Sure does irk me when somebody asks for a deal then flips the knife for a profit...

I don't get this whole thing. No offense meant. They guy made you an offer, you took it. He decides to sell the knife a couple weeks later and gets a couple more dollars for it than you did. What's the big deal? How is this a moral crisis? Geez, why let a trival thing even bother you? We are talking peanut money here. If the guy is a "flipper" he is pretty crappy at it. This whole thing might net him $10. Heck if you feel like you got ripped off for $10 and you feel this bad, send me your paypal addy and I'll give you $10 so you can let this go. :p
 
pwrdbycotn said:
If an item is pictured with accessories then it should be shipped with the accessories that are pictures unless otherwise discussed. If I make an offer on a knife or anything else, and it shows up with parts missing, we have a problem. Keeping items just because a price is lowered is the same as stealing.
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Not quite stealing, that is a bit of a stretch. Unless specifically stated, it could be the knife is for sale only, and that Rolex, Glock 19, or whatever else used to stage the photo is not included in the price of the knife. On a personal level, buying something here and asking for a discount only to turn around and flip it is a total dick move. That is my ow opinion on the matter. No one has to agree with me, but that is my feeling on the subject in this particular case. I've had this happen to me before and I tent to keep a close eye on the people hat are actual flippers and in it to make money versus the members with a real vested (non monetary driven interest) in the community.
 
RevDevil said:
Not quite stealing, that is a bit of a stretch. Unless specifically stated, it could be the knife is for sale only, and that Rolex, Glock 19, or whatever else used to stage the photo is not included in the price of the knife. On a personal level, buying something here and asking for a discount only to turn around and flip it is a total dick move. That is my ow opinion on the matter. No one has to agree with me, but that is my feeling on the subject in this particular case. I've had this happen to me before and I tent to keep a close eye on the people hat are actual flippers and in it to make money versus the members with a real vested (non monetary driven interest) in the community.
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I think it was quite obvious, but maybe not, that I meant accessories associated with the knife or whatever item it is for sale. I wouldn't actually expect to receive a rolex when buying a knife or other item commonly sold here on bladeforums. I do enjoy seeing people's pics of knives when they have nice watches, guns, etc set up with a knife. It makes for a very attractive photo. As far as flippers go, I don't think anyone here is actually paying their mortgage with knife sales, except for dealers. Everyone seems so concerned when someone makes a few dollars on a knife, but nobody gives a crap when somebody loses money. I've personally lost over $200 on one knife, but nobody felt sorry for me. However, if someone makes $15 on sale, it's time to bring the pitch-forks and torches.
 
Macchina said:
Also, I hope we can all agree that Bladeforums is a community different than other places like eBay. I'd never give a discount to somebody I didn't know if they messaged me on eBay. The reason I gave the discount was so he could enjoy the knife a bit better at the price he thought was fair (fair for him apparently, not for the next guy). Since he crapped on my generosity: my goal of giving him the discount was not met...
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Sadly the porch and the for sale forum has started to become a haven for flippers. Those good deals we post up are now taken advantage of by others it seems.
 
I would sell mostly to real knife nuts, those passionate and eager to talk, collect &trade knives.

I sold on the bay before discovering the forum.

Mostly at a loss.

Certain items are better off listed on the bay.

most of the pocket knives I have sold have gone to happy homes.
 
Macchina said:
Looks like there's a lot more people in here who value a few bucks more than building friendship within the community... Kinda a bummer but no more deals for me I suppose.

Honestly I gave spent most of the last few years in the Traditional forum here and I guess I've been spoiled by the kindness found there. Maybe I've softened too much to venture into general population ;)
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I see your wink, so I must assume there's a tongue-in-cheek aspect to your post (is there a smiley for that?).

