Attempted price fixing on eBay?

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"Why sell it, buy it back for more, then sell it again, when you could just make a new one and sell it for a greater profit?"

Why should CRK not buy back a NIB knife to sell for less profit now, if that "greater profit" newborn might not be available within a reasonable amount of time.

 
Carl,

You still don't get it ~ even after everyone has given you adequate answers to your question(s)!

Yet, you continue......

With explanations readily available and provided you still chase something that just isn't there! Which makes me wonder why?

But my biggest problem with this thread is that "you think that you have legitimate questions and want (actually demand) answers. Yet, you post this thread without contacting CRK first ~ ~ ya know....to get their position. No....you bring your clouded questions here. Which makes me wonder why?

"Why sell it, buy it back for more, then sell it again, when you could just make a new one and sell it for a greater profit?" Man, reread this above statement very slowly. It makes absolutely no sense (or cents) in the business world ~ unless your intention is to go bankrupt!

I must agree that you would be right in calling it inappropriate if "anyone" were trying to "bid up the price or trying to pass themselves off as CRK." But, a simple e-mail would have fixed the broken wheels on you little red wagon!

Can't understand why "finding out that the manufacturer (CRK) was a competing bidder" ~ left you with a creepy feeling?" Nor that it "sits well with you that Chris Reeve was bidding on his knives!"

You claim that the intention of this thread was ensure that the playing field was level? I beg to differ! God forbid the "havoc" raised if you would have lost the winning bid ! Just my personal opinion!

You're now working double~time and not getting paid! !


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GigOne
"Livin' Life - Full Throttle"
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"Happiness is a belt-fed weapon & a Walter Brend Model 2!"

[This message has been edited by GigOne (edited 09-30-2000).]
 
I think you guys are out of line flaming Chris. We're lucky to have him and his fine products. This is a free country and he can do what he likes. Buy more of his knives!
 
As moderator of this forum, CRK has allowed this thread to continue. That should put to rest any questions regarding integrity.

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Frank Norman
Frank's Page
 
I think everyone should lighten up on Carl. He has just as much right to speak up, and spend his money as anyone else. After all, this is the USA, home of free market trade, right?

I also respect CRK's very loyal customers. Chris is obviously doing something very right to have such a strong show of very vocal customers. He has the right to (legally) conduct business as he sees fit, and he MUST make a profit to stay in business, doing what he appearently does very, very well. So who is correct?

Both are. Let it go.
 
Well, could it be as simple as Chris trying to help supply a market that he cannot fill without being back ordered? I, for one, would certainly be appreciative for any effort he may make to help get my knife to me sooner. Whether this is from current production or taking the time to find NIB examples and resell them. Regardless of the method, I am certain that anything that leaves his factory is top shelf all the way. I say that the man should be commended for his efforts to satisfy his customers instead of being questioned on the premise of his integrity. Further more, before questioning him as to the practice of reselling used knives as new, has anyone here EVER seen a substandard Reeve knife? My confidence remains fully with the company.
 
farmboy,

You're absolutely correct in assuming that "poor old Carl" has just as much right to speak up and spend his money as anyone else! But, there is a time and place to post (speak up) what he posted. Look at his original post and see how the thread began to fester! That's the problem! Again, Carl could have solved his own curiosity by a simple e-mail to Chris Reeve/CRK.

And this has nothing to do with being loyal to Chris Reeve nor CRK! If Carl posted the same like thread about any forumite I'd get in his a$$ just like I am now. But back to loyality.......it isn't loyality. I don't know....maybe words like decency and common courtesy should come to mind?

And believe me when I state that this isn't directed specifically and solely at "Carl!" For there were others, in this thread, who fueled some of Carl's flames!

There was too much assuming going on about Chris Reeve and CRK in this thread!

And I say again, "SHAME ~ SHAME ~ SHAME There is an old saying; "When you assume ~ you make an A$$ OUTTA U AND ME! But this time the "AND ME" wasn't there!

Ease up on Carl? Give me a break "farmboy!" Evidently you've never seen someone get hammered!

icon_smile_lachuh.gif


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GigOne
"Livin' Life - Full Throttle"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Happiness is a belt-fed weapon & a Walter Brend Model 2!"

