Beckers at your LGS

Never seen an esee in person. Want too pretty bad, but I'm more than happy collecting Beckers right now. Its a shame that I can't see in person anything I'm interested in, ever....I would estimate I'm paying 30% more on average on all the purchases I've made at brick and mortar in the last 2 years. And again, I don't mind taking care of local business and all but if I go to a B&M I want to talk to someone that KNOWS knives.
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Oh well...wishful thinking I guess...
 
i've never seen any Beckers in local shops where i live (tampa/clearwater/seminole area). All of mine have been bought online. Deals are there if you get lucky. i just scored a like new Camillus BK7 for $50 on the bay... psyched. now i just need to figure out a good story to tell the mrs. ;)
 
Seems like every single time I go into a knife shop I know way more than the person behind the counter. I'm like, "can I take a look at that contego?". The response is "which one is that?" :rolleyes: "The 3rd from the left". Makes me wanna smack someone, lol.

I, too, would like to see an esee up close. They look pretty amazing, but when I can hold a BK in my hand and know I've got an amazing blade, why would I roll the dice on a more expensive blade that I may not like? Ahhhh the benefits of living in a semi-rural area :(
 
The local knife store around here is actually pretty good. Really nice selection, including a good amount of custom local-made blades and the employees always seem to be pretty knowledgeable. The 15 I bought from them was $89, which was not a huge markup from what I was seeing online so I didn't mind paying the extra for the customer service. The guy literally talked to me for 20 minutes on why I should probably keep my SOG Visionary I rather than get a Dozier (essentially talking me out of a purchase I'd regret) so I thanked him by buying a more expensive knife :D.

Really good selection of BBQ sauce too. Which is a little odd now that I think about it
 
keroscene said:
Seems like every single time I go into a knife shop I know way more than the person behind the counter. I'm like, "can I take a look at that contego?". The response is "which one is that?" :rolleyes: "The 3rd from the left". Makes me wanna smack someone, lol.

I, too, would like to see an esee up close. They look pretty amazing, but when I can hold a BK in my hand and know I've got an amazing blade, why would I roll the dice on a more expensive blade that I may not like? Ahhhh the benefits of living in a semi-rural area :(
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Right!? This is by far the strangest town I have ever lived in... As for the previous seller we mentioned, I probably won't be going back. They may have the best selection in town but I think they have had some of those BM's for years now and the price hasn't moved.

If you are ever looking for spydies or boker + check out the shop next to it.
 
Semper Praesidio said:
Maybe it's not that odd - my ideal store would be one where I could buy guns, ammo, blades, and food all at the same time. One stop shop! :-)
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I hear ya - we should start a movement to bring back the "General Store." Or at least those rural-area hardware stores.
Everything you need, and nothing you don't...
 
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We have no knife law restrictions here in NH, nut almost no one sells them locally anyway....just across the bridge in Kittery there's a VERY large outdoor store that actually has an astonishing selection of knives (and guns and fishing rods and archery equipment) but their prices are MSRP + ME sales tax. They even have a selection of used knives, but even those are mostly not a good deal....almost all of them you could purchase new online for less. They even have a fair selection of Ka-Bars and a few Beckers. I have purchased other things there (when I can find closeouts or sales), but it's hard to pay an extra $40-50 just for the privilege of handling a knife on site. They have been in business for decades (just had their 75th year) and expand yearly, so I doubt they're going out of business any time soon. But As for my own (tax-free) state, there are precious few places that have any kind of steel selection. If I had the capital, I'd open some sort of EDC store in my hometown, as it's a HUGE tourist town and dinner destination situated less than an hour from Portland, ME and about an hour from Boston. Pipe dream, though, and I'd probably still have to price things higher than I'd want to.
 
Semper Praesidio said:
And Wal-Mart DOES NOT COUNT!!!

Sorry - getting back on topic now....
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Hence the "And Nothing You Don't" !

