"Knife People" more price sensitive?

[ZrowsN1s]

I don't know why people buy over priced knives on ebay. If you're not 'price sensitive' you can always pay too much at BentoBox or some other fine shops that at least sell new and exclusive items.

[TkoK83Spy]

That's very sound advice Matt, especially with the overall dislike of BentoBox. I'd buy from them over a random ebay people or the prices some of the certified sellers sell at. Something for the ebay hawks to consider.

[ZrowsN1s]

Ya I don't like overpaying, but if I was going to I'd be more likely to do it there or KnifeVault, than I ever would ebay. At least with Bento you get what's advertised. Who knows what'll show up and in what condition from ebay.

I've had the best luck selling and buying used knives with mutual followers on instaG. I don't gouge them, they don't gouge me, and stuff is generally as advertised.

[Big John]

I see the Ukraine flag on a thread concerning inflation and there's too much irony for me to post.

[ladybug93]

I see the Ukraine flag on a thread concerning inflation and there's too much irony for me to post.

and yet you did. don't do that please. no politics.

[Enactive]

I wouldn't generalize about 'knife people' based on Ebay nor based on one anecdote.

[Airlsee]

Side note: ebay takes 13% of sale price + tax and shipping...a $300 sale with free shipping nets the seller ~$240 if insured...

I've sold knives that were considerably marked up on eBay and that I had listed elsewhere for much less, I offered the sellers who sent low-ball offers discounts if we transacted off of eBay and they all paid eBay's prices...

eBay = comfort for a lot of people

[Sharp Guy]

I like a good deal as much as anyone but by no means would I consider myself as cheap. I could buy a nice used car with the money I've spent on knives that I still own. I'm on ebay quite often because I sell some items I make there. So sometimes (actually today) I'll look at what people are asking for some knives and it's ridiculous. I really have no problem with them asking those kind of prices but it's not something I want bad enough to overpay for it. If someone want to call me tight then I'm ok with it. I have a word for them but I won't repeat it here. I'd say I'm just not stupid. I'm smart enough to know what a reasonable mark up on something is

[BornIn1500]

Does your friend sell other items that are restricted to being sold at a MAP? Maybe the knife guys think that a seller could be willing to accept less, even though they can't advertise for less because of the MAP.

[phaust]

Anyone particularly interested in something will know more about normal prices so be more sensitive to price. It's not a knife or knife person thing specifically at all.

[JRinFL]

Anyone particularly interested in something will know more about normal prices so be more sensitive to price. It's not a knife or knife person thing specifically at all.

This is the answer.

[Capt'n Boatsalot]

For myself, it's a two part answer:

First, having focused on this niche market for over a decade now, I am very familiar with the prices of the knives - both Spyderco specific pricing and industry wide pricing for a given set of design/materials/country of origin. Knowing what the price range should be for a given model, adjusted for condition/rarity/material combo results in the max price I'm willing to pay. Cheap? Yeah, probably. But more likely just knowledgeable about exactly what this knife should cost. No reason to pay higher than that, especially for an eBay knife. And on eBay in particular, I'm looking not to just save a few bucks over a new model from an authorized dealer, but rather I'm looking to score a real deal. I mostly search for used knives, ideally ones that are mis-labeled (although that G10 Manbug is in the opposite direction of what I am looking for). eBay includes risk of getting a fake, getting a mis-represented knife (i.e. condition), minimal after sale support, and does not generally support the dealers who commission the exclusives that I prefer and who also carry the entire line. I factor all of this into the max I'll pay on eBay.

Second, I have so many knives, that there are few model/material combos that make me feel like I should pay anything (within reason) for a particular knife. Probably the last knives where I payed full price without thinking hard about it was the CruCarta and Tree-Rex Shamans (~2019-2020). Since then, I've purchased plenty of knives, but nearly all have been a deal of some variety or a used knife that I was able to revive. With maybe a few instances of Sprints/Hard to Find models that I was afraid I wouldn't be able to get in the future (e.g. Native Chief Rex 45 Sprint, TRM Atom).

