How to act at a real knife show

Ha, keep saying that to yourself while trying to get up to Ed's table...lol ;)

Just remember, take your 'patience' pills... :)

Mel

"We teach best, what we most need to learn..."

(Hey, that's gonna be my new sig line...I like it, even if I didn't make it up...lol)
 
Outstanding thread folks!!!! Ira, I won't have a table at Blade but I will be there mingling aimlessly about the place. Sure hope to get a chance to meet you and lots of other forumites! I'm staying at the Waverly so I'll definitely experience the Pit!
One tip I can give you is bring one of those wheelie type suit cases, the small kind. I had so much stuff to lug around I had to go out front and sit down on the floor to rest. :)
 
The NY show last month was my first "real" knife show and I learned one thing very quickly...if you see something you like, BUY IT. I walked away from a few tables just to see what else was available, and almost everything I went back for was gone! The custom makers usually only bring a handful of knives, and there are a lot of buyers out there.
 
Ira , first of all just be your self . You don't have to stroke ego's or feel that theres a behavioral pattern you must adhere to . I've read your posts and you strike me as a pretty level headed respectable guy who will have no problem meeting lots of great folks and fitting right in . I rather enjoy the diversity in people and always look forward to meeting interesting new and friendly folk.
It is however in bad taste to haggle on price.And never ask a knifemaker " So how long does it take to make a knife" unless you wanna get stabbed!:);)

Never feel obligated to buy a knife. It's always ok to meet someone your curious about and shake hands,hang out a bit and not buy anything. Just try not to block the table from other potential customers.

One of my favorite things to do is hang out in front of Mayo's table and sell my knives !!:):) I'd like to welcome other carpet baggers to do the same !! Ha Ha! Ok just kidding !
 
Thanks Ken. the only way I know how to act and be is me. if I try to be who and what I am not, it does not work.

I was planning on bringing a whell-barrow, but the small suitcase/attache case is a great idea.

I am going solo and staying at the Waverly also, so I will get to know the "pit" intimately.

The best way to buy a knife from you Ken is directly in front of Mayo. Just as I am about to hand him my money, I will turn and hand it to you instead:eek: :p (just kidding).

Being my first show, I am going to use this as a time to get to know those that know so mich more about knives and learn as much as I can.

But one thing I already know is what I am planning to absolutely buy, and I am not even gonna waste time asking how much, just gonna say "sold" and let you tell me how much. Then stick it in my pocket and make sure I own it and then say hello.

So many people to meet, so much to learn, too many to buy...This is gonna be awesome!!!!!!!..Thanks for all the help, I seriously mean this. You know that first impressions stuff..................Ira
 
A couple things from me for what its worth.

The haggle thing, I dont haggle. Many many times someone will say, "I see you have $250 on that knife, what will you take for it?" I just tell them, "Ill take $250 for it!" That usually gets a smile on there face and they never ask that question again, at least to me! :)

Im like Ed, I dont hear very well either, so please dont think I am ignoring you, just holler louder! :p

Wolf, stop by the Badlands and say howdy!
 
Ira- We will have an extra chair BEHIND the tables for you.....
Just so you dont have to be bothered by any trolls from the Kershaw booth!!!!!! :D :( :D
 
Originally posted by Rob Simonich
A couple things from me for what its worth.

The haggle thing, I dont haggle. Many many times someone will say, "I see you have $250 on that knife, what will you take for it?" I just tell them, "Ill take $250 for it!" That usually gets a smile on there face and they never ask that question again, at least to me! :)

Im like Ed, I dont hear very well either, so please dont think I am ignoring you, just holler louder! :p

Wolf, stop by the Badlands and say howdy!
Click to expand...

Note to self:
Haggle with Simonich :p
 
Simonich is the Emily Post of knifedom.

In fact he is such a good ambassador that the INS considered asking to him to become the commissioner. Just ask me and Jeff Randall how refined good ol' Rob is around foreign nationals! ;)
 
When I set up at a show, I'm there to sell my knives....all of them if possible . I don't go to a show to take knives home.

I will "haggle". All my knives on the table have price tags. If someone asks "What can you do on the price"?, I'll respond "Make me an offer....BUT don't insult me". That usually sets the tone.

We all know what we can and cannot take. I'd hate to take a knife home because of a $10 or $20 bill.

Al P.
 
