Knife Show Question

A

AV8R

Joined
Aug 28, 1999
Messages
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Lots of concern on the forums that people with $$ for knives are not attending shows in appreciable numbers. Here's my problem. I travel across the country to a show, I get there very early, I'm one of the first in line, I pay to get in. Everything good is sold before the door even opens. I went to the Badger show a couple years ago, this was the exact scenario. I will never attend that show again.

Scenario #2. The show has a drawing. Translated, that means that there are not very many knives at the show. Your favorite makers are showing up with fewer knives and higher prices.

I was planning to attend the guild show this weekend, but probably won't. The show is open early to Honorary members, who will be honored and have the honor of buying the really good stuff, before they let me in. Is it fair and the way it has always been? Maybe. Will I be there? No.

So, what's the change from days past? The internet. In the past, honorary members would buy knives they liked. Now, people buy anything they can post and make a buck on. Everyone's a dealer.

Pete
 
The internet has changed the knife game. Collectors shop for knives like they do cars. Then can click on multiple websites and buy the knife they want at the price they want. If you have been to the blade show a few times you know how it works and the novelty wears off. To quote Les Robertson, " The blade show is no longer a knife show, it's an event". People go to hang out and see lots of knives but not all go with the intent of buying knives. Instead of spending the money on a hotel, airfare ect the collector can stay home and purchase another knife.

Before the internet a buyer had to go to the show to see what a maker had available and what he was making. Or the maker could take a 35mm picture, have it developed and then snail mail the picture to the buyer. Now a maker can take a quick pic with his phone and send it to the buyer in a matter of seconds.

Just because a maker has a lottery does not mean that his prices have gone up. The lottery gives everyone a "fair" chance to buy a knife.


I have taken a Darwinian approach to my knife making, Adapt or die. So far it's working.
 
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I believe the answer to all the "good stuff" being "hoovered-up" by the dealers before the shows opens lies entirely with the Makers. Refuse to sell anything to anybody before the doors open and then everyone has a fair chance to buy.
Just my thoughts from someone who is hoping to fly across the pond to Atlanta next year.
 
sigman said:
Refuse to sell anything to anybody before the doors open and then everyone has a fair chance to buy.
Just my thoughts from someone who is hoping to fly across the pond to Atlanta next year.
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Everyone will not have a "fair chance to buy"....ever.

Why?

Because even if the maker refuses to sell the knife before the doors open, if someone with an "edge" will get to the maker's table first(have had an exhibitor's badge, and a valid one for all Blade shows....that means I get in during table setup) and puts a hand on that knife because they want it.....you won't get it...that is the way the game is played.

Now, things are weird right now, and deals can be had if you are in the right place at the right time, and the Guild show might just be the right place and time for some collectors...ie more supply, more reasonable prices.

It's like playing the lottery, you have to be in it, to win it. Thad Buchanan is about 6 years backlogged, and usually sells out in the first five minutes of a show, but this weekend, he had two knives left over from Chicago....great time/place to have been a Buchanan collector.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Hi Pete,

I went to my first Guild show 25 years ago. I was there when the doors opened and went inside and was stunned to see how many tables full of "SOLD" signs there were. As a newbie I had to scratch my head.

What I found was (and just keep this between you and I), it appears that on Thursday night (before the show opened) both in the bar at the hotel where the show was and in the makers rooms. That knives were being sold before the show opened.

I hope you were sitting down when you read that...as the shock may have buckled your knees and made you light headed.

The table holders at the show are there to make money. Now I realize that this is a unique concept to some show goers. Now don't blame them. The show promoter charges money for the table, the Hotel expects you to pay for the room...and those damn airlines...well you know they are going to get theirs!

What table holders realized is that those buyers coming to the show can be a little fickle. Do you know that some of them will tell you to hold a knife for them and they will pick it up at the show...and then they don't show up. Not a big deal today...but 25 years ago...how else were you going to sell that knife quickly.

