Bargaining ettiquette..

jokrswylde

jokrswylde

Basic Member
Joined
Jun 4, 2004
Messages
442
I will be going to my first blade :D Just wondering if it is generally o.k to "haggle"with the vendors over prices. Not talking anything assinine or rude, but I have been to some gun shows where it is almost like a flea market with all of the wheelin'and dealin' going on, and then I have been to others where the vendors consider it rude. Just wondering, don't want to step on any toes...also will there be ATM's around? :confused:
 
Bring cash , cash talks suckers walk , It was not really a flea market type day at the GA show last year but you never know .maybe on the last day you may get to bargin It seems everything sells so fast they may not want to bargin. :D
 
Don't worry, there are ATM's.

You may be able to get a custom maker to lower their price by politely asking, "what's the best you can do on this piece?" Personally, I don't even try. If I can't afford the asking price, or don't think the knife is worth what the maker is asking, I won't buy it. I can't see trying to see save $50 or $100 that's essentially meaningless to me (in the grand scheme of things), but is food on the table for the maker.

If you're talking about dealers (and factory knives), what do you have to lose by asking?
 
Don't, don't, don't haggle with someone and then pull out a credit card.

Haggle all you want, it's worth a shot, just don't be rude.
 
I have seen makers make some deals and drop prices a bit, but the key is usig cash. Unless you will be paying cash don't even try to bargin. Also don't be an ass about it, if they refuse then drop it.

Personally I won't haggle with a maker over a custom knife. If I think it is worth the money they are asking I wll buy it, if I don't think it is worth it I won't. Keep in mind that for many of these makers this is the way they make a living, and that going to a show isn't cheap. I am sure that as long as you a polite about it, and make only reasonable offers, or better yet ask what the best they can do for cash is, then you will be fine.
 
ErikD said:
.....I am sure that as long as you a polite about it, and make only reasonable offers, or better yet ask what the best they can do for cash is, then you will be fine.
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That was my experience at my first Blade last year.

(But if you see Tom Mayo, wearing a hard-to-get Sinn wristwatch in plain sight works wonders!) ;)
 
Good advice all, thanks. What are the prices like typically, are they more toward internet prices, or store prices?
I try to divide my buying knives between my local shop and the online stores that support this forum. The internet is much cheaper, but I like to help the local shop out as much as possible.
 
jokrswylde said:
Good advice all, thanks. What are the prices like typically, are they more toward internet prices, or store prices?
I try to divide my buying knives between my local shop and the online stores that support this forum. The internet is much cheaper, but I like to help the local shop out as much as possible.
Click to expand...

I've noticed that prices at shows are always more expensive than most internet prices, but the dealers have show costs, overhead, etc. Look for whatever is hardest to find on your want list, and buy that if you find it. Don't go home empty handed just cause you were trying to get that deal.
 
If you really like someone's knives and want to buy more than one I would not be ashamed to ask for a quantity discount.

Like the saying goes, "money talks, BS walks"!
 
Prices really depend on whether it is custom or production. I have generally noticed that most custom prices are fairly close whether it be direct from the maker or a dealer. Show prices tend to be about the same as that, especially direct from maker.

On production knives I have generally seen that it is pretty much MSRP - some discount, but still higher than if you were to buy at most internet stores.
 
A good tip is to offer less then you are willing to pay, if he says yes great, if he counters it might be close to what you are wanting to pay.

If you can't come to an agreement be polite about not buying.

Having cash and the correct amount too is good. I feel bad about getting someone down to say five bucks and pulling out a $20.

Keep lots of money in different pockets. That way you can pull out one wad and say that's all you have.

Of course dealers know all these tricks as well.

Chad
 
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