Knife show negotiating skills

K

kirch

Joined
Dec 19, 1999
Messages
260
I have a question for you seasoned knife buyers out there. I've started attending a few shows and am beginning to make some purchases. Can I get some tips on negotiating? I don't want to insult any sellers or makers by making ridiculously low offers, but I also want to get the most for my money. Are there some techniques for getting knives for the right price without having an encyclopedic knowledge of knives and their values?

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"I can't believe you stabbed me with this cheap piece of mail-order sh*t"
James Caan in 'Eraser'
 
Kirch,
Here's a couple of things. Ask before you pick up the knife you are interested in. This starts your interaction on a good note.People really appreciate it when you ask before you grab. Also, don't give a super lowball offer hoping to drive the person down. Lowball offers tend to give offense and knife dealers are independent people who will blow you off if you offend them. Offer what you are willing to pay. Cash will often get you a better deal. People have to pay a percentage of every purchase to the credit card companies and so it my stop you from getting the best bottom line prices. Often, if you use a check, they will charge you tax since there is a written record of the transaction. The main thing is to be nice and be reasonable. Hope this helps.
David

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AKTI# A000150
NC Custom Knifemakers Guild member
NC Knife Knuts member
 
David has good advice. In addition, you might try letting the maker know how much you like the knife and ask them if they can do any better on the price (i.e. "I really want this knife. Can you do any better on the price?") If they come down both parties make some money. I probably wouldn't ask if I was not really interested in the knife. My last thought is buy what you like and pay what you are comfortable paying - maybe a little above the comfort zone.
 
My thoughts are this - I really appreciate good custom knives. If I really barter someone down, and others do too, then he goes out of business, we all lose.

I'm not saying that you should pay what you consider too much, but we all have to feed our kids, pay the mortgage, etc.

No, I'm not a knife maker, but I've seen this happen too often with gun dealers, small town pharmacies, etc.
 
First, hit a few shows without any intention of buying. Have a good look around, check prices, handle some knives, and figure out what you like.

Then, I research in a few stores and websites to get some idea of prices of the models I liked. Not just prices of the one particular model, but others like it or others made by the same company.

That way, you're well informed of steel type, what feels good in your hand, and approximate prices. If you know what the average price of the knife you're interested in is, you're not as likely to lowball but you'll also know a great deal whan you see it.

Always treat the vendor with respect, don't try to test the toughness of the lock or blade against the table. Basically, I try to be low-key, knowledgeable, and considerate. Then, offer a price that you feel is as fair to the buyer as it is to the seller. Respectful haggling seems to be a lost art lately, to if it comes down to that, keep your cool at all costs. Most of all, have fun. This can be a lot like hunting.
 
Don't examine the edge with your thumb without express permision. Try not to spit all over the blades when talking. Most dealers will be ok with you looking at a for sale knife, but do not even consider asking to do this with a show knife. BRL has some great advice in his tomb on knives.

Always! Ask before touching ANYTHING, oh and NEVER EVER interupt a sale for ANY reason. It can be to help or offer advice, but it is very often a BAD move. These people want to make a living, respect that.

I have attended but one small show, if you can call it that. I would like to hear from dealers what are the other no no's.

W.A.

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"To strive to seek to find and not to yield"
Tennyson
Ranger motto

A few useful details on UK laws and some nice reviews!
http://members.aol.com/knivesuk/
Certified steel snob!
Founding president and member number 1! Wana join?
 
If you do cut yourself, make your exit quickly as not to bleed on the table covering. Blood sometimes acts as a deterrant for further sales, puts folks off a bit.

Seriously, asking a maker if can improve on a price is not bad manners but if you are at my table and I tell you that I can't possibly reduce the price, accept me at my word. No offence intended and none taken I hope.

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george
www.tichbourneknives.com
sales@tichbourneknives.com


 
Good advice by all, and without going over the saliant points posted one by one, I'll throw in these .2 cents worth.

Having worked both sides of the table, I think this tack works best....

Know your knives, know what ya want, know what that "special" knife is valued at in the current market, know what you can rationalize spending on that day, and most importantly....be polite.

If you're really interested, smile, be polite, wait your turn, and speak clearly about what you'd like to do.

If ya want the knife but don't have the money that day, take a card, leave a card. Make personal notes on the back of the card you take or leave. Let the seller know when you'll have the money.

