Buy a nice knife, put it back in the box, take pics and sell it .......Why ?

Topcatpt said:
It's the same for me too there are no knife stores near me so I can't hold in hand till I buy it. I'm on the search for the high end knife that's the one for me. I don't have the cash to buy all of them at once so I've been trying them one at a time and trading them to try the next.
Click to expand...

This is more like my story-line. No stores. I usually buy off the Exchange; seldom new unless for a relative's gift. Even then, depends on whether I can find a ANIB for a bit less on the Exchange. I love the "technology" of the knives: the super blade-steels, the "no-wiggle" expectation of a Sebenza or Zaan or most higher-priced Spydercos. I dislike terribly a folder with blade-play, and detest lock-rock. I'll send it in, or get rid of it.
The "bulk" of my problem is that I get in these "beautiful" folders with titanium or carbon-fiber scales, tight lockup, and I think "Wow, that's too nice to use." So I carry one of my user Sebbies and the great NIB folders stay right in their nice little boxes until I trade them off or sell them for something else.
I'm looking for a VECP, but I'm also savvy enough, through experience, to know that it is right at the top of my comfort range in terms of weight...about 5.6 ounces or so. But it has a great blade-steel, and I want to check it out. So having a few extra NIB folders sitting in the drawer isn't necessarily a bad thing.
All in all, it's a great hobby, although it keeps me VERY broke.
 
My reasoning is because I buy 99.9% of my knives online, sight unseen. There is really no way in Reno for me to buy a knife I have never owned before that would interest me. And it's a no brainer with pre-orders too.

So I'd rather take a shot at losing $20 or so by ordering the knife, then deciding if it's right for me after I get a chance to hold it and inspect it.

If there were more brick and mortars in Reno with the type of selection many of us knife nuts have come to expect, then I'd be shopping at those shops, making a fair offer if I like the knife and hopefully be taking the knife home that day but that's a pipe dream for the most part.
 
Last edited:
I've noticed quite a few Southards in the X selling at a loss.<br />
<br />
I am in no way bashing the knife or people who own one, but it makes me wonder if it is living up to the hype.<br />
I'm gonna hafts ta sell a few more knives so I can pick one up.
Click to expand...

I don't think that that is an indicator of the knife, but rather the way people went a little crazy when they first came out. I know that some people bought multiples, I also read somewhere that at least one guy was desperate enough to pay full msrp ($399) at the outlet store.

The fact that everyone HAD to have one worked out quite well for others who waited. It wasn't stupid or silly on the part of those who jumped. We've all seen situations where we should have and didn't. It just so happens that this is a model that can (apparently) be made in quantities that sate demand.

I ended up with a new one from a trade. The original trade knives from me totalled about $60 and I was lucky and traded up a few times. It took a while, but I'm pretty sure that the Southard is a keeper for me. In my case I modded mine knowing that it would likely lower resale desirability. I did it tastefully Imo (along the lines of what I think Brad would agree with) and I like it this way.

I still really need to CUT something with it though! :D

I'll likely continue to keep other knives pristine in order to trade or sell though. I've just been able to sample an amazing array of different models that I would otherwise not be able to. I've literally had thousands of dollars in knives pass through my hands this year. If I kept all of them I'd likely be in serious trouble with the wife!
 
jeffsenpai said:
To feel the knife in hand and see if its a good fit. To see if it is love at first sight and touch. If it isn't, then selling for a slight loss (or even profit in some cases) is no big deal, as I consider calling it "renting" the knife.
Click to expand...

Yup. I'm not a collector so every knife I buy has to feel right otherwise I pass it along. I just sold a JK Kephart for that reason. It just didn't do it for me and I sold it at a slight loss. I could have returned it but there was nothing wrong with the knife, it just didn't do it for ME. I don't expect the maker to take a hit for what is my likes and dislikes.

My wife also accuses me of renting knives. ;)
 
I do that when I buy a knife, take it out of the box, notice that it's a hunk of junk / doesn't suit me / doesn't fit my hands and come to the realization that I'm never going to use it.

I don't keep knives that won't get used, so I'll sell it at that point.
 
clockman said:
I think I know some of the reasons guys buy a knife and sell it within a week or so after they buy it.

Why do you think some members are doing this more and more lately ?
Click to expand...

I think some of them do this because their moms asked them where all their lunch money went... :D
 
Reeek said:
My reasoning is because I buy 99.9% of my knives online, sight unseen. There is really no way in Reno for me to buy a knife I have never owned before that would interest me. And it's a no brainer with pre-orders too.

So I'd rather take a shot at losing $20 or so by ordering the knife, then deciding if it's right for me after I get a chance to hold it and inspect it.

If there were more brick and mortars in Reno with the type of selection many of us knife nuts have come to expect, then I'd be shopping at those shops, making a fair offer if I like the knife and hopefully be taking the knife home that day but that's a pipe dream for the most part.
Click to expand...

