Spyderco Forums

Mushroom wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 07, 2025 12:03 am

The perks of shopping in person are great but it still feels like I'm paying full asking price plus tax at the seconds sale in person just to subsidize all of these mystery box freebies.

As someone who hasn't been able to make it to Colorado in person for the Second Sale. I honestly envy those of you that can. I know ya'll camp out in the cold and what not but that's the privilege of being able to be first. Mystery boxes are totally random some people got banger deals and others got close to 200 dollars worth of value. If you are able to go in person you get first dibs and get to pick exactly what you want.

The experience of being there is well worth it -

Missed it by two weeks this year - will make it someday

In person is a completely animal you get what you want. You get to inspect. You get to buy up to 25 knives. I’ve been to five seconds sales they are awesome.

If it's a pity party, how about the international Spyderco fans that cant either attend in person or even buy a mystery box!
The only seconds I’ve ever got have been those slipped qc and brought at normal price through authorised dealers

I am simply gratefull that Spyderco gives us the sales . It is an opportunity for me to try there products that I might not be able to afford otherwise.

I know it’s easy for me to say that online sales are great, that’s only because I can’t make it in person.

I am good with online sales if:
1. The online sale takes place after the in person sale. This will allow in person buyers first pick of all the knives. The online buyers then only get the “left overs” that did not sell.

2. Getting a bit of a deal is okay and possibly deserved in a mystery box. For one you have no idea what you are getting and you also have no idea the quality of knife. After all it’s what was left behind from the in person sale. There is enough risk that you could get a box with nothing you want/need.

3. Finally the mystery box is awesome, but just because you went in person doesn’t mean it’s still not available to everyone. Everyone can get in on these.

I think Spyderco does an amazing job and have both an in person sale (the priority) and a online second sale they make a lot of people very happy. I am very thankful for what they do and plan to buy a box next year if I am lucky enough for them to offer it again.

WilliamMunny wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 07, 2025 5:47 pm

I know it’s easy for me to say that online sales are great, that’s only because I can’t make it in person.

I am good with online sales if:
1. The online sale takes place after the in person sale. This will allow in person buyers first pick of all the knives. The online buyers then only get the “left overs” that did not sell.

2. Getting a bit of a deal is okay and possibly deserved in a mystery box. For one you have no idea what you are getting and you also have no idea the quality of knife. After all it’s what was left behind from the in person sale. There is enough risk that you could get a box with nothing you want/need.

3. Finally the mystery box is awesome, but just because you went in person doesn’t mean it’s still not available to everyone. Everyone can get in on these.

I think Spyderco does an amazing job and have both an in person sale (the priority) and a online second sale they make a lot of people very happy. I am very thankful for what they do and plan to buy a box next year if I am lucky enough for them to offer it again.

This is where I am landing as well - in-person gets first pick, and mystery boxes are luck of the draw, so a slightly lower price point for less choice is okay, plus in-person, if they have access to the mystery boxes, they get best of both worlds.


The mystery boxes may increase the likelihood of reselling, simply because not getting exactly what you are looking for means you are more willing to sell off, and the margins are proving better, but I think it is still a win all around.


I think a good balance was struck this year!

Red Leader wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 07, 2025 10:15 am

Mushroom wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 07, 2025 12:03 am

The perks of shopping in person are great but it still feels like I'm paying full asking price plus tax at the seconds sale in person just to subsidize all of these mystery box freebies.

Nick,

This is an interesting point and perhaps a thought simmering just below the surface for folks. What's funny is I didn't really think of it, but it definitely got brought up when I started talking to my wife about it - her first question after hearing about the mystery boxes was 'wait, so you stayed in line overnight and paid those prices, but all these folks could just order a box and get a better deal?' I'm also not the most economical Spyderco shopper since I like going to the SFO to pick up a new knife and handle a few out of group to find one I like and talk to the crew there, so I sort of view that as the benefit I get from paying retail, so my perspective is one of many different takes.

It's a tough one. She said that Spyderco should just send one of those mystery boxes as a freebee to the top paying customers at the Seconds Sale (of which you are probably a part of haha, and I am definitely not), but then you run into the 'reseller' issue.

EDIT: I realize that it's a hard balance to keep. No matter what, it is nearly impossible to make all groups happy. Maybe Spyderco was counteracting for the boxes they had in years past that didn't seem like nearly the same type of deal? My co-worker got a box this year, and we opened it there in the store - he got what I feel was an amazing deal, better than I got at the Seconds Sale and I came away quite happy for him, and knowing that he is now carrying mainly Spyderco and through this deal it might open up a larger world to him, so that is really cool. So at least from an aspect of 'new to knives/Spyderco', I think this level of deal has potential to win many over. Nick you would know better than I do since you've been around a lot longer; how do you think Spyderco does with its most loyal customers and what type of appreciation does it as a business show them, in your experience?

