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Is your dealer your best asset?

For over 20 years we stayed just collectors. Knives in the winter, Fishing in the summer. We would go three to four months without buying a knife. But when that time of year came around I had 4 dealers I would go online and see
They knew our pattern, they knew what we liked. Heck if they found one while I was in Key west they would call and say you want me to hold this one or send you pics?
The bottom line was they knew I was loyal to them and they knew if a knife I would want came through they had a sale. They had a reason to be interested in my collection, they were feeding thier families with it.

Where is all this going? It taught me that always going to find the cheapest price didnt get me a better knife and that person would never know "Jan" bought one of his knives. He would only know some lady in FL wanted a Case whittler
I may spend $5.00 ,ore on a particular knife but it equaled out over the years. My collection filled with the knives I wanted. I once wanted a proto in mammoth, a 1 of 1 swing guard. I put the word out to my dealers. A month or so later we got a call from one of our dealers. It is at a show, how far ca we go?
Brought it to me at less than I was willing to pay. Just becase your dealer doesnt have it, doesnt mean he woulndt run accross it. The question is will he remember you when he sees the knife.

So I am asking, Do you have a dealer, that knows you, knows your collection? One willing to make that call? OR are you buying the knives at whatever site will ship them to an unknon person as long as they paid first

Among Knife Dealers.....you get wht you pay for. If paying 2.00 more means I get a loyal dealer, it is worth it to me

What are your thoughts???

Tags: dealers/prices/values

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Permalink Reply by peter force on March 28, 2014 at 5:27

speaking on production knives only -and IMO only

YES sticking with the same dealer can have many many benefits. also in my experience and this is just IMO. when i have switched because of a deal and the person beats out another dealers price and more. it was a nice deal. sometimes the best price on the web will get ya!..at least me. pulling the trigger to quick!

i learned the hard way as the switch ended up falling through and just in time for their not to be another one at my original dealers. didnt loose any money and went back to same dealer now.. but i still feel like some good healthy competition is in the blood of this country -USA! its what makes it tick!.. so wheeling and dealing needs to be done.. again IMO! ..

i dont sell knives.i have for others and ran tables and have taken inventory and have been in sales of so many other things 16 years of my life. if its one thing in know is that even if you make what you think is the smallest of errors and even if the person is saying"dont worry abouyt it"..somehow making it right.. frree sheath,a few feet of paracord,some g-10 free ship maybe 5$ off .. its the simplle things with me!!

{i have a few folks i buy from on ebay lots and some of the buyer i buy from on a regular basis..lots of times our fiorst order turned out bad but the sller made it so right that i now am 20 knives deep into the guy!...LOL-- EVEN IF YOU ONLY FEEL YOU MESSED UP 1%.. to a buyer ...not all..bot lots..that 1% can be enough to never buy from you again. also im not saying knife sellers should be milked every time either. but if ya mess up dont send an email saying how or why..make it better.. its that easy.. im far from perfect and not pointing finger just adding opinion.thanx.

my 2 pennies. SPEAKING ON CUSTOMS IS 100% DIFFERENT..

EDIT-just because someone sells ,collects or carries a knife does not make this person your brother or sister and super friend to the end!.. like all hobbies-studying,reading,,books! and patience is a key.{im trying so hard on the patience thing.}

anybody seen STRIDER?-example.

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Permalink Reply by peter force on March 28, 2014 at 5:42

AGREE.. with customs what is nice i you will every once in awhile get a call from the dealer your working with for a "first dibs " you could say aamd ijm what i would consider faar down the totem pole of a SUPER KNIFE BUYER! or whatever.. i buy a lot but not 100k on customs{wish i coud..lol} ..vincent your right ghough when i have bought customs in the oapast..although most of the time i like to buy right from the maker...but..im sorry .off track..what ui was saying is that your custom dealer gets tioo know you and not just that you like stag or ivory but you happen to really like the one he has put away.. and yes i have spent a little more in times lke this but if anything its just to say THANX FOR THE HEADS UP ON AN AWESOME KNIFE BROTHER!!!!

Vincent C. Mazzei said:

I do not rely on any one specific dealer for production made knives,but mainly because I'm most into custom made knives. Now as far as custom handmade knives go,I definitely look at certain dealer's offerings ,because I know they specialize in certain makers knives. I never bought enough from any one dealer to put myself in the category of a loyal frequent buyer,at least in my mind,but have always been treated like I was. With a dealer,you get the dealer's garauntee,and,the makers garauntee backing that dealer,so IMHO,it is worth the extra.

As I became a dealer,I specialize in selling knives,from a select group of mkers that I stand by,but most important,they are actually good friends too,and business associates. They offer knives that I personally would own & use , and are in the scope of the types of knives I'm interested in.

I pride myself on 100% shipping success in the U.S. and around the World . I have many,many repeat customers , some very good friends . Some are very loyal,and do not blink an eye at my mark up,witch is modest, and at times fully disclosed so the buyer knows the cost if he wanted to order direct ,wait it out & go that route.

So if I was asked I'd say if you plan to collect,accumulate or you consider yourself a knife enthusiast,to select a reputable dealer to help ,for any,or all purchases.

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In MemoriamPermalink Reply by Robert Burris on March 28, 2014 at 15:27

I am not sure if my dealers remember me? I buy a lot of vintage knives that the dealers just don't have. I buy just a few new knives each year mostly from the same two dealers. They treat me well and one of them worked out a deal on one particular purchase [I have not forgotten that]. I guess I could ask them about finding me some vintage knives.

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Permalink Reply by Andrew Roy on March 31, 2014 at 12:46

I don't buy from dealers much, but I sell to dealers a lot. Selling to the dealers evens everything out and lessens the severity of the ebbs in the ebb and flow of my business. The first time I wrote up an invoice and gave the 25% discount, I about had a stroke. It got easier though, and nowadays I just ignore that spot on the invoice alltogether. The fact is that I get a lot out of my relationships with dealers. They do shows, and they market my knives, and they have a lot of insight into the business, and almost always good advice. In addition, I save time packing and shipping by shipping them a bunch at once. Nowadays when I do my cashflow projections, I just use the dealer rate. Then anything sold direct is just gravy!