Then there were the "be backs" they hold the knife, ooh and aah and tell you they will "be back". But they never come back :(

Or the buyer who says hold this for me...Im going to my room to get more money (today it would be the ATM)...and hours go by and they don't come back.

Then there is that old fashioned concept of "First Come..First Served".

So what was the lesson I learned from that experience...contact the maker before the show. Be willing to send them a check to hold the knife if necessary. Or get to the show Thursday night and attend the "Pre-Show" Preview.

The reality is that not all the "good stuff" is sold before the show opens. Now the knives that collectors can buy and "flip" for a nice profit are generally sold early.

The solution for your problem is to become a Honorary Member. Then you have the honor of getting in early. Of course there is still the Thursday night "Pre-Show Preview"

I know that many collectors are frustrated that they cannot get knives immediately from their favorite makers.

I pointed out the fact that the above scenario took place 25 years ago. I suspect something similar happened at the first Guild show in Kansas City. This was long before the Internet and long before everyone became a dealer. Long before members of forums had a place to sell their knives. :D

Hi Chuck,

The lottery gives everyone a "fair" chance to buy a knife.
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While not completely fair...as the makers knowingly let one person get more than one knife. Which I have always found odd as you are only supposed to have one entry. Thank God, Auntie June and Cousin Michale were at the show so you could be there with their ticket or half a card when their name was called ;)

But it is about as fair as it is going to get. Many of the makers now have a drawing on Friday and Saturday.

Hi Sigman,

I believe the answer to all the "good stuff" being "hoovered-up" by the dealers before the shows opens lies entirely with the Makers. Refuse to sell anything to anybody before the doors open and then everyone has a fair chance to buy.
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First, let me point out an inaccuracy in that statement. Dealers do not "hoover" up everything before the show starts. Most of those pesky dealers are looking for a discount...most makers want full price...you can see the problem.

So who is it that is more than happy to pay full price...well it is the collectors!

Next, thank you for pointing out the obvious that most collectors fail to understand...nothing can be sold until the maker chooses to sell it.

To be fair, more makers are taking that approach, nothing for sale till the show opens.

This is really putting a crimp in my Thursday night before the Show :D
 
What I found was (and just keep this between you and I), it appears that on Thursday night (before the show opened) both in the bar at the hotel where the show was and in the makers rooms. That knives were being sold before the show opened.

I hope you were sitting down when you read that...as the shock may have buckled your knees and made you light headed.

The table holders at the show are there to make money. Now I realize that this is a unique concept to some show goers. Now don't blame them. The show promoter charges money for the table, the Hotel expects you to pay for the room...and those damn airlines...well you know they are going to get theirs!
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Funny :D:);):thumbup:

Marcel
 
I've been to several shows - large and small. I've never seen "everything good" sold moments after the doors open.

I suspect that could only be the case if my view of "everything good" were REALLY narrow and specific.

And if that were the case, and the opportunity to purchase one of the very few knives that interested me was the primary reason for my attending the show, you can bet I would be looking into seeing if I could secure one of them in advance or at least determining what that maker's selling policy is in advance.

Fortunatley, my view of "everything good" is pretty broad. I can't think of a show I have been to where there weren't more knives I wanted than I had funds to buy.

Roger
 
RogerP said:
I've been to several shows - large and small. I've never seen "everything good" sold moments after the doors open.

I suspect that could only be the case if my view of "everything good" were REALLY narrow and specific.

And if that were the case, and the opportunity to purchase one of the very few knives that interested me was the primary reason for my attending the show, you can bet I would be looking into seeing if I could secure one of them in advance or at least determining what that maker's selling policy is in advance.

Fortunatley, my view of "everything good" is pretty broad. I can't think of a show I have been to where there weren't more knives I wanted than I had funds to buy.

Roger
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Well said:thumbup:

Marcel
 
At the AGR show this year, one maker had a unique approach. He knew his knives would be "hoovered" up by dealers (yes Les it does happen). He finds the show boring w/o knives to sell So he put out 5. Sold them. Waited, put out some more. Late in the day, one of the dealers who came to his table when there were no knives, was chastised by a coworker for not hoovering up the knives that were on the table right now. They quickly went over and bought the "last 5" w/o even examining the knives.
 
