Can prices remain on custom knife sales threads?

Boink

Boink

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Jun 6, 2002
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I searched on some custom knives to see what they went for and found that a lot of forum members replace the price it sold for with the word, "Sold."

Naturally, the historical price perspective is lost, which is unfortunate. I am thinking that this became the accepted way of doing things from copying what dealers and makers do on websites, as though that sets the standard.

From my limited understanding of web site design, the web masters create a site that a dealer or maker can change themselves. This usually includes one slot for stating the price. In the event the knife is sold, this same slot formerly holding the price is replaced with the text that reads, "Sold."

I am sure lots of folks go see a knife on a dealer or makers site that's no longer available and would like to see what it went for. But the limitations of the web site design makes this impossible. So, at least for our uses here in the forum, it would be a good idea to keep the price in place and claim the knife is sold or traded at the same time. I am wondering what others think about this proposition.
 
I feel that it is totally up to the person selling the knife to decide if he wants to leave the price up or not. If the purchaser would prefer that price be removed than I do think the seller should consider the buyers wishes.

The price that was being asked for the knife is not often the price that was actually paid for it. Offers have probably been made and a deal worked out. Having the price that was asked for the knife left in the thread gives you no idea of the final selling price.

It is nice to go to a thread and see what the original asking price for a knife is, but if the seller wants to remove it then all the best to him/her, it is totally within their discretion to do so.

Editd beecuz I kan't spel
 
HEY!!!! If I want to take my DAMNED prices off thats my choice, Bllaah Blahh lmao ;)

To each is own, I know its a bummer sometimes when your searching for a price comparision and only come accross the old (SOLD) tag. But some folks selling, may remove the price for several reason from anything from "It's no ones business" <--Maybe they asked to much and somehow got it, then there is the flip side and maybe the seller edited it out either on his own or at the buyers request because it sold so cheap for one reason or another and the price being left may limit the buyer in the future for resale purposes.

I personally think its up to the seller.
 
Some may say that it's up to the "poster" to edit or delete comments long after they've been made. However, in some fora that's considered bad form. Indeed, many will argue that what has been placed in the public domain should be left to stand on its own, as a matter of record.

I certainly won't presume to impose my wishes or opinions upon my fellow forumites, but I do feel that some useful information can be lost when sellers hide their prices. While people are certainly free to edit their posts and keep private the particulars of their trades (even after advertising in a public area), pricing information can be a highly valuable resource to other buyers and sellers in the community alike. I often find it a pity to see that resource taken away...

One last point worth mentioning, is that in the event of a trade dispute, there may be occasions when a seller would like to be able to reference an unedited post in the defense of his case.

Just some food for thought, folks.

Though this has been discussed in TGB&U on more than one occasion, it seems we still lack a consensus...
 
This subject, again?:rolleyes:

As long as the "edit" function works - its up to the poster.

Does anyone really "benefit" from posted prices staying up?

I really love getting an email from someone saying "A knife just like the one you have up for sale was sold by some desperate motherphucker for half of what you want..."

Oh yeah, love getting THOSE emails.:barf:
 
Settle down, Architect.

Information is a resource. Those who fail to recognize it as such do a disservice only to themselves.

Impolite or disrespectful negotiation tactics are a topic for another thread.
 
I too like to see the prices left up, but I realize that it is the posters perogative to so. If you go to sites like Blade Gallery you will see that prices are removed when a knife is marked as sold. This I find more irritating than when the prices are removed from for sale threads on forums. Maybe it is the software that does this automatically, but if not I don't understand why the price a knife listed for needs to be removed from these ads.


Edited to make a spelling correction.
 
Keith,

I agree with you 100%. If a knife is sold a knife is sold. Just remove the knife.

I am always amazed on the for sale fourm that someone would take the time to remove the price, but not the ad. Maybe they leave it up there just in case the deal doesn't go through. If that's the case, then just repost the knife.

On the custom knife dealers web-sites Im with you there as well. I don't understand why a dealer leaves the knife up with SOLD.

If I left up all the knives I sold, I would have to hundreds of dollars a month just for the bandwith to hold them all.

If it is a knife I regularly carry. I list the knife sold, with an option to place an order. With the price shown.

If it is a knife I can't get again or I don't get them on a regular basis. I remove the knife from my site.

Wheter you are changing the price to sold or removing the knife. Either way it's just a "cut and paste" operation and takes about the same amount of time.

But as stated previously, it is the posters perogative to leave or remove the price.
 
Les - if you don't edit you original post - you continue to get email inquiries for months after the knife has moved on.

Wulf - the bottom line is that the pricing "history" of sales on Bladeforums is so inconsistent that I don't know how you or Boink really consider that historical information to be meaningful. It is one resource, but so is Ebay, knife and gun shows, internet dealers, B&M dealers and various other venues.

The only real knife shop in San Francisco is We Be Knives. I live about 4 blocks from his shop. I stop in occasionally. This shop is on Pier 39, one of the three top tourist attractions in America. He has millions of people passing his shop every year. He pays a very high rent. He sells knives there with mark-ups that would curl your toes if you were a savvy buyer. But he stays in business, sells lots of knives. Is his pricing information meaningful? Yes, if you want to open another knife shop on Pier 39.