[This message has been edited by GigOne (edited 09-30-2000).]
 
"Evidently, you've never seen anyone get hammered"

Now who is assuming? mmmmm?

Let it go Gig.
 
You guys are more emotional about your hobby, than I'm about my job
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Ok, just the facts
1. CRK was bidding on two knives on ebay
2. He was not the seller
3. His max amount was well below retail
4. He didn't win any of the auctions he was bidding on
5. According to his feedback he has never bought a knife from ebay

And that gets you all bend out of shape? Gimme a break! Talk about a storm in a glass of water.

And here a little quiz:

You make a knife for $100 and sell it for $150
Then you buy it back for $120 and sell it again for $150.

Q: What's your total profit?

A:
a.) $30
b.) $50
c.) $80
d.) $100
e.) none of the above
f.) all of the above
g.) I don't care
h.) That's beyond me
i.) I give a f*** since I don't buy CRK products

So why MAKE a knife when you can earn a quick $30 just by dealing with it?
 
I'm glad Carl brought this up online instead of e-mailing CRK and I'm glad he brought it up on this forum.

Anyone else seeing the manufacturer bidding on his own knives might have had doubts, too, about what was going on. By asking publicly -- and politely -- Carl gave us all an opportunity to hear the whole story.

I've got websites for a lot of dealers and custom makers and manufacturers, and I can always contact them directly. But these forums serve a larger audience, and their whole rationale is so that all of us can learn and understand.

As long as we all ASSUME the integrity and decency of all the other correspondents here, no harm done. This is one assumption you shouldn't get criticized for ... Thanks again, Carl!
 
Havoc, I'm one of the few that agrees with you on this subject. Of course there is nothing illegal about CRK bidding on their own knives, but it boils down to the fact of why they would want to? This is not the same as a company buying back its own stock (that post cracked me up). CRK price fixes their knives anyway, which in my opinion is highly unethical.

Anyway, you didn't expect to get any simpathy on this forum. There are always people who will follow their leaders off a bridge and that will never change. Just look at the Emerson forum. Count how many posts talk about their pure crap liner locks failing. The regulars over there will defend that crap to the bitter (and maybe cut off finger) end.

Ya, I'd also like to know where I can get one of these reconditioned CRK. I've never seen any for sale.

Just so everyone knows, I own a Sebenza and think it's great. I will not buy another CRK until the question on how reconditioned knives are being resold is answered.

jc



[This message has been edited by jc (edited 10-01-2000).]
 
Doesn't surprise me much that Chris would be interested in his own knives!

I owned a nice Aviator back in 1991 I think it was, one that was made in South Africa. Well I got it thinking I'd like the saw tooth look but it didn't sit well with me and so I called up Chris at his shop and we talked about trading it for a Tanto IV, I was really into Tantos at the time! Well Chris thought it over and we came to an agreement and I sent the knife to him and he made me a Tanto IV. So he does and has an interest at times for knives he has made, not saying that he would do this again, mine was sort of special in that it was one of the South Africa pieces and Mint condition, that helped my cause, don't know if Chris remembers that trade or not, but I wanted to share so you guys would not worry so much about an eBay deal....

G2

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"The Road to Hell is Paved with Good Intentions!"
Take the time to read your Bible Now, don't be left behind...

G2 LeatherWorks
 
One thing about this thread is that there really is a very detailed distinction being made by some.

Others tend to lump all sorts of other stuff about honor, economics, and butt kicking into the argument that is not relevant.

- Chris has addressed the "price fixing" concern. To me that is not an issue.

- I don't believe a reconditioned knife would be of less than new quality, this is not an issue. Indeed, quality is not relevant to this discusion.

- I don't believe CRK is trying to rip people off in any way.

- I believe all people, including myself, think that Chris or CRK is nothing less than honorable, etc.

- Unfortunately, Chris has left the door open for interpretation of his his reply in this thread.

- I, for one, love my CRK knives, I'd would and probably will buy more. But I am concerned about how the remanufactured knives are represented when resold. For me, that is important to know. For others it may not be important.

