Collectors - What do you look for in a Maker?

[betzner]

My favorite maker has probably had three price increases in the last 12 months. His knives had been way below the secondary market for a long, long time. I can't begrudge his increases, and he is still below the market. And I still keep buying.

 

[Kevin Jones]

The yippee was a little tongue in cheek.

Yippee for the maker, as it means his craftsmanship in in high enough demand to warrant a higher price for his work.

Yippee for the collector who had the foresight to buy said makers works. possibly at a time when no one else was?

My favorite maker has probably had three price increases in the last 12 months. His knives had been way below the secondary market for a long, long time. I can't begrudge his increases, and he is still below the market. And I still keep buying.

Just the point I was trying to make, as appropriate price increases benefit both maker and collector.

I would imagine business savvy makers agonize quite a bit over pricing their knives.

 

[jdm61]

Just the point I was trying to make, as appropriate price increases benefit both maker and collector.

I would imagine business savvy makers agonize quite a bit over pricing their knives.

Non business savy newbie makers like me agonize over their pricing. I am insituting a slight price incease on my next round of knives. But it won't be that hard. My first knife cwent for nothing (KITH) and my second and third were cheap, so the only way I can go is up I suspect that all knifemakers have this problem. I have heard several buyers or collectors on the forums comment on someones prices being low or flat out tell a maker that he wasn't charging enough. Interesting dilemna, eh?

 

[Keith Montgomery]

A few months ago my favorite maker and I discussed the pricing of his knives. He stated that he had been told many times that his knives were underpriced and that he should make adjustments. I think he has done so, but with a bit of worry. I don't think he was sure how his customers would take the increase. It was my opinion that he had he had nothing to worry about.

 

[Kevin Jones]

A few months ago my favorite maker and I discussed the pricing of his knives. He stated that he had been told many times that his knives were underpriced and that he should make adjustments. I think he has done so, but with a bit of worry. I don't think he was sure how his customers would take the increase. It was my opinion that he had he had nothing to worry about.

Yes, makers struggle with this all the time. New collectors suffer a little by rising prices, however established collectors obviously benefit as their favorite makers raise prices responsibly. IMO, new collectors should stay away from makers whose prices are not gradually going up. As their taste in knives will most likely change. They should buy knives that can be easily re-sold without loosing money as they adjust their collections.

Now when a maker I support lowers his prices , that's when I get concerned.

For some reason, many makers tend to think or are afraid they are charging too much and collectors many times under price their knives in the secondary market for the same reason.

Yes, realizing value and pricing accordingly is important from a maker or collector's standpoint in maintaining a healthy price structure.