Maybe there is a way to even the playing field at the in-person event by offering like a '50% off any 1 single knife for anyone paying over XXX', or have some of these mystery boxes available that day, or I dunno. But some more in-person engagement. There is a lot more investment from the folks that come to the Seconds Sale, or even stay overnight, or stay over multiple nights, or even fly in from thousands of miles away.

I hadn't really thought about it until we heard about a mystery box with 8 knives in it. Then from another source I heard about someone who received a box with nearly $550 in value. Don't know if they were talking about the same box but it was definitely what gave me pause.

I totally understand and appreciate the perks of shopping in person. That experience is why I continue to make the effort to attend every year but I’d be lying if I said it doesn’t feel a little different now. In a way it feels like we're being charged for all of that now. Seeing the mystery box deals makes it feel like those of us paying asking price in person are, in a way, subsidizing even better value for those who aren’t making the same effort to attend the traditional in person sale.

I agree that it’s a tough balance and I know there was no ill intent from Spyderco behind any of it - quite the opposite actually. When I started seeing the reports from people opening mystery boxes, my first thought was also that it was an attempt to recover some PR from their past attempts at online seconds sales. The value this year was unexpectedly astounding, in a good way.

It's difficult to say any of this without sounding selfish or like I'm asking for handouts but that's not my intention at all. Choosing to attend the traditional seconds sale in person is entirely my decision. One I make with excitement every year and I don't do it expecting any thing special for being there. There's just a contrast that stands out more this year than in year's past.

I definitely spent a fair amount but, still, I don't know if I spent enough to be considered one of the top spenders. Even if I was, I don't know if I deserve anything special for it. (but I wouldn't turn it down either ) If we're throwing out ideas though... I'm not short of any.

I definitely do not want to see them take away the mystery boxes at this point! I actually think they're a good idea to get factory seconds out to the shoppers who refuse to attend the traditional sale in person. They're a good way to get people excited about the brand and they clearly deliver strong value now. (I would have bought a mystery box too but I was trying to be fair. I didn't want to take away from someone who didn't attend the traditional sale) To answer your question about loyal customers, I can only speak for myself. I’ve been a loyal Spyderco customer for a bit over 13 years, so I haven’t been around long enough to qualify for any benefits like that. From what I’ve seen though, Spyderco shows an admirable level of appreciation toward their most dedicated, long time fans. I'd like to get there some day.

With how the secondary market is right now I'd still prefer knives I want instead of random, even at a 2:1 price ratio. Especially as I don't treat the hobby as a way of making money

But being in the EU I can only look at threads like this one and wring my hands with envy xD.

Mushroom wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 08, 2025 5:28 pm

I definitely spent a fair amount but, still, I don't know if I spent enough to be considered one of the top spenders. Even if I was, I don't know if I deserve anything special for it.

I think we're in agreement on this. Consider the following:

The folks attending the Seconds Sale are the elite, the doctors and lawyers who can afford to take a week off of work and jaunt half way across the country to rub elbows with other one-percenters. Wouldn't it be nice if some discounts could go to the guy who can't attend the sale because he's working a double shift at the Slate Rock and Gravel Company just to put food on the table and shoes on his baby's feet? Every time I feel envious of someone who got some nice stuff, I feel ashamed.

RustyIron wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 09, 2025 9:34 am

Mushroom wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 08, 2025 5:28 pm

I definitely spent a fair amount but, still, I don't know if I spent enough to be considered one of the top spenders. Even if I was, I don't know if I deserve anything special for it.

I think we're in agreement on this. Consider the following:

The folks attending the Seconds Sale are the elite, the doctors and lawyers who can afford to take a week off of work and jaunt half way across the country to rub elbows with other one-percenters. Wouldn't it be nice if some discounts could go to the guy who can't attend the sale because he's working a double shift at the Slate Rock and Gravel Company just to put food on the table and shoes on his baby's feet? Every time I feel envious of someone who got some nice stuff, I feel ashamed.

*raises hand*

Allow me to provide an alternate perspective!

A lot of folks who come early are retired, and for some this is their vacation. I came a day early with my son, which became the equivalent of ‘fishing trip’ time. I took off work for this day back in January.

I am simply blessed to lived about an hour from the factory, and I originally moved here with no awareness of that fact.

One of the early guys in line was a construction worker who had a job out here and just had his job finished and decided to spend an extra day or two in Colorado.



