Haggling @ knifeshows...

[e_utopia]

Some people will give a small discount ($5, $10) for cash purchases, as opposed to cheques (less risk or a bounced cheque, etc.). However, you can't assume that you will get one, so read the listed price as the price you will pay, and just assume any discount is a bonus. I certainly wouldn't actually haggle over the price, as most knife makers are really quite reasonable in their pricing.

--JB

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[Joe Talmadge]

Occasionally this comes up, and I've seen reactions from knifemakers that really seem to vilify haggling. My own position is, I don't treat knifemakers any differently from anyone else I buy things from. I go with the flow, and haggle when I think it's appropriate. I may very well buy the knife even if the seller won't give any kind of discount, but it's often worth a try.

I've gotten plenty of discounts at knife shows. Once, I walked up to a seller and asked for "the standard 20% show discount" -- he smirked, we laughed about it, and then he said "okay!". That was a nice deal; typically 5% of more like when guys will offer.

Usually, I don't ask for nearly so much of a discount, and many times, I don't haggle at all. My objective isn't to screw anyone, just get a nicer deal if possible. And I'm not insulted at all when a maker doesn't give me a discount -- so I hope makers don't get insulted merely because I ask for one. This is commerce, and it's part of the biz!

Joe