Smile, laugh, have fun, and treat the folks you're dealing with the way you'd want to be treated. The same goes for the knives.

Ask if you may see it, be careful when ya pick it up, be even more careful when ya put it back down.

Gaaawwwddd, we had this guy come by twice, pick up some expensive/rare knives, then get bored and drop them back on the table.

After the second time I asked Edna to watch the table, walked up behind the guy, took him by the elbow, hissed in his ear, and spun him around to face one very, very pissed off...me. He was shocked, apologized and all, but damn, I was seeing red!

So, a smile goes a long way. Listen, don't just talk, and be polite! If ya had to script the perfect interaction, make your interaction match that script, and be polite.

If a seller is rude, walk away, but be polite.

If ya network, make friends, enjoy the collecting, and know what ya want, you'll have more fun than you can possibly imagine.

My .2 cents worth.

Mel

"Buy Quality and Only Cry Once"
 
Personally I would treat the knife and the knifemaker with respect. I would never make an offer of less than what I was willing to pay. To tell you the truth I would be pleased to get 10% off of any handmade knife that I had reached the point of wanting to purchase. If the maker tells me that the price that is on the knife is the best he can do then I must decide if I am willing to pay that price.
In most cases the price that is on the knife is part of what gets me interested in a knife in the first place. If I love a knife but it is out of my price range I will look and dream and maybe ask as politely as possible if I can handle the knife. Just to get an idea of what an expensive knife feels like. If I have chosen a knife that I want I go into the transaction knowing I am willing to pay the full price the the knifemaker is asking. If I can get a slightly better price, then I go away ecstatic, if not I am still happy.

Keith.
 
Several things comes to mind: Try to know your knives and what they are really worth. (don't say you can get it cheaper elsewhere,you may be told to then go elsewhere and knives are not cheaper in Hell)If it is a hot seller the dealer can get his price. Try to look interested, a smug, bored,know it all look turns anybody off and some dealers will refuse to negotiate because of your attitude (they are people too just like you and me)Ask if you can see or pick up the knife and handle it carefully (it's not yours yet-its still belongs to the dealer) If you truly are not interested then return it (handle first) and thank the dealer for showing it to you (don't waste his time as he is there to sell knives) If interested I always say "What are you asking for it?" Now we have a bargining price. You then counter with a REASONABLE lowball offer. You then both work toward a middle ground where you feel comfortable with what you have to pay and the dealer can make a profit. If you both can't come to an agreement then thank him for his time and move on. Don't get angry and huff off (the dealer is not there waiting for JUST YOU so he can sell a knife and lose money on it!) DEALERS much of the same goes for you to. If I appear to know something about knives please don't BS me. If you don't like my counter offer don't roll your eyes, grab back your knife and move on down the table and ignore me. I will certainly go elsewhere to spend my money. If we come to a sticking point, work with me, explain why you can't come down (who knows I may agree and meet your price if you give me a resonable answer) I go to alot of shows and some dealers I love to work with and buy alot of knives from them and we both are happy. Other dealers I avoid like a bad smell and will not buy a knife from even if it's a model I've been looking for. When I look and handle one of my knives I want to remember the purchase of it as a pleasent memory and feel that I got a sweet deal as opposed to feeling like I paid too much, the dealer was a pain in the ass and then I feel like I got taken. Guess who I going to go to when my money is burning a hole in my pocket? Just my thoughts after buying over 150 knives at assorted shows. Thanks Weldonk
 
You know, I don't think I've ever paid "sticker" price on a knife at a show, but I don't usually ask for a break to agressively. Usually, the maker/dealer will say, "Oh, I can come down a little for you on that..." or "You should have a sheath for that. Let me see if I've got any that'll fit" or even "Here, take this little one too. They've got the same handle material. They look good together, don't they." Gosh. Thanks. They do look good together.

One of the things I do that seems very popular is to have my own business cards with my name and address and e-mail and so forth on them. These seem to get retained a lot more than scraps of paper. You can make 'em yourself on your computer printer with microperferated card stock from any office supply store. Very inexpensive.

I also carry a pair of white cotton gloves at shows. You can get 'em at photographic supply shops. When a maker is going to give me the privilege of handling some five-figure show piece, I pull out my gloves. This generally brings a smile.


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Chuck
Balisongs -- because it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing!
http://www.balisongcollector.com

[This message has been edited by Gollnick (edited 03-02-2001).]
 
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