Spyderco Selling Direct on Ebay

[Barman1]

Some “expert” sleuthing going on here... Bethany Glesser is Eric Glesser’s wife. The knives sold by her are brought to her directly from the SFO by Eric himself to sell at her discretion on the pricing. Usually it’s below MAP, and allows the buyer usually a single shot to grab a limited piece (sprint, exclusive, discontinued, etc.). Never realized this was undercutting legitimate vendors that typically already sold off their allotment of those models and made whatever profits were available. Her listings come and go quickly on eBay for good reason - they sell fast! If they don’t sell within a week or whatever, the listing expires. No mystery there, this thread didn’t cause her to pull her last listings!! That’s laughable. Yes, please make a stink about this more so folks getting those rare deals from a fairly legit source in my book (Eric Glesser for goodness sake) can’t anymore or she stops selling period from a few solitary complainers.

Yup, agreed, completely legit.
I've purchased a few from the vendor in "question".
And it seems we have one "complainer", my guess is that it will have little impact on the issue.

 

[Freedom Pullo]

I ordered a knife a few months ago from user Spyderbugs on Ebay. Upon reading my old e-mails, I noticed that payment was made to Bethany Glesser in Golden, CO. I had since added user Spyderbugs to my favorite seller list. I thought, well maybe these knives are from her personal collection... But the Spyderco knives keep getting listed, en masse. I normally wouldn't have a problem with this, but being employed at a high level position by an official Spyderco dealer, I feel as though I must speak out. The knives that Mrs. Glesser puts up are way below Ebay re-sale value and the quantity at which she lists them I believe creates an unfair market for retailers selling authentic Spyderco knives on Ebay. We simply can not compete with her pricing. I've also examined the Spyderco vs Ebay lawsuit in depth and it clearly states that Spyderco only sells directly through its website and Amazon.com. I believe that this falls under some sort of unfair business practice, and would like to have it looked into. If Spyderco is selling through Ebay covertly, and stating to the courts that they do not have a sales presence there, that could have some legal ramifications. Since Spyderbugs has been active on Ebay, we've noticed a sharp decline in our Ebay Spyderco sales. I believe that this is extremely unfair to the dealers who must pay dealer prices on knives, discount them sharply just to compete, and then have Ebay and Paypal take a 14% chunk out of the sale. We're making dollars per knife, sometimes losing money. Sal, if you were not aware of this, please look into it, and Bethany, if you're reading this, please give us little guys a chance and stop bombing Ebay with heavily discounted sprint runs, new releases, and other Spyderco knives. We have tens of thousands of dollars tied up in Spyderco inventory. This just doesn't seem fair or right.

Thank you for your time

Thanks for the heads up, hopefully they put more items up for sale in the future. How much financial harm could the sale of a handful of knives really inflict?

 

[Spydergirl88]

OP has the stones to try and call out spyderbugs yer doesn't have the stones to name the dealer he works for. Mystery solved. Thanks DNAIrradiator, I was hoping you would clarify things for the uninformed

 

[sharp_edge]

Some “expert” sleuthing going on here... Bethany Glesser is Eric Glesser’s wife. The knives sold by her are brought to her directly from the SFO by Eric himself to sell at her discretion on the pricing. Usually it’s below MAP, and allows the buyer usually a single shot to grab a limited piece (sprint, exclusive, discontinued, etc.). Never realized this was undercutting legitimate vendors that typically already sold off their allotment of those models and made whatever profits were available. Her listings come and go quickly on eBay for good reason - they sell fast! If they don’t sell within a week or whatever, the listing expires. No mystery there, this thread didn’t cause her to pull her last listings!! That’s laughable. Yes, please make a stink about this more so folks getting those rare deals from a fairly legit source in my book (Eric Glesser for goodness sake) can’t anymore or she stops selling period from a few solitary complainers.

I was wondering but thanks for your explanation.

Yeah it looks like all of her listed items were taken down following this thread

How to tell that all her listings were taken down AFTER this thread was created?

 

[cashville]

I was wondering but thanks for your explanation.



How to tell that all her listings were taken down AFTER this thread was created?

If you looked up the seller yesterday, you could see the 8 or so knives that were for sale. Two of which that I clearly remember were a Mike Draper and a 20CV PM2. You can search those knives and filter by sold/completed to see whether or not those listings were sold/completed.

 

[on_the_edge]

Thanks for the detective work, @DNAIrradiator.

 

[Mo2]

If you looked up the seller yesterday, you could see the 8 or so knives that were for sale. Two of which that I clearly remember were a Mike Draper and a 20CV PM2. You can search those knives and filter by sold/completed to see whether or not those listings were sold/completed.

What vendors sold the 20cv sprint exclusives? Iirc dlt trading was one of them with the white handles. I'm fairly sure they sold out quickly. If spyderbugs sold off the remaining few what does that matter?

Also how is it that bladehq and knifecenter make more on each knife than the ebay seller? With vendors asking for higher map pricing they are only making more. Dealer prices probably went up as well due to labor and manufacturing costs. But I still don't see how one makes a few dollars over the other.