Regardless, I fail to see why doing business (buying and selling knives) and being a kind member of a community are mutually exclusive. As I mentioned in my earlier post, I'm fine with negotiating on either side of a transaction with strangers or friends.

pwrdbycotn said:
As far as flippers go, I don't think anyone here is actually paying their mortgage with knife sales, except for dealers. Everyone seems so concerned when someone makes a few dollars on a knife, but nobody gives a crap when somebody loses money. However, if someone makes $15 on sale, it's time to bring the pitch-forks and torches.
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On the other hand, I suppose there are those who are here just to try to make money flipping knives. While it's not in keeping with the spirit of the BF community that is so engaging, it's pretty small potatoes and really just kinda lame.
 
I've actually had several knives that I sold here flipped for a loss on other sites. I was shocked that the one seller's initial listing price was for less than what they bought if for and in addition were going to be charged selling fees. These were knives that I had dropped the price on once or twice and I thought the buyers from my listings had gotten decent deals. I don't see an issue with them starting a little high and going from there, especially trying to recoup shipping....
 
With the trads exploding in popularity I find myself less interested. I won't pay flipper prices and don't feel like waiting for releases. Once the bubble bursts I'll buy the ones I want.
 
Obviously, once something is sold it's out of the seller's control. Same goes for the giveaways. That doesn't mean it's not tacky to turn around and try to flip the knife for a big profit. Flipping runs contrary to the general atmosphere of the traditional forum but it's going to continue until the bubble bursts.
 
I'm failing to see the problem here. How do you know the guy just didn't like the knife so he sells it? What if the guy had some money struggles come up and he needed to recoup the money he just spent on a beautiful knife that he really didn't need?

Why automatically assume someone is a flipper just because they sold a knife they were sold 2 weeks prior? You never know what's going on with the person so maybe it would be easier to not concern yourself with what a person does with the knife after its sold to them.

IF it was truly a situation of flipping, that sucks. The bottom line though, is that we won't ever be able to stop the flippers. We just have to be the people we would like everyone to be in this community. The true lovers of sharp things.
 
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HappyDaddy said:
Sell it for what you want, or don't sell it. Once you sell it, what happens to it is none of your business.
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+1.

It doesn't bother me one bit. I'd prefer if the person who bought it and flipped it bought a Gold membership as to give back to the community, In way back the site.

But I do understand and emphasize what the OP is saying, as well as most people here with the opposite opinion as me. Neither is right nor wrong. It has all to do with perceptive and opinion. And I'm cool work everyone's opinions.

Sell it, flip it, love it. It's all cool. :)
 
Sell it, flip it, love it. It's all cool.
The process we have come to know as"flipping" is not cool- its parasitic.
What's the big deal? How is this a moral crisis?
Its not a moral crisis it is simply a question of ethics.
 
pwrdbycotn said:
I think it was quite obvious, but maybe not, that I meant accessories associated with the knife or whatever item it is for sale. I wouldn't actually expect to receive a rolex when buying a knife or other item commonly sold here on bladeforums. I do enjoy seeing people's pics of knives when they have nice watches, guns, etc set up with a knife. It makes for a very attractive photo. As far as flippers go, I don't think anyone here is actually paying their mortgage with knife sales, except for dealers. Everyone seems so concerned when someone makes a few dollars on a knife, but nobody gives a crap when somebody loses money. I've personally lost over $200 on one knife, but nobody felt sorry for me. However, if someone makes $15 on sale, it's time to bring the pitch-forks and torches.
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Of course, my comment was not specifically directed at you. I was just putting a comment out there, the way some text reads on sales ads and such. There are people out there that have zero common sense, the longer you live the more of them you find. I should also clarify another point I made in my post. I don't really care about people that flip/scalp knives, I know who I will and won't buy from, or sell to for that matter.

