Inflation

[drbarnes]

As its been said, theres deals to be had, not more than a week ago I saw a nmsfno go for msrp, brand new, I wish I wouldve seen it first! I wouldve snatched it up in a heartbeat! And as far as users going for more han original msrp... Come on these are KNIVES, tools, with a lifetime guarantee! Im buying my knives to use! With the exception of a select few.

 

[lsheldon]

While I can agree on this with most knives, it's not always the case. This is where doing your homework pays off. When I first got into Busse's, I saw a knife that I really wanted for sale at a price I thought was too high. I hesitated, and someone else swooped in and snagged it. I then spent the next 2+ years keeping tabs on it as it moved to Europe and back to the US before I finally got another chance to buy it...for a higher price! Had I known that the knife was a Ganza variant, one of only 8, and the only one of the group without a logo, I would probably have jumped on it the first time I had a shot.

I now have 2 of these 8...

Folks, especially you newer Piglets... Do your homework! If you see a knife you "must have", don't wait to see it for sale before researching all you can on it. Know what you want, and prepare to grab it for a price you find fair. Also, learn the cycles of how Busse's sell on the X...there is a pattern, and it's all there in past threads.
It's the only way to minimize the chances of either paying too much or missing out on "that knife" that grabs your attention. :thumbup:

Excellent point that I didn't consider when I initially posted. There are exceptions to every rule as they say......:thumbup:

 

[TNRat]

It's called capitalism.

 

[Skrapmetal]

While I can agree on this with most knives, it's not always the case. This is where doing your homework pays off. When I first got into Busse's, I saw a knife that I really wanted for sale at a price I thought was too high. I hesitated, and someone else swooped in and snagged it. I then spent the next 2+ years keeping tabs on it as it moved to Europe and back to the US before I finally got another chance to buy it...for a higher price! Had I known that the knife was a Ganza variant, one of only 8, and the only one of the group without a logo, I would probably have jumped on it the first time I had a shot.

I now have 2 of these 8...

Folks, especially you newer Piglets... Do your homework! If you see a knife you "must have", don't wait to see it for sale before researching all you can on it. Know what you want, and prepare to grab it for a price you find fair. Also, learn the cycles of how Busse's sell on the X...there is a pattern, and it's all there in past threads.
It's the only way to minimize the chances of either paying too much or missing out on "that knife" that grabs your attention. :thumbup:

Definitely. Custom Shop knives and ganzaa variants are an exception to waiting and moving on. If there is one of those that you just have to have, then the price being too high or not is only regulated by how much you can/will pay. I paid over $1k for my AK, but as far as I have seen there aren't a whole lot of hand-shaped snakeskin AK's floating around. It wasn't something that someone else was going to be selling next week for less.

I am not claiming any grand conspiracies or gouging and I am not pointing any fingers. I just noticed that after the markup on some "recent" knives + shipping from dealer to regular customer to the next in line, and you add a markup and shipping (even if both are modest) and who doesn't want to lose anything on an "investment" of this "collector" piece. After two or three links in this "chain" you can notice the inflation.

I am not saying that these aren't collector pieces or investments, but I am saying that knives that are only recently unavailable from the shop really shouldn't be inflated like this. Generally trends like this are artificial and don't last long for a given seller or clip of time. I know all about supply and demand and shopping around and knowing your product and appreciate all of the little tidbits from everyone. Generally everyone here is pretty cool and above average in my book. A lot of nice people here. I was just making an observation on the inflation of some pieces from changing hands and bouncing around. I have noticed some of the other practices that other have mentioned and I can see why they thought I might have intended that. I am disappointed at the rapidity I was able to find the bad traits in this market but am also surprised at the small percentage of abusers/ abuses. There seems to be a lot of self regulation here too. I am glad that my post was able to start such a good discussion and look forward to more!

I haven't gotten my first yet and am still looking. Have seen some good deals and missed out on a couple of them but I wasn't in the right place at the right time. Great job to the guys who got the deals, mine will come along and I have made some friends on the way! Always looking for a deal especially since we have a three week old and a three year old keeping me up nights and absorbing all my resources Top three I'm looking for are CG NMFBM, CG NMSFNO, and SS4 right now. Not easy or cheap but like I said I will find a deal I can live with at some point. I have the patience..

The knives that haven't been out of production for very long will inevitably get more valuable. Some sellers push that a little too soon and boost their prices. As long as no one jumps on them, these will often creep down in price (with the exception of some of the dealers with lots of inventory who can just sit on the pieces until they are harder to find). The more time passes, the harder those knives become to find, and the more valuable they become.

