Collection Strategy & Economic uncertainty

This is interesting discussion :) I think 10% is doable. Why I said that, myself - just doing for fun/hobby/killing time, my "circulating/trading" collection itself gave me 24% net last year (I do have ledger for everything I bought). So having Less has been long time in business plus full time and knows many many collectors, I think he can get 10% easily.
 
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Hi Xaman,

Admission is free. If you aren't happy with the seminar we offer a guarantee of double what you paid to get in! :D

There is that guarantee thing again.
 
Hi Hans,

Will you see the list no.

Would the investor see the list, yes.

If you are the investor, then yes you would see the list.
 
Hi Hans,

this was predictable. i just asked to be sure. thanks anyway.
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What was predictable, that only the person who invested would have access to that information?

Or that you would expect to be privy to the information without actually doing anything for it?
 
Les Robertson said:
Hi Hans,



What was predictable, that only the person who invested would have access to that information?

Or that you would expect to be privy to the information without actually doing anything for it?
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fair enough. i'll pay the entry fee to one of your seminars to get the list.

hans
 
HI Hans,

"Tapping the Microphone".....Is this thing on.

The person who gets the information is the person who invested with me. If Peter decides to go through with this, he and I will share the information. No one else will see what was done with Peter's money.

I suspect if you invested $10,000 with someone you would not want posted how the money was invested. Then again maybe you would.

If it was me investing the money, I would not want to share the information. As perhaps I would like to try and duplicate what was done and perhaps do better than 10%.

Go back to STeven's response about my question regarding the three folders with the different types of pearl.

He knows the answer but is not going to share with the rest of the class. As others may incorporate what he is doing. He understands that providing this information to everyone may give a another collector an advantage or perhaps get a knife that STeven wanted.
 
Les Robertson said:
Hi Giant:




Im not telling people what they can and cannot do. It's your money, you spend it how you like.

I am not putting out a challenge. I am offering something that no one else in the custom knife world does. No One! It is a mere business transaction. Im surprised you don't see that.

I wasn't asking for 100K (don't you read what I write)? I was writing that many people in the past have complained that only a $100 return (on $1,000) is not a enough. So I wrote you could give up to $100K. The amount you invest is your choice.

Giant, do you or your financial advisor have any investment that guarantee's a 10% Return On Investment? I suspect not, but please feel free to share if you do.

Giant if you don't have such an investment; to criticize me because I do...is what is really lame.

As for the whole "shoving down people's throats"...like you I speak my mind. As well everyone reading any of my posts knows who I am.

Because you and everyone else who reads this knows my name (unlike you). I stand behind everything I write and say. Am I wrong, yes on occasion. But I do a lot of homework to make sure it doesn't happen twice.
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Les

As far as investments go, I won't be rushing over to you with my money. "Rock solid" personal guarantees are given out like cheap confetti on every second street corner, made by people with one man operations right through to the CEO's and directors of multi national companies and banks. In the end when the money is lost the "Guarantees" mean "didley squat". Just ask all the investors that had money in Enron or one of the many banks that recently went under or maybe Chrysler and on it goes.

I don't comment on what investments I may have or not have.

Les, we don't know each other personally so neither of us is in a position to comment on whether the other would stand behind his word or not. We can only comment on what is written here (a few words on the internet). My comments are based on what I read here and it seems to me that if you got less people off side you might have less people "winging" back at you. Most times it's not if you are right or wrong that matters but how you handle it.

In the end YOU have a lot of potential buyers on this forum and it seems to me that at least a few would be alienated by your approach (count me in amongst those)
 
peterinct said:
Les,
I am serious in my desire to invest. To be PERFECTLY clear of my intent:

This is my no risk emergency fund that banks are currently offering less than 3% annual return in a guaranteed CD or Treasury note.

I do not have a personal attorney that can create a contract by my request to satisfy my need, and I suspect if I were to hire one, the associated fee would take a large amount of my anticipated return.

I prefer NOT to take posession of any knives, only the $11,000 return.

If you are sincere, I could probably create the paperwork and as long as it is signed by you and a witness, that should suffice.

