Clearance sales helping my buying decisions.

R

ronscuba

Joined
Jan 15, 2024
Messages
6
I am new to knives and light duty user. Having fun buying knives with different locks, deployment methods and materials to see what I like. Been watching a lot of youtube videos, but the qty of recommended knives is overwhelming.

I did buy standard recommendations like Delica, Para 2, Para 3, Leek, from Knifecenter, but also really like knives I found on clearance deeply discounted on Mfrs. sites, We and Civivi.

I've been wanting to try Kizer, but so many options it was difficult to choose. Checking Kizer mfr site clearance, found killer deals so I ordered the Mini Roach in G10 for $45 and October in titanium for $95.

Do other people find clearance sale pricing affecting their buying decisions ?
 
Only on something that I would really want.

Those "clearance sales" can be quite misleading as they may bring it down only a few dollars and they make it seem like they knocked 30 dollars off but in reality they knocked off $5.

Not saying you can't snag good deals though, I will always glance over Knifecenter when they do a big sale or some of the other sellers.
 
I saw a knife that caught my eye a while back that was now discontinued and on sale at BHQ. I was curious enough to buy a couple of them and I’m glad I did. A fantastic knife at a great price.
 
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RoyalHolic said:
Only on something that I would really want.

Those "clearance sales" can be quite misleading as they may bring it down only a few dollars and they make it seem like they knocked 30 dollars off but in reality they knocked off $5.

Not saying you can't snag good deals though, I will always glance over Knifecenter when they do a big sale or some of the other sellers.
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True. I do see the % off vary. The knives I bought on the WE, Civivi and Kizer mfrs. site were around 40% cheaper than Knifecenter pricing.

I am new to knives so these deals probably have a bigger affect on me than if I already had a good size collection.
 
ronscuba said:
Do other people find clearance sale pricing affecting their buying decisions ?
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Sometimes…
I just bought an S90V PM2 for $165.
Seemed too good to pass up when the regular versions are going for $200+. And I really wanted another knife in S90V, a user

The price increases on some knives is getting out of control, they bump the price every few months it feels like (not just Spyderco, but most brands).
 
Spyderco bumps once a year, so yeah every 12 months. Everything is going up faster than most people's income. Oddly, the $400+ knife market is having no issues selling their stock without clearance prices. Maybe because they produce in smaller batches and keep demand high? 🤷‍♂️
 
I'm at a point where I'd choose a budget or clearance knife over a high end one. Makes them easier to replace should I have to. I'll buy a 20 dollar kershaw over a benchmade or spyderco any day. Super steels don't sweep me off my feet anymore, and the knife will just be used daily, I'm completely fine with 8cr13mov. I have no need or desire to hoard and keep knives in drawers or on shelves next to a dehumidifier. So no real need or reason for me to buy any knife over 75.00 USD
For me, that's where I'm at
 
SharpBits said:
Spyderco bumps once a year, so yeah every 12 months. Everything is going up faster than most people's income. Oddly, the $400+ knife market is having no issues selling their stock without clearance prices. Maybe because they produce in smaller batches and keep demand high? 🤷‍♂️
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Collectors have an appetite to feed
 
I get a good bit of mine on sale/clearance.
if you are intersted in Kizer, I'd recommended the Begleiter or Mini Begleiter. I've got both in VG-10 and 154CM, and they also offer some other steels
 
A significant part of my collection came from the clearance section. Some people claim that it's only about the knife they want and not the price, but I doubt they'd be buying the same knives if they happened to cost 3x as much. If you're comparing two knives and one has noticeably better materials, machining, etc at the same price just because it's been discontinued, that's an easy decision.

Also, knives that are priced well because they're on clearance often go up in value when they're no longer available, so an impulse buy is less likely to bite you.
 
I don't normally go the clearance route, but watching the for sale forums here would probably be beneficial when the deals are around.
 
ronscuba said:
I am new to knives and light duty user. Having fun buying knives with different locks, deployment methods and materials to see what I like. Been watching a lot of youtube videos, but the qty of recommended knives is overwhelming.

