Thoughts on authorized dealers raising GEC prices above the minimum sale price.

I have 6 distributors bookmarked. I think I am going to delete at least two of them. One had a 83 in bone in stock but wanted $170. I passed. Another was out of stock on ones they had for $140. Hoped to pick one up for my brother. If I was a really good guy I would let him have the one I was lucky enough to pick up on the good reserve system you know who has and paid $103 for. A third had a lolly gaggle scramble for $140. I could have bought one but passed. These are great knives, but I am going to stick with the three I know of that still follow the past pricing standards. Or I will turn my collecting interest and fun money toward different brands if I can't get in on offerings from those three guys.
 
Outside of CK Telegram reserve process, I’ve stopped even considering purchasing GECs. The entire GEC distribution model leaves me cold and feeling like I got ripped off or purchased something in haste without really knowing what‘s going to show up in the mail. It’s as if the activity of purchasing the knife is the goal and enjoying the knife itself is secondary. Not my cup of tea.
 
rcs86 was correct and it was just a placeholder. CollectorKnives is somehow still holding out strong.

At this point, I'm of the mind that CK, DLT, and KSF should just go ahead and make some adjustments. This market isn't slowing down any time soon, and times are tough!
 
Last edited:
Fixall said:
I just noticed that CollectorKnives has the new Elephant Toe priced at $150, instead of the normal price of $121.36.

I’d this just the new normal now? It seems like nearly all the dealers have slowly adopted the new pricing model.

Unless I’m missing some vendors, I think DLT Trading and KnivesShipFree are the last holdouts selling GECs at the regular pricing we’ve been used to, rather than msrp or higher.
Click to expand...
My guess is that was Mike's estimate and that the price will be adjusted accordingly once he sends the purchase links.
 
Fixall said:
I just noticed that CollectorKnives has the new Elephant Toe priced at $150, instead of the normal price of $121.36.

I’d this just the new normal now? It seems like nearly all the dealers have slowly adopted the new pricing model.

Unless I’m missing some vendors, I think DLT Trading and KnivesShipFree are the last holdouts selling GECs at the regular pricing we’ve been used to, rather than msrp or higher.
Click to expand...
Mike has stated elsewhere that he cannot survive if he doesn't increase prices. I'm sorry guys but what are you expecting? The prices of everything are going up, from milk and eggs to automobiles, it's hurting everyone. The small dealers the hardest. We have been getting these luxury items at below MSRP for so long that some of us feel entitled to it. Do I want to pay more? No, but I also don't "need" a thirtieth or fortieth pocket knife either. If you can't buy bread don't order the knife, if you can do and keep bread on someone who may need it's table.
 
Don’t get me wrong, my last post wasn’t meant to be a dig. CK, DLT, and KSF are still my premier dealers, and I go through them every chance I get. It was more of a slow acceptance that this is the new norm. If Mike had to raise prices, I can’t imagine there was a way around it (while still keeping a profitable business).

Just seems like an end to an era so to speak.
 
I kind of saw the writing on the wall a ways back. In this particular case, I don't see it as a dealer who was quick to take advantage of the hot market and raised prices accordingly (we all know who those guys are). My impression of Mike has always been that he doesn't do anything without careful deliberation and if he has to raise his prices, you can generally be assured that it is for a very good reason.

I've long contended that I will continue to accumulate GECs for as long as it continues to make sense to me. The price increases were inevitable, I think, but they still won't have too negative an impact on my ongoing endeavors.
 
I believe Mike was close to closing shop and getting into other endeavors...... He has a seriously ill wife and son.... Running a retail knife business doesn't have paid Healthcare.... I think Mike is trying to put some black ink in the ledger... God bless him and I wish him well with whatever business model he adopts....
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top