There was a local knife shop in the mall out here. They had just started carrying KaBar when they went under after SHOT last year, but now there's a new one (with a different name but shockingly similar fixtures and displays - looking in from the outside) just a couple doors down, in the same mall.
I haven't been in since the "new" one opened - old one was great to talk to, but prices were ridiculous until the going-out-of-business sale.
There's also a fancy one on the wharf in SF. They're just packed to the gills, but sticker-prices are MSRP and up. In the heart of tourist-trapsville, I don't think they're marking stuff down much. I did get to compare an 0801 and a Southard side-by-side, though.

We also have a "Cutlery and Gifts" shop a few miles away. Big selection of kitchen knives, Kershaw, and Case. Some BM and Spyderco. Prices are are actually decent on high-volume sellers; less so on things I might actually want - if they even carry them (couple version of Spyderco Police under glass - didn't know what a Para2 was. Says the guy behind the counter "must not be a very popular model.") Haven't seen any KaBars or Beckers there, though.

A couple gun shops carry Kershaw, and one has ZT and Emerson; another has ZT and Strider. Last I checked, no Beckers there, either.
Maybe it's time to take another look. I owe my brother some ammo, anyway.
 
I've been working very hard to build up the inventory of quality knives in my shop. I also try to keep my prices competitive, but some of the online dealers are able to buy at distributor prices and sell to the public at or near wholesale pricing. That's tough to compete with when the online folks have such low overhead. A business operating out of a basement or garage only has to cover his internet costs. No rent, insurance, heat/ac, electric, insurance, ect.
On the other hand, my customers get to hold the knives in their hands and visually inspect them for flaws. They really seem to appreciate that.
 
My local Army Navy has an okay selection of knives at MSRP. I have purchased from there in the past but not recently. Back in the day the selection and prices better and the store sold a good selection of outdoor goods. Now its different, mostly t shirts and trendy fashionable gear. Decent pistol selection but no archery. Its my only option besides :cough: Cabellas :(
 
At my local store they charge $74.95 for the 15/16/17 and $99 for the big boys. It is a little high, but I still bought one. I buy a lot of 550 cord and other stuff there too. They are ridiculous on their prices for other brands - they seem to think CRKT is the best cutlery out there.

I don't think their markup on Beckers is that out of line, but it is still a lot cheaper to buy online. If they want to sell more, they should lower their prices.
 
I'd pay more at a B&M store and have, but the only ones that offer reasonable markups are a 45-60 minute drive, so unless I'm in the area....I don't shop there. And I'm not in those areas often, unfortunately. Or maybe fortunately, because I would definitely be poorer if I were closer. The store I like the most has a LOT of cool stuff.
 
three2seven said:
Never seen an esee in person. Want too pretty bad, but I'm more than happy collecting Beckers right now. Its a shame that I can't see in person anything I'm interested in, ever....I would estimate I'm paying 30% more on average on all the purchases I've made at brick and mortar in the last 2 years. And again, I don't mind taking care of local business and all but if I go to a B&M I want to talk to someone that KNOWS knives.
</endrant


Oh well...wishful thinking I guess...
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What part of Texas are you in? If its near Dallas I can point you to a store that sells most the ESEE models just shoot me an email and I would be happy to give you the info on it.
 
three2seven said:
Right!? This is by far the strangest town I have ever lived in... As for the previous seller we mentioned, I probably won't be going back. They may have the best selection in town but I think they have had some of those BM's for years now and the price hasn't moved.

If you are ever looking for spydies or boker + check out the shop next to it.
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wait, the shop next door sells spydies?!?!? I didnt even know they sold knives, lol. I'm going as soon as I get a chance!! You have officially made my day :)

and, as for the OTHER store, I won't be going back either. I bought 5 BK's from them over the span of a couple months and when I go in there they act like its soooo much trouble to help me out. AND, if they do end up helping me, I have to ask for the help. I can stand in one spot, look at a knife, look up for help, look at the knife, look up for help, etc, etc, and they see me doing this, but STILL will not get up off their asses to help me?!?! EFF that store, lol
 
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