I find it insincere at best when I see a sales ad for a knife that is somewhat popular and the seller says "oh this is too nice and I have bills or I realized I would never use this and something has come up". If you have bills, why are you spending money on knives you should not be buying? In any case, not my problem. The problem isn't that someone makes $10 on a knife sale, the problem is that some people are here ONLY for that, to try and use this place as their own personal ebay. They don't contribute anything otherwise. Everyone that has been in this hobby (knives or guns) has lost money at some point, especially now with the price increases over the last few years. That is my position as a customer and member of the forums. As a moderator, I only get involved if asked or if I see someone getting screwed over. In the end, I don't really care what people do with their stuff as it doesn't affect me one way or another. But the question was posed so...
 
HyPnOtIk said:
I'm failing to see the problem here. How do you know the guy just didn't like the knife so he sells it? What if the guy had some money struggles come up and he needed to recoup the money he just spent on a beautiful knife that he really didn't need?

Why automatically assume someone is a flipper just because they sold a knife they were sold 2 weeks prior? You never know what's going on with the person so maybe it would be easier to not concern yourself with what a person does with the knife after its sold to them.
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Just so we're clear here: flipping knives for a profit without a "Dealer" membership is against forum rules and is wrong to do on this forum. Like it or not: Ponny up for the Dealer Membership and I can then care less if you flip knives I sell you. I would be more than happy to see you make a profit on my knives if I sell them to you knowing you're a dealer.

Also (on a side note separate to why I started this thread): flipping for a profit hurts our hobby plain and simple! It adds cost to a knife without adding value. Driving up costs on a product without adding anything to it causes the prices in our hobby to creep upward without creating a better product at all.

I also am not calling the member in question a flipper. What bother's me is this one transaction, not any history of transactions. I honest could care less if he tried to sell the knife for more than he bought it from me if he hadn't asked for a deal. I said in the first post that I don't care if somebody flips my knife, just don't ask for a deal then flip it for profit.

HyPnOtIk said:
IF it was truly a situation of flipping, that sucks. The bottom line though, is that we won't ever be able to stop the flippers. We just have to be the people we would like everyone to be in this community. The true lovers of sharp things.
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I agree completely with this statement! The best thing we can do is be the example we want the Bladeforums community to be.
 
Personally, I would have listed the exact same kind of knife on whatever site the buyer listed on, and offer it for an additional ten dollars less than what the buyer paid...even if I lost money on it. Italians are vindictive that way. :D
 
Gastonknife said:
I don't get this whole thing. No offense meant. They guy made you an offer, you took it. He decides to sell the knife a couple weeks later and gets a couple more dollars for it than you did. What's the big deal? How is this a moral crisis? Geez, why let a trival thing even bother you? We are talking peanut money here. If the guy is a "flipper" he is pretty crappy at it. This whole thing might net him $10...
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Right on!! Macchina you will put yourself in an early grave and drive your friends and family crazy caring about such trivia.
 
meako said:
Sell it, flip it, love it. It's all cool.
The process we have come to know as"flipping" is not cool- its parasitic.
What's the big deal? How is this a moral crisis?
Its not a moral crisis it is simply a question of ethics.
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I sense some Hostility Bud.

I think Parasitic more as a Buyer who is making false promises to the seller. Like Promises of Lofty Vacations, Hugs and Kisses or even giving them a false sense of security by making future plans in hopes of comforting them for their current irresponsible behavior. Then The buyer, buying the knife from the seller at a below market cost, back handedly sells the Knife to a USN member for more than they bought it for....

The Entire time the seller wonders why he or she wakes up in the morning with Scratches on their pocket clips, Chips on the edges of their M390 Hollow grind blades or maybe even a BNIB boxes that now have frayed edges...while the buyer is at some other knife forum selling to another unsuspected buyer. The Blade Forum seller tells his/her friends that "I just dropped my knife!" or "The Clip broke because I got into my car strangely" BUT we all know it was a Parasitic Buyer! You can only hide those Scratches with black permanent marker for so long until we know what the REAL Problem is.....

Those DAMN PARASITIC BUYERS! :rolleyes:
 
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"You can only hide those Scratches with black permanent marker for so long until we know what the REAL Problem is....."
-- Now if I could only find a damn good silver perm marker :D
 
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