As far as me? No doctoring or lawyering here lol I’m about as far from elite as you get

RustyIron wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 09, 2025 9:34 am

Mushroom wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 08, 2025 5:28 pm

I definitely spent a fair amount but, still, I don't know if I spent enough to be considered one of the top spenders. Even if I was, I don't know if I deserve anything special for it.

I think we're in agreement on this. Consider the following:

The folks attending the Seconds Sale are the elite, the doctors and lawyers who can afford to take a week off of work and jaunt half way across the country to rub elbows with other one-percenters. Wouldn't it be nice if some discounts could go to the guy who can't attend the sale because he's working a double shift at the Slate Rock and Gravel Company just to put food on the table and shoes on his baby's feet? Every time I feel envious of someone who got some nice stuff, I feel ashamed.

This hypothetical person is prioritizing a $200 mystery box of luxury knives when he needs to work a double shift at the Slate Rock and Gravel Company just to put food on the table and shoes on his baby's feet??? He deserves those double shifts.

Anyway... I don't know how this turned into a class war. I was just sharing my thoughts on the value comparison to years past.

Mushroom wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 09, 2025 11:28 am

RustyIron wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 09, 2025 9:34 am

Mushroom wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 08, 2025 5:28 pm

I definitely spent a fair amount but, still, I don't know if I spent enough to be considered one of the top spenders. Even if I was, I don't know if I deserve anything special for it.

I think we're in agreement on this. Consider the following:

The folks attending the Seconds Sale are the elite, the doctors and lawyers who can afford to take a week off of work and jaunt half way across the country to rub elbows with other one-percenters. Wouldn't it be nice if some discounts could go to the guy who can't attend the sale because he's working a double shift at the Slate Rock and Gravel Company just to put food on the table and shoes on his baby's feet? Every time I feel envious of someone who got some nice stuff, I feel ashamed.

This hypothetical person is prioritizing a $200 mystery box of luxury knives when he needs to work a double shift at the Slate Rock and Gravel Company just to put food on the table and shoes on his baby's feet??? He deserves those double shifts.

Anyway... I don't know how this turned into a class war. I was just sharing my thoughts on the value comparison to years past.

Nick,

I didn't know you were the other half... do I need to start calling you sir?

Again, I will say Spyderco does an amazing job making the in person experience awesome giving people value for their purchases. Spyderco also does a good job allowing some limited online second sale giving fans who can't make it out to CO a chance to be part of the experience. Win/win in my book, while not perfect, they are doing a pretty great job.

WilliamMunny wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 09, 2025 11:36 am

Mushroom wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 09, 2025 11:28 am

RustyIron wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 09, 2025 9:34 am

Mushroom wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 08, 2025 5:28 pm

I definitely spent a fair amount but, still, I don't know if I spent enough to be considered one of the top spenders. Even if I was, I don't know if I deserve anything special for it.

I think we're in agreement on this. Consider the following:

The folks attending the Seconds Sale are the elite, the doctors and lawyers who can afford to take a week off of work and jaunt half way across the country to rub elbows with other one-percenters. Wouldn't it be nice if some discounts could go to the guy who can't attend the sale because he's working a double shift at the Slate Rock and Gravel Company just to put food on the table and shoes on his baby's feet? Every time I feel envious of someone who got some nice stuff, I feel ashamed.

This hypothetical person is prioritizing a $200 mystery box of luxury knives when he needs to work a double shift at the Slate Rock and Gravel Company just to put food on the table and shoes on his baby's feet??? He deserves those double shifts.

Anyway... I don't know how this turned into a class war. I was just sharing my thoughts on the value comparison to years past.

Nick,

I didn't know you were the other half... do I need to start calling you sir?

Again, I will say Spyderco does an amazing job making the in person experience awesome giving people value for their purchases. Spyderco also does a good job allowing some limited online second sale giving fans who can't make it out to CO a chance to be part of the experience. Win/win in my book, while not perfect, they are doing a pretty great job.

It would be even better if folks outside the US would also be able to buy a mystery box.....

While I am definitely blessed to live a relatively comfortable life, I still have to put in many long hours at the Long Hours Plant. I also have limited vacation time and vacation dollars each year, and I choose to use it for things that the whole family can enjoy (my wife and daughters wouldn't necessarily consider camping on the sidewalk at a knife factory to be an ideal vacation). It is unlikely that a 1200 mile trip to Golden will be happening in the foreseeable future, and that is by my choice.

So I appreciate the online 2nds sale and I think the mystery boxes are great for those of us who choose not to make it out there. Yes, many mystery boxes ended up being a far better deal than buying the same knives in person at the 2nds sale, but it's also a gamble on what you'll get. So it evens out. I actually did not buy a mystery box this year because I chose to get what I really wanted and bought a Dyad and a Police 4 at full MAP from a retailer. My decision was not to make the gamble on the box. Same goes for those who bought knives in person at the sale (although everyone at the sale had a chance to buy a box too, same as those who didn't attend). Spyderco gives us all a choice and no one is forced to buy one thing or another (or anything at all).

