Blade purchases on BF's Fair Prices?

TinyDog

TinyDog

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Hello All,

Years ago I used to purchase all of my blades through Ebay and or other auction type sites. I saw many folks purchasing blades mainly GEC blades on SFO dozens at a time, and although not a crime reselling blades for 100% or more profit on Ebay! After a bit it turned me off. Just something about a business model like that doesn't sit well with me. It's not the same a business producing a knife and making a fair market profit. Yes its a free market for those to do what they may, I understand. This still will not change how I feel about this. To me it is a touchy subject but I feel it is price gouging.

Now I am seeing the same thing here more frequently, sellers trying to make 100 or more % profit on sales. Please don't tell me it's their prerogative to do so, It is and I agree. I already know this, I just turn away. Any blade I have ever sold here was sold thinking about a BF member, I always think about offering a good deal if not a great deal. Profit is OK I have no problem with that too, but reasonable profit, I would never gouge someone here as all of us buy and sell everyday as a community. I like to think of us all as friends even though we may never meet, this is our place to talk blades and discuss blades. As we get good deals we offer good deals....

Have any of you seen this type selling here? what do you think about it? To me it takes away from my experience. Its not about making money, its about the community.

Please share your opinion, all are welcome.
 
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I've thought the same thing when looking at sales threads, especially for GEC.
I'd like to pick up one someday but many of the offers I see come up are even higher than the price I couldn't pay when they were new.
Every once and awhile a really great del pops up but they seem to be few and far between lately on the Greet Eastern Front.
I don't begrudge anyone their sale at a fair market price... maybe the market is just running high.
 
I have sold a knife or 2 for a small profit, but I never purchased it with that as my intent. It just worked out that I didn't like it as much as I thought and relisted it at some other point with the intention of recouping my costs and maybe a few dollars if possible.


I agree with the sentiment of your post but realize many people here don't share the feeling of community that we do. For some flipping to try knives or make money is there only reason here. I see it all the time, a member has only been here a year or less with several HUNDRED transactions.

In the end, I steer clear of them because I don't approve and I choose where to spend my money. But I don't believe for a second that it will ever change. This will likely get moved to GB&U by the way.
 
Agreed, I like GEC as well. It sucks people buy them instantly and auction them at ebay for 3 to 4 hundred dollars. But it is what it is, I suppose. GEC is in high demand and as such it attracts the people just trying to make a buck. Still sucks though.
Neko2 said:
I've thought the same thing when looking at sales threads, especially for GEC.
I'd like to pick up one someday but many of the offers I see come up are even higher than the price I couldn't pay when they were new.
Every once and awhile a really great del pops up but they seem to be few and far between lately on the Greet Eastern Front.
I don't begrudge anyone their sale at a fair market price... maybe the market is just running high.
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I used to buy knives via fleabay. It just got old for me.

I pretty much agree with you on the GEC stuff being sold at much higher than issue price. It is not like these are old knives or anything. But it is supply and demand and if selling at 100% over issue price is your thing, go for it. I won't participate.

But, if the new knives are being priced say at $100 on something comparable to what you own and bought a number of years ago, I see no problem with selling at about that price especially for special handle materials like ivory and mammoth.

My take is this.... with the GEC SFO's, you will likely begin seeing price creep at the issue time. To me, if a $100 knife is actually worth $200, then if you spend the capital and take the risk on many knives in a SFO, you should benefit from it (if you can). But it likely will not be my $ going being used to purchase these and I certainly do not participate in the GEC re-sale market here. If you buy a new knife and decide you don't want it, it should not be priced any higher than issue price (more or less adjusted for current pricing) and often at a loss. Just my opinion and take it for what it is....
 
I might add that this $ practice should provide an incentive to companies that make traditional knives to build a higher end (higher QA/QC and better materials) product. You are starting to see this with the modern-traditionals coming out as those established companies are in the best position to take advantage of this market condition.

