I have never traded a knife

[powernoodle]

Though I usually hoard knives and don't sell them, from time to time I am struck with the urge to turn one into cash. It often backfires on me, like when I sold a blue Manix 2. Or a Becker with the Up-armored skull pattern. I'd like to have both of those back.

But I have never had the desire, nor do I ever think I will, to trade knives.

Whats up with that? If I want to unload a knife, cash is king. And if I want to buy a particular knife, cash works there too. I guess it has always just seemed easier to sell a knife, get the cash, and buy something else with it, as opposed to finding someone who happens to have ABC knife and happens to want to swap it for a the XYZ knife that I have. While at the same time finding someone with enough good feedback that I trust them.

Now, I know that trading must be groovy, because there is a ton of trading that goes on around here. And my little diatribe here is just to say that I must be missing out on something, not that you guys who do a lot of trading don't know what you are doing. And you do avoid paypal by trading, thats true.

Its just me. I would rather sell a knife, and then buy something with the cash. Just seems easier to find a seller who wants my cash, instead of a trader who happens to want the particular knife that I want to get rid of.

Am I missing something? :thumbup:

 

[jill jackson]

Sometimes, if you have an out of production model, you can put it up trade it for something else that is hard to get. Maybe you even have more than one out of production model, so you don't really lose anything, by trading one off. In fact you gain, because the value has risen since you bought them and you get a sweet deal, as well as something you didn't have!

 

[The Government]

Trading saves on shipping costs.

 

[powernoodle]

Sometimes, if you have an out of production model, you can put it up trade it for something else

Darn you and your logic!

But selling an appreciated, out of production knife also would result in a pocket full of cash. With which you can buy the thing you would have traded for.

Again, I'm not dissing trading. It just doesn't really fit with my worldview. I guess that as a closet survivalist and TEOTWAWKI observer, I should be more tuned in to barter.

Trading saves on shipping costs.

It does? If I trade, two knives get shipped. If I sell mine and buy yours, two knives get shipped.

 

[jhyde7585]

Sometimes, if you have an out of production model, you can put it up trade it for something else that is hard to get.

I manages to grab both of the original manix models through trades, both LNIB. I would have never had the cash for em otherwise. Trading is also less impulsive, in my opinion. The money you might gain from a sale might be spent on a drunken saturday night

 

[Bastid]

Since this is really not about knives, but more about trading ...

 

[silenthunterstudios]

Through trading, I've made some internet buddies, and some friends in the "real world".

For me, when I sell a knife, the proceeds go to either my gas tank, or something else. Getting a knife etc for a knife etc is more fun to me.

 

[Gadfly22]

For me, when I sell a knife, the proceeds go to either my gas tank, or something else. Getting a knife etc for a knife etc is more fun to me.

Yup, exactly this for me. And trading gives me a chance to get knives I might not have bought. Some of those I keep and others I try to trade away.

Trading seems generally harder than selling, since the only issue with a sale is the net sale price. Trading involves matching available knives, which is tough but can be more fun (at least for me).

 

[made2cut]

I'm not much of a trader either but have done so in the past and most recently last week. The main perk that I can see is that I'm not out any money besides the shipping cost. My deal last week put $170 in my pocket plus a knife I wanted to have. The knife I traded wasn't one of my EDC's so I wasn't too bummed to see it go.

 

[The Government]

Ah, you are correct, but it does save on sales fees to paypal.

 

[lava_lamp]

I trade occasionally. I prefer to do it with folks who I have done business with or who have posted enough on the board that I get a sense of who they are (like Mr. Noodle and many of the folks who have replied to this thread.)

To me, it feels like recycling and it can sometimes work to each party's favor. Sometimes, a knife I want is more valuable to me than the market price and someone is looking for something I have and it is worth more to them than the market price. Sometimes it is a question of availability. I traded a limited run Spyderco once for a Victorinox XXLT. The specifics of each knife made it such that it felt like a great deal for me and the other trader felt like it was a great deal for him. Another time, I traded an expensive knife for a watch. I couldn't seem to sell my knife on the exchange, even at steeper discount than I liked, and the watch trader was experiencing the same thing. It was another win/win.

I guess what I am saying is that trade values and sale values are different and more subjective. Getting stuff is more fun than getting money.

One caveat: I don't like to trade with dealers or pseudo-dealers. Like a care dealer, they have to make a profit on both ends and the individual is better off selling and then buying with cash. Trading with other hobbyists who would like a good deal, but are in it for the bobby, not the business is much more pleasurable.

So let me know if you wanna trade, P-Noodle.

 

[bld522]

I've only traded a couple of times, but both of those experiences were excellent. There's a little more risk involved in trading, of course. So I always try to make sure that the party I'm trading with is scrupulous. But so far, so good.

 

[Rwb1500]

More fun for me too.

You never know what people have laying around that they'll be willing to get rid of.

