How Do You Decide?

I have a browser folder to keep track of all things sharp and pointy, with sub-folders for all their various aspects (including reviews, steel discussion, knife making, sharpening, knife makers, general discussion, etc), to keep track of links. I have three "research" sub-folders for knives made in the Americas, Asia, and European knives that I might want to have a closer look at or keep track of.

From that I have The List of about 20-25 knives that are the next ones that I'll buy, with a Sub-List of less expensive add-ons (things like a Cold Steel Tough Lite). For each item on The List, I have the prices for each knife offered at various local sellers, so I better track when there are changes. It saves me a lot of time between the moment the call of compulsive consumerism begins crawling around in my mind and pulling the trigger on a new knife. It also keeps me focused on getting the knives I want the most.
 
Sometimes it's as easy as a coin toss, others I realize halfway through the toss that the floor is made of quarters...
 
When I make a decision to buy a knife, I'll watch 100s of youtube videos, read 100s of reviews and articles, put a whole buncha different knives in the online cart then end up not buying anything cause I can't decide. Rinse repeat.
 
Late to the party but most of my buys come from looking at buy/sell communities and impulsively buying them because they are $10 cheaper. Haven't done any buying here... yet. My wallet is currently judging me from my butt cheek knowing its pending implosion.
 
The Grendels said:
I have a browser folder to keep track of all things sharp and pointy, with sub-folders for all their various aspects (including reviews, steel discussion, knife making, sharpening, knife makers, general discussion, etc), to keep track of links. I have three "research" sub-folders for knives made in the Americas, Asia, and European knives that I might want to have a closer look at or keep track of.

From that I have The List of about 20-25 knives that are the next ones that I'll buy, with a Sub-List of less expensive add-ons (things like a Cold Steel Tough Lite). For each item on The List, I have the prices for each knife offered at various local sellers, so I better track when there are changes. It saves me a lot of time between the moment the call of compulsive consumerism begins crawling around in my mind and pulling the trigger on a new knife. It also keeps me focused on getting the knives I want the most.
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This sounds like a CFO of a major company to invest funds for maximum benefit. I am impressed. For me, the urge comes when after all the bills are paid and there is a cushion between reserves and the next pay date, then I start salivating for knives I have been eyeing for a awhile. Then the coolness factors kick in too.
 
cbach8tw said:
This sounds like a CFO of a major company to invest funds for maximum benefit. I am impressed. For me, the urge comes when after all the bills are paid and there is a cushion between reserves and the next pay date, then I start salivating for knives I have been eyeing for a awhile. Then the coolness factors kick in too.
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When I get really interested in something it's all about analyzing, organizing, and trying to find the best path forward. In some hobbies the costs can be even more prohibitive than knives, so purchase mistakes are proportionally messier.
 
Bob Denman said:
So when the knife money in your wallet is making you sit crooked, and you know you have to burn some of it off before your back starts hurting: how do you decide what knife gets bought next?
Is it the conscious birth and growth of an idea?
Is it a "Why the heck not?" kind of thing?
Do you decide that there is a hole in your collection that needs plugging?
Do you see something pretty, and it follows you home?
How much is a conscious decision, and how much is impulse?
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Good question.

These days, it's almost entirely impulse. I own hundreds of knives, so if I never purchased another knife again for the rest of my life, any cutting need you could name, I'm 100% taken care of.

As there are no real holes to speak of in my collection, whenever I get the itch to buy a new knife, I start trawling through the Exchange, the Bay, AZC, and a few other places. Sometimes things catch my eye, other times, I get annoyed when I can't find anything I like, and close all the windows and go have a beer instead. So, it's entirely random, to be honest with you.
 
Easy. I keep an eye on the BF “Folders for Sale” section, and sometimes something just strikes me as dang sexy…

Doesn’t matter what steel, or what price, if it has the vibe, I’m interested.

Next step is to watch a review or two if I’m unfamiliar with the maker, and usually to ask for an action video from the seller.

If the action isn’t super smooth/drop shutty, it doesn’t stay in my collection.

Also has to have a decent pocket clip. Most sizes are fine, but if the clip sucks, I won’t carry it, and I’ll probably want to get rid of it.
 
It can be tough deciding. I’ve been there more than once. But then I’ve come to realize that it’s better to let my primitive feeling of “want” tell my credit card what to do.
 
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