Great eastern cutlery

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jstrange said:
My problem with GEC is this. They have been in business a long time and know what will sell and what won’t. They know which models are in higher demand and which will sit on the shelves, and if they don’t then they should.

I understand they are a small company and production capacity is limited, but here’s a novel idea, make more of the ones in demand.

Instead of running a small batch of in demand models and them moving on to the next pattern, make two or three cycles of something that is selling well.

make smaller runs of the ones that complete a collection but aren’t in high demand and then immediately move back to the ones people are killing themselves to get.

This is why I think their business model is to create scarcity, even though that would seem counterproductive. It keeps people talking and looking all the time. They have to buy now or risk losing out.

Its working well, but people are getting fed up with it.
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You could substitute Microtech as having the same model, but it seems to work for them. If you want something specific you better get it when they come out, otherwise it takes years for them to come back to making more.
 
Norcaldude said:
With the latest release of Barlows from GEC, they were charging distributors about $50 (per a post from one of those dealers).
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rje58 said:
Another way this works in their favor is by building a strong network of GEC dealers who profit from their sales. This prevents GEC from being dependent on large companies like Amazon, or 'middle men' distributors, who can dictate the terms to manufacturers, often to the detriment of small companies.
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I honestly don’t understand why dealers stock GEC with this model. Annoyed customers, sites crashing as 1000s of people try to buy in the first 2 minutes of a drop, endless questions and rigging various “early release” and preorder processes. All for literally a few hundred $ of revenue (not profit, $ above what GEC charges them for the knife).

Just to watch flippers make 10x that reselling on eBay the next week.
 
I used to go crazy buying the next GEC releases only to find that I was not that crazy about the actual knife. That then put me in the position of selling them off which is always a pain. My last crazy buying spree was when the #13 came out and I ended up with eight of them in different configurations. That was not a real popular release so now I'm stuck with too many and will likely just gift them to friends since selling them likely for less than what I paid is just not worth the effort. On the flip side there have been certain models that seem to skyrocket in price. Should have bought those :)
 
LOL. Been talking to a couple people on the side and I'm going to pull one #13 and use it over the weekend as I do like the design.
 
Lesknife said:
I’m over it now. I won’t be looking anymore!

After three attempts though one supposed credible dealer on two different knives and sending email signup and I received two email verification notification. The last one they never bothered to reply . I checked frequently on their site and then in a short 5 minutes they went from coming soon to sold out. I then went to the bay and sure enough five minutes later there was six or seven at almost double the price. I’m not playing that game and I’m not doing anymore business with that dealer and he won’t be getting any of my money or referrals.
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I feel your frustration. I have been collecting GEC for well over a decade. You used to be able to go back and pick up patterns from earlier years on Ebay at a reasonable price. Not so now. I have purchased from most of the bigger authorized dealers, and at least three have keep their prices at reasonable markups. Since new releases have sold out in minutes after the emails come out and the knives are available on their sites, some have jacked the price up 30% or more over what the three I have in mind list at. Forget the Ebay flippers. The gouging has now reached the "authorized dealers" and some of these guys I have exchanged emails with and liked. I guess you can chalk it up to supply and demand but it is a little sad to this old guy. I was lucky enough to get in on one of the recent #89 from my favorite distributor for $85. I got an email from I guy I like but will not "go to" announcing his lottery with a $115 purchase price. They are great knives. Little pieces of art in my mind. I used to be able to get one to use if I wanted and one to collect. Those days are gone, at least for now. It seems like a good time to start a slip joint knife company LOL.
 
WOW I was just on one of GEC's distributors site and he had an announced release at 8PM of the 83 in bocote. Before 8:02 he was sold out.... at $110. I was lucky enough to get in on one with another site for $86.20 a few days ago. I didn't even try to pick up one for my brother for $110, but he sold all he had. Nice knife but I'm not a fan of greed.
 
The OP is absolutely right. GEC could make more Barlows and price them at $78. and sell them all day. I don't understand why they won't reproduce a popular model ?? ??? TO PROTECT THE PRICE GOuGERS...OR to protect THOSE RIPPED OFF BY THEM. or are they part of it, hmmmm?

It almost seems like GEC has a part in this in some nefarious way because us older 60+ guys just can't keep up with the complexities of being at the drop and placing and order within 15 seconds of arrival of email before all are sold.. Then to be sold the next on Ebay for more than double.

Com'n there is something up with this nonsense. GEC just make more Barlows and stop thinking of preserving the collectors who hoard these knives just to make profit off guys like us.

So anyone have a TC Barlow or 77 Barlow they would sell to the OP for what they paid for it at the drop? I didn't think so.
 
