Etiquette question for Knifemakers

Kwaiken56

Kwaiken56

Joined
Apr 17, 2000
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I once read a story written by a well-known bladesmith, who described how a potential customer approached his table at a show, politely asked to handle several of his knives. The "shopper" appeared to be particularly interested in one knife, but nonetheless carefully sat the knife down and left.

Not long after, this person returned to the table and offered less than what the maker was stating he wanted for the knife. Not a whole lot less, but less. The maker thought about it for a moment, then agreed.

My question(s) is this: Just how common an occurance is this for you at shows? Is it considered good knife manners? I know that on a Sunday afternoon, a maker may mark down his price for a few knives that garnered less interest than others, but just how acceptable is it for the customer his or herself to ask for a markdown?

Personally, I've always paid full price for a knife I fell for at a show...
 
My understanding of bad manners :

1. Picking up the knife & playing with it without asking first
Sometimes, even after knife maker tells me to handle and play with the knives, I still don't feel comfortable enough to do so. It's not mine yet.

2. Touching the blade without permission

3. Picking the knives even though there's a notice 'Don't touch the knves'

4. Blocking knife makers' table and start giving lecture about how to make knives

5. Interrupting anyone (knife makers, other patrons, etc.) when they are talking

Asking for a lower price is a common business practice, and it's perfectly polite as long as it's said politely. But I always pay the full price, I reckon I want to support the knife community as much as I can.

Manners from one might be different from other. So, these are just 'my manners'
 
Interesting question.
Think about this. If you feel inclined to ask for a lower price wouldn't it be wise to do so without any other customers hearing?
Do you think a knifemaker would be wise to accept a lower offer in front of other customers? Some makers are known for doing the dickering type of business so don't let those that do not keep you from asking if you want to.
Do you think a offer on a note passed to the maker would be useful?
I've seen a well known knifemaker pass a note with a counter offer to
a customer but this customer was also a regular buyer of his knives.
Do not hesiteat to dicker with dealers. All a dealer or maker can say is no. If they're offended well, to hell with them. Persoanlly I put my money above somebodies fragile feelings.
After a while you'll know who to dicker with and who not.
 
Uncommon but not rude. Well it could be rude. Depends on how you phrase the question. If you say "I think this knife is only worth $X". The maker will most likely be offended and refuse the sale. If you say "Man I really like this knife but I can only afford $X". The maker will most likely work with you.

I would not suggest it on a knife that is already a bargin. But all the maker can say is no if you do ask.
 
As a maker, I am not offended by offers. I may or may not accept them depending on circumstances. I imagine that many people like to think they received a good deal, independent of whether they would have paid the asking price.
As an infrequent customer, if I like the knife and think it's a bargain, I will pay the asking price.
 
AL
I should have gone a bit further in my post.
Naturally you have to use common sense when it comes to the making of offers.
Of course a knifemaker that's going to sell the knife at the higher price or one that has a backlog of orders wouldn't consider giving you a price break. Same with a dealer but there are plenty of circumstances where you can get price breaks on knives.

A few places to look for price breaks. Knifemakers from overseas.
Last day of the show. Knifemakers from overseas on the last day of the show. Used knives. Dealers with a large variety of knives.
Buying mutliple knives. Dealers that bring a large quantity of knives to shows. These are often not put out at once. I'm drawing a blank here. Maybe some other readers can give a few more places to look.
 
Never be afraid to be yourself. If you love a knife and asbolutely do not have the funds, tell the knife maker your true feelings. Honesty knows its own rewards. Simply negotiating to drop the price on a knife while your $60,000 automobile waits in the parking lot is one thing, but honestly sharing the true situation can work wonders.
 
As a collector, I have never asked for a reduced price on a knife I wanted, and I don't intend to ever do so unless it is a situation like Ed Fowler described, or funds are almost gone and not quite enough to buy that one last knife that speaks to you....loudly!
As a knifemaker, I occasionally get asked to negotiate price. If the buyer negotiates as a gentleman....why he wants a lesser price than I believed the knife was worth....such as a discout for cash or, "I just gotta ask, its my nature to negotiate, or at least request to negotiate", or multi-knife purchase.
Frankly, I enjoy negotiating...spent 30 years in marketing before I made my first knife.
But by the same token, don't tell a maker you don't think the knife is worth what he's asking. He put his heart and soul into that knife, and you just attacked the maker. Negotiations stopped right now!
I do think it is interesting, enlightening even, how different dealers negotiate and the differential of what they offer. Some are serious Pros. Some aren't quite in that cetegory yet.
Stay Safe,
 
i don't see whats wrong with a little bargaining, especially if you are offering cash, i wouldn't say "i think this knife is only worth 200, sell it to me for 200" i would ask "how much is this knife?" if he says "300" i might say how bout 275?
 
Originally posted by TomW
Interesting question.
Think about this. If you feel inclined to ask for a lower price wouldn't it be wise to do so without any other customers hearing?
Do you think a knifemaker would be wise to accept a lower offer in front of other customers?
Click to expand...
Good point. Something that should definitely be handled with a keen perception in regard to the proximity of others, and with conscientious timing.

