Proper Behavior for Knife Shows - How to keep from looking like an idiot

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It has been a long time since I have seen a thread telling the proper behavior when attending a knife show. Some of the shows will have a flier that is handed out at the entrance with guidelines of what not to do. A lot of what we take for granted is unknown to the people attending the show.

I thought maybe some of you guys who have tables at the shows could give a little advice to the people who are attending the shows.

I will start things out with a few no brainers.

Don't pick up a knife without asking permission politely first.

Handle the knife carefully and with respect. When putting the knife back on the table do not just toss it back unless you want to be punched in the nose.

Don't ask stupid questions like "What's your best price?"
Most pieces will have the price displayed. You might think that's how to get a deal but it's not. You are just insulting the maker.

Another dumb question;
You can get a knife like that at walmart for $50. How come yours costs $500.
You may get an answer like; Because walmart knives are made in a third world country using junk materials. Kind of like with the shoes you are wearing. By the way, nice duct tape. Did the shoes come like that?


.
 
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Good post with Blade coming up. I made a few of these misteps years ago

Here is one for those looking at slipjoints - Don't let the blade snap shut...some blades are very close to the spring in the closed position and letting it snap shut hard could chip the blade. Although I typically won't buy a slippy like this, when you're looking at one, you never know.....

Here's another...at a knife show, try to carry a rag with you. After you have handled a knife, wipe it clean of fingerprints before putting it back on the table.
 
There are a few makers with tables who should get some instructions on how to act, as well. I'll start with this:

1) Don't leave early

2) Don't be condescending to a prospective customer

There are lots of do's and dont's for "attendees", huh?

Bob
 
Burl Source said:
Don't ask stupid questions like "What's your best price?"
Most pieces will have the price displayed. You might think that's how to get a deal but it's not. You are just insulting the maker.
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This is an iffy one. It depends "who" and "what". If it is Joe Newbie Collector asking the question, then...yeah, it might come off as insulting. If I am asking a maker who I have multiple pieces from already, and we are friendly, my asking for some small consideration is not out of line. On the obverse, I have also told makers that they are not charging enough and pay what I feel is a more realistic price....which really blows some minds.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Don't ever ask questions like "How long does it take to make these?"
or offer on a custom order to "Pay materials cost upfront."

I'm a pen maker and if I'm at a show where someone asks that, I simply ask them to move along because that is no different than asking someone what their hourly wage is and trying to figure out how to screw someone is immoral.
 
Steve,
I like your post.
I think what it really comes down to is how something is said. If someone asks me something like "I really like this but I was wondering if you could take..... for it?" or "could I get a discount if I bought a couple items?" Then there is a chance we can both end up happy.

I have a character flaw that makes me want to respond to what I feel is a rude question or comment with a sarcastic answer. Times when I can control myself I will answer "What's your best price?" with, "Why, what did you have in mind?" That enables me to find out if the person is a serious buyer and what they expect. Sometimes they just didn't think before they started talking.

betzner said:
There are a few makers with tables who should get some instructions on how to act, as well. I'll start with this:
1) Don't leave early
2) Don't be condescending to a prospective customer
There are lots of do's and dont's for "attendees", huh?
Bob
Click to expand...

I think a lot of it comes down to common sense and courtesy.
What got me thinking about this was some of the behind the table stories. Even the people we look as an authority these days have done some dumb things in the beginning. Usually involving personal injury.

At the shows I try to get there early and leave late. Without a doubt I can say that adds at least 25% to what I sell.

It is easy to fall into being condescending to a prospective customer when they say the same thing you have already heard 100 times that day. But it will often bite you in the butt. My wife goes to the shows with me and it usually helps to keep me from falling into being sarcastic.

I think a good summary of proper behavior would be;
For attendees
Be polite. Treat other people's property with respect.
For sellers
Be polite. Give attendees the benefit of the doubt when they say something dumb.
If it turns out they really are rude, mean people.....hit em with a stick.