 

[cashville]

What vendors sold the 20cv sprint exclusives? Iirc dlt trading was one of them with the white handles. I'm fairly sure they sold out quickly. If spyderbugs sold off the remaining few what does that matter?

Also how is it that bladehq and knifecenter make more on each knife than the ebay seller? With vendors asking for higher map pricing they are only making more. Dealer prices probably went up as well due to labor and manufacturing costs. But I still don't see how one makes a few dollars over the other.

Why are you quoting me on this? This is totally unrelated to what I was saying. The message you quoted was a response to the question asked by sharp_edge

 

[Mo2]

Why are you quoting me on this? This is totally unrelated to what I was saying. The message you quoted was a response to the question asked by sharp_edge

You and the op both mentioned 20cv sprints on spyderbugs. Yours was closer. It was more of a general question to everyone .. Who sold 20cv sprints. Maybe it's possible one of them is the vendor in the op.

My other statement was just general question based on what the op had said about only making dollars.on each knife.

 

[cbrstar]

All this thread has done is help me find a cheap legit source of some potentially rare Spyderco's on fleabay. Probably not what the op had in mind.

 

[RipD]

I didn't mean to cause any trouble. My intentions were to try to dissuade what I feel are unfair business practices from being practiced, in the interest Spyderco's authorized dealers.

Really? It seems that's exactly what you wanted to do. Well done getting those items removed de-listed from eBay so we now have even less opportunity to get rare or limited knives.

Maybe you could complain about the Spydero Factory sale as well and get Eric to shut that down as well. You know, since it's not in the interest of Spydero authorized dealers.

 

[Casinostocks]

Really? It seems that's exactly what you wanted to do. Well done getting those items removed from eBay so we now have even less opportunity to get rare or limited knives.

Maybe you could complain about the Spydero Factory sale as well and get Eric to shut that down as well. You know, since it's not in the interest of Spydero authorized dealers.

A technical but important correction:

The listed items were not removed from eBay, which is action taken by eBay to remove listings in violation of eBay's policy(ies). It seems that the listened items were simply withdrawn / cancelled by the seller, which is an elective action.

The seller can decode to relist those items at any point that the seller wishes. You may be correct in assuming that this seller may have decided not to draw any unnecessary attention to this eBay account for whatever reason, but since the listing signatures still exists as either sold or completed (including cancelled), no listing was removed by eBay because of the contents of this thread.

 

[GreenTeaKiller]

Firstly, I'm not going to take the time to quote and address everyone. I will address a few though...

Some “expert” sleuthing going on here... Bethany Glesser is Eric Glesser’s wife. The knives sold by her are brought to her directly from the SFO by Eric himself to sell at her discretion on the pricing. Usually it’s below MAP, and allows the buyer usually a single shot to grab a limited piece (sprint, exclusive, discontinued, etc.). Never realized this was undercutting legitimate vendors that typically already sold off their allotment of those models and made whatever profits were available. Her listings come and go quickly on eBay for good reason - they sell fast! If they don’t sell within a week or whatever, the listing expires. No mystery there, this thread didn’t cause her to pull her last listings!! That’s laughable. Yes, please make a stink about this more so folks getting those rare deals from a fairly legit source in my book (Eric Glesser for goodness sake) can’t anymore or she stops selling period from a few solitary complainers.

Ok, now think about all of the store exclusives that have been sold under that account at way above MAP? When a sprint run of 500 sells out in a few days, how does Spyderbugs end up with 100 more for sale? Are we to trust that only 500 were made? Maybe replacement knives are being sold. Any way you cut it, an exclusive should be just that - exclusive. The manufacturer/producer of the knives shouldn't be selling the same store exclusives, that doesn't make them exclusive. Whether you do it on Ebay or through your website, it shouldn't matter. Sometimes her listings sell fast and sometimes they sit around for a week and do nothing. As others have pointed out, the listings were pulled by the seller. They did not sell out. If there were nothing out of the ordinary going on, wouldn't the listings have remained?

Really? It seems that's exactly what you wanted to do. Well done getting those items removed from eBay so we now have even less opportunity to get rare or limited knives.

...and that's why I'm drawing so much ire. People only care about getting a good deal and don't think about what's lawful, proper, and ethical. If you had to feed your family by selling knives maybe you'd think differently.

A technical but important correction:

The listed items were not removed from eBay, which is action taken by eBay to remove listings in violation of eBay's policy(ies). It seems that the listened items were simply withdrawn / cancelled by the seller, which is an elective action.

The seller can decode to relist those items at any point that the seller wishes. You may be correct in assuming that this seller may have decided not to draw any unnecessary attention to this eBay account for whatever reason, but since the listing signatures still exists as either sold or completed (including cancelled), no listing was removed by eBay because of the contents of this thread.

No one ever implied that Ebay took the listings down. Ebay could care less - look at all of the knockoffs floating around. The fact that she elected to take them down shortly after this post was made should easily explain to everyone that not everything was above the books.