In wanting to know this, in this public place is not a bad thing. It's not an afront to anyone's honor, nor is it I believe containing any accusation.

You could make the argument that it's even wrong to ask such a question in the first place. There is a least some weight to that.

My feeling it's a reasonable question to ask of any entity in the commercial marketplace.

DaveH
 
It's all a matter of ethics.If you or one of your employees bid up your brand so they sell for more thats not ethical. It may not be illegal but its baloney.There is more of this kind of shady dealings going on at ebay than you can imagine.
I for one will never bid on a chris reeves knife on ebay again.The attitude of The chris reeves knife co that "OK you caught me but your an ******* for doing it" is BULL.
Keep on exposing the crooks
TJ
 
I get a
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at how people comprehend and interpret what others have written. Generally like to throw their own twist to it. Human nature is an amazing thing!

Like most threads of this nature it has served no purpose ~ except to prove that "we agree to disagree!" Or for a few; "to attempt to prove their conspiracy theory!"

Like I said in my first post of this thread..."Amazing Thread!"

I'm sure that we've all seen threads where "Joe Blow" buys a knife, has problems with it and immediately throws their particular problem on the Forums. Generally turns out that "Joe Blow" hasn't even given the seller, maker or middle person the opportunity to "privately" fix the supposed problem or even respond.

Ya ya ya.......think what you want to think ~ but this particular thread is just like those. And it doesn't matter what "Forum" it's in (i.e., G, B & U Forum, Chris Reeve Forum, etc....) for it to cast shadows of doubt!

I find it troubling why people are so quick to cast shadows of doubt in threads. Shadows that could be handled (and usually dispelled) in a "private" forum (e-mail). So many "issues" can be solved and resolved when "first" handled privately and directly from the source!

And then we have this thread.....where the source provides an explanation and a few continue to believe that there is some type of conspiracy!"
icon_smile_lachuh.gif


"Amusing Thread!"
icon_smile_lachuh.gif


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GigOne
"Livin' Life - Full Throttle"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Happiness is a belt-fed weapon & a Walter Brend Model 2!"

[This message has been edited by GigOne (edited 10-01-2000).]
 
Did I miss it or has no one actually asked CRK about what they do with reconditioned knives.........
 
CK,

Chris Reeve responded on Page 1......

Originally Posted by CRK:

For years, we have traded in our own knives –this is part of our customer service. We will buy knives back, recondition them and sell them. This has enabled many of our customers to trade up, trade down, or even trade out (although “out” doesn’t happen too often!). Why should we not be permitted to make a purchase on eBay and re-sell the knife?
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GigOne
"Livin' Life - Full Throttle"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Happiness is a belt-fed weapon & a Walter Brend Model 2!"
 
Originally posted by GigOne:
Carl,

You still don't get it ~ even after everyone has given you adequate answers to your question(s)!

Yet, you continue......

With explanations readily available and provided you still chase something that just isn't there! Which makes me wonder why?
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Jesus, where to begin? My last posts were clarifications and explanations of what I had thought, and why. Read them again and you'll see a lot of the past tense. You make it sound as if I keep ranting on and on, when in fact I was just responding to other's comments. At one point, I even conceded that my original concern seemed to be invalid. As for the "adequate answers", it seems most rebuttals have been of the "I know Chris and he's a good guy so shut up!" variety.

But my biggest problem with this thread is that "you think that you have legitimate questions and want (actually demand) answers. Yet, you post this thread without contacting CRK first ~ ~ ya know....to get their position. No....you bring your clouded questions here. Which makes me wonder why?
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Yeah, I wanted an answer to my question - that's why people ask them in the first place. Now please show me where I "demand" an answer. Hmmm? At the time, it didn't occur to me to e-mail CRK and ask. I was reading another forum when I found out about the auction, so I hoppped over here and posted. And if something shady was going on, what kind of response would I have gotten? "Excuse me, but, are you doing something sleazy on eBay?" "Yes we are! Thanks for asking!" If there is nothing wrong going on, a public exchange does no harm. If something is up, people should know about it.

