Paying full MSRP at a dealer vs buying online

freedoom

freedoom

Joined
Jan 31, 2010
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Just about every time i hit up a knife dealer their prices are close to MSRP. I feel bad when i go in, fondle all the knives and then wince when i see the prices vs what i could pay online. I usually end up buying something because they took the time to answer my questions and show me all the shiny sharp things behind the glass, unless they don't have anything i want of course i'm not going to buy something just because i feel bad. I also like to support local businesses but it's so hard to pay $200 for a knife you can get for $125 online.
 
I try to factor in a small premium for the instant gratification being able to walk into a store, pick out a knife, and walk out with it. However, for me that premium is not much more than sales tax. In other words, if the difference between "the walk" out price of a brick and mortar store and the "shipped to my door" price of an online retailer is not much more than the sales tax paid, then I consider the brick and mortar price to be fair. However, on line dealers get the vast majority of my business. There aren't many good knife shops around here.
 
I'm in NJ where knife stores are rare. They do have sporting goods stores but
they don't have a big selection. I'll gladly buy from a store even if it's a little
more if their service is good. But if the difference is 200 vs 125, that's too much.
 
there is a benchmade dealer where i live at and i was dying to get me a mini grip so I ended up paying like $95 for it :barf: but it was an instant gradification thing so it wasnt too bad, Im tempted to buy a mini dejavoo there too
 
I'm willing to pay 10 to 20 percent more to support my local dealers, but I have a hard time finding that sort of prices when compared to the online dealers.

But since my knife dealers happen to be my firearms dealers, I give them plenty of business. So I don't feel guilty about handling their knives. :)
 
When the economy was better I didn't have a problem with paying extra for instant gratification.

Now that things are much tighter the only way I can continue to get my fix is buying online, buying from the forum, and buying blems.

I hate to see my local shop close, but hard times is hard times!
 
txman321 said:
there is a benchmade dealer where i live at and i was dying to get me a mini grip so I ended up paying like $95 for it :barf: but it was an instant gradification thing so it wasnt too bad, Im tempted to buy a mini dejavoo there too
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I understand completely. I paid $100 for a pink mini grip for my wife. The store is one of those mall stores with cigars, pipes, flasks, and knives... John T's. I always drop by to see what they have and usually end up buying a cigar and an once of chew, just cuz I feel bad going there to look at knives only to leave. I've "known" the owner for 5 years and we have both gone through a lot of the same life experiences. Sometimes I'll just drop in to talk scripture references.

Only you can be the judge on the price though. Realize that these guys have to pay more "rent" than an online dealer. You benefit by handling a variety of knives and picking the one with the best fit and finish. Then factor in what you would pay for next day air shipping and maybe double it for the benefit of "right now" shipping. If it's worth it, then it's worth it.
 
I have never bought a knife from an actual store, mainly because there are no knife shops near where I live. The only place that carrys knives around here are walmart, target, cabelas etc. Even if there were shops around here they would probably sell att or close to msrp, I have never paid msrp on any knife and don't intend to, except on customs and such. I will stick to ebay,and the forum exchange
 
Charlie Mike said:
I understand completely. I paid $100 for a pink mini grip for my wife. The store is one of those mall stores with cigars, pipes, flasks, and knives... John T's. I always drop by to see what they have and usually end up buying a cigar and an once of chew, just cuz I feel bad going there to look at knives only to leave. I've "known" the owner for 5 years and we have both gone through a lot of the same life experiences. Sometimes I'll just drop in to talk scripture references.

Only you can be the judge on the price though. Realize that these guys have to pay more "rent" than an online dealer. You benefit by handling a variety of knives and picking the one with the best fit and finish. Then factor in what you would pay for next day air shipping and maybe double it for the benefit of "right now" shipping. If it's worth it, then it's worth it.
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Yea i dont really mind paying the extra little bit because I get it right there and i see exactly what i am getting and i like to handle it before i drop $100 on a knife, plus i know the owner fairly well hes a cool guy i like to support him if i can.
 
I consider the price worth it. You just can't judge the quality and feel of a knife by just looking at it most of the time.
I usually still buy mostly online though.
 
I wouldn't mind paying a bit of a mark-up to go to a local store, buy what I want and walk out with it. The trouble, though, has two parts. #1) there are no good knife stores in my area that I'm aware of, only big sporting goods stores (Dick's, Gander Mtn, Cabela's a couple hours away, etc.); and #2) I'm not aware of any knife stores anywhere that carry what I would want, including such brands as Busse (and family), Crusader Forge, Al Polkowski, Brian Tighe, Kazutoshi Tanabe, Fehrman, among others.


