Spa Treatment? Value Added?

stjames

stjames

Sebenzanista
Joined
Oct 26, 1998
Messages
6,465
I have been thinking recently about the value added in a sale of a used Sebenza by sending it into the shop to have the scales re-blasted. If you are selling a used (not abused) knife with the normal pocket wear is it worth the ~$50 (service plus shipping both ways) it will cost v. just selling the knife as is?

I am not thinking about older or rarer pieces, but one of the current Sebenza or Umnumzaan variations. You expect to pay less on the sale forum for NIB than you do from a dealer, and less again for a used knife, but where does a referb fit into the picture for you?
 
CRK charges $15 for the spa, which includes shipping back to you. It cost $5.80 to ship Priority Mail with delivery conformation. I always add insurance, which cost an extra few bucks. Depending on the condition of the knife, I would usually rather have a reconditioned one from CRK. Besides looking new, you know that it operates properly. I think the sell of a knife with the spa would bring more money than just a standard used knife.
 
In my opinion, a knife that has recently been to the spa adds a tiny bit of value to me. The value for me is in terms of time...not dollars. I can easily send in a knife myself but then I'd have to wait ~6 weeks to get it back. If someone has already done the legwork I'd be happy to kick in a few more bucks. How much? I'm honestly not sure but I can tell you it wouldn't be anything close to what happened with a certain regular Sebenza ;).
 
hkingdom said:
CRK charges $15 for the spa, which includes shipping back to you.
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The price list on the website lists $30 as the price to refinish the handle, cleaning and sharpening are free, good news on the shipping though. Good point on making sure it operates properly.

C669, great point on the time factor, on my end once I fatally got a newish knife back after six weeks I might be inclined to keep it.
 
I would imagine that the spa treatment would only matter if your planing on putting it in your collection, not using it. Otherwise why would you pay more for one that's been sent to the spa, used is still used but if you find one that has made the trip to the spa and come back looking new, now we're talking and thinking Collection IMHO.
 
I would pay more for a spa'd knife (full disclosure is key of course) ... And it would save me the effort to have to do it myself so, in my opinion, it absolutely adds value (I'd place that value at 50% of the non spa'd vs brand new difference). Of course a collectible piece is a different story.

Obviously, it all depends on the knife, the pre-spa state and what was done to it.
 
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Yes and no.
As a collectible I'd rather get one that hasn't because it hasn't needed it but if it had been done already I'd be willing to pay the cost of the refurb so that I didn't have to wait for it after I bought it. The anticipation is great the first time but can be grueling on the second :)

I used to want them perfect even if I was buying a user but after trading into 2 used( and showing it ) CRK's I'm a changed man. I'll admit that getting a new pristine knife is amazing and I even enjoy babying it until it gets that first horrendous scratch that makes it a true user but there's just a nice feeling when opening the box to find an already pocket washed knife with snail trails all over the Ti; you can immediately use it to destroy the shipping box that it arrived in with no concern of its well being- freedom of use with minimal care. Looking to buy a user to use I wouldn't pay anymore for the treatment, I'd rather save the money.
I also believe that when you're going to sell one at close to full price after adding the cost of the spa visit to the sale price you'd be so close to new pricing that it'd take longer to sell. Most people that get within $20 of new will just buy from a dealer but at 45-50 dollars below dealer pricing they move pretty quickly.
 
Me personally I do not want a sebenza that as went for the spa, I certainly would not pay extra with some are getting now for it. I like my knives original, even if they have a scuff or two. If I feel it needs a spa treatment, I will send it myself. I have sent some in for the spa before and personally, I do not like it. This is purely a personal choice. I just like the crispness of the CRK logo, the Classic wording, the Idaho Made, while the spa reblasting takes away from that and dulls/rounds it slightly. Again, like I said, just purely a personal preference. I think it is Awesome that CRK offers such a service. I have one or two that I do wanna send in but have not gotten around to it. Again though, it is a great service and is just one of the many things brings US all to CRK.
 
IMO the main thing is if it has been to the spa, it should be disclosed as so and not try to be passed off as new. I don't think the cost/benefit of sending to the spa and selling is worth it. The knife will sell anyway. If it's been beat up a little bit and you wanted $350 for it and had it spa treated for ~$20 and going to list it at $370 to get that money back, personally I'd rather spend the additional $40 and get one new from a dealer. Where it gets tricky is if you've got one that's been destroyed almost and would fetch maybe about $300, have it spa treated, unless the blade was screwed up, I think you could get your money back and plus some definitely. What would make me mad is if someone had one that'd been destroyed, had it spa treated, then pass it off as LNIB and put $380 on it, but then again at that price, I'd just buy new anyway...but it seems on places like eBay anything is fair game especially deception. From what I've noticed, it seems things like having all the original goodies and birth card the knife came with help keep the knife's resell value better than the condition, but I could be wrong.
 
