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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
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Selling of GEC SFO's. How to do it fairly?
- Thread starter knifeswapper
- Start date
The only way I could see to avoid this whole situation is to order less variations. If you had 2 cover options instead of 4 you could have twice as many of each offering. People would still get left out, but not as many. Another option would be to repeat the very popular variations, which would have the same effect of having more of those particular variations available.
Other than that I don't know how much more you can do. I think your early reserve system is the best I've seen for GEC's products. I think that 24 hour notice to purchase a reserved item is more than enough time.
Other than that I don't know how much more you can do. I think your early reserve system is the best I've seen for GEC's products. I think that 24 hour notice to purchase a reserved item is more than enough time.
- Joined
- Mar 12, 2016
- Messages
- 80
Aaaaand the barlows are already up on auction for $250-300. It stings pretty bad for someone moved from "ok" to "standby". I really think it would be fantastic if Mike identified these invidivuals and gave them the lowest priority on sfos. They arn't buying these knives for the joy of the hobby, they just want a quick dime at the expense of us collectors.
Good old free enterprise at work.
- Joined
- Jul 20, 2014
- Messages
- 2,700
My favorite part is the $15.95 for shipping that he's asking for. As if adding $150+ to the original price wasn't bad enough...
- Joined
- Feb 3, 2016
- Messages
- 154
I echo the sentiment...this particular "seller" seems to always score an SFO (2 for sale in this instance) and then...
Great Eastern Cutlery 77 Barlow sfo Collectorknives Blood Red Jigged Bone
Popular 15 viewed per hour
Seller information
deleted
Item condition:New
Time left: Time left: 6d 19h Thursday, 7:11PM
Price:US $300.00 Buy It Now
I do not mind free enterprise, but I would rather give Bill, or Charlie, Mike, Lyle, etc...the $$$
and...
and...an aside...I missed an early reserve order (my first "early reserve")...Mike called me after I had not responded (at work) and picked the knife for me...I was happy...happy!
So, it ain't broke...Mike does the best he can (which is fair, reasonable, equitable and based upon a depth and breadth of experience I would not venture to supplant); I am delighted his SFO(s) move out the door so quickly b/c his up-front $$$ is substantial and I would venture, we all agree, that his risk should be rewarded and his efforts appreciated.
As much as I enjoy his take on the GEC collection (and wanted one), and missed...just gotta bide my time and try again. There will always be the next SFO.
The joy is in the hunt, not the kill.
Thanks Mike, your efforts are most appreciated and this discussion is proof positive of that too.
Anyway...my 2 cents!
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dispatch184
Basic Member
- Joined
- Mar 9, 2015
- Messages
- 2,013
I have been too late on most SFOs, have never made the list for the TC Barlows, but that's ok. I was fortunate enough to claim two on this run. One will be part of my collection, the other is for my best friend who is just starting out in this beautiful hobby. It feel its a blessing and bonus when I make it, otherwise I hope for better luck next time. I like your system Mike, it's fair. Good on ya for hearing people out though.
silenthunterstudios
Slipjoint Addict
- Joined
- Feb 2, 2005
- Messages
- 20,039
I bought about 5 or 6 of the original spear point long pull 15 TC barlows direct from Charlie, and had maybe three or four of the same design boys knives. I even had the 15 with the pen blade on the pile side. To pay bills, and to buy custom slipjoints, I sold those. I am very happy with my 77 spear point long pull barlow, it is a great size for me. I am very happy with my 14 Lick Creek two blade boys knife, it it learning it's trade from my peanut.
I have thought about the craziness that happens with SFOs, people lose their minds, and when they are sold later on, they go for boku bucks. I have decided that I'm going to commission someone to make a cusotm long pull spear barlow for me, and leave it at that. These lotteries I see on FB are crazy, the SFOs can get just as nuts sometimes. If I see something I like, I will put my name in the hat. If the 15 long pull spear ever comes out again, I will be all over that like ketchup on hamburgers! Mike is a good guy, has provided excellent customer service to me and my money order payments, and is a stand up guy. I hope that people, while losing their minds over the way Mike runs things (which I have no problem with), remember that his is a family operation. I hope this remains a hobby first and foremost, and that Mike brings us some cool designs, through GEC or whoever, and that this stuff doesn't burn him out. Mike, if I hassle you and drive you nuts on the next SFO run, it's only because I'm a knife nut like you.