So I have to either hit gun/knife shows, like Knob Creek or the Blade Show, or buy online.
 
I would like to buy locally, but most production knives can be found online for 30% to 40% off MSRP. For expensive knives this is amounts to a lot of money. And shipping is usually less than tax.
 
i could justify a little markup for a brick and mortar store...but the knives i like arent carried anywhere close to me...so i stick to the exchange and online retailers...
 
Like some here, I am frustrated by lack of knife stores. The largest knife store we have here is mostly a firearms dealer, and since he only sells knives as a sideline, he sells at retail plus.

OTOH, having trouble with the quality of the knives I have purchased online as far as the fit and finish go, I would rather pay retail than to purchase online. I just can't find the knives I am interested in, and I have pretty mainstream tastes such as Kershaw, Eye brand, etc.

The sporting goods store carry a large representation of "pretty" Chinese knives, but nothing more. None of them have anything I want to fondle.

Right now my best bet is to buy online from a reputable dealer, one that takes pride in their business and their customers. Thankfully, the vendors I have bought from have all been great guys, and I haven't had any problems that haven't been immediately remedied. I am nervous until get the knife in my hands, but so far, so good.

Being a small businessman myself, I would love to support a local business, even at retail prices. When it is Christmas and the brother in laws need a knife (also known to them as prying tools, screwdrivers, and scrapers) I buy them a nice one at Academy and they are pleased.

Try to find a JYD II comp blade (or regular for that matter) or a Shallot in 110V in a store near you. Or a Queen dealer that has a pretty good representation of the Queen line of knives around here. Not a chance.

Robert
 
Buying a knife in a local store often means paying nearly MSRP for it.

Speaking from my own experience, I bought all my knives from local stores and the benefits of buying from a store includes:

1. Not having to deal with customs and maybe police paperwork for some items, if the store can stock and sell a particular knife it's legal to own (not necessarily for use).

2. Good salespeople with the right attitude who have the product knowledge and personal experience to recommend certain knives which might suit your needs or wants. (Your mileage may vary)

3. I get to inspect the knife for fit and finish, blade lockup (very important for a linerlock), blade play, machining marks etc before I decide whether to buy or not.

4. Post-sales service, if things go wrong with your knife you can still look them up and request them to fix it or send it back to the manufacturer.

I wouldn't comment on online knife stores since I haven't bought a knife from them yet.

Just my 2 cents worth.
 
Charlie Mike said:
I understand completely. I paid $100 for a pink mini grip for my wife. The store is one of those mall stores with cigars, pipes, flasks, and knives... John T's.
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There used to be a John T's at the mall here, but they closed down. They had some nice knives (they even had a drop point D'Allara), but they were way too expensive.

Charlie Mike said:
Only you can be the judge on the price though. Realize that these guys have to pay more "rent" than an online dealer. You benefit by handling a variety of knives and picking the one with the best fit and finish. Then factor in what you would pay for next day air shipping and maybe double it for the benefit of "right now" shipping. If it's worth it, then it's worth it.
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I know that they have to pay rent and such, but as an example, they're selling the BM 710 for $180 when I can get it at Knifeworks for $110. "Getting the chance to hold it before buying it" isn't a $70 service in my book.
 
THG said:
I know that they have to pay rent and such, but as an example, they're selling the BM 710 for $180 when I can get it at Knifeworks for $110. "Getting the chance to hold it before buying it" isn't a $70 service in my book.
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ESPECIALLY when you know that Roger will make you happy no matter what. I have bought about 8 knives from him, and would buy without hesitation.

Robert
 
THG said:
I know that they have to pay rent and such, but as an example, they're selling the BM 710 for $180 when I can get it at Knifeworks for $110. "Getting the chance to hold it before buying it" isn't a $70 service in my book.
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I agree. I'd like to be able to support local dealers, but selling items at list price is unreasonable on their part, too. I look at it this way, if it's going to cost more than AG Russell's (prices + shipping) + local sales tax, then you've blown a sale, (not that I always buy from AG, but I have a bunch of times. They're a great company to do businesss with.).
 
If a local store is in the ball park for price I'll buy it. Usually that's not the case.

I bought my CRKT M21 online for $60. Same knife was $110 where I live.
 
Only knife I've ever bought at a BM store was my Blue Manix 2, but that was only because I couldn't find one anywhere else.
 
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