Impulse Buy-Do you do it?

[mrtodd777]

I woke up this morning with no intention of buying another knife for some time. August and the first week of September were brutal on the bank account. (ZDP Stretch, Gayle Bradley 1, K2, Manix2 LW black blade, Native LW full SE, Native LW PE, and a Mantra 1) Then I logged in at work today and something told me I needed a Harpy to Ride along with my Mantra. They would look so good together I told myself.. now I have one on the way..

Does anyone else have this problem?

For those of you who have owned one, what do you think of the Harpy?

[SF Native]

Some impulse buys, but I only have so much counter space in my display area. Last impulse buy was the myrtle.

[Mako109]

Guilty many times over, in years past. But I use my knives, and during those years I learned what works for me and what doesn't. Gradually I learned to replace my blind enthusiasm with knowledge and experience. Now days I take more time to weigh each decision carefully. My pocket book thanks me, and each knife I finally do purchase is more valuable and meaningful to me.

[Blerv]

I think most of us have had the bug bite and then a ramping impulse to buy anything under the sun. Over time reality kicks in and you start to compare the prospect to others in the collection. This is especially easy after holding so many knives and being able to predict if you will like the prospect based on pictures. How does it compare to the PM2? How about the Stretch? etc

I'll still buy things I shouldn't, it just happens less frequently and these days I'll take a day or two and think about it :). If Spyderco (or anyone really) makes a cool looking 3" or 3.5" blade there has to be something fairly unique about it for me to pull out the credit card. The current competition is pretty fierce.

Unique blade shapes are my vice. That and if Spyderco ever puts a pair of bronze or copper scales on a knife it's game-over.

[Mushroom]

My last impulse buy was a Southard and before that it was a Temperance 2! I'm definitely familiar with making impulse decisions!

Also, I hear you on the copper scales Blerv, wouldn't be able to control myself!

[SpyderNut]

I woke up this morning with no intention of buying another knife for some time. August and the first week of September were brutal on the bank account. (ZDP Stretch, Gayle Bradley 1, K2, Manix2 LW black blade, Native LW full SE, Native LW PE, and a Mantra 1) Then I logged in at work today and something told me I needed a Harpy to Ride along with my Mantra. They would look so good together I told myself.. now I have one on the way..

Does anyone else have this problem?

For those of you who have owned one, what do you think of the Harpy?

Congrats, man! You are on a roll there. I'd say you're definitely giving Spydergirl88 a run for her money. :D

Yes, I went through something quite similar when I first came into contact with Spyderco. The only thing that kept my Spyderco spending in-check was the fact that I was a poor college freshman at the time, lol. :p

I received a SS Harpy (SE) for my birthday back in '02. I carried it nearly every day while working construction. It is a great design and is surprisingly useful for all types of EDC tasks (despite the hawkbill blade). Be careful with that blade, though. I had an accident closing my Harpy one day and it partially crippled my right index finger. (I accidently shut the blade on my first knuckle. The serrations made short work of the ligaments in my finger :o ). Otherwise, you should really enjoy this knife!

[SG89]

I am guilty of impulse buying but I blame the forumites for corrupting us all :p

[farnorthdan]

I gave in to impulse long ago, I'm now full on obsessive. :D

[Sharp Guy]

I've definitely been in the same boat but not sure I'd call them all impulse buys. I've done a fair amount of buying in the past 9 months but I've researched each model and decided which ones appealed to me. For me the impulse part becomes applicable when I see great deal on a knife that's on my want list. I wasn't really planning on buying it right away but the deal's too good to pass up. So I end up with it sooner rather than later.

Now that I have examples of most of the models I desire, I'm starting to find deals on upgrades of models I already have. For example, I didn't need another Manbug, Dragonfly, or Stretch, I'm really very happy with the models I already had, but when I came across great deals on HAP40 versions I went ahead and bought 'em. I've done this with a few other models that I really like (Delica, Native 5 LW, Manix 2 LW) and I'm happy I did. I figure as long as I buy 'em right I can always get some of my money back if I decide to thin the herd sometime down the road. In the mean time, it's nice to have a variety of different models and some variations of the one's I really like.

