Brick & Mortar Store Experience

[Raptor]

I just got back from a trip out to Amish country where I had the oppurtunity to visit "Country Knives" which is located in Intercoarse, PA.

What a great experience this was for both myself and my wife.

A+ KnifeStore!!

I had forgotten how awesome it was to walk into a real deal knife shop. I was almost dizzy for the first 1/2 hr or so. It is almost overwhelming to take in all of the quality cutlery that they have assembled under their roof.

I was in this store for at least 2 hrs and handled about 30 knives that I am either interested in or have have never before seen in person. The whole time there went so fast for me moving from one display to the next. Some knives proved to be disappointments to me, while others that I may never have given the chance, stepped up and made my list.

The best part of going to a B&M knife store is the chance to be around and converse with others who share your same interest.

I post this thread here today not to just tell you what a great time I had but to remind you all to seek out your local "Brick & Mortar" knife stores and patronize them. I know that we all shop online because of the convenience and the great prices, but, besides being able to actually walk out with your new knife right there & then in your hand, you will also have had a great experience as well.
I would hate the thought that these Mom & Pop knife stores will be lost to us because of our ignorance. They are a large part of the knife industry's history and we should give them whatever support we can.

Thanks for listening.

--The Raptor--

 

[RickdelM]

I think that in the age of the internet a B&M retailer has to offer something special in the way of products, service, or maybe just a great atmosphere to hang out. They also need to be within shouting distance in price, 10% to 20%. It sounds like you found one of those. The days of hanging out your shingle in a mall and hoping for customers because you were the only knife store in the area are over. I only wish there was a store like you describe in my area.

Rick

 

[craigz]

I notice that you didn't say whether you bought anything. Country Knives is a great store, but I think if this kind of place is going to serve knife enthusiasts, and not just tourists, they're going to have to make their prices more competitive with the Internet dealers. I'd be willing to pay an extra 10% to support a local dealer, but not the 40 to 60% I found there.

 

[wyrm]

The closest real knife store is about a 2 hour drive for me. They have a pretty good selection of the top production lines, but very few customs and alot of POS. Most of the staff is knowledgeable and good to talk to but the prices are waaay over-priced and you really have to work to get a decent price. It's really a conflicting experience because I love handling the knives talking to other customers etc, etc... but the actual buying part leaves me frustrated. I am ALMOST ready to stop buying any production knife and limit myself to 1-2 customs (from the maker) a year. Time will tell.

------------------
Dale C. Tipert aka 'wyrm'
Learn. Apply. Share.
Visit Knifeforums

 

[Raptor]

Hi Craig,
Thanks for reminding me. We did indeed buy something.

I picked up an Al Mar Sere 2000 and a tube of Flitz for myself.
My wife purchased a high quality German made apple slicer/corer and a Swiss made precision pair of tweezers.

And yes, I am pretty sure that I could have maybe found all for less using the internet, but if I had the oppurtunity to do so again, I would pay the "real store" price again.

Please note, I'm not rich. I'm a regular blue collar working "Joe". I just really believe that you must consider the overhead involved in these stores and also I believe that it isn't right to just use them for trying out your future internet purchases. If you are going to take up their time, it would only be fair, assuming there is something there that you want, and buy it.

I also don't won't to downplay internet site purchasing. Hell, if it wasn't for 1SKS we wouldn't be having this conversation right now. They each provide something different and I don't won't us to lose either.

Hopefully you get what I mean.

--The Raptor--

 

[Keith Montgomery]

Raptor, I would also like to know if you bought anything, or plan to buy anything from Country Knives. You said you saw many knives you were interested in, but will you be buying them from the store you were in or an on-line store.

I am not saying that you would do this, but a lot of people use stores for their knowledge and the fact that they can go a handle the knives to see if they like them. Then they go and buy them from the on-line stores because of price. I also would lay odds that some of the folks that do this think that there is nothing wrong with what they are doing. A brick & motar store can only afford to discount a knife 5-20% depending on the margin given by the manufacturer. If you are not willing to pay these prices you should not waste the valuable time of the store owner nor his employees.

I am not a store owner, but do work in the retail industry. I do not think that there is anything wrong with buying from the internet. What I do not repect are people that think it is OK to use my time and expertise with no intention of buying from me.

Sorry to have gone of on this rant, but if you want knife stores to stick around, then support them. If you don't care then don't waste their time.

Keith.

It seems that while I was posting this you had already answered my question about whether you had purchased something from Country Knives. Good for you, IMO what you did shows that you have ethics, something I find important in the people I deal with.

[This message has been edited by Keith Montgomery (edited 03-11-2001).]

 

[Double Edge Dave]

Gonna move this to GB+U.
David