Let's talk about the latest Northwoods buying process

[Ramrodmb]

I just dislike the process. If you can see it, it should be available. If it goes in your cart, you should be able to buy it. This business of putting three different knives in your cart and not being able to buy any of them is nuts. Until they get that fixed, I'm out of it.

It seems like if they let the cart 'hold' it, they would be gone even quicker! I'm not sure if that helps. Wouldn't some people just load up the cart and then look through it?

 

[kaput]

It seems like if they let the cart 'hold' it, they would be gone even quicker! I'm not sure if that helps. Wouldn't some people just load up the cart and then look through it?

Yep. And on top of that, less people would be able to buy more knives. Flippers delight. Terrible idea

 

[Squidman24]

What I find confusing (and somewhat comical) is, when @knifeswapper implemented the lottery system for the upcoming run of 77s - people complained that they preferred a "free for all" drop and let the chips fall where they may. We all know historically the "free for all" is the exact approach that KSF has taken and now people are complaining about this method as well .

So as of right now, both Mike and KSF are looking for solutions to this issue(s) - One is looking how to speed things up while not crashing infrastructure and the other is looking to slow things down so that more people have access to their product.

I suspect that no matter no what either of them come up with - people won't like that method either!

 

[Northwestcut]

What I find confusing (and somewhat comical) is, when @knifeswapper implemented the lottery system for the upcoming run of 77s - people complained that they preferred a "free for all" drop and let the chips fall where they may. We all know historically the "free for all" is the exact approach that KSF has taken and now people are complaining about this method as well .

So as of right now, both Mike and KSF are looking for solutions to this issue(s) - One is looking how to speed things up while not crashing infrastructure and the other is looking to slow things down so that more people have access to their product.

I suspect that no matter no what either of them come up with - people won't like that method either!

You cant make everyone happy no matter how hard you try. It sounds like part of the problem is knife flippers though. There is already a bunch up on ebay and those people selling them dont even have them in hand yet. That's very frustrating to people like me who have been trying for over a year to buy one at store price but kept missing out cause I wasn't fast enough at picking out the one I wanted. These last two drops I got lucky though cause I am no longer picky and just want one, any one. I guess possibly going to one per person is solution to slow down the frenzy? But even that will make some people mad. Dont really know what the solution is. I do know I love my Northwoods knives and the customer service I get from KSF.

 

[gdaddy]

You cant make everyone happy no matter how hard you try. It sounds like part of the problem is knife flippers though. There is already a bunch up on ebay and those people selling them dont even have them in hand yet. That's very frustrating to people like me who have been trying for over a year to buy one at store price but kept missing out cause I wasn't fast enough at picking out the one I wanted. These last two drops I got lucky though cause I am no longer picky and just want one, any one. I guess possibly going to one per person is solution to slow down the frenzy? But even that will make some people mad. Dont really know what the solution is. I do know I love my Northwoods knives and the customer service I get from KSF.

I agree with you about those flippers/scalpers. Had a mammoth up for $575 within minutes of the knives being sold. I think this just drives the prices up. Good luck finding one you want for a reasonable price.

 

[Goose 7279]

The solution is allowing sfos to be more than 500 pieces. Double or triple that number

 

[Northwestcut]

The solution is allowing sfos to be more than 500 pieces. Double or triple that number

More supply for more demand definitely can fix a problem but in turn creates others. GEC may not have the capacity for a 1500 SFO, then Derrick has to turn to another supplier that possibly has lower quality and lower standards. Then Northoods knives are now of lower quality and over produced and he cant sell them so there's 700 knives sitting on the shelves. Poor business decision and the brand suffers. Theres a sweet spot there, just have to find it. Fewer drops through the year with larger amounts in those?

