Collectors Club = Price gouging dealers?

DaveH

DaveH

Joined
Dec 2, 1999
Messages
12,249
Anyone else feel this way?

Whenever Spyderco release a new model, there are nearly immediate forsale ads for the new model at a premium price. I'm wondering if they should rename it the "These Dealers Get Them First Club".
 
All you have to do is buy a dozen or so knives up front, and then commit to buying everything Spyderco makes, and you can have the privilege of getting your knives first, too. You don't have to be anyone special, just pony up the bucks, which would seem to be a problem with you.

I pay 20% below MSRP, plus shipping, which is no bargain. If I like the knife I keep it. If I don't, I sell it quickly, because if I wait for the internet dealers to get it, I'll have to meet or beat their 5% margin prices - which is below my cost. Actually, several dealers are also in the club, paying dealer cost, and they undercut me from day one.

If it's not worth it to you to pay a premium for being first, or to get a nice low serial number, then don't. The value of a thing is what that thing will bring.

BTW, the Lum sold, at asking price, in about 24 hours.
 
This thread overlaps with the other, I guess the should be part of the same. Anyway, we may just have to disagree on this. It's not ponying up the buck is that big a deal, it's that I have to strike a balance of satisfying a desire in a timely manner and also not being too much of a fool by paying too much.

By the serving of the collectors club first, IMO, which by your admission contains dealers, makes it more difficult to satisfy my desires. Desires that are probably shared by more than a few people. And once delays start to add up, sooner or later I'll be distracted by something else. So I'm unhappy, and it's likely spyderco looses a sale.

Now, as a whiny, pouty little boy I'm going to
go watch TV. :p
 
It's not like collectors club members get a box of the new models: they each get one (unless there are variations in which case they might get 2 or more). Collectors club members have promised Spyderco that they will buy almost every model that comes out. If you were a manufacturer, and someone promised to buy everything you made, wouldn't you ship to them first? Frankly, Spyderco can't worry whether a potential customer may or may not buy a new model, just to make it available to them a month earlier than someone who has promised to buy it.

Some dealers are collectors, yes, but if you look at the number, it's not that large. Even some dealers who are collectors don't even sell their collectors models, they just show them off to boost sales when they get in the production models.
 
Ok just for info guys. Just because you are in the collectors club doesn't mean you get your knives before everyone else. In fact there have been instances where pretty much everyone has them but us collectors. Just FYI.

Jyork
 
Good point, jyork. If I recall correctly, didn't everyone get their Guntings before the collectors did? I seem to remember having my Gunting + Trainer and collectors saying they still didn't have theirs.
 
Yep- Guntings and trainers took quite awhile. They were trying to put together a "kit" with a video I believe and it just didn't work out. Also our carbon fiber civilians took quite awhile as well. Not that I am complaining. I am guaranted to get the knife I want with my number on it. Not that I haven't wanted a knife so bad as to go out and buy one while waiting on my collectors version. As for the price gouging, thatis between you and your dealer. I personally have worked out a very good deal with my dealer but then I also support them in other ways and send referrals to them all the time. I guess it all comes down to "Is it worth the time and money to YOU?" I think it is for me.

Jyork
 
Actually, I think that the early Guntings were going out to Bram and friends, as they should have to "proof" the design.
 
I was given to understand that, on occasion, the engraver will get backed up and the numbered knives follow the rest by a bit. Happened at least once that I can remember. I signed up to get every design - not neccessarily every design first.

If you want to complain about gouging due to short supply, I'll get on your bandwagen with the auto makers - just offhand...

Original rotary Mazda RX-7 - up to triple MSRP :rolleyes:
More recently - PT Cruiser
Recently - Viper, First production C5
Any bets on the new T-bird?

Non-automotive - any crappy computer game: 49.00 on day one, 7.00 in the wire rack after the reviews hit.

And... whatever the hottest computer processor dujour is - couple extra hundred bucks for a lousy few mhz? It'll be free at the car wash in 3 years just like the one that was 80% of the performance and 50% of the price.

I may be way off base, but it seems to me the price of impatience has always been high.

And, fwiw, the engraver isn't the only one that gets backed up - try waiting for Sal to sign the books - only kiddin' Sal, it was worth the wait.
 
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