8th_Note wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 09, 2025 12:06 pm

While I am definitely blessed to live a relatively comfortable life, I still have to put in many long hours at the Long Hours Plant. I also have limited vacation time and vacation dollars each year, and I choose to use it for things that the whole family can enjoy (my wife and daughters wouldn't necessarily consider camping on the sidewalk at a knife factory to be an ideal vacation). It is unlikely that a 1200 mile trip to Golden will be happening in the foreseeable future, and that is by my choice.

So I appreciate the online 2nds sale and I think the mystery boxes are great for those of us who choose not to make it out there. Yes, many mystery boxes ended up being a far better deal than buying the same knives in person at the 2nds sale, but it's also a gamble on what you'll get. So it evens out. I actually did not buy a mystery box this year because I chose to get what I really wanted and bought a Dyad and a Police 4 at full MAP from a retailer. My decision was not to make the gamble on the box. Same goes for those who bought knives in person at the sale (although everyone at the sale had a chance to buy a box too, same as those who didn't attend). Spyderco gives us all a choice and no one is forced to buy one thing or another (or anything at all).

True, my girls didn’t make it out and were none too insterested to spend a 35 degree night in front of the knife factory but were happy to support us at a distance hah.


My wife will become a full-fledged true believer when the Factory Outlet/HQ installs a small coffee shop.

8th_Note wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 09, 2025 12:06 pm

So I appreciate the online 2nds sale and I think the mystery boxes are great for those of us who choose not to make it out there. Yes, many mystery boxes ended up being a far better deal than buying the same knives in person at the 2nds sale, but it's also a gamble on what you'll get. So it evens out. I actually did not buy a mystery box this year because I chose to get what I really wanted and bought a Dyad and a Police 4 at full MAP from a retailer. My decision was not to make the gamble on the box. Same goes for those who bought knives in person at the sale (although everyone at the sale had a chance to buy a box too, same as those who didn't attend). Spyderco gives us all a choice and no one is forced to buy one thing or another (or anything at all).

Pretty much my thinking and process exactly. Mystery box, limit of 1, after the in-person sale seems reasonable. Chance for extra value offsets the unknown nature - and note that the boxes were also said to possibly contain accessories or apparel. So there wasn't even a guarantee that it would've all be knife value.


Personally money's a little tighter this year, and I would rather have one thing I really want than several I just generally liked.

So, I finished my holiday shopping cruising Black Friday deals in the deer stand, got the calculator out after orders for everyone else's gifts were in, and decided I would rather spend $100 on a SPY27 Endela I've been wanting for a while than $200 on a mystery box.

I'm happy for those who enjoyed the seconds sale, happy for those who got good stuff in their boxes, and happy for myself with my new Endela. The overall balance between in-person sale, mystery boxes, and MAP holiday seemed pretty good to me this year. Well done Spyderco.

Personally I think the Mystery Box is a great deal for someone just getting into Spyderco knives. A lot of folks that hang here likely have 20+ knives and probably don't want to chance getting something they already have/had. But, I could be wrong!

Red Leader wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 09, 2025 10:28 am

A lot of folks who come early are retired,

I was just breaking your... uh... pulling your chain, mate. I didn't REALLY think you were doctors and lawyers. Doctors and Lawyers pay full price, but if they DID want to get a discount, they'd send their assistants to stand in line.

I was a little more serious about giving the guy on a budget a chance with an online seconds sale. But that's none of my business really, and the plan is flawed because retired guys like me might have the luxury of altering our schedules so we can be sitting at our desks at 9:00 a.m. MST.

RustyIron wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 09, 2025 6:12 pm

Red Leader wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 09, 2025 10:28 am

A lot of folks who come early are retired,

I was just breaking your... uh... pulling your chain, mate. I didn't REALLY think you were doctors and lawyers. Doctors and Lawyers pay full price, but if they DID want to get a discount, they'd send their assistants to stand in line.

I was a little more serious about giving the guy on a budget a chance with an online seconds sale. But that's none of my business really, and the plan is flawed because retired guys like me might have the luxury of altering our schedules so we can be sitting at our desks at 9:00 a.m. MST.

unnamed-2.jpg

Planning to take off work one day, I got in line at like 3am at an estate sale because they had a lathe in the corner of some small picture online, and I thought I was first in line, but then some old guy, who was truly the first in line with his little box, gets out of his car and comes to talk to me and tells me he wants the lathe. Can't beat the retired folks. I just went to work that day lol.