 

[B.F.U]

I got one in Red Burlap Micarta. I generally don't like giraffe bone or mammoth ivory, both because I don't like the discoloration. There was a great really nice looking mammoth ivory one that looked almost like elephant ivory with just one dark spot near the butt but by the time I tried to check out it was unavailable unfortunately. I'm looking forward to seeing how I like this. I really like my #78, but I generally prefer clip points (though I like the spear on the #78).

I'm going to have a nice little barlow collection again. This, I got an elderberry bone #77 reservation, my Unicorn Ivory Acrylic (Store model, rough shape) #25, cranberry sawcut sheepfoot TC #15, and smooth ivory bone (dyed black) #15 sheepfoot TC. I might also get a Dom, Shuffler 2, and Roundhead 3.





Wow, great covers!! Bone? or Ivory?



I usually don't like giraffe bone but that looks great.



I think Derek said that he was doing many more releases this year in one of the emails or on instagram.




Split the difference, 8 minutes. I think the bolster should be a bit longer and the arrowhead should be more centered, but I don't dislike it like some seem to.



I didn't think this one was priced significantly higher than others. I do think the inflated price is mostly due to demand.



I think it looks good. I will see if I like it better than my white bone spear blade #78.



I got an IRJ. I wasn't impressed by the fit and finish of it and let it go. I had a #25 sized white bone (I believe) spear point barlow that I liked, but got rid of. Wouldn't hate having one of those or the little bay. I haven't loved all the designs, or at least not enough to weather the intensity of the buying process and inflated price.



Hope you keep up a presence here, I think it's appreciated



haha I can't see how he would fly the coup with the feeding frenzy these northwoods invoke and all the scratch it must make

Not sure why my post got moved... But oh well.

Sounds like they're shipping today

 

[extrastout]

Just not worth the effort. I have plenty of knives and don't have to play these games. You all can have them.

how is it a game...They are popular and sell out fast. With most websites with sales, even amazon...if you keep shopping with an item in your cart (especially if theres 1 or 2 left), that product can sell out in that time, until you confirm order. In reality if they changed the rules you could hold stuff in your cart for days, keeping anyone else from buying it

 

[extrastout]

or they could just except that the buying process is part of this whole thing....but if it keeps them feeling valued and on guard thats good for them IMHO

Heres mine...Still trying to figure out if I really like it since I had no time to look before buying.... and the controversial word "price" on this little guy was up there IMHO...I will find out when its in hand...loved the last run but couldn't justify a wharny for my use

no idea why my post was moved since it has nothing to do with the buying process, I just mentioned the word and how this is part of the knife world. It was about my purchase of a Northwoods knife....Micro managed outside of work as well I guess

 

[Goose 7279]

More supply for more demand definitely can fix a problem but in turn creates others. GEC may not have the capacity for a 1500 SFO, then Derrick has to turn to another supplier that possibly has lower quality and lower standards. Then Northoods knives are now of lower quality and over produced and he cant sell them so there's 700 knives sitting on the shelves. Poor business decision and the brand suffers. Theres a sweet spot there, just have to find it. Fewer drops through the year with larger amounts in those?

Gec does have the capacity to do the sfos and they use to do more sfos but people complained about too many sfos and here we are. And your solution of fewer drops but more in those is saying the same thing i did. Simply there has to be more if the problem is to be fixed or alleviated.

As it stands now 500 isnt enough to go around. There is no buying or lottery system that will fix it. And as far as flippers go if there is more knives it is less of a mark up/market for flippers.

 

[Northwestcut]

Gec does have the capacity to do the sfos and they use to do more sfos but people complained about too many sfos and here we are. And your solution of fewer drops but more in those is saying the same thing i did. Simply there has to be more if the problem is to be fixed or alleviated.

As it stands now 500 isnt enough to go around. There is no buying or lottery system that will fix it. And as far as flippers go if there is more knives it is less of a mark up/market for flippers.

Why are people complaining about too many sfos?

 

[Danke42]

Why are people complaining about too many sfos?