If you're still shopping, you're doing it right. Like Jaxx said... figure out what you want first, then determine how hard those are to find. If they are common, then be patient and watch for a deal (or at least for a price that you are willing to pay). If what you want is very rare or one of a kind, then watch the exchange like a hawk and be prepared to shell out whatever you have to pay to get what you want. If you can't afford to do that, then adjust your taste to match what you can afford.

 

[Super X]

When your new to this, there are some things you need to learn real quick. First and foremost, when the knife is available through the company store, better jump on it, if you think for a moment you may want it. Do not wait! I made this mistake with the SwampRat HRLM. These knives are made in limited quantities for a limited time.

Like I stated, I made this mistake with the HRLM, I kinda thought I should get it however, bought something else instead, then realized what I bought was not quite what I had in mind for the intended purpose. Once I decided I had to have the HRLM, I figured it would not be that difficult to get one............ Wrong! After 2 weeks of watching the Exchange and Ebay, I realized this was not going to be easy and the knife was quickly rising in price out of my small budget. When one would come up, they were bought very quickly and for more than what I had budgeted. I became desperate thinking I may not get this knife. I found a older sales thread by Treavor, AKA Knifehunter. After speaking with him on the phone and explaining my situation, he was kind enough to give me a HRLM at the price in the old sales thread. He did not have to do this and I was very greatful to him and it changed my perpective on things. If a dealer invest money to have a item in stock, then when you want one, he is certainly entitled to a profit and your best friend. Not everyone is out to get you. Your best bet will alway's be to buy from the company store. Once they are gone, no telling what you will pay, if you can find one. In that case, a dealer may be your best chance to get the item if you can't find it on the exchange. Me, I am not a patient person, when I decide I want something, I want it right then and there.

 

[Bigfattyt]

I am not claiming any grand conspiracies or gouging and I am not pointing any fingers. I just noticed that after the markup on some "recent" knives + shipping from dealer to regular customer to the next in line, and you add a markup and shipping (even if both are modest) and who doesn't want to lose anything on an "investment" of this "collector" piece. After two or three links in this "chain" you can notice the inflation.

I am saying that knives that are only recently unavailable from the shop really shouldn't be inflated like this. Generally trends like this are artificial and don't last long for a given seller or clip of time.

Next day flipers are annoying, especially when you tried to score adn were not quick enough. Then some one else bought 10 or 20 the same model to flip. On the other hand, If I was quicker, and had more money, I could do the flipping and pay for my keepers that way. What is really annoying is when I see them listed on Ebay at 4 to 5 times the cost. You will see them listed and re listed. The same seller will often have multiple listings with the same knife. With two very different prices on the off chance some sucker comes along and buys the much more expensive listing. One guy kept re-listing a Basic 9 for 1100 or so dollars, when the going price for that model is more like 350-400. He relisted it quite a few times at that silly price.

I am disappointed at the rapidity I was able to find the bad traits in this market but am also surprised at the small percentage of abusers/ abuses. There seems to be a lot of self regulation here too. I am glad that my post was able to start such a good discussion and look forward to more!

If you feel some one is pricing too high, just don't buy from them. If enough people were willing to forgo purchasing from high priced sellers, they would eventually have to lower their prices.

Top three I'm looking for are CG NMFBM, CG NMSFNO, and SS4 right now. Not easy or cheap but like I said I will find a deal I can live with at some point. I have the patience..

That will be a great line up if you get it. I would love a NMFBM, after I sold my FBMLE I need another mistress, but since I have a B11 and a KZII, I probably won't be buying another monster for a long time. the SS5 has had some real deals in the last few weeks. One just went for $250 with two sheaths! It is a bit bigger than the SS4, but seems to pop up more frequently.

Welcome. And good luck fining just the right knives for you.

 

[ttoney83]

It seems to me (and I am very new here) that there is a lot of back and forth sales between regulars and dealers that inflates the value of these pieces with all of the activity bouncing around...

Well, the knives do have a garauntee associated with them. Major bonus there. And, one can try to negotiate a better deal, or, walk. I can say for sure though that I have beat my Heavy Heart through substantial Hickory logs without incident, and, in chopping through smaller "logs" I've gone clear through to the slate under my wood stove and the only thing that chipped was the slate. The money you spend on a Busse is money well spent.

 

[Josh Sollenberger]

I have a question. I saw on the Busse Exchange that someone refused to sell to a dealer, good for him. But I saw the price and I guess he is a HOG. Then just recently I saw the same type of knife sell for over $300 more then what the first guy was selling it for? So my question was did that guy just have no clue what that knife was worth or was he doing what everyoen being a HOG?
Cause I just got one in a trade to to be honest, I'd rather have an extra $300 plus should the time ever come then be a HOG if that's what it means. Cause to be honest, I'd rather have extra money in my pocket and have you call me a piglet or whatever you want... Becuase that extra money in my pocket can buy me more knives... And does that being a HOG thing only work on the internet. So if my car is worth 10K and I sell it for $650, am I being a HOG or just stupid for not getting the most money out of it?
Now I know everyone here says that one shouldn't delete the price out but if I was that guy, I would edit that price out so I don't look like a pushover or like someone that doesn't know what they are doing.

