I was at a shopping mall today and I went to a very popular knife store. I won't say the name but I will tell you the initals are CKT. Anyway, I am on a CRK Sebenza kick so I went in to see if they had any. Sure enough they did. I asked to see the large aztech sebenza, didn't really like the design too much for my taste, but hey who am I. Anyway, I turned the tag over and it said it was $600.00. I asked them why $600, they said if I can find it cheaper they will sell it to me at that cheaper price as long as it isn't more than 25% off their price. So I told them the knife is $415 from CRK direct. The guy went and got the manager and the manager said they couldn't go as low as $415 but 25% off makes the knife $450 plus tax. Even though I didn't like it I thought I should know why it was so much as a consumer. So I told them "No thank you", and started to walk out, and the manager said softly (but I still heard him) to the employee that even if it was $415 I wasn't prepared to pay that. As you know me from the first night I came on the scene I don't take that sh!t lightly. I went back and told him for a manager he should not tell employees to treat customers that way. So to prove my point I pulled out BOTH my solar wind (my edc) and stars and stripes (had that one on me as well to show someone that I met at the mall) and laid them on the counter. His mouth opened pretty wide and he said, "Um give me one minute, I may be able to sell you the knife for $415". I told him if it was free I wouldn't take it from him. That really turned me off about that store that they would have an a$$h@le like that working (no less the manager). I always make it a point to go in no matter what mall I am at to see the gadgets and stuff. I will not let that guy stop me though, I will still support CKT. Sorry so long, bye!
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Crazy Sebenza Prices (long, sorry)
- Thread starter Bulldawg
- Start date
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- Sep 16, 2002
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- 1,801
Good for you! Businesses need to learn first hand how poor customer service can hurt them. I will gladly pay a couple extra dollars for something if the store gives good customer service. I tried to buy a digital camcorder from one of those places in NYC calles Best Stop Digital. Needless to say, their customer service sucks big time, and they lied to me telling me the camcorder was in stock when it wasn't. Well after a long issue trying to rectify the situation with them and trying to get my credit card reimbursed, I ended up buying from a store on the net www.vans.com just because their customer service was top notch. Paid a few dollars more, but well worth it for the better CS.
Mike
Mike
Good for you, i am disgusted with the way some stores treat the customers. I had a episode today where i went to get something from a certain store and nobody would give me the time of day. This makes me a little upset considering i was in the same store last night and spoke to the same people who at the time were more than happy to take $ 840.00 off my hands.
Gary W. Graley
“Imagination is more important than knowledge"
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
- Joined
- Mar 2, 1999
- Messages
- 27,360
Judging a person from outward appearances is not a good way to run any business! Good thing you went back to set the two of them straight, they won't look at the customers the same way again!
G2
ps..
Hermie! what did you walk out with? inquiring minds want/need to know...
G2
ps..
Hermie! what did you walk out with? inquiring minds want/need to know...
Gary W. Graley
“Imagination is more important than knowledge"
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
- Joined
- Mar 2, 1999
- Messages
- 27,360
I seem to recall that the knife was an exclusive from Arizona Custom Knives? So maybe they got it second hand, which could account for the somewhat higher price? But since ACK has changed hands this may no longer be the case?
G2
This actually brings up a question I have been wanting to ask as many knife nutz as I can .
If there is a local shop with a large selection of knives , would you buy from them or online ? Where do you decide to keep the local business and support them or buy online.
I would really like to buy from a local knifeshop since I am going in there to hold and check out the new knives. However I am noticing most of the stuff , especially productions , I can buy online from one of the supporters of the forums for almost half off !!
Example #1 : I went to buy a Kershaw Boa. I was expecting to pay maybe $20 - $30 more locally. No biggie I thought , shop manager is a great KNOWLEDGEABLE guy ( who also puts a great edge on a blade for like $3 )...however both of the local shops were asking $189 !!
I understand the overhead but DAM ! I also was looking at the Rainbow Leek....$100 !
I am finding harder and harder to force myself to buy from a local knifeshop at this much of a difference in Price . I do try to buy as much as I can from them when the price is in check as like I said, the shop manager is a genuine KNIFE NUT and not a " clerk".
If there is a local shop with a large selection of knives , would you buy from them or online ? Where do you decide to keep the local business and support them or buy online.
I would really like to buy from a local knifeshop since I am going in there to hold and check out the new knives. However I am noticing most of the stuff , especially productions , I can buy online from one of the supporters of the forums for almost half off !!
Example #1 : I went to buy a Kershaw Boa. I was expecting to pay maybe $20 - $30 more locally. No biggie I thought , shop manager is a great KNOWLEDGEABLE guy ( who also puts a great edge on a blade for like $3 )...however both of the local shops were asking $189 !!
I understand the overhead but DAM ! I also was looking at the Rainbow Leek....$100 !
I am finding harder and harder to force myself to buy from a local knifeshop at this much of a difference in Price . I do try to buy as much as I can from them when the price is in check as like I said, the shop manager is a genuine KNIFE NUT and not a " clerk".
- Joined
- Sep 16, 2002
- Messages
- 1,801
Personally, I would explain to the owner your dillema, and the fact that you would love to support their business but cannot justify paying more than MSRP when you can go online and pay much less than MSRP. If he doesn't work with you, don't buy from him. Everything is negotiable.
Mike
I had the same problem with CKT here. They have had an Umfann with last years design for quite sime time. The problem is that they have it next to a computer generated graphic with the same price. $550
I think they will have that knife for quite some time.
I think they will have that knife for quite some time.
The CKT in my area are way to expensive. I go into look at the knives and that's it. Why? Here's an example that illustrates the big problem: a standard large Sebenza goes for $450.00 at CKT. Ouch! I can't justify spending $100.00 more on a knife just to support a local knife shop. The problem for CKT is that they have to pay the pricey mall rent and make a profit. Now, I would be willing to pay $20.00 more, but not $50-100 more on a knife that I can get from a local independent dealer at or below the standard list price.
Somehow, that guy is still making a profit.
Somehow, that guy is still making a profit.