Jailhack, I did not say that anyone was saying there was no need for rules.
What I said was that WE don't make those rules. The owners and administrators of this site are the only ones who have the right or the obligation to make any rules or set any policies here. It's their site and their business. We as members have the right to expect those rules and policies to be fair and the obligation to follow them as established.
Mike Turber has said that the rules are forthcoming. When we see them we will be able to decide for ourselves if they are fair and if we want to continue to participate. If we don't like what we see, then we can go elsewhere. If we want to stay and play then we had better follow the rules. It's that simple. At least, it is for me.
As you said, I don't post on the for sale forums, although we were all invited to do so (for free) in the past. Obviously that has changed now. I have responded to some requests on the "Knives Wanted" forums but if that's going to be an problem, I will stop.
The fact that I am a storefront dealer does not necessarily mean that I can afford to pay for a banner ad here, but the reason that I haven't in the past is that I don't have a website to promote. That may change when I find someone to build my website promoting my store. (I thought I could do it myself but now I know better)
.
I also know better than to try and compete with the cut rate dealers out here. I do intend to stay in business.
As to "insulting your intelligence", I wish you would use some of that intelligence and go back and read what I posted. Nowhere in there did I say that a dealer couldn't or shouldn't purchase a knife for personal use or collection. What I did say, and most tax advisors will back me up on this, I believe, is that, when you are dealing in a certain product, there are no "personal" sales of that product, at least not to the public.
I am also a gun dealer. If I want to sell a personal weapon you had better believe that I have to put it in my book and sell it as inventory, following all the rules and regulations that dealers have to follow when they sell any gun. I cannot say that this is a "personal" gun and sell it privately.
Granted, the strict regulation and control of weapons sales makes the situation a bit different and this is an extreme example but the principle is the same. It isn't apples and oranges.
After all, what is the difference between a "personal" knife and an inventory knife? The fact that it was bought with "personal" funds rather than "business" funds? If you are a sole proprietor, there is no difference. The fact that it was "carried" for awhile and now it's a "used" knife? Does the dealer sell other used knives? When is a dealer not a dealer? When he or she wants to get around the rules? If you're a corporation it might be different but if you are a sole proprietor, like most of us are, it isn't. Dealing is dealing.
If one establishes oneself as a dealer in something then those credentials extend to all transactions. You can't be a dealer here and a non-dealer over there. Not in an open venue anyway.
Privately, one on one, it might be different but When you do business, such as advertizing a product and offering it to the public, even if it is a personal item, you are doing
business.
This doesn't say you can't have personal knives. It doesn't say you can't buy knives for your personal use or collection. It also doesn't mean that the practice doesn't go on all the time.
Answer me this, though, if there is nothing wrong with it then why would someone go to the trouble of changing their ID to go over to the Individual forum and post their "personal" goods there. Why not just say who you are and that this your personal Spyderco and your personal Benchmade and your personal Microtech and your personal..... You get the picture.
If you're a dealer, then you are a dealer. Period. Thats the rule I follow anyway. But, then, I only have to face myself in the mirror. We all follow our own path.
Peace
DW
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Dennis Wright
Wright Knife & Sporting Goods
1-800-400-1980
("Have a knife day!")
wrightknife@ixpres.com
[This message has been edited by Dennis Wright (edited 03-10-2000).]