Bladeforums prices are meaningful only within the context of whether the same piece can be had from another source (I am talking customs here) at the moment in time the piece is posted. You can chose to purchase a one of a kind or hard to get item, or if it is a more common item - you can choose pass up the opportunity. I always compare the posted price to availability and price at other venues, currently - I don't even consider what a previous sale on BF might have been.

Whether stated or not, I suspect many people want pricing history in order to leverage less informed sellers.

Actually, I think the pricing history for production pieces on BF is more meaningful, as these change hands with greater frequency and the pricing range is quite narrow.
 
Being new to the hobby, I was just wondering where this has started - figuring that folks were copying what's done on some dealer's websites.

A recent example was when I saw a custom for sale on a dealer site at what I thought was a high price. So, I went to Bladeforums to do a search on the knife and see what it's been going for in order to see what the story was.

I luckily found out that the knife in question was some two hundred dollars more on this particular dealer's site. But many of the posts had put SOLD in place of the price and I might not have found out the story.

As to why it was costly on the dealer's site is an entirely different subject, but the situation as it occurred is what gave me cause to wonder about SOLD editings in this instance.
 
Hi Architect,

I agree 100% with your assessment of pricing on BF and most other forums. Although most of the site list well over 10,000 members. Fact is there are probably less than 100 who have bought a custom knife and even fewer who buy on a regular basis.

Those who buy a lot, know they can pick up the phone or email the maker and get an exact price quote on the knife.

Most of the knives sold on these forums are done so to either:

Cull the herd
raise cash for the next knife purchase
raise cash to buy something in another hobby.

Either way, these sellers for the most part are willing to let their knives go for well under retail. As you say the prices here meerly reflect a moment in time. A particular seller with a particular knife for a particular price. A price that usually drops as the hours tick by.

What is interesting is to watch who become the favorite makers on a particular forum. As well as those who's knives have lost favor with a parituclar forum.
 
Interesting thread guys.., and of course I think there will continue to be some disagreement on what is good form. Personally...it has never bothered me at all simply because of what has been touched on. I don't think the Forum prices here reflect any clear information of value anyway.

On certain rare items.., yes, but in general, I don't even pay attention.

Some really well thought out posts!

Thanks... :)
 
I someone is interested in a price-history he can save the page.
If i'm after a specific knife I watch the market and take every hint

I think that dealers sometimes mark a knife sold when they want to say: pending.
I even think it is nice to keep a sold knife posted for some time, since it gives the window-shopper the opportunity to see(quality) pixs of nice knives.

@ Les: I'll bet you find it interesting to watch the secondary market :)
What realy makes me wonder is, that you think that so few people here are into custom-knives.

Greetings

red
 
I usually leave the whole picture and specs of the knife up, including the price. My personal reason is that since I don't have very many to sell and most are one of a kind, it may give the customer an idea about what a knife similiar to one shown would cost. If I took them all down, there would hardly be anything left to compare. A price for a similiar piece would be similiar but not necessarily the same. Besides, I forget a lot of things anyway and that is why I started using a pencil to write it down :). My asking price is usually the selling price and I do cut some slack for good customers. Sometimes in price, sometimes in finishing, and sometimes maybe just something extra.
I have friends that may sell to a knife store for a percentage taken out for the selling. If they do a good service to the maker, then that will also get more of the makers knives into public use (secondary market) and that is where the value of the knife be. Of course if you ordered one built to your specifications, you may find that the design of the knife has limitations that may cause you take a slight loss. Hopefully I didn't muddy the water too much more.
If you can, I would say leave them. I always hated finding the knife I wanted in the catalog and then looking up the price in a separate price list. :(
 
I really like when the post retains the post and the price. But be careful, just because the price is listed there doesn't necessarily mean that the knife sold for that amount. Ex. the knfe could be either traded or sold at a lower agreed price. Just something to think about.

As Ray said, I like the maker's who leave up pics of past work and their prices. Gives the buyer an idea of what a similar piece might run them and cuts down on a lot of unnecessary emails just for the (now prospective) buyer to realize he can't afford it.
 
well here's my 2 cent.
As a custom maker I'll leave the price up even when
it's sold and I post it sold.
this gives the buyer a look at the/a knife and
he can have one similar made
for that price depending on
if he wants it the same as it was listed.
and it gives them a peek at what's
been made and what to expect for quality.
though I would much rather make a knife for the
customer that says just make me something..:)
for doing?
with a ?? handle
with a ?? blade. these let you loose ...
giddy up go Hoss :)
the ones I make that are very special for him I will
ask the customer if he cares
if another one is made like it or not?
it's up to him but he'll get it for less if
I can reproduce it with the picture for advertising
it only make cents business wise. other wise
I normally won't post it.
the price listed is not always the same as the
customer paid for 3 reasons or more.

1 I could have under estimated it and honored
the price giving
and the next one will be closer to what it
should have been.that customer made money.
2 at times we go up on prices just because of
inflation or some of us just get more as time goes on.
3 some of them I go up on the price because
it(the last one)now is worth more in value
I very seldom go down in price on one that I
have previous made and is posted.
just to the dealers, mutable buyers it's just
not fair to the last guy that bought one
I'd rather take it off the page and not offer
it anylonger.
or a dang good looking woman but she wants to
be buying me a drink :eek:
hahaha just kidding on that last one.:rolleyes:
I drink Scotch ladies,, you can try.. :D+
edited
opps sorry I think I miss read the thread title I
thought it was about web sites.
 
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