Thank you for the offer of a chair. being on temporary cripple staus, that might come in handy.
About them trolls.....I don't know who anyone is, and can only draw images in my mind based on how and what they post and their "style of writing". For makers, it also includes how much of themselves they put into their knives.
So you can be absolutely certain, I will be hanging out at the "badland" alot, yelling at Rob trying to buy this one fixed blade he makes that I have drooled over ever since I first saw it [hell, I will bring a mega-phone] and you already now about the thingee i am bringing to get you in the trading mood.
Now, about this "Onion" fella. Now, he makes a knife with his son, offers up great advice, and his "style" makes him sound like a real down to earth guy. BUT those "custom" knives he makes sure look artsy and purty. Are they sharp?:eek: :eek: :eek:
Tom, just don't let him hurt me too bad, will ya?......Thanks.........Ira;)

PS....Mr Onion, Do I need to bow before I touch one of your knives or is a slaute sufficient? [oh no, just kidding....it's them pain meds:( ]
 
Blues, didnt you know I took that job? I have been the commisioner for sometime now. Just look at how well things are going in the Middle East! thats my work! :D :D (I am glad that guy had a good sense of humor!) Now, if I just knew who Emily Post was........

Mo, Ill be waiting for you bud! :p

Ira, besides the extra chair there may also be a cooler back there to quench your thirst! :p
 
Originally posted by KenOnion
One of my favorite things to do is hang out in front of Mayo's table and sell my knives !!:):) I'd like to welcome other carpet baggers to do the same !! Ha Ha! Ok just kidding !
Click to expand...

Mr. Onion,
As much as I admire your knives, and as much as I appreciate your keeping other people away from Tom's table, :D
if you see a middle-aged man with a red beard, built sorta' like a gorilla, with an focused and determined look on his face, I urge you to stand aside. I just made my hotel reservations for Atlanta and I sure hope to bring home a TNT! :cool:
 
No problem Dave, I'll slip one off the table and sell it to you real cheap!!!

BTW, you can always spot Onion. Just look for the loudest, gaudiest, ugliest looking shirt in the state!
 
Jerry , If i'm bright and sunshiney on the inside I might as well show it on the out side.It takes a colorful individual to wear a shirt like mine. If youd like I'll even bring you one if you promise to wear it. Or maybe your to cloudy on the inside to wear one of my fantastic aloha shirts and get by with it. Try it one time . youl love them.

No worries Dave I'll step aside long enough to let you get through .I learned a long time ago not to mess with a despirate large man.

Ira , I understand those pain meds completely ,I've have seven back surgeries over the last seven years and they still aint got it right. Thanks for the comments on my knives. I'm just having fun! No need to bow down or anything ,especially with Mayo arround he'll mount you in the blink of an eye .Kinda like a Chiwhawha don't trust him .;)
No salute is necessary either I still work for a living just like everyone else.Unless theres a real hottie standing arround then maybe it might make me look all important.(hey I'm middle aged ,balding and overweight. I need all the helpI can get) :D
 
I'd love to wear one Ken, but my friends might not let me back in the booth if I did. They're kinda homophobic... :)

BTW, how's that fighting knife coming along?
 
I always ask. Most people don't ask because they are plain rude, and most makers seem not to care because they are usually very well behaved.
Asking costs nothing and is worth everything.
Even if granted permission to handle, touching the blade is considered bad form. Ask to touch the blade, and anyway don't touch the blade more than necessary. There is really no reason at all to touch a knife in any part other than the handle.
If giving back the kinfe to the maker, give it so that he can grasp the handle, never by the blade. First most people feel uncomfortable at having a blade pointed at them by unknown persons, second "there is really no reason at all to touch a knife in any part other than the handle", third, even with a sheathed knife, it's the more correct way to do it.
And no, never haggle the price. The guy on the other side of the bench is not some merchant trying to get rich on selling stuff. He's a skilled craftsman who made a fine job and assessed a honest price for what he did. you can either get the knife and pay the price, or search for somebody for a knife you like at a lower price.
 
We can discuss a discount if you want to buy two or more knives, but otherwise, the price marked is the price.

Along with Ed and Rob, I am part of the hard-of-hearing fraternity. As great as the Blade Show is, it is one of the toughest atmospheres (because of all the background noise) in which to converse. Be kind to us- and stop by and say hello!

;)
 
Originally posted by Don Cowles
We can discuss a discount if you want to buy two or more knives, but otherwise, the price marked is the price.
Click to expand...

Even that, I would advise custom makers to be careful about "volume discounts." There really is no reason for you to give a discount if producing a larger volume doesn't reduce your costs. Unless you don't sell everything you make each year, it's not clear that a big order will help you, from an economics point of view (of course, if you just want to reward a good customer, that's a separate issue, but it's still not a rational decision from an economics POV.)

It does make sense to give a discount if the person pays cash vs. plastic, as the transaction fees are probably between 2% and 5% for most of you. It also probably makes sense to charge less for a commissioned knife than a knife you bring to the show. The reason for that being that a commissioned knife is supposedly paid right upon completion (you may even get a deposit in advance) whereas a non-commissioned knife might stay in inventory several weeks (?)

Think about it this way: what can a customer do that will reduce the costs on your side? I think it's extremely limited.

JD
 
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