Why brick and mortar shops are failing....

J_Curd said:
You need to go to Cecil Clark's in Newport :)

You can thank me later. :D
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I live near there and was thinking of checking it out some day. Do they have a selection of traditional knives? Thanks for reminding me, I'll have to check it out! :thumbup:
 
I was in Gatlinburg, Tennessee this past weekend because one of my daughters had a cheer competition (her team won). So, I had the opportunity to go to Smokey Mountain Knife Works. I didn't compare their prices to those online, but I was bowled over the by size of the place (as big as a Bass Pro Shops), the selection, and the large number of helpful staff. As you would expect with a store so large, they cater to all tastes and price ranges, so you need to sort the wheat from the chaff. I ended up buying two Case folders. Did I pay more for them than I would online? I don't know. Maybe. But I had a great time looking around and it was worth it. I had bought all my previous knives online or at shows, and I suspect most of my purchases in the future will be online or at shows, but I'm sure I'll buy at a B&M shop again. You just need to be mindful of prices.
 
Not an EXACT experience, but a store where I get all my knives are having sales on most of their knives. They're always having a sale on all Cold steel knives. I love that place and that's the only place I can get my knives.
 
I'm fortunate to have New Graham Knives about an hour away. It is a pleasure to shop there, whether thru their on-line store or in person. I've placed many pre-orders there, sometimes months in advance of a release date. They've never dropped the ball. Their prices, while not quite as low as the hellbay shops, are good enough and with them I know my order won't get screwed up and I won't get screwed over.

Mike and company have just finished up a beautiful building next door to the Pharmacy, complete with custom made showcases. So they must be doing something right! As a dealer here, we all have the opportunity to support a B&M store.
 
SPXTrader said:
They've never dropped the ball. Their prices, while not quite as low as the hellbay shops, are good enough and with them I know my order won't get screwed up and I won't get screwed over.
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Theres another point, I have no problem paying extra, for the knowledge that I'm not at risk of getting stiffed on any of my transactions
 
Like SPXTrader said some of our favorite web retailers are in fact brick and mortars. They are just run better than many more local shops. I also collect smoking pipes and shop almost exclusively online but all of those etailers are in fact brick and mortar shops as well. Most of my online purchases do support mom and pop shops -- just not the poorly run ones in my area.
 
A lot of internet shops, not all but more than a few dont stock any product. You give them your credit card and they have your money for probably 30 days before they have to pay the distributor who they got to drop ship the knife to you. They have a phone, in a room with one person answering it, or they dont list a phone contact and you just email which they check when they can, business may have one employee.

The brick and mortar guy usually has the knife in stock, $10k worth of knives means your paying interest on it, or you should at least be looking at what your money could make in bonds or whatever (not stocks for now), liabilty and product insurance, water bills, electric bills, city and county taxes, building rent, unless you want to work 6 days a week with no time off they will need a 4 or 5 employees if they plan on staying open for any amount of time, weekends, 10 hours days, back ups for sick days, that sort of stuff...

Really not hard to see where the extra expense comes from.
 
Str8ShooterEsq

Smokey Mountain Knife Works (SMKW) is NOT a real B&M knife shop...it's a knife Meca! I hope that I can see it someday. It also has an excellent online site. I wounder if the prices are the same?
 
I've gotten some real bargains at Smoky Mountain and I'd like to see their place, too. I went to a sporting store today and was looking at a $39 Benchmade (called a Pika, I think). It came in a hang-up blister pack and I couldn't find the steel listed anywhere on it, and of course the sales clerk knew nothing. In short, I've found that I can do better in my area on the Internet. The only stores I know of were 1) mall store, and 2) military surplus. The mall one went out of business and their selection stunk. They also charged $25 for sharpening on a Sharpmaker!
 
Knife_Geek said:
I think mostly the big complaint about paying MSRP comes from the vast minority that makes up us "Knife Knuts"
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or as we also call ourselves , the educated buyers ;)

One Local shop here charges full MSRP and usually MSRP ++. The few times I was in there , I always got the feeling I was inconveniencing them by asking to see something from the case , they never wanted to be bothered. Customer service , they have none.

A place that opened recently I just found out was closing , due to a divorce. Sucks too , as they were knowledgable folks , just didnt carry much in the traditional line of knives , slips , lockbacks , etc. But great folks , and knowledgeable. I did buy sharpening stones and such from them.

I buy local when I can , I don't mind getting groped , but I aint getting raped.
;)
 
It's nice to be able to see and handle before you buy, which to me is the main advantage of a B&M. Unfortunately it's been my experience that most B&M shops that sell knives are staffed by people who do it for a job and may not be very knowledgeable. Even when something's ' on special' you can end up paying more because the shop assistants aren't in a position to offer further discounting from the 'special' MSRP. It cost me $100 more to buy a set of Shun knives from KoK vs online and it was only because they stocked some other hard to find items I wanted (2 days before Xmas) that swayed me. Many online knife stores are leaner, tighter organisations that are run by enthusiasts (like Derrick) so not only are prices often lower but you also get better product knowledge and customer service - I lean to e-trading
 
I think that a good B&M store which excels in service and fair prices, will always do well. Here in BC, we are fortunate enough to have Warriors & Wonders, which is the biggest Spyderco dealer in Canada. Jay at W&W offers good prices, excellent service and a web presence with the same prices as in the store. It is actually a pleasure to deal there.

Some day, I am going to find a B&M knife shop in the Ozarks, which will give me an excuse to visit Arkansas. :)
 
I've actually found that most store owners are quite willing to negotiate so that they'll come at least CLOSE to internet prices.

Usually when I handle a knife (or anything else for that matter) and I want it but have seen it for much less on the web I just tell the store owner.

Saved me 150 euros on my guitar amp that way and it the store isn't a chainstore or the place works on comission then you can usually get a discount. Just talk to the sellers. Be honest. Just tell them: " I really want this knife but on the web I can get it for 50% of what you're charging. So you'll understand if I not buy it with you for that price." Most of the time they'll meet you somewhere in the middle.
 
I haunt our local gun and knife shops, regularly. Being retired and having the time, I am in one or more every week. Generally the people are friendly, especially once you get to be a regular, and tolerant of my
"tire-kicking." I get to handle a lot of guns and knives. They know that once in a great while one will grab me and I will take it home. Bottom line is that I get a world of pleasure and entertainment out of these places.

I do not mind paying a premium once in a while for a knife in these places. It is just my simple payback for them being there. Similarly, I make it a point to buy ammo, cleaning supplies, etc. from them occasionally, even though I could get it cheaper at Walmart.
 
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