Essentially, it only needs to specify that I will entrust you with $10,000 to be invested by you, and you will provide $11,000 in return at the end of 12 months or sooner.

I have no desire to be involved in confrontational or differences of opinion discussions, but 10% GUARANTEED return is a VERY attractive investment.

Peter
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Peter,
I may be doing the same thing. I have always had high regard for Les' business acumen and have sent him many customers over the years on both sides of the fence- makers, buyers and sellers. Maybe I should profit from my benevolence? :)
 
Bladeandbarrel said:
Peter,
I may be doing the same thing. I have always had high regard for Les' business acumen and have sent him many customers over the years on both sides of the fence- makers, buyers and sellers. Maybe I should profit from my benevolence? :)
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Go for it!

My concern/questions hopefully wont be taken wrong. I would love nothing more than to see some BF guys make some money on custom knives...either themselves or with someone doing the wheelin' and dealin' for them!
 
Bladeandbarrel said:
Peter,
I may be doing the same thing. I have always had high regard for Les' business acumen and have sent him many customers over the years on both sides of the fence- makers, buyers and sellers. Maybe I should profit from my benevolence? :)
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There are still details to be worked out BEFORE I commit to handing the money to Les.

I am serious, but as I stated, I am NOT willing to assume any risk. While that may seem absurd to anyone with financial knowledge, that was my interpretation of what was being offered?

Peter
 
Les is a lot like I once heard Debra Warner comment about her husband Ken, "He has the annoying habit of being right."

Ken Warner (Cutlery Hall of Fame member, originator of the Knives "whatever year it is" series, former editor of American Rifleman) was asked for advice on collecting handmade knives by Bob Bonaventure (Bob was the head of Beretta when they landed the P-92 pistol contract for US Armed Forces).
Ken told Bob to review his collection every year, and pick out the ones that had appreciated and that he liked the best--and sell the rest. Annually. Of course that implies that Bob would have been keeping up with prices enough to know what was going up or down.

I think one obvious thing to consider for anyone seeking to buy knives at the lowest price should consider buying all their knives for their collection by shopping in the aftermarket. Naturally this would NOT include any makers who are in such demand that they have to have drawings for their knives--but for those whose knives take a tumble in price on the aftermarket below the maker's table price.

The knifemaker bases his price on what he can sell the knife for, on what his materials cost, what he estimates his other expenses, and what he needs to put food on the table.

That has nothing to do with the aftermarket price, where supply and demand, especially demand, will establish the price.

No matter whether a knife has jigged bone, mokume bolsters, or is an exotic no-demand design, it does have some base value. A clunky wood handled drop point hunter with no sheath, a straight tang, and by a maker no one has heard of is going have a great entry level price in the aftermarket. It is possible to collect clunkers and make money--but the key is to buying at less than market price.

Anyone buying knives without being aware of the aftermarket value, or buying a knife just to be able to brag, "I bought this from the maker", should go straight to the "You Can't Whine" club that Les described.
 
A custom knife hedge fund! What will we think of next?

Now all we have to do is have AIG write an insurance policy to guarantee the principle and interest to a AAA level. Properly structure the timing of a very long term and restrictive liquidation methodology, add substantial fees and commissions, leverage the position with credit default swaps and get Tim Geithner to throw in some TARP cash....

....Perhaps Congress could modify the tax code to include an Investment Knife Tax Credit...

....Les, you are too conservative, I think a 30% annual return on investment is well within reach!

P ;)
 
This is very interesting. Who would have thought on a knife forum?

So, as I understand the details, Peter may give Les $10,000 to purchase knives (inventory) for which Les will without risk to Peter return $11,000 (10% return) to Peter within 12 months.

So technically, isn't Peter just making an investment in giving Les a one year unsecured business loan for $10,000 at 10% interest?
 
peterinct said:
I am NOT willing to assume any risk.
Peter
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I confess my ignorance. What in your opinion is a RISK FREE investment?

The Chinese Communists and I, used to think United States Treasury Securities were relatively safe.
Even a FDIC insured account at a highly rated bank, is subject to inflation risk, ask anyone who had a savings account during the late 1970s.
 
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