Then why do places like Chesapeak knife and tool which were brick and mortor sell for MSRP? They had a website as well but they couldnt lower there prices and keep up with costs. Oh because they were in malls and shopping centers. Knifecenter of course has a warehouse (using them as an example) but in a part of town thats an industrial park where prices are lower for square footage. You cant compare a warehouse that holds knives to brick and mortor stores in high volume areas.
I cannot speak for the dealers here but many I would wager are not in high traffic/downtown areas. Country knife and Tool has a website and fabulously large array of product but there costs remain high in a very rural area. You would think if they lowered there prices and took more interest in online purchases they would see more sales but I cannot say as I dont know there #'s. That place somewhat befuddles me.
Country Knives are about an hour from me, and I enjoy stopping in there when I am in Lancaster. Their selection is stellar, their customer service and knowledge are great, they even have quite a few discontinued pieces. Their prices, however, are outrageous. If I am looking for a discontinued knife, or if I am just going to browse, I will make it a point to stop by. If I'm not buying a discontinued knife, I might get a hat or something similar. Great people, but their prices are terrible. I don't know what Brian is doing, but if it works for them, so be it. The only other two actual brick and mortar knife shops I've been in have been Willey Knives in Delaware and Edgeworks in Frederick MD. Geri at Willey Knives and Sean at Edgeworks are very knowledgeable about knives, and have great customer service. Their prices are higher than online stores, but they're not bad. I visited Edgeworks over the Memorial Day weekend, and I plan on visiting Willey knives again while on vacation down the shore.
I buy my stuff from New Graham usually, or here used in the Exchange. New Graham has a store front, but they do a lot of business online, and as some dealers have said, they're a pharmacy, not just a knife shop. How Michael operates his business is not my concern, he has great customer service and staff. I used to get a lot of knives from Grand Prairie and Knives Plus, but stopped when I just got better deals on used knives in the Exchange. They have store fronts, but their prices are not bad. They do a lot of online business. Country Knives, Edgeworks and Willey Knives are all three small shops, and while you can order knives off of Willey's and CK's sites, and not Edgeworks, it would be a big hassle for their small operation.
It's a good thing too, because I would blow my vacation or trip money just in those stores alone if their prices were at the internet store level!
