Knife stores and those who complain about them

Do retail stores rely on Knife enthusiast like ourselves to make money? I think the retail stores do most of their business selling Henkles kitchen knives to homemakers rather than the latest fad in locking folders or custom whatevers. Like any hobby, the hobbists know where to go and the sheeple go where it is obvious. If you know where to go for what you want before hand, which most of us do, don't waste yours or anyone elses time somewhere else. If Joe Blow Average who is just picking up a pocket knife on an impulse buy at Knife-o-rama, that leaves our resources alone, I am all for that. If Jane Housewife wants a new carving set for her Thanksgiving day feast, is it worth her time to search the net or stop in Blades-r-us while she is at the mall anyway? We know where to go to find what we are looking for and info about it, right here on Bladeforums, let the market do it's own thing.
 
OK, I'll weigh in here. Someone suggested that retail knife stores could reduce margins and make up the difference in volume. I doubt that's possible since the ability to attract more volume is limited by the geographic area covered by the store. If a retail knife store reduced prices they would simply reduce bottom line profit, I think. I can't imagine how they would survive on our margins, as an example, without the overhead structure and national (or international) marketplace we have to expand volume.

Someone else refered to sheeple. Note that there are less than 8000 registered users of Bladeforums. In other words, you all are a very tiny minority of the knife buying public. I can tell you that our web site sells a lot more Henckels knives than Benchmade knives, as an example. Neither our top product line in units nor our top product line in dollars are what you would call a tactical knife line-or a line that would be discussed frequently here on Bladeforums. We would have a significant drop in volume if we didn't sell the brands discussed here on Bladeforums but we would still cruisa along just fine.

So you need to understand that the participants in this group represent a small but enthusiastic group of knife knuts involved with high tech sport cutlery. The "sheeple" outnumber you many times over. Just thought I would offer that perspective.

Finally, I agree that retail stores offer some added value that's available from on-line dealers (and vice versa.) I think if decide to use those added value services, you should also buy your knives there. I don't think it's fair to go to a retail store, handle the merchandise and then order it from an on-line dealer. I agree completely with the originator of this thread on that subject. Take care.

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Fred
Knife Outlet
http://www.knifeoutlet.com
 
I'll go along with Richard on this one- how long will it be before your try-don't-buy local knife store goes under? I said something along these lines (not quite as much of a rant
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) a few years back on rec.knives. The opinions at that point were a little different from what they are now, as the plethora of knife dealers was not present online at that point.

For Sig: The Hai Hocho was a Cold Steel Japanese-style knife (I forget what kind it was purported to be). In any event, it makes a decent bait knife, it's chisel ground with a wood handle and a plastic thumb sheath. Introduced circa 1991. From memory and the kitchen drawer.
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Regards,
Tim
Nor'east Knives
noreastknives@bigfoot.com

There are two rules for ultimate success in life.
Never tell everything you know.

[The other one is to please read the groundrules for the Auto forum at: http://www.bladeforums.com/ubb/Forum14/HTML/001211.html ]
 
Where's Richard?

Trollin' bastid!
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GigOne
"Livin' Life - Full Throttle"
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"Happiness is a belt-fed weapon & a Walter Brend Model 2!"
 
There are a few good knife stores that I frequent on a semi-regular basis, and I make it a point to buy as much as I can from these shops. If you want to collect anything, your first step should be to develop a productive working relationship with some trustworthy dealers. You would be surprised how many times a dealer has come through for me. It could be as simple as a quick phone call to let me know a particular knife I like has just arrived, or a simple warning against buying a specific knife that is suffering from a high return rate. I have also found that dealers will work with their regular customers on price; it will always be more expensive than going through the internet, but it will also be safer and more convinient.

As, with everything else, you pretty much get what you pay for.
 
I gotta agree with you Rich. You gave me a new way of looking at those mall stores and salesmen. I think we all need to give those mall stores and salesmen a little more slack.

-Johnny
 
I have been lucky enough to have the best of both worlds. I live 4 miles from the KnifeCenter of the Internet. Although they do not have a store front, after 3 years of buying knives from them, I can stop in and chat with Howard and Kevin while they show off the new stuff.

Great guys and a great situation for me!

John A Franklin
 
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