[wrdwrght]

“Knife people” certainly can be excessive (I’m looking at you and me…) but I don’t think they are any more price-sensitive than other “kinds” of people.

One of modernity’s life-lessons is “Why pay retail?”

Who doesn’t seek a bargain on most things?

[Bolster]

I guess what got lost in the conversation, here, is that there are comparison groups. It's knife buyers vs. buyers of other items.

Sure, everybody likes a good deal...and he must be selling his Kershaws and what not at a good deal too, because he sells plenty of them...yes, eBay is about (modest) deals, compared to retail at least. But this is a little bit like an experiment with control groups. In the knife category in particular, in comparison to other categories, he says, people are exceptionally price sensitive. He judges this by (1) the number of unsolicited lowball offers he gets on knives compared to other items in other categories and (2) by lowering the price of a hundred dollar knife a dollar or two, the knife sells, indicating finely-tuned price sensitivity, compared to other categories.

Though as some of you have pointed out, this is just one report...an anecdote. And perhaps it is unique to Kershaw. I was curious if it paralleled anyone else's experience.

[Superflex]

I've got some really good deals on ebay.
$142 for a new 52100 Para 3
$130 for a new S30V Shaman
Both back in 2020

[Cscottsss]

Well, nobody said us "knife people" are sane. haha

The market is crazy right now, I've got two BNIB Shaman exclusives/Sprint Runs I've had listed for days on another site for absolute steals. They're still available, lol.

With inflation (gas/food/etc.) I think the secondary market has really slowed down.

[James Y]

I'm so glad that I'm not "in the game" of feeling the "need" to acquire every knife, every model variation, steel, special scales, exclusive, etc. If I were, it would totally destroy my enjoyment and appreciation of knives. All my knives are common versions in the lineup, which I'm happy with.

Jim

[RustyIron]

I'm so glad that I'm not "in the game" of feeling the "need" to acquire every knife, every model variation, steel, special scales, exclusive, etc. If I were, it would totally destroy my enjoyment and appreciation of knives.

Right on, brother.

I’m also glad that I don’t have to stress out whether some “flipper” is going to make twenty bucks by selling me a knife that I really want.

Seriously… who are the REAL profiteers? The kid making a few bucks from knife sales on eBay? The folks at DLT Trading who mark up the wholesale prices? Or those Glesser boys whose chefs serve them an Iranian caviar snack every morning as they’re whisked off to the office in the company EC155?

I don’t understand the hating directed at those who carry nicer knives, sell nicer knives, or have the means to purchase nicer knives… Wait… that’s a lie. I do have a clue as to why people are haters. I’m no theologian, but if I recall correctly, there was a guy with a beard, a burning bush, some tablets, and an admonition against covetousness. Whether you buy into that legend or not, it seems like sound advice.

[Albatross]

Every so often a new thread is started on here, complaining about MAP pricing, along with arguments about how the prices should be lower because X brand sells a comparable model for $50 less. It's not surprising that an ebay seller would run into some unhappy people. The fees that were mentioned probably don't help. First world problems.

[Theldraskien]

When I’m looking at knives listed on eBay I’m generally looking for good deals on used items. Any AFI will know the difference between a good deal on a good condition used item and a highball list price on an item that is in much worse condition than the description suggests.

I see a lot of sellers listing knives as “like new” with snapped tips, chipped blades, rust spots, etc. If I know it’s going to take me two hours of tinkering to bring it back to to life, then I’m factoring that into my offer and I will let the seller know.

Often sellers don’t recognize this and/or think that the knife still retains 100% (or more) of its value despite the obvious blemishes. Most of the time they tell me I’m crazy and quote me the list price of a brand new one. Sometimes I can get a bargain on a knife that I can work on for a while and make it my own that way.

I have gotten some decent value out of eBay auctions on used Spydies and SAKs, but there needs to be mutual agreement about the true value of the item. The best way to start the conversation is to ask for some additional pictures and go from there. Sometimes people just don’t know any better, especially if they don’t do their own maintenance.