[tvenuto]

I think most of us have had the bug bite and then a ramping impulse to buy anything under the sun. Over time reality kicks in and you start to compare the prospect to others in the collection. This is especially easy after holding so many knives and being able to predict if you will like the prospect based on pictures. How does it compare to the PM2? How about the Stretch? etc

My thoughts exactly. I narrowly missed (like, the last one was in my cart) the original run of the blue M390 PM2's at the very beginning of my spydie obsession. I hastily pulled the trigger on the next available sprint, which was the R. I certainly wouldn't have done that now, but I'm glad I did because it made me realize what an awesome design the R is.

So like Blerv, I'm a bit more picky on what I buy now, and definitely know what designs are likely to work well for me. That said, the great thing about Spyderco knives is that if one doesn't end up working out for you, you can very often move it along for little to no loss. I don't agonize over too many of my spydie purchases, I figure if I don't love it then another knife knut will!

[Evil D]

I have a few times but most of the time my purchases are very carefully selected. I don't have time for buyer's remorse and resale BS.

[tvenuto]

I will also say that if I had a good B&M store near me I'd go and handle knives before buying, which would probably narrow down my purchases. As it is I have to buy first, and then send it on if I don't dig the design.

[Evil D]

I will also say that if I had a good B&M store near me I'd go and handle knives before buying, which would probably narrow down my purchases. As it is I have to buy first, and then send it on if I don't dig the design.

It's kinda bitter sweet. I have one local but ever since the MAP pricing thing he only stocks the run of the mill models that I've handled a bunch of times. He can order anything for me but then I'd feel bad if I didn't buy.

[tvenuto]

I will also say that if I had a good B&M store near me I'd go and handle knives before buying, which would probably narrow down my purchases. As it is I have to buy first, and then send it on if I don't dig the design.

It's kinda bitter sweet. I have one local but ever since the MAP pricing thing he only stocks the run of the mill models that I've handled a bunch of times. He can order anything for me but then I'd feel bad if I didn't buy.

Strange why would MAP have that effect? I would assume a B&M was at MAP or above as it was, and that online retailers being forced up a bit in (advertised) price would only help him.

[clovisc]

At what exact point does an "impulse" become an expedient exercise of good judgement? :)

[vivi]

Nope.

At one point I had a drawer full of Spydercos, talkin 50+. Not low end stuff either...ATR's, Yojimbo 1's, Lil Temps, BG42 tip up Millie, Tip up wire clip Para 1, original run Dodo's and more.

I found I never used most of them, and they just sat there. I was sinking money into this hobby for no real reason.

These days I'm a lot more selective. Typically I only buy one new knife a year, at the most 3. I only pick knives I have a clear use for in my mind, so I know exactly how I'd want to use it before I even have it. I've stopped buying designs that I think are neat but I have no real use for.

[BTG]

For sure...I told myself, no more this year other than what's preordered....then a sale..and a K1 and a chubby later I'm like ..OK now really, that's it.....then the Zome Duo comes out of nowhere, and I need both...right away..they were in the mailbox Tuesday....then yesterday one of my preorders shipped (sage 5)....I've been kinda hiding out in the yard these last couple of days....someone's not going to be too happy with me.

[delphidoc]

I'm pretty immune to impulse buying now. I've bought almost all the knives I would want to buy. Lots of them were bought on impulse but I would've bought them sooner or later anyway. The ones I haven't bought are mostly designs that turn me off for one reason or another. Now if you'll excuse me I need to go look for a Police. :D

[shunsui]

Picked up an Ulize and the Kahr Arms Delica that way.

Grabbed them before they're gone sort of thing.

[Holzfaeller]

Were it not for some type of impulse, I would probably only have two pocketknives. Before I buy a knife I ask myself, does it do something that a Delica can't? Then I ignore the answer and buy it anyway.