"Why sell it, buy it back for more, then sell it again, when you could just make a new one and sell it for a greater profit?" Man, reread this above statement very slowly. It makes absolutely no sense (or cents) in the business world ~ unless your intention is to go bankrupt!
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Ok, I've reread my statement and yours, and you seem to be agreeing with me. Does it make sense for CRK to wholesale a knife for, say, $120, then buy it back on eBay for $135 (+ shipping costs) to be able to sell it again? Does it? Since this made no sense, it seemed something else was afoot.

Can't understand why "finding out that the manufacturer (CRK) was a competing bidder" ~ left you with a creepy feeling?" Nor that it "sits well with you that Chris Reeve was bidding on his knives!"
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Maybe it doesn't surprise you, but it seems abnormal to me, for reasons I've already stated. (See above comment)

You claim that the intention of this thread was ensure that the playing field was level? I beg to differ! God forbid the "havoc" raised if you would have lost the winning bid ! Just my personal opinion!
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Right, I'm just here to cause trouble. I figured that with one post, in his own forum, I would turn everybody against him so nobody would buy his knives ever again and he would go out of business. But my plans have been foiled by your keen intellect! Look, genius, if I wanted to cause trouble, I would've posted in the GBU forum, where I'd have a larger audience, including a lot more people who don't know, or don't like CRK; rather than here, which would obviously be filled with his friends, fans, and supporters. I've tried to be objective and civil (for the most part), even though I've been called a troublemaker and a whiner, and you have (in a weasel-like manner) intimated that I am a troll and an ass (yeah, that post is coming next). I've seen a lot of trolls at work, here and elsewhere, and I don't see how my actions have been troll-like. Just because I ask a question about someone who you think is beyond reproach, that doesn't make me a troll.

(Edited to correct the UBB code that I'm still not used to)
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Carl

[This message has been edited by Havoc (edited 10-01-2000).]
 
Originally posted by GigOne:
farmboy,

You're absolutely correct in assuming that "poor old Carl" has just as much right to speak up and spend his money as anyone else! But, there is a time and place to post (speak up) what he posted. Look at his original post and see how the thread began to fester! That's the problem! Again, Carl could have solved his own curiosity by a simple e-mail to Chris Reeve/CRK.

And this has nothing to do with being loyal to Chris Reeve nor CRK! If Carl posted the same like thread about any forumite I'd get in his a$$ just like I am now.
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Please remove your head from my ass and put it back in yours, where it usually is.

But back to loyality.......it isn't loyality. I don't know....maybe words like decency and common courtesy should come to mind?
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Decency and common courtesy? Let's get something straight here - this is a business and Chris is a businessman. I do not know him personally. If you do, good for you. You seem to think that because many of you know him and think he is beyond reproach, that I should go out of my way to give him the benefit of the doubt. I gave him an opportunity to give his side. His one post wasn't as clear as it could have been, and in fact caused doubts about what all is involved with his practices regarding used knives. Everybody seems to think Chris is a great guy, and I hope that's true. Again, I don't know the man, so I will treat him as any stranger, especially when it comes to business. If I have a doubt about someone, I will question them, and that goes the same for Chris, you, my next door neighbor, the Pope, or anybody else.

There was too much assuming going on about Chris Reeve and CRK in this thread!

And I say again, "SHAME ~ SHAME ~ SHAME There is an old saying; "When you assume ~ you make an A$$ OUTTA U AND ME! But this time the "AND ME" wasn't there!
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If you have to drag out tired old cliches, at least try to use one that isn't so stupid. Everybody assumes every day. You assume that the sun will rise tomorrow. You assume that when you turn the steering wheel to the right, your car will turn to the right. You have clearly done a lot of assuming here yourself (Which makes me wonder why?). Do I have to point out what you have just called yourself?

Ease up on Carl? Give me a break "farmboy!" Evidently you've never seen someone get hammered!
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If you really want to try it, put away the Nerf hammer and give it a whack. But try to stick to facts and don't let your personal feelings do all the thinking. Don't expect me to bow down and kiss Chris' feet just because you like him.

(Damn UBB. . .)
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Carl

[This message has been edited by Havoc (edited 10-02-2000).]
 
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