 

[RevDevil]

Personally I don't like trading knives. I'd much rather buy or sell a knife straight up. I've traded a grand total of Twice and both times I was left with an overwhelming feeling of "meh". No one was at fault or anything, just wasn't anything to do cartwheels over for me anyway. I wrote a quick blog entry on trading, check it out if you are interested.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/entry.php/90-How-To-Trade-Knives-and-Gear-Successfully

 

[The Government]

Trading opens up an invisible market.

Think about this: How many knives are in your collection that you would consider getting rid of for something else?... -Are they ALL currently for sale on the exchange? Probably not.

By making a trade offer, you can "unlock" those hidden gems that people have yet to offer for sale. Sometimes, you may find people offering you knives that they would never consider selling.

I have put up enough trade threads to know, when you say, "show me what you got," people will show you their personal collections. You really never know what someone will offer you, and the surprises can be great.

(EDIT TO ADD)

PS- as a disclaimer, opening up the invisible market can also mean wading through endless crap-offerings. Sometimes, you need to have that good old rummaging spirit! Good luck!:thumbup:

 

[stevewest]

the one time I traded knives, I definately came out on the short side - my fault and I won't do it again.

 

[CUTS LIKE A KRIS]

I'm the polar opposite- I've never sold and have turned down sale offers in my trade threads. Money is too common of a commodity, and my goal is to represent the endless diversity available with knives. If I sell then my collection decreased, if I trade then I can remove something duplicated in my collection with something I am lacking. I've traded for more valuable and less valuable goods without problem as I was interested in the new moreso than the old. This year I traded 7 knives straight across for 3 pistols. Everybody thinks I did great, I think we both did well. Plus as a previous poster said you get more choices for trades- I usually supply 10 or so knives with any trade offer so there is more to whet the other persons interest. To me trading is more fun, with more options- and allows me to keep adding to my collection.

 

[Reeek]

This

Trading opens up an invisible market.

Think about this: How many knives are in your collection that you would consider getting rid of for something else?... -Are they ALL currently for sale on the exchange? Probably not.

By making a trade offer, you can "unlock" those hidden gems that people have yet to offer for sale. Sometimes, you may find people offering you knives that they would never consider selling.

I have put up enough trade threads to know, when you say, "show me what you got," people will show you their personal collections. You really never know what someone will offer you, and the surprises can be great.

(EDIT TO ADD)

PS- as a disclaimer, opening up the invisible market can also mean wading through endless crap-offerings. Sometimes, you need to have that good old rummaging spirit! Good luck!:thumbup:

And yes, trading can take a long time to find what you want if you peruse daily looking for the perfect trade for "you".

But that doesn't preclude you from offering what you have in exchange for what you want.

It also hurts less to trade into a knife you wouldn't pay money for due to your perceived value of the knife since you aren't outlaying cold, hard cash in a trade.

In my case, virtually every Strider I have has been traded into. And I would have never paid for an Emerson but I traded into one and of all things, I'm sort of fond of that one now (CQC7V). I bought one Umnumzaan when it was on sale for 10% off but I traded for the other. The trade was easier to swallow and now I know how good all these knives can be regardless if they are worth their respective prices or not. I scratched the itch . . .

Trading eases the pain of trying out knives that you may think are too expensive or hyped. It's an easier way to see what they are all about when you don't reach into your cash pocket for them.

I have traded a dozen times or so now and except for the stress of hoping BOTH packages show up where they were supposed to, I have been delighted with the outcome.

But I don't trade to seek maximum value in what I traded with or for so that helps the process considerably. My main goal with trading is getting rid of a knife I don't carry or never carried and trying to get something I have never had before or more of what I know I like without doing it in two or three separate transactions, i.e., sell then buy or sell then find then buy. I'm not usually too concerned with getting exact cash value in a trade. I'd like it to be close but I'm not hemming or hawing over <$50 here and there. It's all about perpetuating my hobbie and interest more than making a profit by trading "up" for free.

There are a lot of good, honest brothers and sisters here that are really good to trade with and I hope to continue to do so with several of them that I have already traded with.

I hope they feel the same way about me too . . .

 

[bld522]

I'm the polar opposite- I've never sold and have turned down sale offers in my trade threads. Money is too common of a commodity, and my goal is to represent the endless diversity available with knives. If I sell then my collection decreased, if I trade then I can remove something duplicated in my collection with something I am lacking. I've traded for more valuable and less valuable goods without problem as I was interested in the new moreso than the old. This year I traded 7 knives straight across for 3 pistols. Everybody thinks I did great, I think we both did well. Plus as a previous poster said you get more choices for trades- I usually supply 10 or so knives with any trade offer so there is more to whet the other persons interest. To me trading is more fun, with more options- and allows me to keep adding to my collection.

I love that approach. You definitely represent the "trade" end of the sell-trade spectrum. The challenge is to know which knives to buy multiples of in order to make them available for future trades. Have you developed a strategy for deciding which knives to buy for future trade transactions? Do you favor certain brands or styles?

 

[Reasoned1]

Strictly speaking, selling IS trading--trading for cash. Cash is a common medium of exchange which is usually more convenient to keep and trade later for whatever.