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Burl Source said:
It has been a long time since I have seen a thread telling the proper behavior when attending a knife show. Some of the shows will have a flier that is handed out at the entrance with guidelines of what not to do. A lot of what we take for granted is unknown to the people attending the show.

I thought maybe some of you guys who have tables at the shows could give a little advice to the people who are attending the shows.

I will start things out with a few no brainers.

Not necessarily no brainers in my opinion.

Don't pick up a knife without asking permission politely first.

I agree in that common courtesy is always best practice. I always ask unless I know the maker real well, in that case it's kind of silly.
On the other, hand I don't like to see a knifemaker act as if he's been spit on just because a knife show "newbie" unknowingly doesn't ask first. Let's not forget, you are at a knife show trying to sell your knives.

Handle the knife carefully and with respect. When putting the knife back on the table do not just toss it back unless you want to be punched in the nose.

This is a good one. Even the person who is attending his/her first knife should have enough common sense to realize that a maker's knives should be handled with care. I hate to see someone mis-handle a maker's knives much the same way I hate to see someone slam their car door into some else's car in a parking lot.

Don't ask stupid questions like "What's your best price?"
Most pieces will have the price displayed. You might think that's how to get a deal but it's not. You are just insulting the maker.

I agree with this one to a point and I'm not a haggler as I feel makers I buy from are usually giving me their best price. However, I also agree with STeven in that there's times when asking can be appropriate even welcome by the maker. For example, when a knifemaker is worried that he may not have money to pay his show expenses.

Another dumb question;
You can get a knife like that at walmart for $50. How come yours costs $500.
You may get an answer like; Because walmart knives are made in a third world country using junk materials. Kind of like with the shoes you are wearing. By the way, nice duct tape. Did the shoes come like that?

One of the biggest obstacles we (the custom knife community) faces is a lack of new collectors/buyers. When behind the CKCA booth/table I always ask folks as they enter/leave shows "are you a collector or maker" and it's alarming how many say the latter. The $50/$500 question is a question a knifemaker should hope for. On several occasions I have walked across the aisle and borrowed a knife off a maker's table to show the Potential NEW Collector/Buyer just what makes this knife $500 as opposed to $50 and I hope as many folks as possible are listening.
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Let's not miss the opportunities to educate and bring in new collectors/buyers.
 
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Most pieces will have the price displayed.
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Why don't all makers have their prices displayed ? I admit if I don't see prices marked on a knife , I won't even bother to ask. There were some makers at the recent Vegas show with not a single knife marked , one maker when a customer asked how much a certain knife was , he had to go digging thru his bag to find his price listing.

Never set your beverage on a makers table.

I'm a pen maker and if I'm at a show where someone asks that, I simply ask them to move along because that is no different than asking someone what their hourly wage is and trying to figure out how to screw someone is immoral.
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Glad I haven't seen any knife-makers respond to customers like that ! Maybe this is someone who really just wants a true understanding of what they are getting , maybe they are wanting to make sure you are not just assembling a kit of some sort ?
 
Don't take pictures of the knives of others unless you ask first.

Otherwise, the golden rule works pretty well.
 
Mitchell Knives said:
Don't take pictures of the knives of others unless you ask first.
Otherwise, the golden rule works pretty well.
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My Wife made a comment that made me think a moment.
The title of this thread and some of my comments reflect sarcastic and rude behavior. That was not what I was trying to promote here. But it does show me how easily it can happen without thought.

Her comment was similar to Mitchell Knives just worded differently.
Treat people with courtesy and respect and the rest will work itself out.
 
betzner said:
There are a few makers with tables who should get some instructions on how to act, as well. I'll start with this:

1) Don't leave early

2) Don't be condescending to a prospective customer

There are lots of do's and dont's for "attendees", huh?

Bob
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I agree Bob.
And spend some time at your table.
I've visited makers tables 3-4 times during a 3 day show and still never hooked up with them.

And if you don't want to or have time to attend a show, then DON'T GO.