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I would rather have one that hasn't been sent to the Spa.
That way I know exactly what condition the knife is in, and then it will be my decission on wether to send it in or not.
I've sent one in before, but doubt I would do it again.

If someone has sent one in it needs to be disclosed if they ever sell it.
 
Ken44 said:
I would rather have one that hasn't been sent to the Spa.
That way I know exactly what condition the knife is in, and then it will be my decission on wether to send it in or not.
I've sent one in before, but doubt I would do it again.

If someone has sent one in it needs to be disclosed if they ever sell it.
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Just curious to know why you doubt you'd send one in again? I've never sent one in obviously.
 
I've used the spa twice and it's fantastic. Depending on how screwed up the knife is, it can make a big difference in price. If it's just a few snail trails I wouldn't do it. The bottom knife was spa'd. ImageUploadedByTapatalk1397054115.352437.jpg
 
It definitely adds to the value in my opinion, paying extra for the knife redone and not having to wait for it is great. I had to wait 8 weeks for one recently and it seemed like forever. Some CRK's to me though i can't bring myself to buy even if they have been to the spa, usually if the edged is re profiled i don't want it and the spa woudn't change that. I guess what i'm trying to say is if the spa can't make it look original then there is not much value added, to me at least.

Full disclosure it's been to the spa is important though even if someone thinks it looks perfectly new.
 
Ken44 said:
I would rather have one that hasn't been sent to the Spa.
That way I know exactly what condition the knife is in, and then it will be my decission on wether to send it in or not.
I've sent one in before, but doubt I would do it again.

If someone has sent one in it needs to be disclosed if they ever sell it.
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Absolutely agree. I have one that went sort of involuntarily got spa service due to installation of double lugs. In that context it was an OK tradeoff, but I would have rather had the knife back without the spa treatment. Not complaining, just mentioning how this owner feels. :)
 
uofaengr said:
Just curious to know why you doubt you'd send one in again? I've never sent one in obviously.
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The one I had looked pretty rough when I sent it, and it came back looking like new. They do a really great job.
The only reason I doubt I'll send another is that I now kind of like the look of well worn Ti.

Then again if I bought one that looked pretty rough I probably would send it in, but if I'm the one that put the marks on the knife I don't think I would send it in. I like the used look if I did it, but don't care to look at wear caused by others, if that make any sence.

Like I said before, I would rather get a knife that hasn't been to the spa so I can know exactly what condition it was in before being sent.
 
Ken44 said:
The one I had looked pretty rough when I sent it, and it came back looking like new. They do a really great job.
The only reason I doubt I'll send another is that I now kind of like the look of well worn Ti.

Then again if I bought one that looked pretty rough I probably would send it in, but if I'm the one that put the marks on the knife I don't think I would send it in. I like the used look if I did it, but don't care to look at wear caused by others, if that make any sence.

Like I said before, I would rather get a knife that hasn't been to the spa so I can know exactly what condition it was in before being sent.
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I know exactly what you mean. Marks put on by me are ok, but if someone else does it, I'm not a big fan. Though there is one "nuked" small Sebenza floating around these parts that I think looks ok...I wouldn't pay near what normal used retail is, but to me it'd make a good user.
 
As a buyer no. Rub marks mean very little to me knowing how quickly I will put on new ones.
As a sell maybe. I have to look at it on a case by case basis, but I would say very rarely would I send it in. The factory edge does seem to add some value although I can't really say why if the edge was sharpened properly previously. The perfect scales also seems to impress, though as I stated I don't see why since they mark immediately on use.
 
In my opinion CRK should place a small mark in a specified location, on the inside of the slab, when a knife goes in for spa. This could be a small punch mark under the pocket clip, or behind one of the washers etc. This way they would not be complicit in helping any fraudsters. If you don't want your knife marked as such, no spa for you. Simple as that.
 
Approx- Seems like if the seller sent it to the SPA then it is a bid time saver if the buyer would like to have it done.
I would rather get it cheaper and do what I please after evaluating.
But I certainly see the time saving attribute to doing so.

New LRG 21 Plain Jane - $410
Used,but cared for - $330+
The same knife sent in to the SPA- $360?
 
Ken44 said:
The one I had looked pretty rough when I sent it, and it came back looking like new. They do a really great job.
The only reason I doubt I'll send another is that I now kind of like the look of well worn Ti.

Then again if I bought one that looked pretty rough I probably would send it in, but if I'm the one that put the marks on the knife I don't think I would send it in. I like the used look if I did it, but don't care to look at wear caused by others, if that make any sence.

Like I said before, I would rather get a knife that hasn't been to the spa so I can know exactly what condition it was in before being sent.
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That, and all the fine detail gets a little washed out when it's reblasted - the CRK logo and the fine grooving along the edges of the scales.
 
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