 

[Skrapmetal]

I have a question. I saw on the Busse Exchange that someone refused to sell to a dealer, good for him. But I saw the price and I guess he is a HOG. Then just recently I saw the same type of knife sell for over $300 more then what the first guy was selling it for? So my question was did that guy just have no clue what that knife was worth or was he doing what everyoen being a HOG?
Cause I just got one in a trade to to be honest, I'd rather have an extra $300 plus should the time ever come then be a HOG if that's what it means. Cause to be honest, I'd rather have extra money in my pocket and have you call me a piglet or whatever you want... Becuase that extra money in my pocket can buy me more knives... And does that being a HOG thing only work on the internet. So if my car is worth 10K and I sell it for $650, am I being a HOG or just stupid for not getting the most money out of it?
Now I know everyone here says that one shouldn't delete the price out but if I was that guy, I would edit that price out so I don't look like a pushover or like someone that doesn't know what they are doing.

Being a Hog has absolutely nothing to do with what price you sell knives for, or even selling them at all.

The first sold his knife for what he felt was fair. Someone was willing to pay more when another came up for sale. End or story.

 

[Jaxx]

I have a question. I saw on the Busse Exchange that someone refused to sell to a dealer, good for him. But I saw the price and I guess he is a HOG. Then just recently I saw the same type of knife sell for over $300 more then what the first guy was selling it for? So my question was did that guy just have no clue what that knife was worth or was he doing what everyoen being a HOG?
Cause I just got one in a trade to to be honest, I'd rather have an extra $300 plus should the time ever come then be a HOG if that's what it means. Cause to be honest, I'd rather have extra money in my pocket and have you call me a piglet or whatever you want... Becuase that extra money in my pocket can buy me more knives... And does that being a HOG thing only work on the internet. So if my car is worth 10K and I sell it for $650, am I being a HOG or just stupid for not getting the most money out of it?
Now I know everyone here says that one shouldn't delete the price out but if I was that guy, I would edit that price out so I don't look like a pushover or like someone that doesn't know what they are doing.

There are many factors at play in each sale on the X. Did the first guy get it through Busse, and sell it for what he paid and maybe a bit more? Did the 2nd guy get it for much more off the X and is trying to break even on his turn to sell it? Was it something in between? Were they both the very same knife, and combo of said knife? Only a few questions as examples; I'm not looking for answers to them.

Some people are here for much more than the money, and that is more important to them.
Some people are only here for the money, and money is the only thing important to them...
Your choice, you decide.

 

[M67]

I have a question. I saw on the Busse Exchange that someone refused to sell to a dealer, good for him. But I saw the price and I guess he is a HOG. Then just recently I saw the same type of knife sell for over $300 more then what the first guy was selling it for? So my question was did that guy just have no clue what that knife was worth or was he doing what everyoen being a HOG?
Cause I just got one in a trade to to be honest, I'd rather have an extra $300 plus should the time ever come then be a HOG if that's what it means. Cause to be honest, I'd rather have extra money in my pocket and have you call me a piglet or whatever you want... Becuase that extra money in my pocket can buy me more knives... And does that being a HOG thing only work on the internet. So if my car is worth 10K and I sell it for $650, am I being a HOG or just stupid for not getting the most money out of it?
Now I know everyone here says that one shouldn't delete the price out but if I was that guy, I would edit that price out so I don't look like a pushover or like someone that doesn't know what they are doing.

Being a HOG has nothing to do with setting prices and it can't be described in few words. But the term HOG is by no means negative.

You said you saw the same type of knife, but was it the EXACT knife? There would be a huge price difference between a knife with standard micarta scales and one that has mammoth tooth or coral. One could has been a custom shop or limited edition, one could have been a special model and came with a sheath and price may had included shipping, insurance, and fees. Used compared to unused. Slight variations can easily be $300.

Also, yes, some might not know exactly what they have. There are some knives that are combat grade and have tan canvas micarta scales and they don't look like anything special, but there might had only been 6 made.

There's a lot of information to know, models and options to be familiar with, before you can judge someone about a price.

 

[Soulrack223]

Being a Hog only means you get into collecting Busses--nothing more, nothing less. The cost of the Busses and the number of Busses means very little.

 

[mamun1024]

Being a Hog only means you get into collecting Busses--nothing more, nothing less. The cost of the Busses and the number of Busses means very little.

+1 :thumbup: