $900.00/month for 1,200 sf. Would I own a retail, brick and mortar shop again? Probably not. We do set up at a show or two, just about every year.

"What's "fair"?

I ask because I work in an independent bookstore, trying to survive against the big chains, and I'm curious about this concept of "fair" pricing."

It is not a foreign concept....It is along the lines of "live simply, so others may simply live".... sort of thing. I can't really get into it with you, because it would piss off more people than it would make happy, and I KNOW the people who it would piss off.

The bottom line is that each business person needs to know what they require to survive in their chosen manner. My lifestyle was fairly basic at the time, I didn't have a car, no insurance, bartered for a lot of goods and services(was also a tattoo artist), and time was mainly occupied shooting guns, scoring girls, and drinking, not necessarily in that order.

If you want to survive against the Megas, Service and Self are the key. People have to love dealing with you. I had MY customers, and my business partners had theirs. It kept the lights on.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[mgeoffriau]

Fair enough. We decided that rather than discounting our product, we would add value by having lots of author signings (and therefore lots of signed books), by giving excellent service (a staff that is not merely helpful, but also knowledgeable), and by doing what we could to foster a sense of community within our store. This has, so far, allowed us to maintain full retail price on everything we sell.

We also sell rare first editions. This is much more akin to the custom knife market, in that you cannot rely on daily traffic to generate sales. You must develop relationships with your customer base, and make the big sale when you can. Similarly, these books are have very little intrinsic worth, just the publishers cost of printing really. But the value to the collector is something else entirely. We watch the market very carefully to make sure that our prices are in line. If we don't, we run the risk of either selling for too low a price (and thereby affect the market by devaluing the book), or having the book sit for years because the price is too high.

The bottom line? In a collector's market, the "fair" price is what people will pay. True first editions of the early Harry Potter books are incredibly expensive right now. I doubt the market will sustain those prices. I would be incredibly surprised if the prices were not significantly lower in 20 years. But it is NOT my right to mock the J. K. Rowling fan who is willing to pay a certain price for a first edition of the first Harry Potter novel, and as a bookseller, I would be downright stupid to underprice my own Harry Potter first editions because I thought that they would be worth less in the future.

 

[Kohai999]

? In a collector's market, the "fair" price is what people will pay. True first editions of the early Harry Potter books are incredibly expensive right now. I doubt the market will sustain those prices. I would be incredibly surprised if the prices were not significantly lower in 20 years. But it is NOT my right to mock the J. K. Rowling fan who is willing to pay a certain price for a first edition of the first Harry Potter novel, and as a bookseller, I would be downright stupid to underprice my own Harry Potter first editions because I thought that they would be worth less in the future.

It may not be your right to mock a fan, but if you own the business, it is certainly your right to decide who you will cater to.

Some of the most wonderful experiences that I have had on the dark side were throwing people out of my shop. In that environment, you had about two minutes to argue with me before I lost my temper.

No one was saying to the seller-"Charge less".

A lot of people were speaking to the buyer, directly or indirectly, saying "caveat emptor". If you REALLY care about your customers, you try to guide them into purchasing items that you both like, for the right price. If you did your best, and they still want to throw money at you, take it. That I can agree with.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[Mongo]

Some makers started goofing on my religion a few years back in a hotel room. If they were funny, I laughed, if they were not funny, I lobbed some shit back.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

(in the ORIGINAL spirit of this thread...)

Umm, STeven.... SARCASM IS NOT a religion.

 

[Kohai999]

(in the ORIGINAL spirit of this thread...)

Umm, STeven.... SARCASM IS NOT a religion.

Too frickin' funny, Mongo, and perfect timing. Would be cool if Sarcasm was a religion, I could be archbishop or cantor, shaman or something!

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[thombrogan]

Would be cool if Sarcasm was a religion, I could be archbishop or cantor, shaman or something!

I think the cantor is just the person who sings holy songs in the old country's language with a distressed look on his or her face.

I remember singing a song in Hebrew a wee 16 years ago and being told I sounded just like a rabbi. Beamed with pride about that for a few years until I realized that the rabbi and cantor were separate peaple. :grumpy:

 

[mr.trooper]

That was funny, wrong, but funny! Especially when you spelled "Diffinitive" incorrectly.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

The fact the i misspelled proves people are stupid. If people are stupid, it therefor follows that people who buy Striders are stupid. Thus my previous statements are SELF fullfilling!

 

[thombrogan]

you get the same losers saying how stupid they are, how bad the design is, how bad the fit and finish is, and the list can go on.

i have no dog in this fight, but i guess my mom taught me that if you do not have anything nice to say, dont say anything.

<snip/>

maybe if people like you tried as hard to better this world, instead of being a bunch of pussy's, just maybe this world would be a better place. im actually ashamed that im a member here.

You lost me here, cdixon. Now I don't doubt that your mom's advice is good in many cases, but shouldn't you be following that advice, too?

 

[Kohai999]

I think the cantor is just the person who sings holy songs in the old country's language with a distressed look on his or her face.

I remember singing a song in Hebrew a wee 16 years ago and being told I sounded just like a rabbi. Beamed with pride about that for a few years until I realized that the rabbi and cantor were separate peaple. :grumpy:

I always thought that a cantor was like a deputy rabbi, or something?

Also always thought that Brogan was an Irish name? Was it shortened from Broganowitz or similar?

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[thombrogan]

I always thought that a cantor was like a deputy rabbi, or something?

Also always thought that Brogan was an Irish name? Was it shortened from Broganowitz or similar?

Cantor is a Latin-derived word. Cantatas are sung and sonatas are instrumental (or Hyundais).

Pretty sure I'm American. You're acting Hebrew is only for God's chosen people or something. Isn't Garsson a Nordic name, o Kohai of 1,000 Sempai?

 

[Kohai999]

Cantor is a Latin-derived word. Cantatas are sung and sonatas are instrumental (or Hyundais).

Pretty sure I'm American. You're acting Hebrew is only for God's chosen people or something. Isn't Garsson a Nordic name, o Kohai of 1,000 Sempai?

From Wikipedia:

In an interesting turn of events, the United States government recognized cantors as the first Jewish clergy, even before rabbis were recognized.

In the USA there are three major organizations for professionally trained hazzanim (Hebrew plural of hazzan), one from each of the major Jewish denominations.

American Conference of Cantors - Reform Judaism [4]
Cantors Assembly - Conservative Judaism [5]
Cantorial Council of America - Orthodox Judaism

Try this on for size.....no one on the planet knows how to spell my given family name. Fella gets off the boat at Ellis from Lithuania, they ask his name, he says Gershon Shizlitski(phonetically), and they write down Garsson. Every person in the United States(it being a U.S. name, and all) with the exact spelling of my last name is related to me. Have a cousin in Dallas that travels for work, and he likes to look in local phonebooks/on the web for family members. My blood is 1/2 Swedish, 1/4 Polish, 1/4 Litvak.

Here is one relative:

http://chandra.darksecretlove.com

Here is the story of another:

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/printout/0,8816,793133,00.html

Also have another cousin who worked for the FDIC or similar USGOV agency, he was propaganda minister or whatever:

http://www.zoominfo.com/Search/PersonDetail.aspx?PersonID=16506248

Am kohai to about 10 sempai, and sempai to about 10 kohai, but it still fits, 'cause we are always learning, always trying to perfect that which will never be perfect.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[ptgdvc]

I see that our little thread has been busy today. Perhaps we should just move this baby into whine & cheese, drop the gloves, have at it.

 

[Kohai999]

I see that our little thread has been busy today. Perhaps we should just move this baby into whine & cheese, drop the gloves, have at it.

Tried that already, Cougar gave his reasoning in post #220.

How was ECCKS?

Did you perchance peruse any STRIDER knives?(......runs away and hides)

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[ptgdvc]

Tried that already, Cougar gave his reasoning in post #220.

How was ECCKS?

Did you perchance peruse any STRIDER knives?(......runs away and hides)

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

Well perhaps I'll start a fresh one in Whine & Cheese. I am tired of exercising enormous restraint.

ECCKS was great. Scorecard: Bought two, sold four. Had dinner with several of the usual suspects.

I saw a few Strider folders which looked pretty good. However I did not see any fixed blade TCS models.

P

 

[thombrogan]

Thanks for the wiki on Jewish clergy, your family name's origins, and your semp/ko relationships, Steve! Don't know too much about most of my family history aside from being about equal parts French and Irish with mystery parts thrown in. Well, that and my grandpa served in Panama in the Army in WWII and had a pet monkey as a pet (which he hid in a garbage can whenever his buddies' dates came by). Since your screen name is Kohai999, I figured one more sempai would 1000. The brain-type things which occur in my head around 1AM...

ptgdvc,

Which folders did you see? Was the RC or RCC there?