Has the fear of a bad economy slowed your knife purchases?

What slowed me down the most was getting layed-off in June. I was out of work for 11 weeks. I got back to work on September 5th (just in time). I'm not ready to go back to stimulating the economy yet.
 
As a small internet dealer and large brick and mortar dealer we saw gross knife sales drop 90% the week after WTC...sales slowly increased daily after that week...now back to normal... I have had several 'secured' backorders cancelled...most notably on the Case/Bose Yukon....a $225+ knife...the guys that cancelled indicated fear of lay-offs...understandable...md
 
Nope. Still planning on getting some Busses, bought a Tachyon balisong, bought some BM balis, eyeing the Spydie bali....
 
while it has NEVER been better for knife BUYERS, My family has made it clear I live in the garage, sans heat. Yesterday, they had the plumber show up while I did my yard sale route looking for the oldie knives, and he popped the thermostat off the wall and then they had a carpenter put in a deadbolt and cut a slit to throw me cans of beefaroni. BUT, I am still gonna get MY KNIVES!!!!!! but first I need another sleeping bag and tent, nah forget the tent, I would again just trade it for a knife!!!!!!! Cold, but I am tough!!!! HELP!!!!
wolf
 
I mainly buy mid - high end custom knives (Brend, Emerson, etc) and I look at the value of my knife collection and think what it would have been worth if I had put the same amount of money on the stock market.

I think that I will be buying more knives in future - my wife is even coming around to this way of thinking. You may not have the upside of the stock market, but you do not loose as much money either (plus which is more fun to play with a Walter Brend Model 2 or a Stock certificate?)

Just my thoughts.....

Off to ring Les, Patrick.......Damm it's Sunday and they will be closed. :D

Regards,

Ed
 
"...slowed your knife purchases?" Nope, stopped them dead in their tracks. My business wasn't in the WTC area, but it might as well have been. My company hasn't done any business since that day. I've got the NYCKS coming up in a couple of weeks and unless something changes pretty soon all I'll be able to do is buy a ticket. :(

I was talking to a couple of makers about different custom projects that now have to be put on the back burner, which would mean some time next year. On a brighter note, I do have some new knives that are paid for on the way, one handmade a a couple of new collaborations. Besides that, I had a wonderful time at Blade Show in Atlanta, got to spend time with some wonderful friends, bought some great knives. I've said it before, if my plane had crashed on the way home I would have died a happy man.

I'm still hurting from the horror of 9-11-01, it struck very close to home, but I'm still alive and kicking. I consider myself lucky.

Let's take a moment to remember all of those who weren't.
 
In light of TODAY's Events, Is there even going to be a show in NY? i would be worried about the presence of "security" and Big Brother keeping tabs on who, and what. Would it not make sense to move it to New England or at least out of the City instead opf facing what now will be an unknown and possibly a total bust for the knife makers?????wolf
 
I just got back from the FKA show in Tampa and the buying seemed very slow.Most knifemakers didn't sell anything or just one or two knives.Some high dollar stuff went,but lower and middle priced seemed slow.Interest was high though and I am sure it will come back.Dave
 
No,I haven't slowed down purchasing,but I usually buy $150.00 and below.I never could afford to buy customs.tom.
 
Business has been pretty normal, I think, overall. Since we and other internet dealers are growing so fast, we may not notice small declines in demand. Earlier in the year, though, we were enjoying 60% to 70% increases over the same months last year. That number was only 35% in August and dropped to a 20% increase for September but we lost a week for the most part after the attacks in NY and Washington so I don't think September really indicates much in terms of demand. October seems to be pretty normal so far.

Basically, I'd say that if there is a decline in demand, it is a modest one. Our average ticket is a little smaller than it was earlier in the year but only by about 4% so people seem to be spending about the same amount on average per purchase. It's interesting to read the remarks in this thread. The majority seem to be forging ahead with their knife hobbies and that seems similar to what I see overall.

Two recent trends. We are selling many more tactical fixed blades as a percent of total sales than we ever did before September 11 and that's probably in line with the surge in tactical rifles the gun dealers have experienced. Also we are getting quite a bit of business from military personnel both stateside and overseas-more than usual. Looking forward to a busy Christmas season. God bless America.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top