^^^This^^^ I went through a huge spell of this a while back. I had to have every Roselli he made. Well, they're nice but they're not what they're cracked up to be. They sold like hotcakes on an auction site and I don't think I lost any money at all...on a couple, my buy right now price was higher than MSRP and they got snapped up. My Roselli Grandfather went that way...the guy was effusive with praise (I am a fast shipper) after the sale and I actually made a little money.

I just turned the money around and bought more knives...fewer and fewer of which got resold. One of those was an ESEE Junglas. That is one fantastic piece of steel, well made, awsome to look at...with no use for me. That one was probably the quickest turn around. I think I had that a week tops before it went out the door to a guy up in Montana. I got 99% of what I paid for it and the buyer got a bunch of extra ESEE stuff I had lying around. I think I bought 4 or 5 Moras with that cash.
 
Sometime the knife is not what I expect, and sometime you outgrow a knife as your taste changes. Another recent source of selling material came from the holidays. My well intentioned family got me knives, but did not make choices that I would use.
 
I have seen lots of people who buy 2 or 3 of the same knife at the same time so they can inspect them and pick the one with the best fit and finish. They then just sell off the others.
 
Reeek said:
My reasoning is because I buy 99.9% of my knives online, sight unseen. There is really no way in Reno for me to buy a knife I have never owned before that would interest me. And it's a no brainer with pre-orders too.

So I'd rather take a shot at losing $20 or so by ordering the knife, then deciding if it's right for me after I get a chance to hold it and inspect it.

If there were more brick and mortars in Reno with the type of selection many of us knife nuts have come to expect, then I'd be shopping at those shops, making a fair offer if I like the knife and hopefully be taking the knife home that day but that's a pipe dream for the most part.
Click to expand...

Same here except replace Reno with NJ :).Also,If I don't like a knife I don't think it's right to return it to the dealer because of my "buyer's remorse".
 
Because for some odd reason, the people buying these used knives, even the common production runs, are willing to pay more for a used knife from the Exchange than you can buy it for brand new online. Don't know why, but it happens. There are knives listed for sale right now that you can buy brand new for less from an online distributor.

It would seem that the more ridiculous the sale price, the more likely some one will buy it. Then you quickly erase the sale price to cover your tracks.
 
Just be happy they do.
Keeps many of us from having to go to the Bay.
 
I guess it is just none of my business what other people do, as long as it does not negatively and directly impact me.

Sometimes I will silently ponder to myself, but that is between me and me.

best

mqqn
 
BladeChick777 said:
Sometimes they get a good deal and can sell for way more.
Sometimes they just don't like it and let it go.
Sometimes unexpected things come up and they have to sell.
Sometimes people just like to check out new knives and once they do, they let them go, so they can check out the next knife.
Sometimes something they like better comes up.

All kinds of reasons.

I use all of my knives and have certain likes and dislikes so I don't normally end up flipping them like that.
Sometimes I do trade though even if I don't really want rid of the knife, because I find something I like better or something I may not have a chance at later on.

It's just a part of the whole knife thing I guess.
Click to expand...


This covers it all.
 
Only knife I've returned is a Sage 2
Didn't feel right to me
I'm just glad the process is so easy
 
For me, its the hunt. It gives me a chance to use some nice knives, if I don't like it as much as I thought. I move it.
 
Enthusiasts and collectors can be very fickle. Lots of people get interested in something based on photos and based on what they read, they buy it, then when they receive it the reality doesn't live up to the buildup in their minds so they turn around and sell it. Watch collectors seem to be worse about this than knife collectors. I've seen a lot of hype about ZT knives, then 6-12 months later I see a lot of them for sale at good prices so I traded for one. Mine has its pluses and minuses, the minuses being its size and how hard it is to open, but the pluses far outweigh the minuses so I'm keeping mine for now. Southards might be the same way- there was a lot of buildup and now people find that they don't like them as much so they are selling them. I think this is somewhat natural and I don't have a problem with it.

This is strictly my opinion here- people that buy limited production knives with the intention of selling them and making a big profit are real lowlifes. There are lots of limited knives that I really would have liked to have bought when available for preorder, but many of the preorders went to people that will later jack the prices way up. I could have gotten in on the preorders if they had not sold out in a matter of days, but I would be able to buy them at twice the original price so me as a true knife enthusiast that want to own the knife and use and appreciate it will be left out because of people that just want to make a few bucks. Well it is a free country and they are free to do what they want, but they are also free to behave in ways that makes other people think they are scum, so I'll state my opinion accordingly.

I've bought a lot of custom hunting knives for my collection, for my pride of ownership, with no intention of using or selling them. I did hope that they would hold some value so I wouldn't lose out completely when I need to sell them 20 years after I bought them, but in the meantime I enjoy owning them. All of the folding knives that I've bought have been with the itention of actually using them. I did buy one limited edition Benchmade, a 690-01 folder with white micarta scales instead of the standard production wood scales. I intended to use it for "Sunday carry", but never could bring myself to do it so recently I traded it partially for a ZT 0561. I managed to get out of it about the same amount that I paid for it over 10 years ago, so I lost money based on inflation vs. making money by selling a limited edition knife.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top