Doeswhateveraspidercan wrote: ↑Fri Jan 17, 2020 1:14 pm
Part of the original question was how we feel about Sprints.
I guess I'm lucky. I reached the point with my collection several years ago that the only Spydercos I generally purchase are variants of the models I like best and Forum knives. The result is that 99% of the Sprints offered are of no interest to me. The 1% I'm interested in are Japanese models, which never seem to sell out overnight.
Tucson Tom wrote: ↑Fri Jan 17, 2020 1:58 pm
I am surprised that anyone is suggesting no more sprints. Sprints are great. The only problem is when you want one and can't get one. The best solution to this is to just man up and face the fact that you just don't get everyone you want in life.
Exactly.
Tucson Tom wrote: ↑Fri Jan 17, 2020 1:58 pm
This whole thread started with the simple suggestion that the demand for Sprints has increased and Spyderco could consider making them in bigger runs. That sounds good to me, but there is a definite risk on Spydercos end.
The problem is that run sizes are often determined by either the maker or the steel supplier. So, "bigger" would often mean "double the current size", rather than 10% or 20% bigger. So, yes, greater risk for Spyderco.
Tucson Tom wrote: ↑Fri Jan 17, 2020 1:58 pm
Then this thread erupted into a bunch of accusations that distributors were doing bad things, that serial numbers could be used to track these bad things, and the usual complaining about flippers and inflated prices on the secondary market. This is something that I am only mildly annoyed by and can easily ignore. If I want to get worked up about something, there are bigger fish to fry in this world.
And, again, even with serial numbers there's no law against buying multiples, even if it violates a dealer's policy, as long as you pay for them and no law against a dealer selling their stock of a hot item at over MSRP on eBay.
Tucson Tom wrote: ↑Fri Jan 17, 2020 1:58 pm
I was surprised and amused that people are concerned about the "loss of value" if sprints became less rare. There is a contradiction here -- you can't complain on one hand about inflated prices on the secondary market and loss of value at the same time. Unless you are a flipper yourself. But I think most people who would make this complaint are people with ideas about the value of their "collection" and with absolutely no idea of selling any of their knives. As soon as they start selling at inflated prices don't they then become a despicable flipper?
It's one of those things where perception trumps reality. If enough people feel a knife is not "rare enough" to buy, Spyderco could get stuck with inventory. There's also the question of when the "bubble" will burst on any given model. Spyderco still has 3 versions of the Mule Team available, the newest of which came out at least 2 years ago.