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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is available! Price is $250 ea (shipped within CONUS).
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/
Used knives worth it......
- Thread starter James w
- Start date
Used knives can have a lot of benefits over new knives. In the best case scenario, most if not all of the following apply to a used knife purchase:
1. The knife is cheaper.
2. The knife arrives already broken in.
3. The seller can verify that the knife is smooth, centered, locks up solidly, etc., which is something that's always a gamble with new knives.
1. The knife is cheaper.
2. The knife arrives already broken in.
3. The seller can verify that the knife is smooth, centered, locks up solidly, etc., which is something that's always a gamble with new knives.
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^^^THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER THING.
I've gotten a few knives off the Exchange and only ended up re-selling one because I just didn't like the knife (DPX HEAT, in case anyone cares).
There are so many people here who use this forum primarily for scoring used or "Pre-Owned" blades that I'd wager to guess that this is one of the resources for used knives on the internet.
Personally, I feel more comfortable dealing with people on forums for stuff like used equipment because with E-noway you never know if what you're going to get is the actual thing listed, if it's a counterfeit or possibly just a complete scam.
This reminds me, I haven't browsed the Exchange yet today... Better look quick before I lose out to some other intrepid buyer!
The knife has no warranty.
The knife may be marred, scuffed, and scratched.
The knife may have been abused.
The knife was not purchased from a dealer who accepts returns or exchanges.
The knife may be missing accessories, original packaging, and factory paperwork.
Most stores don't waste their time selling used knives. They aren't as much a commodity as used guns. You will find some consignment sections of some stores and online vendors. But some knives that are in good condition and hardly used can be heavily discounted. I've scored a few times. I bought a knife that was sold as like new/used, well, when I got it the thing looks like it came directly from a store. I could not find anything at all wrong with it. I've also bought items where they were advertised like new only to find they were not as described.
Best way to find out how to deal in the Exchange here is to read the sales threads, look at user feedback, read e sellers posts outside the sales areas. Are they generally helpful? Are they invested in the community? Are they a troll that does nothing but argue and stir up trouble? Most importantly, trust your gut.
Only problem I've found is most folks on the Exchange won't ship to Europe. I can perfectly understand that, but most sellers forget to comment whether they only ship CONUS...what a Pity!
More often than not, the reason for this is because the buyers go after the sellers when customs confiscates the item. It's not really the sellers fault, it is mostly the buyers fault for not knowing what is legal in their own country. Or disputes arise because customs takes their sweet time up to a month or more holding an item before delivery.
I don't know of any knife company that asks if you're the original owner, so warranty is not an issue. The condition of the knife should be apparent from photos and disclosures by the seller (of course, you're relying on the seller to tell the truth--this is why good feedback is important). And I could not care less if a knife is missing its box and papers. The obsession people have with having all the original packaging for a knife is nothing but annoying.
Not entirely true. Most manufacturers/knifemakers will warranty their work, regardless of where it was purchased.
Key word is may. You are giving bad information. You should elaborate on what you're saying.
You should make yourself familiar with the Exchange rules. A deal is not complete until both parties are satisfied.
I tend to not like buying used unless it's a model that cant be had for new or if it's "like new, 95%" and heavily discounted. I simply do not trust what other people do with their knives enough to buy used. With that being said, there can be very good deals to be had if you take a leap of faith on a used knife.
Benchmade for example:
Benchmade Knife Company, Inc. warrants to the original owner that Benchmade knives purchased from authorized dealers...
"May" is in fact a key word and I used it for a reason; it would be unreasonable to buy a knife advertised as "Used" and not expect evidence of use.
I wouldn't hesitate to buy a knife on the BF Exchange, and in fact have done so many times with complete satisfaction.
But if you buy a used knife from someone (whether on the Exchange, eBay, or a flea market) and it turns out to be defective, the odds that the seller will be able to exchange it for a same-model replacement or facilitate a factory return are slim-to-none.
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None of these are reasons why not to buy a used knife if you want a used knife. But they are very good reasons as to why a used knife deserves to be sold at a significant discount compared to buying new.
I wasn't referring to a seller who was deliberately trying to misrepresent the knife. I'm talking about defects in the knife that may not be immediately evident but reveal themselves in the future: the blade snaps next week because of a flaw in the steel, or the handles fall off next month due to a defective batch of glue, as examples.
At least some knife companies warranty their knives only for the original owners and only if the knife was purchased from an authorized dealer. How and if they enforce that, I have no idea.
Those conditions and possibilities warrant a significant discount compared to buying new.
Probably people buying and selling used knives don't care about packaging. But it can affect the future resale value, and therefore the asking price should be appropriately discounted if the package is incomplete.
This is a poor example. There is proof, on this forum, that Benchmade has repaired/replaced knives and never once asked if the owner was the original owner or asked where the knife was purchased from.
But there are good odds, if the member is honest, they will allow you to return the knife and reimburse you. There are also many examples, on this forum, where someone has bought a knife on the Exchange and sent it in for repairs or has had the knife replaced.
Debating if used knives should be at a significant discount is never going to get anywhere, because it's an opinion that only you share. Sellers sell their knives at a price they see fit, not what you see fit.
I've bought used knives that were at a significant discount, but I've also bought used knives for slightly under retail. It depends on the quality of the knife. You won't see anyone selling ESEE Izula's for $10, just because they are used and you expect them to be at a significant discount. You also need to realize that what you think is significant, isn't what someone else thinks is significant. I've paid $200 for a USED knife, where as someone may think paying $200 for a NEW knife is ridiculous. We all think differently, it's up to the individual to decide what is worth it.
Now you're really getting far fetched. You think used knives should be sold at a significant discount, because there is a possibility that the blade may snap or handles may fall off!?!?!
Give me a break...
The more people there are like this, the more used knives for us!
- Joined
- Mar 9, 2012
- Messages
- 513
I suppose so!
Next time I find a nice custom, I'm going to have to lowball the guy, because there is a possibility the knife may explode.
Hahaha! I love the exchange, I have purchased a pile of knives in online exchanges and while not every deal is perfect it does give you a chance to try out way more knives than you would be able to buying from retailers only. There are so many discontinued, rare, custom, and specialty knives that would otherwise be impossible to find all in one place.
Someone posted a list of Pros, reasons, in their opinion, for buying used knives. I replied with a list of Cons, also just my opinion.
Not having the legal recourse of a binding warranty is a Con.
How much monetary value you assign to that Con, or any of the Cons or Pros, is up to you.
I don't buy used knives, so have at 'em.
Not having the legal recourse of a binding warranty is a Con.
How much monetary value you assign to that Con, or any of the Cons or Pros, is up to you.
I don't buy used knives, so have at 'em.
+1
I purchased many high end knives, to try out, from the Exchange.
That's the problem with what you are saying. You pointed out one company that states the original owner is the only person under warranty and it must be purchased from a dealer. Although that is on their website, examples on this forum prove that it is simply untrue. Warranty work is dealt with on an individual basis, you do not decide which knives will be repaired and which knives won't, but it obviously plays a part in your buying habits.
Then you don't know if they are worth it...
Which is the topic of this thread.
BBKoenigsegg
Gold Member
- Joined
- Jul 7, 2014
- Messages
- 781
I can tell you this much... I can't afford to be the original owner on most of the knives in my collection. The only reason I even partake in this hobby is because of purchases and trades I've made on this forum (and others).