Dealers disclose knife new or pre owned opinions

C

Chris W

Joined
Oct 25, 1998
Messages
62
I just purchased a high end knife from a dealer and I assumed that the dealer had recently purchased the knife from the maker as it was new to the dealer's site. I later found out that the knife was made in January of this year and delivered to the dealer at that time. The knife was sold back then and had recently come back to the dealer (sold back, traded?).

Anyway, when I purchased the knife from the dealer (at top price) nothing was said about the knife having been previously owned.

My question is, should dealers disclose if the knife you are purchasing has been previously owned? Opinions.
 
I would say most dealers would say pre-owned, but before i say anymore was the knife mint or not? Also can you still send it back?



James
 
I think you need to clarify what you are asking:

If the knife was sold to a customer and the customer got it looked at it then sent it back because he did not like it, want it ect. Is that what your asking? Or are you saying a knife the dealer sold then bought back 6 months later then stuck on the shelf as a new knife?

If the knife is a used knife, heck yea the dealer should say so. Used is Used same as in cars or anything else, bought and returned might be a diff. story depending on circumstances.

the knife was made in January of this year and delivered to the dealer at that time. The knife was sold back then and had recently come back to the dealer (sold back, traded?).
Click to expand...

Quite a few models of knives will set on the shelves not a big thing for it to be there since January and no need for the dealer to say how long it's been there, unless the manufacturer has changed the knife design, then the dealer needs to mark them as the new or old design and give you a choice between the two.
 
In my opinion a dealer should always let a customer know that a knife they are interested in was previously owned. This does make it a second hand knife. Even if it is mint or if you can send it back, you should have been told.

If the dealer was up front and said; "Look, this knife was bought and returned. It has been inspected and it is in mint condition. If when you get it and after inspection you don't agree that it is mint, just send it back.", I would be likely to say, "Sounds good to me." and go for the deal. Then there would be no surprises and I would respect the dealer for fully filling me in.

If I had had your experience, I would be left with a real bad taste in my mouth.
 
Chris W
If I like a knife I buy it.Has nothing to do with who or what the circumstances are,if I like it I buy it.If you like the knife you purchased keep it. If it leaves a bad taste send it back.Purchased many thousands of dollars worth of custom knives in my time,most are second hand.Randalls,Loveless,Walkers,Morans,ect,ect,ect,ect.YOU CANNOT ALWAYS BUY FROM THE MAKER.Some are not with us anymore.
Be well,
Randy
 
FWIW, I wouldn't be very concerned about a knife being pre-owned. If it's mint, it's mint. Period. Why would it really matter if it sat in the maker's, dealer's, or previous owner's safe? (Used & reconditioned is another matter.) Go to a big knife show and buy a knife from the maker on the second or third day. How many folks do you think have handled and, in the case of folders, opened your "new" knife?

IMO, market demand plus the knife's condition dictates price. I personally don't care how many miles it may have on it.
 
I think the pint is he paid ful price for somethin that was previosly owned...I wouldn't want to buy a knife that someone else rejected for full price...would you?
 
I would think common courtesy would dictate that the dealer disclose the fact it was previously owned. The dealers I deal with do this. Of course previously owned but stored in the safe would probably be better than on the dealers table at shows gettin flicked several times during the day!:eek: :)
 
I don't think the question here is whether it is Ok to buy used knives. Of course it is, but the dealer that sells them should tell the prospective purchaser that the knife is second hand. That is a very pertinent piece of information that should never be left out.
 
Chris:

....depends on the exact circumstances. If the dealer bought it directly from the maker, sent it to a customer he knows well and trusts, customer took a look at it and sent it back, dealer inspected it and found nothing different...that's no big deal. The knife is new. It's not a whole lot different than one that's been inspected off the table at a show. If the circumstances are a lot different than the above, that might be significant.

Just call the dealer and ask him all about it. Every detail. Don't be shy. I always ask a dealer everything I want to know, even stuff that a "normal" person wouldn't care about. I used to worry that I'd sound ridiculous or the dealer would think I was nuts and not "like me". Now I think, "he's the one being evaluated here". If he developes an atitude that's less than friendly, he just lost a customer. Permanently. If you want to know how the "bolsters smell", you ask him.

Also, try to find a dealer you like and trust and who thinks the way you do. My advice is to call that guy and talk with him about that knife. If you have that old "funny feeling" about it, send it back. One thing I've learned for sure, there are a LOT of knives out there...

Pete
 
Yes, they should definitely disclose if it was previously owned. That's significant to a lot of people and would effect what certain people are willing to pay. It effects the value of the knife for some people, so should be revealed up front.

Pete
 
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