The remarkable variation in knife pricing

S

Stahlmann

Joined
Jan 21, 2021
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I began lightly collecting knives anew with the coming of the Covid19 pandemic. A little extra hobby. One thing that both amazes and intrigues me is the huge price variation in many different knives. 20%, 30%, even 50% or more isn't uncommon from respected sellers. Particularly those it seems, whose primary sales focus isn't knives.

I've been collecting firearms on the other hand for most of my life. Wide pricing variations used to be common in that market as well. Not so anymore as production capacities have largely been exceeded by demand -- at least for now.

Is the wide pricing variation among knives old news? Was it exacerbated by the multitude of online purchasing sources?
 
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Stahlmann said:
I began lightly collecting knives anew with the coming of the Covid19 pandemic. A little extra hobby. One thing that both amazes and intrigues me is the huge price variation in many different knives. 20%, 30%, even 50% or more isn't uncommon from respected sellers. Particularly those it seems, whose primary sales focus isn't knives.

I've been collecting firearms on the other hand for most of my life. Wide pricing variations used to be common in that market as well. Not so anymore as production capacities have largely been exceeded by demand -- at least for now.

Is the wide pricing variation among knives old news? Was it exacerbated by the multitude of online purchasing sources?
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I am not seeing the 50% differences - maybe if you include the retailers that are charging full MRSP or more vs. the retailers with the very best prices and clearance items?

As others have mentioned, like all businesses, prices vary among different companies and different sellers. A one-man "shop" that sells exclusively online has less overhead, but the big dealers get better prices because they are buying in much larger quantities. The variables are almost endless. When a particular dealer needs to raise cash NOW or is struggling, you may see what seem like crazy low prices, temporarily.

A lot of my best buys have been made on quality pre-owned items on The Exchange right here on BF. I don't use "pre-owned" as a B.S. comment like some car dealers do - I use pre-owned because some of the knives I purchased were in fact pre-owned but still NIB or in unused or virtually unused condition. And some of my favorite buys on The Exchange were used, as well.
 
rje58 said:
I am not seeing the 50% differences - maybe if you include the retailers that are charging full MRSP or more vs. the retailers with the very best prices and clearance items?

As others have mentioned, like all businesses, prices vary among different companies and different sellers. A one-man "shop" that sells exclusively online has less overhead, but the big dealers get better prices because they are buying in much larger quantities. The variables are almost endless. When a particular dealer needs to raise cash NOW or is struggling, you may see what seem like crazy low prices, temporarily.

A lot of my best buys have been made on quality pre-owned items on The Exchange right here on BF. I don't use "pre-owned" as a B.S. comment like some car dealers do - I use pre-owned because some of the knives I purchased were in fact pre-owned but still NIB or in unused or virtually unused condition. And some of my favorite buys on The Exchange were used, as well.
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I mentioned this somewhere else. The fairly new Cold Steel Drop Forged 9.5" Bowie Knife lists for $139.99. When it was released I thought it looked interesting and made a mental note to keep an eye on its pricing. Not too long later, I noticed it offered for $71.99 by a large, well-regarded mail order sporting goods concern. They currently offer it for $89.99. It seems to be running a uniform $118.99 among the knife-specialty mail order companies. Those are huge differences.
 
A dreaded car analogy: a Yugo 45 is cheaper than a Maybach. That's also old news.

But more to the point: - while important and reasonable - focusing mostly at economical issues in a hobby meant to be enjoyed will kill the enjoyment. No hobby is about flippers, and profits and ROI or anything like that..

In time we all compile trusted sources (dealers), and just use them as a common lowest denominator.
 
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It’s a marketing strategy, that’s all.
When stirs run a special on their meat, it’s a marketing strategy, that’s all.
 
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