I have thought about the craziness that happens with SFOs, people lose their minds, and when they are sold later on, they go for boku bucks. I have decided that I'm going to commission someone to make a cusotm long pull spear barlow for me, and leave it at that. These lotteries I see on FB are crazy, the SFOs can get just as nuts sometimes. If I see something I like, I will put my name in the hat. If the 15 long pull spear ever comes out again, I will be all over that like ketchup on hamburgers! Mike is a good guy, has provided excellent customer service to me and my money order payments, and is a stand up guy. I hope that people, while losing their minds over the way Mike runs things (which I have no problem with), remember that his is a family operation. I hope this remains a hobby first and foremost, and that Mike brings us some cool designs, through GEC or whoever, and that this stuff doesn't burn him out. Mike, if I hassle you and drive you nuts on the next SFO run, it's only because I'm a knife nut like you.
I just received my GEC 77 from this SFO run. I bought it to use and carry, and that's what I'm going to do with it. It is a nearly perfectly executed example of the knife, and I'd say it's worth the slightly sub-$100 original selling price, but that's close to the upper limit I'm willing to pay for a single-blade GEC, no matter how limited the edition is. Anyone paying $200-$300+ for one of these particular knives is just crazy, or has money to burn for no good reason.
Back to the original topic (which apparently I spawned unintentionally) - there's really no good way to fairly allocate scarce resources with a high demand for them. Typical strategies used historically have been wealth (high bidder), luck (lotteries), strength (wars), or first-come-first-served (another form of luck).
I vote for open warfare.
No, just kidding. The market will sort itself out eventually. Thanks for your efforts and hard work, Mike.
Back to the original topic (which apparently I spawned unintentionally) - there's really no good way to fairly allocate scarce resources with a high demand for them. Typical strategies used historically have been wealth (high bidder), luck (lotteries), strength (wars), or first-come-first-served (another form of luck).
I vote for open warfare.
No, just kidding. The market will sort itself out eventually. Thanks for your efforts and hard work, Mike.
traumkommode
Gold Member
- Joined
- Dec 3, 2015
- Messages
- 4,632
Maybe I'll make some waves, maybe I wont...
I think know the issue this time was that some of the knives were messed up, and so there just weren't enough to fill all the "Sure" interest levels.
That's right, Interest Level.
That's how it's stated on the early reserve system. Mike doesn't even do a pre-order. He doesn't charge money up front. All "Sure" means is "I commit to buy an available knife." There is no promise made other than to give me priority if there is a knife available for me.
I didn't hear this much belly aching when the 85s went on sale all over BF and eBay for way over retail. And people were paying left and right! Same thing with the TC Barlows. Yes, I understand it got your hopes up. But sometimes accidents happen, and some accidents happened at GEC this time.
When the 14 Barlows went up for early reserve, I didn't get on the list because they were all spoken for and the early reserve was closed. When they went on sale on Gunstock's site, I had 3 in the cart, and the site was so overloaded it froze while I was paying. By the time my browser refreshed, the knives in my cart were sold to someone else. Sure it was disappointing, but you know what? Knives are like money - there will always be more. I reminded myself of the 77s when I lost out on the 14s. Sometimes I get the knife I want, sometimes I dont. Sometimes I pay a higher price on the secondary market because I want it, and sometimes I dont.
Being a collector doesn't entitle me to get every knife I want just because I collect (heck, I'm not even really a collector, I just like to have them and use them and love them). If Mike didn't take my money, then my expectations are what cause me this grief, and not the guy on eBay or Bladeforums or wherever selling a higher price. Heck, even if he did take some pre-order money and then refunded me if the order were short like it was this time, that's still fair.
If not having the knives is causing me anger and upset, then there is something wrong with my heart and spirit to which I need to attend - at least they way I want my life to be.
I think know the issue this time was that some of the knives were messed up, and so there just weren't enough to fill all the "Sure" interest levels.
That's right, Interest Level.
That's how it's stated on the early reserve system. Mike doesn't even do a pre-order. He doesn't charge money up front. All "Sure" means is "I commit to buy an available knife." There is no promise made other than to give me priority if there is a knife available for me.
I didn't hear this much belly aching when the 85s went on sale all over BF and eBay for way over retail. And people were paying left and right! Same thing with the TC Barlows. Yes, I understand it got your hopes up. But sometimes accidents happen, and some accidents happened at GEC this time.
When the 14 Barlows went up for early reserve, I didn't get on the list because they were all spoken for and the early reserve was closed. When they went on sale on Gunstock's site, I had 3 in the cart, and the site was so overloaded it froze while I was paying. By the time my browser refreshed, the knives in my cart were sold to someone else. Sure it was disappointing, but you know what? Knives are like money - there will always be more. I reminded myself of the 77s when I lost out on the 14s. Sometimes I get the knife I want, sometimes I dont. Sometimes I pay a higher price on the secondary market because I want it, and sometimes I dont.
Being a collector doesn't entitle me to get every knife I want just because I collect (heck, I'm not even really a collector, I just like to have them and use them and love them). If Mike didn't take my money, then my expectations are what cause me this grief, and not the guy on eBay or Bladeforums or wherever selling a higher price. Heck, even if he did take some pre-order money and then refunded me if the order were short like it was this time, that's still fair.
