Whoo-Hoo, finally a web-site

Hey Matt!

Did you hang on to my grinder from the Hammer-IN? I left a message at both your home and on your cell, but didn't hear anything back. Please tell my your holding on to it for me!
 
Matt told me that he sold your grinder to Nick Wheeler for some Mogen David kosher wine, and an all expenses paid trip to Deja Vu! :D

Nick the sight looks great, and I have been thinking about a lot of things this weekend, and will write about it later, probably tomorrow.

I think the thing about the site that I really liked was how you chose to communicate what you do, why you do it, and who helped you. It's really humble and respectful, and I think that it gives a prospective buyer a REASON to buy a knife from you, and maybe not from the other guy.

Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Ed, I found a box with your grinder in it last week when I was back in Spokane. And not to worry, but your 45 gallon Mt. Dew mug has been located as well. I will get it off to you this week. Steve, you ought to know that I would not be caught dead at the Vu when Rick's is just down the street. Sanchez
 
I wasn't trying to be insulting, I know that you have a quality relationship with the dainty ladies at Rick's, I was just trying not to give away your secrets. Next thing you know, Ed's gonna want to go too :barf:

Steven
 
Great site Mr. Wheeler!.... especially the abundant use of correct grammer and spelling!!!:cool:

Prices would be nice (and probably scary with my budget!):eek:
 
The site looks great Nick. About pricing, I would love to see it, but I realise that when you sell knives through a dealer it can be problematic to include pricing on your website.
 
Keith Montgomery said:
.....about pricing.......it can be problematic to include pricing on your website.
Click to expand...

I strongly disagree, Keith. :)

If not an _exact_ price, at least a "$000 to $000, depending on materials used..." hint. I know many knife makers who sell through dealers and also have prices on their own websites. This serves to "pre-select" your customer without insulting him/her and without getting into that email-tag thing.

For example, if I see a photo listing, without a price range, for a knife by Tony Bose next to a similar knife by Ray Cover, Sr., I might get the impression that both are similarly priced. I really don't feel like wasting their time and my time by having to send an email inquiry and then waiting for a response - only to find out that the difference in cost is QUITE substantial.
 
The Knifemaker Direct website doesn't open. Is it allowable to have your Available knives listed at your own site plus theirs? If their site is frequently unavailable, it's going to cost you sales.

As to showing prices, I think it's a good idea. You may find that you spend a good chunk of time answering e-mails from knife shoppers that aren't matched to your knives. It's especially crucial for the Available products. Maybe just something vague on your product lineup page, something like "From $500, depending on materials," or even a range. Or at maybe a blurb on the splash page, "Custom made knives reasonably priced from $200 - $2000."

Otherwise the site looks great, and the knives are beautiful!
-Bob
 
Guys-

I've been thinking about the pricing thing some more, and want to add the flip side of the coin just for thought.

The reason I had not listed prices is because it can be somewhat of a "trap." So to speak.

Since I am not the web-master, it will require getting with Mitch whenever I need updates/changes. With my standing in the market, things change very quickly.

An example: The MKA bowie in my gallery. It was my first bowie, one of my first forged blades I finished out, and it won Best Hand-forged at the MKA show. With all that in mind and my market stance at that time, it sold for something like $500. Currently, I would sell that knife (of course with slight improvements from more experience) for $8-900.

If I had $500 listed on it, it seems it would make for more awkward emails telling people the price has changed so much, rather than had I never listed a price to start with.

No offense, but the dealer comparison is apples to oranges. They are listing a knife they have in their possession ready for immediate sale and delivery. With a gallery page, it's a listing of works previous, and mostly just an idea of what you were/are capable of. It's not as if you have any of those knives sitting on a shelf and can say, "please send this amount of $$$ and the knife is yours."

Just something to think about...

I guess as long as I can keep everything updated regularly it would all work out :)


Thanks,
-Nick-
 
pricing is always a balance point... now get off the computer and put something in that "AVAILABLE" page! :)
 
NickWheeler said:
......at that time, it sold for something like $500. Currently, I would sell that knife (of course with slight improvements from more experience) for $8-900.....
Click to expand...

OK, so let me add grapefruit to apples and oranges! ;)

1. If your webmaster can't update a simple price increase within a week or so, you need to have a little chat with him/her.

2. If you don't want to list a _specific_ price for a knife, a "range" is the next best thing. It gives you, the maker, some wiggle room as far as short term cost increases are concerned and it gives me, the collector, at least some idea of what I'd have to pay. In my case, I don't really have much interest in fixed blades and I don't know much about the prices charged - but I will quite often purchase a blade from a certain maker just to see "what the fuss is all about". (For example, I don't really want to waste my time or Ed Fowler's time with a bunch of emails just to find out that the "plain" bowie I thought might cost $800. is really $6,000.)

3. I am a collector. I couldn't make a knife if you held a gun to my head (although Bob Terzuola has promised that he will prove me wrong!) but I do have over 30 years of successful experience in marketing and advertising. Putting a price tag on something you're trying to sell (whether it's a $25 knife or a $25,000 wristwatch) is not crass. It simply defines your market and makes it that much easier to sell your product to the right customer.

4. It's your website and they are your knives. In the end, you should promote and sell them in a manner that _you_ are most comfortable with. Any of us here can give you all the hard-earned advice in the world, but in the end: "A man convinced against his will, is of the same opinion still."

And to sum it all up: great looking knives, Nick! :)
 
Thanks for the alternative thoughts! I do appreciate them :)

And I eat grape-fruit everyday! :D

I want to make sure I did not reflect poorly on Mitch and his professionalism as a web-master. He has been wonderful already!

Thanks! :D
-Nick-
 
NickWheeler said:
....I want to make sure I did not reflect poorly on Mitch and his professionalism as a web-master. He has been wonderful already!.....
Click to expand...

No, no, no, no! The website looks great! :)

(off topic, maybe, but I did notice something: when you posted your request in THIS forum, you received a lot of great advice and constructive criticism. In that "other" forum, your request - at least so far - has generated the usual "Wow, you're good....No, you're good!...No way, YOU're good!" replies - but not much with "meat" on it. Which is why, to be blunt folks, I spend almost all of my time in THIS forum. This is the place I _learn_ stuff! :cool: )

And, Nick - if that really _IS_ a photo of you? Man - I have SHOES older than you! ;)
 
I would advise putting a "Price to make a similar knife is $x-$" instead of the actual price the knife sold for.

This way you only have to update as your prices increase, and collectors get a general idea of what to expect.
 
Nick, a great site and a long time coming... congrats. Personally, I would have loved to see more closeups of the beaut knives, but there's only so many pictures you can put in... Excellent work too by Mitch. Jason.
 
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