How do custom knifemakers feel about E-bay?

shootist16

shootist16

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How do custom knifemakers feel about E-bay? DO they mind if their knives are auctioned or not?
 
I am not a maker but can't see why they would mind their knives being auctioned on Ebay or any of the other net based auction sites. The knives belong to the person that bought them and it is up to them if they want to use Ebay to sell their knives. Sometimes you can get a bidding frenzy going and get far more for your knife than otherwise possible. It is sometimes the best place to sell things, knives included.

If I am off base here, let me know. If any of the makers on Bladeforums do object to having their knives sold on Ebay, I would sure be interested as to why.
 
I don't think I've seen one of my knives on Ebay. If I did, that would be OK as KWM stated. My problem with Ebay is that it's a time consuming, money draining ADDICTION :( I have over 100 older multiblade folders I bought on there and finally QUIT buying ANY knives on Ebay!! Now it's Harley parts and collectibles, bowhunting STUFF, shooting accessories and WWF wrestling JUNK for the kids:barf:
Is there such as thing as a parental block for PARENTS ????

Neil
 
Interesting question. A few years ago, someone emailed me and told me one of my knives was being sold on Ebay. My reaction at the time was disappointment that the guy who'd bought the knife from me didn't like it enough to keep it, and I still get that reaction when I see one of my knives in the aftermarket. I know these are cold inanimate objects, but I always feel my knives are a kind of bond between me and my customers. If they sell the knife, that breaks the bond in a manner of speaking.

As for any commercial issues about knives selling on Ebay, I just hope the price is at least as much as I sold it for.
 
I can not see why a maker would be upset about someone selling a knife on the secondary market, even if the sale happens on eBAY.

However, there are more than a few makers who seem to use eBAY as a way to sell poorly made or 'kit' knives as Custom knives. These guys piss me off and make eBAY a waste of time for me.

I used to do searches on eBAY for custom knives, but found that Most of the items found were either Not very good, or were made from kits. On occasion, a knife from a known maker will appear, but these items often gather many ridiculously low bids and fail to meet their reserve price.

I am more interested in Jerry's and Neil's opinion of the 'custom' knifemakers who use eBAY as their Primary marketing outlet:

What are makers opinions of makers of using eBAY to sell their work?

Para
 
Jerry, you shouldnt feel bad when someone sells or trades one of your knives. The reasons for the selling or trading may not have anything to do with his like or dislike for the knife. I know that I end up selling or trading lots of my customs for various reasons. Rarely, does it have anything to do with me not liking the knife. Usually, since my wife is in charge of the finances, and wont just let me write a check for knives, it is necessary to move one of my knives in order to get something new and different. A lot of times, one of my friends sees one of my knives and falls in love with it. Since my friends mean a lot to me, I will sell or trade the knife to that friend, just to make them happy. This happens more times than you might think. In the case of your knives, I doubt that dislike has anything to do with the reason for them being on the aftermarket.
 
I'm with Danbo. Jerry, if someone sells a knife that they got from you, maybe they found one that you made that they like better or maybe their tastes have changed. I have one of your knives and I doubt you will ever see it on Ebay unless I see something you made that I like better. Hey, wait a minute, I remember that one in the shoulder rig. Maybe I should sell this Narc and pick that one up from you ;) I sell a few of my knives on Ebay every once in awhile but not because I want to, because I have to to pay for another knife that will be ready soon :D
michael
 
If one of my knives winds up on ebay, it won't have been posted there by me. I think custom makers do themselves a disservice by using it as a primary outlet. It devalues their offerings, and deprives them of valued customer relationships.
 
Originally posted by Don Cowles
...It devalues their offerings, and deprives them of valued customer relationships.
Click to expand...

I guess that is what I really wondered. It seems that usually the knife would have to be listed for less than suggested retail, unless of course it was a highly desirable piece with a lengthy waiting list from the maker.

Of course I will admit that it could be a way for new makers to get exposure that they may not otherwise get.
 