Because they manufacture scarcity and inflate demand. One big run of 3000 would be just as many knives as 15 runs of 200 but out of the 15 runs people aren't buying one and then stopping. They get all 15 so really only a few hundred folks can access a knife. People might get 2 or 3 from a 3000 piece run but they wouldn't get 30 so the seeds would spread further.

KSF's model off vanishing the pages and pricing once the knives all sell ramp up the profit for those who got theirs just to flip on eBay. It's verging on the same situation as the bots that snap up all the concert tickets the moment they go on sale.

 

[lieferung]

KSF's model off vanishing the pages and pricing once the knives all sell ramp up the profit for those who got theirs just to flip on eBay. It's verging on the same situation as the bots that snap up all the concert tickets the moment they go on sale.

Besides the artificial scarcity, I cannot freaking stand that they erase all record of the listings once they're gone. Back when I was first trying to get into traditionals (and set my eyes on a Northwoods) this is basically what pushed me away from the whole thing. And then I had to dig for instructions on how to buy them when they become available. It's needless cliqueishness, if it weren't for CK's ERS and being able to reserve a Lionsteel CK01 I would've just gave up on them.

 

[Danke42]

Besides the artificial scarcity, I cannot freaking stand that they erase all record of the listings once they're gone. Back when I was first trying to get into traditionals (and set my eyes on a Northwoods) this is basically what pushed me away from the whole thing. And then I had to dig for instructions on how to buy them when they become available. It's needless cliqueishness, if it weren't for CK's ERS and being able to reserve a Lionsteel CK01 I would've just gave up on them.

I managed to get a couple out of the exchange here from non-flippers at fair prices but even that is crazy. Those ones will go within minutes of the ad posting and they very rarely ship out of the USA.

 

[Goose 7279]

Why are people complaining about too many sfos?

The original complaint ,from back before they implemented the 500 rule, i remember were people complaining gec was making to many knives for northwoods and not enough of their own brand. Keep in mind alot of us old timers dont care for alot of ksf offerings like micarta/mammoth/mill scale / odd single blade wharncliffe patterns. Mainly because these are materials that arent traditional by many peoples standards. Im an old timer who does like some of those and am interested in what they produce. Personally my favorite gec made knives are sfos so I wish they would lift the cap. I feel like whether it be sfo or be house brand (tidioute or Northfield etc) its still your product and if that demand is you sell everyone faster than you can make them why not?

 

[Northwestcut]

The original complaint ,from back before they implemented the 500 rule, i remember were people complaining gec was making to many knives for northwoods and not enough of their own brand. Keep in mind alot of us old timers dont care for alot of ksf offerings like micarta/mammoth/mill scale / odd single blade wharncliffe patterns. Mainly because these are materials that arent traditional by many peoples standards. Im an old timer who does like some of those and am interested in what they produce. Personally my favorite gec made knives are sfos so I wish they would lift the cap. I feel like whether it be sfo or be house brand (tidioute or Northfield etc) its still your product and if that demand is you sell everyone faster than you can make them why not?

Good golly. Its funny once you start poking around finding out about the history on all this stuff, politics always come into play. Thank you for the info, learn a little more every day.

 

[Northwestcut]

Also I just checked the Bay and the mammoth black ivory already sold. I think he was asking $575 for it.

 

[Will Power]

Seems some people are more excited about the buying frenzy than the knife itself Rather suggests that the knife could be anything, any object...so long as somebody else wants it there's hysteria Of course, all in the eye of the beholder etc but only one Northwoods knife has vaguely interested me, but not this much

 

[Postlapsaria]

I agree and at least give you a time limit to check out like a few minutes .
I can see not having cart hording for hours but at least give a guy a few minutes to checkout . KSF said they are working on something so maybe it’s a new system .

Hopefully a system that prevents people like you from flipping the knives for immediate profit. For the record, TheFactor received a Big Bay, posted some photos, and then sold it for $325.