About 3 years ago I ate breakfast beside a very well known knifemaker at Blade Show. I knew who he was, however he didn't know me. Even at that time his knives were $2000-$10,000.
For 35 minutes (non-stop) he complained to me about how much shop time he was losing, how much he hate the BS talking to customers, how far behind he was filling orders and how he didn't need shows. I wanted so bad to tell him to do us all a favor and just GO HOME!

Of course the instances above are not wide spread, but there's proper show behavior for both collectors and makers. Let's not forget that collectors/buyers are spending their hard earned dollars to attend shows and buy the knives.
 
TacticalBlade said:
Don't ever ask questions like "How long does it take to make these?"
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I'm sorry, but that seems to me to be a genuine question that people should feel okay asking. If I am buying from a new maker, or someone I have never purchased from before, I am probably going to be curious about a lot of things, time frame to make being one of them because though I am not a knifemaker, I am quite intrigued by the process.
 
Kevin Jones said:
I agree Bob.
And spend some time at your table.
I've visited makers tables 3-4 times during a 3 day show and still never hooked up with them.

And if you don't want to or have time to attend a show, then DON'T GO.

About 3 years ago I ate breakfast beside a very well known knifemaker at Blade Show. I knew who he was, however he didn't know me. Even at that time his knives were $2000-$10,000.
For 35 minutes (non-stop) he complained to me about how much shop time he was losing, how much he hate the BS talking to customers, how far behind he was filling orders and how he didn't need shows. I wanted so bad to tell him to do us all a favor and just GO HOME!

Of course the instances above are not wide spread, but there's proper show behavior for both collectors and makers. Let's not forget that collectors/buyers are spending their hard earned dollars to attend shows and buy the knives.
Click to expand...

I couldn't have said any of this better, Kevin. I have had similar experiences that always place such makers on my "ignore" list.

Bob
 
Dont put knives back in the sheath. Let the maker do it. Sometimes they can get scratched or put back in backwards causing possible damage to the sheath.

If you are just looking and not buying, please let somebody more serious have the best spot at the table. Some buyers dont have time to wait long while we just chat.
 
Seeing Bruce here made me think of something else.

Smile. Regardless of which side of the table you are on.

I have seen Bruce at several shows and he is always smiling. Because of that there tends to be people on the other side of the table smiling as well.
 
"Don't ask stupid questions like "What's your best price?"
Most pieces will have the price displayed. You might think that's how to get a deal but it's not. You are just insulting the maker."

I don't agree with this. Most makers know my face and if I ask that question they will usually work out a deal with me because they WANT me to have their knife. I find that alot of makers direct their "table price" toward new collectors and this keeps the value of their knives in a good place.. and they are willing to take a few buck off for the guys they know. That way the collectors can sell their knives in the aftermarket and not lose out.

I do agree however that proper etiquette will get you far. Like everyone said, handle knives carefully, ask permission, and put them back carefully.
 
As a table holder, I hate being behind the table. I usually stand in front and talk to folks. If I am behind the table, I never sit. I cringe when I see makers sitting in a chair, reading a book.

Rick
 
Rick Marchand said:
As a table holder, I hate being behind the table. I usually stand in front and talk to folks. If I am behind the table, I never sit. I cringe when I see makers sitting in a chair, reading a book.

Rick
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I bring my own stool because I hate using the low chairs, I want to be able to slip off of the stool and be standing as soon as a customer comes to the table.

that said, I NEED a place to sit as I have arthritis issues in my hips and if I stand all day long I will be screwed.
 
Lots of good tips, for both sides of the table. I don't agree with the suggestion to bring your own rag to wipe down a knife you've handled. I try not to touch the blade when I'm handling a knife, but if I did I wouldn't wipe it clean; I'd leave that for the maker to do. I wouldn't want anyone else cleaning my knives.
I particularly agree that makers shouldn't leave shows early. I recently visited the NJ show on Sunday and lots of people were gone fairly early in the day. I won't be doing that again!
 
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