Makers: would you help a collector sell one of your knives?

Joss

Joss

Joined
Nov 20, 2001
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The subject says it all: Makers, what would be (or what is) your reaction if a collector ask you to help sell a one of your knives? Would you send feelers on their behalf to your list of prospects? What would be your conditions in terms of pricing? Would you ask for a commission?

On my part I would think that it's in the maker's interest to help their collectors sell. As a collector, I would be much more likely in the future to buy from a maker if I know they're willing to do that. Even more generally, a maker would benefit from a vibrant market for their knives. Having said that, I also recognize that a maker is under no obligation whatsoever.
 
I think it would be a good idea, especially for a high-end item. I think a commission would be fair if the knife is sold through you. For example, a colleague of mine bought a $3,000 piece of diagnostic equipment he barely ever uses, so he called the company he bought it from. They had him box it up, he paid $100 to have it retuned and calibrated and then when they sold it, listed on their website as a refurbished unit, they sent him the check.
 
I have taken some of my knives back in trade for new knives, cleaned them up and sold them as used. I have even taken customer's knives to shows for them but take no comission when that happens. Anything you can do to help your customers out will come back to you in good will.
 
IMO, it wouldn't be fair to ask a maker to sell one of his knives that he has alredy sold.

If he knew someone who wanted what you have; he could just make another one.
 
Interesting question. I'd be happy to do what I could to support the sale such as a letter of authenticity - maybe including something interesting about the design or that happened during the making of the knife - and best wishes to the new owner. Would I sell it for you? Well, I guess the truth is I'll do just about anything to make a customer happy - but I wouldn't bother anyone on my contact list unless they'd expressed an interest in such a thing - and I don't think it would be on my table at a show either, unless I'd bought or swapped it back and was selling it for myself. Pricing and terms are too personal for me to be comfortable with representing someone else's interests.

None of that is absolute, but those are my feelings at the moment about the hypothetical question.
 
Would I help a customer sell one of my knives? Sure I would. When I sell a knife I feel like I've entered into a relationship that goes beyond the original sale. I guarantee my work, and enjoy staying in contact with my customers. I'm fortunate that many of them are local or have bought my knives through a fairly tightly-knit network, and I get a lot of valuable feedback.

If I had expenses in helping to move their knife, I'd expect my customer to reimburse me regardless of whether I was the one who actually got the knife sold. We'd have this understanding up front. I would not expect to make a second profit on the knife though, just cover whatever expenses I incurred.

I'm with George, working with your customers engenders goodwill, and that's something you cannot buy.
 
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