If not having the knives is causing me anger and upset, then there is something wrong with my heart and spirit to which I need to attend - at least they way I want my life to be.
silenthunterstudios
Slipjoint Addict
- Joined
- Feb 2, 2005
- Messages
- 20,039
This, this is the truth. I would say that the camaraderie and friendship is more important than the knives.
Mike, I have taken my time in responding as I read other people's opinions and gave them due consideration.
Your system is absolutely, positively, the best in its class. Anyone who expects perfection from an imperfect world is setting themselves up for disappointment. I don't think you should change a thing.
Now, about the supply and demand... I've been ordering (pre-order or otherwise) and elbowing for SFO's for a few years now. And I can say, without a doubt, that the situation has gotten MUCH worse since GEC implemented the "500 rule." Demand has always outstripped supply, but when SFO runs were hitting 1,000 pieces, there was much less issue and the prices weren't nearly as immediately inflated on the secondary. Some cream will rise to the top over time in terms of collectability, of course, but that's different than an instant 3X jump.
My point is, I believe the solution lies with GEC to raise the SFO limit to 1,000 per run. Even if that means less runs per vendor per year, it will ensure something at least approaching market balance. With this 500 rule, they took an already-imbalanced market and threw it a giant curveball. Four variations, only 125 of each (much less, it would seem, due to production issues).
According to GEC's production total there were 945 pieces in the run of 77 barlow spearpoints last year. I don't remember that run being anything like this one.
Your system is absolutely, positively, the best in its class. Anyone who expects perfection from an imperfect world is setting themselves up for disappointment. I don't think you should change a thing.
Now, about the supply and demand... I've been ordering (pre-order or otherwise) and elbowing for SFO's for a few years now. And I can say, without a doubt, that the situation has gotten MUCH worse since GEC implemented the "500 rule." Demand has always outstripped supply, but when SFO runs were hitting 1,000 pieces, there was much less issue and the prices weren't nearly as immediately inflated on the secondary. Some cream will rise to the top over time in terms of collectability, of course, but that's different than an instant 3X jump.
My point is, I believe the solution lies with GEC to raise the SFO limit to 1,000 per run. Even if that means less runs per vendor per year, it will ensure something at least approaching market balance. With this 500 rule, they took an already-imbalanced market and threw it a giant curveball. Four variations, only 125 of each (much less, it would seem, due to production issues).
According to GEC's production total there were 945 pieces in the run of 77 barlow spearpoints last year. I don't remember that run being anything like this one.
Tilley Knife
I'm Daniel, I make stuff
- Joined
- Jul 6, 2011
- Messages
- 2,264
I like Mike's system. I lucked up and scored a copperhead and a bone micarta. The copperhead is going to my buddy Paul H, here on the forums for the original price I paid CK. The bone micarta is in my pocket right now. I also use what I buy so I'm not interested in multiples; however, if you are, great. The diversity of trad knife nuts is one of the things I most enjoy about this hobby. IMHO, the best way to discourage people flipping SFOs is for people to stop buying SFOs from flippers. There are several on the exchange right now. That will at least push some of them out of the BFC community and back on to ebay.
Edited to add:
It's comical to see how many folks that posted in this thread before the delivery date, have now listed their 77s in the exchange for $100 - $200 more than what they paid. Don't get me wrong, it's a free country. But some of these same people are the ones crying about the system and not getting a chance to buy early reserves due to flippers.
I don't flip knives for profit but I don't care if others do. There hasn't been a knife made to date that I can't live without so I don't pay inflated prices for knives that will just get used. That being said, some folks will and that's fine to. What I have a problem with is the blatant hypocrisy. Either stop flipping knives for profit or stop complaining about a system that allows flipping knives for profit. Your post/thread history is just as easily viewed as anyone elses. Rant over.
Edited to add:
It's comical to see how many folks that posted in this thread before the delivery date, have now listed their 77s in the exchange for $100 - $200 more than what they paid. Don't get me wrong, it's a free country. But some of these same people are the ones crying about the system and not getting a chance to buy early reserves due to flippers.
I don't flip knives for profit but I don't care if others do. There hasn't been a knife made to date that I can't live without so I don't pay inflated prices for knives that will just get used. That being said, some folks will and that's fine to. What I have a problem with is the blatant hypocrisy. Either stop flipping knives for profit or stop complaining about a system that allows flipping knives for profit. Your post/thread history is just as easily viewed as anyone elses. Rant over.
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I put my info into the old reserve system a week-ish or so ago for the antique yellow jigged bone 15 with cap lifter. I entered my info for the new system as well today. How will this new reserve system work? Still "sure, maybe..." etc. for each anticipated GEC release?