The special issue knives by ZT, BM, and Spyderco are already addressing this market. The knife market is diverse with buyers/users in many different financial positions or interests. It is a good thing for the most part.
 
shinyedges said:
I have sold a knife or 2 for a small profit, but I never purchased it with that as my intent. It just worked out that I didn't like it as much as I thought and relisted it at some other point with the intention of recouping my costs and maybe a few dollars if possible.
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That sounds perfectly reasonable to me. I have no problem spending a little more if I missed the initial run but I absolutely won't buy from the people that are constantly buying up as much stock as they can get their hands on with the sole intent of flipping them.
 
22-rimfire said:
If you buy a new knife and decide you don't want it, it should not be priced any higher than issue price (more or less adjusted for current pricing) and often at a loss. Just my opinion and take it for what it is....
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I don't necessarily agree with that. If I purchase a knife, and decide to sell it, why should I consider taking a loss if it isn't readily available from dealers? For example, in a recent popular/high demand release, I almost bought a second knife after I got my first choice. It was in a different handle material - one about which I am very particular in my tastes - and the purchase would definitely have been time sensitive, so a leisurely examination of the images provided would likely have cost me the opportunity (and I still might have had issues with it once I saw it). I opted out, leaving it for another buyer; but, if I HAD purchased it, I certainly wouldn't have sold it at a loss if I didn't like it...nor would I have concerned myself with just barely getting my money back. I wouldn't have posted at a crazy markup...but I would have been inclined to price high enough to deter a would be flipper from snatching it for profit. I spend enough money on this hobby - if I occasionally make a choice that brings a little back, so be it. (Again, though, I'm not purchasing with the intent of flipping, even if I buy more than one of a particular knife/pattern)

palonej said:
When I see a member has 500 posts in the Exchange and no, or very little, participation in other sub forums, I am not interested in they're sales threads.
Pony up for a dealer membership.
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Agreed - I wish the moderators were more aggressive about addressing this, there are a number of people that obviously meet the established criteria
 
TinyDog said:
Now I am seeing the same thing here more frequently, sellers trying to make 100 or more % profit on sales. Please don't tell me it's their prerogative to do so, It is and I agree. I already know this, I just turn away. Any blade I have ever sold here was sold thinking about a BF member, I always think about offering a good deal if not a great deal. Profit is OK I have no problem with that too, but reasonable profit,

I would never gouge someone here as all of us buy and sell everyday as a community. I like to think of us all as friends even though we may never meet, this is our place to talk blades and discuss blades. As we get good deals we offer good deals....

Have any of you seen this type selling here? what do you think about it? To me it takes away from my experience. Its not about making money, its about the community.
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Happy Memorial Day weekend, TD! :)

I couldn't agree more, with your OP! :thumbsup:

Like yourself, I've been seeing more or more people here, blatantly flipping a knife that they just purchased a month or two prior, for what I'd consider an obscene profit.

These people remind me of a so called, loyal family dog that you rescued & invited into your loving home for the next 8 years...taking a big crap in the kitchen (hoping no one will see), then running back into into the bedroom and jumping up on the bed with you.

I have no problem, as long as these "flipper's" at least attempted to use a little discretion, and flipped the knives they scored, elsewhere...

What irk's me for example:
Is when Zero Tolerance, would have one of their infamous Limited Edition sales (the one's that would sell out in a matter of minutes). These sales, would always be accompanied by a GKD thread, filled with anticipation and excitement. Some of the BF member's here, whom were fortunate enough to score one these highly coveted L.E. models, would have it listed here in the sales exchange within a few days; usually at a nice inflated profited. To me, this is like a big, F- you, to the rest of the community; member's whom they knew, desperately wanted one of these L.E.'s solely for their collection.

FWIW: I've given more sweetheart deals here (to people I've considered my BF brother's), than I'd like to admit. This so called hobby/passion of mine, has been a losing proposition. I will forever be deep in the red, with no chance of ever getting out.