RogerP said:
Fortunatley, my view of "everything good" is pretty broad. I can't think of a show I have been to where there weren't more knives I wanted than I had funds to buy.Roger
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That's why I make the trip to Atlanta every June. I may have specific makers "targeted," but even if they're sold out before I reach their table (or just don't have anything I'm looking for), there are still hundreds more tables to visit. And who knows what I may find? This year, it was a swayback jack by Richard Rogers, in carbon fiber.
 
A friend of mine told me he found a solution to getting in early at Blade. He picked up an empty box and carried it through the front doors. Instant exhibitor pass!
 
Hi Roger,

Fortunatley, my view of "everything good" is pretty broad. I can't think of a show I have been to where there weren't more knives I wanted than I had funds to buy.
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Excellent point. I've only had that happen a couple of times where I had enough money for everything I wanted...those were very small shows.

And Im buying knives to resell....I can't imagine the hard choices that have to be made by collectors...even with Pete's money!
 
Hey Brownshoe,

Late in the day, one of the dealers who came to his table when there were no knives, was chastised by a coworker for not hoovering up the knives that were on the table right now. They quickly went over and bought the "last 5" w/o even examining the knives.
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Those "dealers" are not dealers...they are amateurs. :D

Come on, who buys a knife without examining them. Dealers who are looking at buying knives to resell better be looking at them close.

Maybe there is a little "exaggeration" in that story as well.
 
2knife said:
A friend of mine told me he found a solution to getting in early at Blade. He picked up an empty box and carried it through the front doors. Instant exhibitor pass!
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That is a criminally clever way to go about it.....make sure you don't leave any knives sitting around for your friend to "acquire".;)

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
My number one goal at shows, is to sell out as quick as possible...

But I always save a few for the opening bell :)
 
I think it's become more difficult over the years to get the "hot" pieces. I like the lottery system and don't mind paying a bit more to get a knife I want or that I can flip. From here on in I'm only attending shows like Solvang and the Plaza evening show (if it ever happens again).

I will say that Pete's scenario of getting to the show early, just to find out that the targeted maker has sold out, really sucks. Happened to me at a show and I won't go back to that show or ever buy a knife from the maker I wanted to get one from.

I'm getting cranky about how and where I spend my knife money and a lot of makers are not getting my $$ because of their business practices.

Win
 
Win Heger said:
........I will say that Pete's scenario of getting to the show early, just to find out that the targeted maker has sold out, really sucks. Happened to me at a show and I won't go back to that show or ever buy a knife from the maker I wanted to get one from.............
Win
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Why would you not buy a knife from a maker because he sold out?
Seems to me that he would be a very "collectable" maker to watch.
And it seems as if that show was good for his business.
Just curious.
 
Karl, even though I lived only a couple of hours from the show, I stayed at the show hotel. I was first in line when the doors opened and it was no more than 50 feet to the maker's table. I got there to find an empty table, not even the maker. A friend at the adjoining table told the maker had sold out a half hour ago and taken off with better things to do. I stopped back several times and he never returned, to my knowledge.

Within 5 minutes a fellow collector came up and told me he had managed to get in early and showed me 4 knives he'd bought from the maker I wanted to see.

I really don't care how collectible a maker is but he owes it to the public to be available at the shows we pay to go to. I take it as arrogant and have no good reason to support him.

Win
 
Win Heger said:
I really don't care how collectible a maker is but he owes it to the public to be available at the shows we pay to go to. I take it as arrogant and have no good reason to support him.

Win
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Now I understand.
This thread, along with a phone call I received since its inception, has given me some insight and information to 'probably' alter the way I do shows in the near future.
And some of this thread has helped to resolve a personal dilemma I have butted up against in the past.
I truly respect your viewpoint.
And I thank you for sharing it.
 
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