Off Topic POLL Why are GEC knives difficult to buy, for some.

[calm]

Every time there is a new GEC out there are discussions on how to get a GEC, why can't some get them, or get the variant they want, how come some are able to get them, what is the secret handshake and so no.

Personally I have managed to get some and missed many, though most of the ones I have were bought a few years ago, in a different GEC era.
I do not get especially upset if I do not get a model nor do I get ecstatic if I manage to get one.

This Poll is for people that buy or are interested in buying these knives.

You can select as many answers as you want - some answers may seem similar (I can not add any more)

If you have never been interested in them or can't see why anybody will spent that much money on them, or even on any traditional knife then, this is not the poll you are looking for.

This is to be seen as a fun way to think about the matter, collect some views in a measurable way and, politely discuss it.

 

[Jim malone]

You forgot -- They are not available in Europe.

 

[MolokaiRider]

While I really like GEC, I have no interest in pursuing higher prices on the secondary market.

They are very nice knives, but not at custom prices.

 

[calm]

You forgot -- They are not available in Europe.

They are, through 2 dealers. One is more of a part-time operation

Also, I cannot add any more answers - there seems to be a limit.

 

[calm]

They are, through 2 dealers. One is more of a part-time operation

Also, I cannot add any more answers - there seems to be a limit.

I just bought one from them

 

[calm]

To say the prices of the dealer have gone UP in the last few weeks is an understatement......

 

[Carboniferous]

They have a name premium, sell out very quickly most of the time, and secondary market prices are just too high. The reasons behind each of those three are complex and multivariate, but for me the main thing is just the cost. I haven't been so overly wowed by GEC quality that I have lost interest in much cheaper, much easier to find production knives, and indeed spend most of my time looking at/buying the other stuff. I have one GEC basically to say I have it, it's a fine knife and a great pattern (possum skinner, 3" clip and a wharncliffe, both very nice and thin, single spring, red jigged bone) but doesn't blow my mind.

 

[bayouace]

I am old and have no interest in all the computer stuff to make instant purchases upon notification. I have picked up 3 GEC knives on trades and 2 more on reasonable sales from an owner. I'm good.

 

[Elgatodeacero]

The truth is some of all your poll choices. No one is competing with GEC, their product requires a special set of skills and artistic/historical knowledge to create, and their total production capacity is very small compared to the number of people that have access to buying them on the web.

I do not believe anyone will compete with GEC because no one loves traditional slip joints like Bill Howard, and his love of the tool and it’s rich history are what sets GEC apart.

 

[Coyja]

When you have "dealers" that just post directly to eBay before they even receive the knives, not to mention all the guys that have backdoor deals & relationships and have things in hand before they have ever gone on sale publicly, you've got a problematic cultural issue with your dealer network.
Several dealers never even publicly sell the knives in any way I'm aware of, and are probably feeding the flipper market unknowingly.
This makes entry into becoming a new GEC owner harder that it needs to be.
I live kind of central to numerous online GEC dealers, all within easy driving distance of me, that I've never had a chance of getting a purchase from.
It also seems like such a headache for the large dealers they work with to have to manage the complaints and headaches of selling just a couple dozen knives.

Because they produce such small runs, it just makes sense for GEC to also be the primary point of sale.
I'd like to see a much smaller network of dealers (CK, KSF, etc) strategically placed around the country and UK, and restrictive boundaries placed on selling on eBay, but for at least 50% of sales to be from the factory (though my ultimate suggestion would be 100%).

Maybe they need a part time employee to do this, but it will pay for itself. We already know that a large portion are already pre-sold at this point by dealers.
Imagine doubling your profit on half your stock by selling direct from the factory.
Back in the days when these would sit on shelves for years, sure, it didn't make sense, but now...
And while there is no doubt some loyalty to the dealers, I've also seem enough sketchy behavior at this point that we know where the trouble is and simplifying things will make more happy customers.

 

[calm]

UK is a bit problematic, for tax reasons, for the customers in the rest of Europe

 

[Elgatodeacero]

GEC could cut out the retail dealers, but GEC’s success is largely due to the dealer network that stuck with them for 15 years and stocked and advertised the product. It also avoids a lot of overhead and labor to not do individual order fulfillment from GEC.

Seems like an unwise move to stab your dealers in the back because a manufacturer decides they don’t need the dealers anymore. I am glad the dealers are making more profit - they deserve it.

 

[slyraven]

Artificial scarcity and fomo is all the marketing rage these days

 

[Jiki]

When you have "dealers" that just post directly to eBay before they even receive the knives, not to mention all the guys that have backdoor deals & relationships and have things in hand before they have ever gone on sale publicly, you've got a problematic cultural issue with your dealer network.
Several dealers never even publicly sell the knives in any way I'm aware of, and are probably feeding the flipper market unknowingly.
This makes entry into becoming a new GEC owner harder that it needs to be.
I live kind of central to numerous online GEC dealers, all within easy driving distance of me, that I've never had a chance of getting a purchase from.
It also seems like such a headache for the large dealers they work with to have to manage the complaints and headaches of selling just a couple dozen knives.