Hate on me all you will, I'm not out to get anyone or take away your good deals. You guys are free to "investigate" further, but consider what I've posted... and don't forget the LAWSUIT vs EBAY which is probably the reason why the listings got pulled. It contradicts Spyderco's statements in legal court documents. The counterfeiters need to shut down, but sneaking "extras" of exclusives, sprint runs, and discontinued knives and selling them at what I imagine is mass profit, considering her husband is Eric, to sell them on a venue that Spyderco themselves said that they do not have a sales presence on is just wrong. If you don't understand that, I suggest that you read up on business ethics.

 

[Boxer .45]

Hard to believe a few hours (appx 5) after this thread was started and somehow the seller found this thread and withdrew items because of it.

I usually don't buy from Ebay but I may if I see a Hap40 Delica 4.

 

[Casinostocks]

Not sure if that last paragraph was solely directed at me or your general summation regarding this thread, but as for your one line response to my last post as you have quoted, one could (incorrectly) infer from RipD's post that the listings were removed.

My post was in response to that gent's post explaining the technicality of an eBay listing "removal" vs a listing cancelled by the seller.

 

[Danke42]

Firstly, I'm not going to take the time to quote and address everyone. I will address a few though...



Ok, now think about all of the store exclusives that have been sold under that account at way above MAP? When a sprint run of 500 sells out in a few days, how does Spyderbugs end up with 100 more for sale? Are we to trust that only 500 were made? Maybe replacement knives are being sold. Any way you cut it, an exclusive should be just that - exclusive. The manufacturer/producer of the knives shouldn't be selling the same store exclusives, that doesn't make them exclusive. Whether you do it on Ebay or through your website, it shouldn't matter. Sometimes her listings sell fast and sometimes they sit around for a week and do nothing. As others have pointed out, the listings were pulled by the seller. They did not sell out. If there were nothing out of the ordinary going on, wouldn't the listings have remained?



...and that's why I'm drawing so much ire. People only care about getting a good deal and don't think about what's lawful, proper, and ethical. If you had to feed your family by selling knives maybe you'd think differently.



No one ever implied that Ebay took the listings down. Ebay could care less - look at all of the knockoffs floating around. The fact that she elected to take them down shortly after this post was made should easily explain to everyone that not everything was above the books.

Hate on me all you will, I'm not out to get anyone or take away your good deals. You guys are free to "investigate" further, but consider what I've posted... and don't forget the LAWSUIT vs EBAY which is probably the reason why the listings got pulled. It contradicts Spyderco's statements in legal court documents. The counterfeiters need to shut down, but sneaking "extras" of exclusives, sprint runs, and discontinued knives and selling them at what I imagine is mass profit, considering her husband is Eric, to sell them on a venue that Spyderco themselves said that they do not have a sales presence on is just wrong. If you don't understand that, I suggest that you read up on business ethics.

You couldn't be more wrong. Your construct of events is self serving and offensive.

 

[Boxer .45]

Not sure if that last paragraph was solely directed at me or your general summation regarding this thread, but as for your one line response to my last post as you have quoted, one could (incorrectly) infer from RipD's post that the listings were removed.

My post was in response to that gent's post explaining the technicality of an eBay listing "removal" vs a listing cancelled by the seller.

I was speaking in general.
Regardless, you say "incorrectly", I dont know how many were posted before this thread went up. They may be removed but there is no proof other than assumtion that they were sold or withdrawn due to this thread or for some other reason.

 

[Casinostocks]

I was speaking in general.
Regardless, you say "incorrectly", I dont know how many were posted before this thread went up. They may be removed but there is no proof other than assumtion that they were sold or withdrawn due to this thread or for some other reason.

My post was in response to the OP's last post quoting me; your post sandwiched in between.

The listings were withdrawn and NOT removed! I have no evidence as to whether this thread was the cause or what not, but the listings were NOT in violation and were not removed.

P.S. I would link the seller's ended listings on eBay but I think that I may end up in violation of Blade Forums rules, so I will leave you with this information FWIW:

The seller's ended listings banners clearly state:

This listing was ended by the seller because the item is no longer available

 

[sharp_edge]

If you looked up the seller yesterday, you could see the 8 or so knives that were for sale. Two of which that I clearly remember were a Mike Draper and a 20CV PM2. You can search those knives and filter by sold/completed to see whether or not those listings were sold/completed.

I don't have an ebay account so I guess that's why I cannot see the seller's history or withdrawn listings. Thanks anyway.

 

[RipD]

...and that's why I'm drawing so much ire. People only care about getting a good deal and don't think about what's lawful, proper, and ethical. If you had to feed your family by selling knives maybe you'd think differently.

Now you're pissing me off. Illegal? Immoral? There were 8 knives on there. EIGHT. Not 80. Not 800. So now you can't send your kids to college because a few knives were for sale on eBay?

If you didn't want to be an asshole about this and you're really an authorized distributor (or reseller) for Spyderco you would have notified them through your sales rep. Or sent Sal a note here. Or called and asked to speak to Sal or Eric or somebody involved in the day-to-day operations at Spyderco. If YOU were ethical and professional that's what you would have done.

You outed Eric's wife knowing it would have to be a problem for them and cause some issues here. You chose to do this publicly rather than privately. This is/was 100% a weasel move.