One of these sweetheart deals, was for a CRK Umnumzaan, which I sold for $280...only to see it listed about 6 or so months later, for $450

And now I'm18699808_1000219706782209_5245236326072837786_n.jpg 18739784_1000219820115531_7650543659969739720_n.jpg looking for another, old pivot Zaan. :p

Live and learn...
 
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Heck, I have never even sold a knife and broke even. I don't care if I bought it new, open it, and then decide to sell it- I will sell for less. For example, I just picked up a brand new, from vendor, ZT 0770cf. Got a good deal at $145. $30 less than everywhere else. It is not for me, never carried, never cut, never nothing with it, and I am about to post it for $15 less than even I paid for it. Someone wanting or eyeing that knife will get a good deal.

I believe in karma of a sort and believe what goes around comes around. Someday someone will do me a good deal like that. Nothing wrong with breaking even or even taking advantage of current demand/pricing, but my concern is more to put a smile on someone's face than to make $$$.
 
Interesting thread.

But what is "GEC" and "SFO"?

I've sold @ 10 or 12 knives in the exchange here over the last 8 years. And I've made each sale a "good deal" for the buyer. And I'm happy to do so since the knife is going to a fellow knife enthusiast. It's nice to have a place to sell knives from my collection that don't appeal to me anymore to other knife guys.

I realize that money talks. But selling a knife for a signifugant mark-up just because you can isn't a business model I follow here on the BF exchange. Outside of here , different story.
 
TinyDog said:
I feel it is price gouging.
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Price gouging only occurs on commodities in short supply during an emergency. One can price gouge on potatoes during a famine, or generators after a hurricane. No one will die without a TC Barlow or titanium Military. In my view we should distinguish between essentials (food, water, gasoline) and expensive toys.

I just turn away.
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This is the right approach, and nothing more is required. I hold no animus whatsoever toward anyone who "buys low and sells high". Each of us is free to price a knife at whatever we want, and each is also free not to buy it. Again, these are overpriced toys and not essentials. Its none of my business if someone asks $9000 for a used Endura. I just don't buy it.[/quote]
 
powernoodle said:
Price gouging only occurs on commodities in short supply during an emergency. One can price gouge on potatoes during a famine, or generators after a hurricane. No one will die without a TC Barlow or titanium Military. In my view we should distinguish between essentials (food, water, gasoline) and expensive toys.

This is the right approach, and nothing more is required. I hold no animus whatsoever toward anyone who "buys low and sells high". Each of us is free to price a knife at whatever we want, and each is also free not to buy it. Again, these are overpriced toys and not essentials. Its none of my business if someone asks $9000 for a used Endura. I just don't buy it.
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I turn away. I often turn away with some of the Northwoods GEC produced limited supply knives as well. I have tried and have in fact bought some. It is just not my thing to compete this way. I have no animosity toward folks that re-sell knives. I used to do it often with firearms for the fun of it. And I might say, it was mostly fun and not profit. ;)

SFO= Special factory order. GEC=Great Eastern Cutlery
 
Unfortunately, I almost always take a loss when selling :D
jimmyd1982 said:
That sounds perfectly reasonable to me. I have no problem spending a little more if I missed the initial run but I absolutely won't buy from the people that are constantly buying up as much stock as they can get their hands on with the sole intent of flipping them.
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What bothers me is the nearly uniform practice of removing the price after the knife is sold. If people left prices up, we'd have a more fair market for everyone. Removing the prices just helps out the players who are trying to make an unfair profit.
 
Sorry to use the incorrect word "Gouging" it was the best way for me to share how I feel. Whether a seller gets his 100% profit or not I just wish it was not here. 99% or more of the folks here enjoy the conversations, educations, and all the other interesting things blades. I am happy to be part of that group, lets just leave it at that ;) TD
 
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