I did buy standard recommendations like Delica, Para 2, Para 3, Leek, from Knifecenter, but also really like knives I found on clearance deeply discounted on Mfrs. sites, We and Civivi.

I've been wanting to try Kizer, but so many options it was difficult to choose. Checking Kizer mfr site clearance, found killer deals so I ordered the Mini Roach in G10 for $45 and October in titanium for $95.

Do other people find clearance sale pricing affecting their buying decisions ?
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I am new and in a similar position, outside of the holiday sales though I find the actual discount level on mfr site the rest of the year to be less than stellar. I will sometimes find a good deal on one of the online dealers and after comparing multiple dealers to confirm it is actually an exceptional price then research the knife itself to come to a better appreciation for it.

Edit: I seem to find discontinued deals more than promoted clearance sales, which we may not know about unless we look for them.
 
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ShaiHulud said:
Collectors have an appetite to feed
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True but it just depends on what we do with it. If it was totally utilitarian there is no need to be on this forum, you can just buy a few of the same knife and never think about the choice of different design at all. I am actually kind of a low budget shopper but still look for unique styles, as you said it doesn't have to be a super steel but there's plenty of varieties out there.
 
I sell knives at gun shows, not as a means of making a living, but as a fun-and-kinda-profitable sideline. I absolutely rely on online knife sales to augment my inventory.

For example: a popular knife retails for $200, and I find it on sale, online, for $180. I buy four, then sell them for $195. I come across as a hero, I make $60 profit, and the buyers walk away with huge grins on their faces.

Can I make a living this way? Nope. Can I have fun and cover my expenses? Abso-dang-lutely.
 
Absolutely. The decision to buy one knife among the many released on a regular basis is a matter of justification. I've got to weight what it brings to the table, how I might use it, etc.; versus how much it costs. So being an awesome knife with good materials or great features is attractive but only if it's in the right place on price relative to the market.

For instance, a lot of the Civivi and Kizer knives with G10 or Micarta handles, and blades in steels like 14C28N, N690, or 154CM feel very reasonable or downright attractive at their normal prices. When they go on super sales, as we are seeing now with some of the recently discontinued Civivi and Sencut models; I might pick one up that I had been on the fence about, grab a back-up for one that I already own and love, or get one as a gift for a friend or relative who has an upcoming birthday or whatever. For instance, one of my all-time favorite Sencut models in Micarta and 10Cr15CoMov (a Chinese analog of VG-10) is now discontinued and has dropped below $30 in a lot of places. (See mine below.) So yeah, I grabbed a couple!

On the other side are a whole bunch of knives that I'd love to own but just cost stupid prices for what they are. For instance, the Spyderco Enuff 2 is a fixed blade in FRN and VG-10 and it costs $180. Try as I might, I can't justify it. I literally bought two EDC fixed blades in arguably better materials earlier this year and the combined price was $180. Sure, those were made in China but the Enuff 2 is still made overseas (Japan) and two for one in better materials is just nuts. On the other hand, there are American-made production fixed blades in super steels available around $180. Heck, you can get customs in similar or better materials for that price or less on the Exchange here!

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ronscuba said:
Do other people find clearance sale pricing affecting their buying decisions ?
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I am so cheap (with regard to folders) that not only have I only bought (if memory serves) three in the last two years, but one was a Buck Toothpick (barely $25 CAD), and two were Spyderco Resiliences in 8Cr13MoV which regular price was about $90 CAD, but I waited until they were on sale for $68. And even then, one was to replace an S35VN Resilience I had been carrying for a couple years, and the other was to sell to a gentleman who wanted to try a Resilience with my mods.

Bob Denman said:
crack!
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I heard stepping on those keeps the chiropractor in business.

ShaiHulud said:
near 0
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I think it's a myth.
 
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