I guess I get too emotional sometimes... :D

I understand the reasons for the secondary market, and in fact it is good for a knifemaker's business, but for most knifemakers this is not just a business. It's a passion, one we share with our customers who also become good friends. It's also about creating artifacts, little pieces of yourself that get scattered around the landscape. You want them to find a good home, and I think that's quite natural.

OK, I'll take a couple Prozac's and get back to grinding... :p :D
 
Well I guess I'm guilty as a "New" knifemaker of using ebay to sell my knives, occasionally. After I ran out of friends to sell knives to I had to find other markets or make more friends. :p I tried one on ebay. It brought more than my friend to friend sales. That gave me some encouragement. I found these forums and now have a web page. I am working my way up to face to face knife shows. And hope to attend both Texas shows in 2002. I don't want to be known as a maker of poor quality knives or want it thought that I do because I use ebay as an outlet. I don't mind critism, as a matter of fact I will seek out other knifemakers and show them my work and ask for there opinions.

Some of the reason I use ebay are:

To try out new designs on the public. Low or no bids will limit the production on a design.

Usually put a link to my knife web page and try to draw people to it and have them look at my work and hopefully order a knife or bookmark the page.

Expose my work to more people across the country as there seems to be lots of knives selling on ebay.


I had not really thought about it being a sign of devaluing my work. And that certainly is food for thought.

Will I continue to use it? Probably for a while at least on a occasional basis. Matter of fact I have a knife on ebay now. Hint hint hint :)

Regards
 
I know these are cold inanimate objects, but I always feel my knives are a kind of bond between me and my customers. If they sell the knife, that breaks the bond in a manner of speaking.
Click to expand...

As a customer, I feel the same way.

To me they are more than inanimate objects although I can easily see how many view them as such. I do not; since they usually represent the skill of the maker and in cases many discussions and decisions made between friends over a period of months or in some instances years before they came about. (Just for those who think I do not know what "Custom" means when you read it out of a dictionary :D)

So make that two emotional Georgia mush-heads (If I may Jerry :)) and counting.
 
Well as a maker I don't really mind seeing my knives on ebay. I sold seven knives to a dealer at the Eugene show and he has been selling them on ebay. the thing is the ones that I have seen sold there have been bringing a hundred or more dollars over my asking price for the same size/style of knife. The real kicker is that the last three have not went the distance ie. i mean they have been bought out right through the use of the, "buy it now" button. Feel bad heck no I'm thinking of raising my prices.:D
 
i just deliverd one of my custom bushwacker 12"blade 9" handle to a customer with his name etched on it. he's on his way to oregon were elk season just started. their is a bond that develops when you work out the details of a customer's request's and in this case ishould recive a few elk steak's :) this guy was so happy with how his request's came out. that i think he would put his wife on e-bay before the knife.
 
Interesting points of view, and some variables I'd never thought of really. Thanks guys....


"Hunters seek what they [WANT].., Seekers hunt what they [NEED]"
 
i dont make knives (yet) but i know what goes into doing so.
its a lot of hard work going into the blades. the makers soul is put into it,and when its something made SPECIFICALLY for one person (a 'true' custom) then i can definitely see why they would be saddened.

i have sold one custom thus far. dont plan on selling anymore.
 
I do not buy or sell things on eBay, as far as I can see, it's the biggest garage sale on earth. People selling junk to other people, there may be the occasional gold nugget, but it's not worth the effort. I work with a guy whos wife makes more than he does...selling dollar store items for $10 or more.

I do think that Shotgunone has a valid point though, new knife makers need exposure and eBay is a way to get exposed. I pity any new maker in my area, gun shows are few and knife shows are nonexistant. Hard to make a name working a job and making knives on the side. Word of mouth is the best way to build a solid business but it is very slow.

Being on BF is preaching to the choir, personal web sites are almost as bad, so I can see the lure of eBay.

Quality work means nothing, if it is not done.


Steve-O
 
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