So...Taking all this in, the concensus is that there is nothing wrong with a little negotiation with makers, as long as it is done with tact, good manners, and most of all... honesty, that is to say, you don't drive down a knife - get lucky - then walk laughing all the way through the parking lot to your new Hummer. :rolleyes:
Not cool. Not cool at all. Not something that this dad could do and then sleep like a baby afterwards.
 
Here is my feelings on this subject..
It is like going to a flea market were most people expect to be bartered with,They raise the price a little so they can do some dickering.I don't believe in raising my price for this reason.I have seen to many people that wouldn't buy from someone because they wouldn't do some dealing...But now I feel that this is a fun thing myself but only on items that the person selling has bought and is re-selling,I won't do this when the person is the maker of there crafts.(I have been known to deal on my knives though,it can be fun.As long as the person isn't rediculous with the opening offer)

Here is something to think about.....
It is payday at your job and when it is time for the boss to give you your check,instead of what you are supposed to get for your wages the boss starts trying to strick up a deal and pay you less than what you were supposed to get.And he does this every week,so you never know how much you will get paid...Bet you wouldn't like it or work for that person long.
So next time you decide you want to try and strike up a deal with a maker,think about your paycheck and if the knife is already a fair price,do you really want to ask that maker to take a lower paycheck themselves....If you honestly don't have enough money but are real close it doesn't hurt to ask,but don't be offended if the maker does turn you down,He may have had a buch of people ask this same question during this show and so he doesn't feel comfortable dropping the price for one and not another (there can be times that the maker would give a deal to a person no matter what they offered,Look at Ed and Angie when she bought her knife from him before they got married:cool: )
Guess I better quit rambling here..
Bruce
 
Dickering: A question for those that like to do so. If a maker had a knife marked for $300 and you looked it over and said you liked it. It was a fair deal at that price.Then the maker sez for you he will let it go for $325 maybe $350. Would you think he had lost his marbles? The difference in you talking him down and him bumping you up is what? My thoughts are this; if he is too high politely decline and walk away, there are lots of knives out there. If he is too low buy it,smile, and thank him: the knifemaker will figure it out when he starts getting behind on orders. If it's a fair price for the knife and you like it smile when you pay the man, he'll smile when he takes your money and everybody is happy. That's the way class people do business. mike
 
The above fact has been mentioned sevral times in the past 7 years! You got to remember I had just met the lady of my dreams, I was tongue and thought tied. Would have given her the knife. She asked a question and I answered with the first number to almost come to mind. Had she only gave me $1.00 I would have gladly accepted.
 
Sounds like love at first sight to me, Ed! Angie....I hope to be able to meet you at the Oregon Show. :)
 
Defininition of bad manners: Picking up a large combat knife, dropping it on another combat knife, putting big nicks in both of them, saying "Oopps" and walking off!!!!! :(
 
All the bad manners are not on the aisle side of the table eiher. How about the "expert" friends-of-the-guy-at-the-next-table who steal your chair, set their coffee cups on your table, unroll knife rolls onto your area, all the while talking a blue streak of erroneous nonesense about their butter-soft 420 SS valuable collectible factory pocket knives? Grrrr. :mad:
 
Angie,I didn't know how much Ed had come down on the price,Just remembered in the article he had stated that he would have sold it to you no matter the price...I think you both did good when you found each other and it was great that it happened at a show...
Heck you ladies that put up with us knifemakers deserve allot of credit,more than could ever be expressed in words:) :cool: :)
Bruce
 
Originally posted by tom mayo
Defininition of bad manners: Picking up a large combat knife, dropping it on another combat knife, putting big nicks in both of them, saying "Oopps" and walking off!!!!! :(
Click to expand...
Tom, I saw something similar happen at a show a couple of years ago.
I was at a table checking out a maker's blades, and heard that sound that makes every maker and knife shopper cringe - a dropping knife. At a show it's like fingernails against a blackboard. I just happened to be glancing at the fellow when he dropped it. It slipped from his fingers while he was doing a close-up scan of the knife. It hit the table, bouncing off a knife or two, then fell to the floor.

Everyone within earshot stopped in their tracks and stared. The man froze for a moment with shoulders hunched up, and a strained grimace on his face. The maker looked blankly at the man, his mouth hanging open. Instead of the man saying "Oops...sorry" and leaving, he apologized profusely, offering to buy the knife and any he had damaged on the table. The maker closely inspected the several blades that had bounced off one another. Then the look on the maker's face changed from disbelief to one of empathy. You just had to feel sorry for the butter-fingered knife shopper. The shopper ended being let off the hook by the maker, who easily could have demanded compensation. The shopper, heretofore in a constant state of apology, then walked away (albeit quite sheepishly) straight passed everyone else's tables and out to the foyer - probably to count his blessings. I felt pretty sorry for the dude. I can only imagine how he felt! :o :(
 
On the subject of haggling, I think timing is an issue. It may be a little aggressive to ask for a lower price in the first hours of a show. But if a knife lasts till the end of the show, there may be little interest, or maybe the price is high. A haggler at least gives the maker an option. And the maker can always simply reply: "My prices are firm". I would think it bad form to ask for a lower price in front of other customers.
 
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