Because they produce such small runs, it just makes sense for GEC to also be the primary point of sale.
I'd like to see a much smaller network of dealers (CK, KSF, etc) strategically placed around the country and UK, and restrictive boundaries placed on selling on eBay, but for at least 50% of sales to be from the factory (though my ultimate suggestion would be 100%).

Maybe they need a part time employee to do this, but it will pay for itself. We already know that a large portion are already pre-sold at this point by dealers.
Imagine doubling your profit on half your stock by selling direct from the factory.
Back in the days when these would sit on shelves for years, sure, it didn't make sense, but now...
And while there is no doubt some loyalty to the dealers, I've also seem enough sketchy behavior at this point that we know where the trouble is and simplifying things will make more happy customers.

You have come up with solutions for problems that GEC doesn't see as problems.

 

[mrknife]

When people stop grabbing several to force trades or flip, maybe itll be over, who knows. They say the cure for high prices is high prices, so I'll wait it out. It took till the rendezvous to get some of the knives i really wanted without having to give up something i love or pay a ridiculous premium, so for me, it might just be time to enjoy what i have and not care about getting anything new.

 

[r8shell]

Artificial scarcity and fomo is all the marketing rage these days

Or maybe the scarcity isn't artificial. If more people want something than the manufacturer is able to produce, it gets harder to acquire.

When people stop grabbing several to force trades or flip, maybe itll be over, who knows. They say the cure for high prices is high prices, so I'll wait it out. It took till the rendezvous to get some of the knives i really wanted without having to give up something i love or pay a ridiculous premium, so for me, it might just be time to enjoy what i have and not care about getting anything new.

Yep. If I can buy something I want, at retail, I will. These days that usually means one or two new GECs a year. I'm quite satisfied with that and don't want to spend any time stressing about what I can't find or afford. Hobbies are supposed to be fun.

 

[mrknife]

Or maybe the scarcity isn't artificial. If more people want something than the manufacturer is able to produce, it gets harder to acquire.


Yep. If I can buy something I want, at retail, I will. These days that usually means one or two new GECs a year. I'm quite satisfied with that and don't want to spend any time stressing about what I can't find or afford. Hobbies are supposed to be fun.

yup, one or two sounds right if I dont attend rendezvous. im the same way, if i dont get in on the IPO i typically forget it. You've been around long enough to have a stockpile I believe, as well as a bunch of other folks Im sure. I think the last one for me was the smooth bone 65 and I realized the site i bought it from over charged so i cancelled it. Luckily I was able to get in on Mike's reserve and made out with a smooth bone without a hassle.

 

[slyraven]

Or maybe the scarcity isn't artificial. If more people want something than the manufacturer is able to produce, it gets harder to acquire.


Yep. If I can buy something I want, at retail, I will. These days that usually means one or two new GECs a year. I'm quite satisfied with that and don't want to spend any time stressing about what I can't find or afford. Hobbies are supposed to be fun.

So, they have a hugely popular knife that sells out in seconds and demands up to double the price on the secondary market and can't figure out how to make more?

From the first page of their website

" we only make a handful of select patterns each year "

Not to mention, there is hardly any information on when these knives are released to buy. Their website is devoid of such pesky facts. Just gotta figure it out. Which I'm still vague on..so stopped bothering.

 

[Quiet]

So, they have a hugely popular knife that sells out in seconds and demands up to double the price on the secondary market and can't figure out how to make more?

From the first page of their website

" we only make a handful of select patterns each year "

Not to mention, there is hardly any information on when these knives are released to buy. Their website is devoid of such pesky facts. Just gotta figure it out. Which I'm still vague on..so stopped bothering.

Yes, that's correct. People act like Great Eastern Cutlery is some huge factory who has a large workforce. That's not the case at all. It's a small team of employees, many of whom are older, who've been making slipjoints to a very high level of quality for decades. Many of those employees came from Queen Knives (remember them?). They make each knife by hand, using old machinery, and vintage methods. So, no, it's not merely a matter of just "figuring out" how to make more, unfortunately.

 

[slyraven]

Yes, that's correct. People act like Great Eastern Cutlery is some huge factory who has a large workforce. That's not the case at all. It's a small team of employees, many of whom are older, who've been making slipjoints to a very high level of quality for decades. Many of those employees came from Queen Knives (remember them?). They make each knife by hand, using old machinery, and vintage methods. So, no, it's not merely a matter of just "figuring out" how to make more, unfortunately.

Yes it is. They purposefully only make a few. They have 200 workers how is that small? That's more than most usa made knives.

Edit. My bad, I misread it..they do not have 200 employees.