So, what makes a knife sell fast on BF?

Mark J

Mark J

Feedback: +29 / =0 / -0
Joined
Mar 15, 2001
Messages
2,450
It's been interesting watching the sales forums over the years, to see which knives seem to sell most quickly. Here is what I've noticed.

Knives that sell quickly seem to be...

  • Low priced ($50-$150)
  • Certain brands (e.g., Spyderco, Benchmade)
  • Un-"customized" by the owner
  • NIB, LNIB, or only carried
  • Priced at 50%-70% of original purchase price, or lower
Things that don't seem to matter include...
  • Length of time seller has been a member
  • Photos
  • Hard-to-find or Limited Edition knives
Feel free to disagree and/or add your own observations.

- Mark
 
Pictures do sell them faster, because if there are no pics or bad pics, people ask for them and won't buy until they see them.

I've found that well priced used knives seem to sell faster than well priced new ones.
 
I've found that even if there are no pictures, if you have a knife that is in high demand, it will sell in minutes. It's always disappointing to see a new thread in the sales forums and one reply, claiming the one that I wanted, posted 1 minute after the thread was started...
 
HarglBargl said:
I've found that even if there are no pictures, if you have a knife that is in high demand, it will sell in minutes. It's always disappointing to see a new thread in the sales forums and one reply, claiming the one that I wanted, posted 1 minute after the thread was started...
Click to expand...

I know what you mean. You keep an eye on the sale and trade forums forever and then when that "grail" knife shows up, you end up having to post for "seconds," of worse yet "thirds." :grumpy:

- Mark
 
I'll never buy without a photo. I usually ask for an additional photo of the lock up and most have been perfectly happy to provide it.
 
-keep descriptions clear and concise.

after market mods can be ok, but don't expect to make that money back. in most cases it will void the factory warranty, though there are a few exceptions.
 
I think pictures are a must !! If somebody feels they don't have Thr time to post a couple pics af what they are selling I usually pass it by !
 
You mention price multiple times and I think that is with good reason--items priced well sell regardless of all other factors.

Beyond price and good pictures, I think there are too many chaotic factors to figure out what determines time to sale. A good review, a big sale or new product release on another website, a long discontinued knife, a really good mod, inexperienced buyers....there are too many things that can affect demand in unpredictable ways.
 
Interesting topic for a discussion. :thumbup:

I agree with what you and others have said about price generally being paramount, with pictures also being an important factor (especially if the knife is described as being in anything less than NIB condition).

One other point I have to disagree with is that a knife being hard-to-find or limited edition doesn't matter. Obviously, this depends on the knife -- nobody really cares if your Kershaw JYD is a "first production" or if you're selling some obscure limited edition that nobody wanted. But in other cases, a knife being hard-to-find and/or a limited edition can swamp the influence of nearly any other factor, including price. Witness how quickly XM-18s, BM 42s, CF/S90V Para 2s, and so on get snapped up on the exchange even at prices that are significantly above what the seller probably paid.
 
Free tactical reach-arounds are important but not entirely necessary. :p
Availability/demand is the main thing. $800 Busses can go in seconds if they're the right model.
But good clear descriptions and pictures are certainly key.
 
Honesty is what I look for.

And I often find it -- many fine people haunt these forums and I have learned a lot from them.

But I back away at any sense of exaggeration, vague descriptions in an ad or failure to answer a direct question.

Not on this forum, but I once asked a seller three times if he were the original buyer without getting a straight answer.

Finally, I asked that he verify in writing that he had bought the item new -- and he reacted by refusing to sell to me.

In contrast, a seller who lists flaws so small that many might overlook them is more likely to attract my attention.
 
Seckzy wimmenz.



Seriously, I like to see a very concise description of the knife. The more time taken to describe the knife, the more I consider it.
 
Mark J said:
It's been interesting watching the sales forums over the years, to see which knives seem to sell most quickly. Here is what I've noticed.

Knives that sell quickly seem to be...

  • Low priced ($50-$150)
  • Certain brands (e.g., Spyderco, Benchmade)
  • Un-"customized" by the owner
  • NIB, LNIB, or only carried
  • Priced at 50%-70% of original purchase price, or lower
Things that don't seem to matter include...
  • Length of time seller has been a member
  • Photos
  • Hard-to-find or Limited Edition knives
Feel free to disagree and/or add your own observations.

- Mark
Click to expand...

I notice Rick Hinderer XM-18s sell pretty fast, especially in the sub $550.00 range.
 
banana-clip said:
I notice Rick Hinderer XM-18s sell pretty fast, especially in the sub $550.00 range.
Click to expand...

Right. XM-18's are going to sell, regardless. Benchmade 4X series balisongs? Those sell, and they sell fast. Chris Reeve Knives sell extremely well.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top