BARLOWS BARLOWS. We want more single blade 15 and 77 Barlows GEC. Do you hear your customer base? Do you see the popularity? Maybe stop trying to make new configurations and make what sells. Quite trying to reinvent the wheel.

(I am sure my post will upset those with large numbers of GEC. Northwoods Barlows)
 
But they sell everything they make doing it how Bill wants.
 
rje58 said:
I think the truth is that a lot of the more successful knife companies like GEC, Hinderer and others intentionally limit the supply to keep the demand and prices up... they have every right to do that.
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Moral right or ethical legal right?

Opinions will vary
 
Well I spoke with the owner of the company last weekend. One of his biggest struggles is manpower every time he gets and trains a new employee he loses one. The current economy is making it more difficult and the pool of people in that part of the world is not very large to start with. So no it is not some pocket knife cabal.
 
Jiki said:
Well I spoke with the owner of the company last weekend. One of his biggest struggles is manpower every time he gets and trains a new employee he loses one. The current economy is making it more difficult and the pool of people in that part of the world is not very large to start with. So no it is not some pocket knife cabal.
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Problem solved for anyone feeling like they can't get enough GEC knives.

Save up all your bread and fly trans love airways to Titusville, Pennsylvania. U.S.A.

Then get a job at Great Eastern Cutlery and request to be paid in Barlow knives. Which you can then sell on eBay to cover your expenses.

It will be worth it.
 
Danke42 said:
Problem solved for anyone feeling like they can't get enough GEC knives.

Save up all your bread and fly trans love airways to Titusville, Pennsylvania. U.S.A.

Then get a job at Great Eastern Cutlery and request to be paid in Barlow knives. Which you can then sell on eBay to cover your expenses.

It will be worth it.
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That thought crossed my mind last weekend.😉
 
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colubrid said:
The OP is absolutely right. GEC could make more Barlows and price them at $78. and sell them all day. I don't understand why they won't reproduce a popular model ?? ??? TO PROTECT THE PRICE GOuGERS...OR to protect THOSE RIPPED OFF BY THEM. or are they part of it, hmmmm?

It almost seems like GEC has a part in this in some nefarious way because us older 60+ guys just can't keep up with the complexities of being at the drop and placing and order within 15 seconds of arrival of email before all are sold.. Then to be sold the next on Ebay for more than double.

Com'n there is something up with this nonsense. GEC just make more Barlows and stop thinking of preserving the collectors who hoard these knives just to make profit off guys like us.

So anyone have a TC Barlow or 77 Barlow they would sell to the OP for what they paid for it at the drop? I didn't think so.
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You’re putting WAY too much thought into this.

GEC doesn’t make diddly if their Knives sell for double or triple on the secondary market. Just like Busse Combat or Weller whiskey or PlayStation 5’s or any other sought after, limited production product.

They make what they make and sell them at a price that they feel keeps them profitable. Why would they give a hoot what happens beyond that?

If it cost me $2 to make a widget and I can keep my business afloat, bank what I think I’ll need to live happily and be competitive by selling X amount at $4 each, why would I care if someone buys ten of them and sells them at $40 each?

Do you honestly think Elon Musk will give f*** one if, next year, a used Plaid edition sells for twice what it lists for today?

Finally, Barlows suck. It’s a terrible, boring design. I’m all for utilitarianism but there’s a limit. A gray, rectangular Square D circuit breaker box has more personality than a Barlow. Getting ones panties in a twist because they missed out on a Barlow is like being pissed about the McRib sandwich not being available all year long.
 
People need to stop paying gougers. My son got a lesson this week. 2 adults in front of him at Walmart cleared the entire table of sports cards into a cart. There is supposedly a limit, but it’s only enforced on kids.

We’ve seen it with ammo too. All it does is show the manufacturers we will pay more.

Why should these guys make more money than GEC does? or than Tops does? They are making more money with less overhead. It’s BS.

STOP PAYING GOUGER PRICES!

It’s like ticket scalpers. Tickets were $20 each. The performers and venues found out what we would pay scalpers for a ticket. Now the face price of the ticket is what the scalpers were getting.
 
This is a very interesting read thread, cant help but throw my 2c in...

Where to start?

Think about who gained the most from the pandemic. Big fulfillment companies. Tech companies. Amazon, etc. Why? Because everyone is shopping online and getting food deliveries etc.

Here come the scalpers. It's not just GECs, its spyderco sprints, graphics cards, xbox's, shoes, etc. Do you see the markets for new gaming consoles? GECs are not terrible, they stay in stock for a good 5min ish lol, the new GTX graphics cards go OOS in under 1m and get flipped for double.

Everyone's trying to get a piece of the new age of buying everything online, and theres always people looking to make easy profit from it...encouraged by current circumstance.

People need to curb their urge to buy stuff they dont need...I'm guilty too.
 
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