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Things to look out for when buying a knife via mailing lists.

I'm trying to update "a pocket guide to knives" The section I'm working on now is online buying. I'm trying to come up with things for the buyer to look out for. Below is what I have so far. Does anyone have any other words of wisdom they'd like to add:

Is the person a regular contributor on the list? If they are new to the list and have just dropped by to sell stuff how do you know you can trust them? The only way you can know for sure is if you are regular member of the list. Join the list, participate and learn about the list. Otherwise your buying opportunity is about as trustworthy as buying a Rolex out of the trunk of car in an alley. Make sure you an the seller are regular and preferably long time members. Know who you are buying from!

Has other people dealt with the person? Again who can vouch for the honesty of the seller? Have other people on the list dealt with this person and had a positive experience?

Is the seller a dealer or just another collector? Is this a person who runs an eBay store or Flea market booth and is just fishing for a new market or is it another collector who is looking to sell or trade because their tastes have changed. When they ask for the payment are they giving you a personal name or a business name. What type of address are you mailing the payment to? Are you doing a PayPal transaction? Again, know who you are dealing with.

Have you seen pictures of the item you plan to buy? What guarantees have been offered? Do not buy an item if the person cannot provide pictures of the product. Ask if you can return it if you don't like it. Ask about mailing charges. Normally shipping charges are something that you will be stuck with. So find out as much as possible about the product before sending a person money.

Is the seller a Nagging Nick? Once you asked about a knife does the person start sending unsolicited offers to your email? Does he continue to do it even after you have asked him to stop? Report him to the list administrator and report to your eamil provider as Spam. Don't be forced into buying simply because you emailed the guy about a knife.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Scheuerman (Manx) on August 16, 2013 at 16:30

Some good questions there, Tobias. How about...

Does the seller know his stuff? - Are the photos available for the knife you are looking to purchase good pictures? Are they including what you need to see...like the tang stamp? A centred blade? Actual wear and tear if any? Or are they glam photos that gloss over the imperfections? Is the seller willing to take or send you more pictures when you ask for them?

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Permalink Reply by Chuck Parham on August 17, 2013 at 5:18

Do they communicate well? Does the seller answer your questions in a timely fashion? Do they provide information you are seeking? Are they willing to provide additional information or pictures from a different angle or with better lighting? Do they make you feel like you are bothering them with short and sometimes rude answers to your questions? Maybe the most important thing is how do you feel about the seller after communicating with them.

I've been turned off of a buyer with one word answers to a question that should take a little more information. Or once a seller asked me "What do you expect for that price?" If a seller truely wants your business they'll treat you like a customer and not a bothersome neighbor.

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Permalink Reply by Chuck Parham on August 17, 2013 at 5:20

By the way, GREAT topic Tobias!! Can't wait to read your guide!

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Permalink Reply by Ken Spielvogel on August 17, 2013 at 5:25

Tobias, at the risk of sounding dumb - What is a mailing list? Where do you find them? Are you referring to ebay and the like or are these "lists" found somewhere else? Thanks.

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Permalink Reply by Tobias Gibson on August 17, 2013 at 9:23

Ken, Mailing list is becoming and arcahic term for discussion groups like I Knife Collector. I believe I'm showing my internet age. I'm might need to change that to Online Discussion Group or Social Media Forum to keep up with the "hep crowd"

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In MemoriamPermalink Reply by Robert Burris on August 17, 2013 at 9:56

Great Job Tobias. I'm like Ken, I guess. Where is this list? What type people are on this list? Is it the list that rates, the seller on Ebay? Sorry, I'm showing my internet age, too, I guess...lol

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Permalink Reply by Mike Bryant on August 17, 2013 at 10:44

Is the seller a dealer or just another collector?

Is the person a regular contributor on the list?

Just My opinion, but the safest form of payment for the Buyer and Seller is PAY-PAL. REGARDLESS if the Person is a Regular or a Newbie.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Hanner on August 17, 2013 at 12:11

I have been part of this site for a long time, almost since it started. I have always told folks looking to sell here that participating first and getting to know folks. sharing information and photos is far better than just joining and putting up a post "knives for sale" You can do it but I seriously doubt you get too many offers.

People try anyway and I can see the results.

On the other side of the coin, I have made the mistake of prepaying on a knife and never getting delivery too and that was someone I knew! (Or thought I did)So It does not always work that way either!

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Permalink Reply by Tobias Gibson on August 17, 2013 at 12:20

So ture, Steve. another good point to make is that with discussion groups/mailing lists there is always the inherent risk of paying for the knife and not receiving it even if you take appropriate precautions.

Steve Hanner said:

I have been part of this site for a long time, almost since it started. I have always told folks looking to sell here that participating first and getting to know folks. sharing information and photos is far better than just joining and putting up a post "knives for sale" You can do it but I seriously doubt you get too many offers.

People try anyway and I can see the results.

On the other side of the coin, I have made the mistake of prepaying on a knife and never getting delivery too and that was someone I knew! (Or thought I did)So It does not always work that way either!

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Permalink Reply by Jack Haskins, Jr. on August 17, 2013 at 12:53

This is a good point. Actually it could work both ways. Knives for instance. I've seen knives on ebay that were described as grandpa's knife drawer knives. There may be a treasure in there that the grandchild may not realize.

Steve Scheuerman (Manx) said:

Some good questions there, Tobias. How about...

Does the seller know his stuff? - Are the photos available for the knife you are looking to purchase good pictures? Are they including what you need to see...like the tang stamp? A centred blade? Actual wear and tear if any? Or are they glam photos that gloss over the imperfections? Is the seller willing to take or send you more pictures when you ask for them?

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Permalink Reply by Ken Spielvogel on August 17, 2013 at 14:26

OK Tobias, I gotcha now about mailing lists. I haven't bought many knives like that if any.

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Permalink Reply by Jan Carter on August 17, 2013 at 19:43

Tobias,

I like this discussion and agree with the points you and others have made. I do not think we have ever bought a knife off a community like ours, other than the community knives. But to be fair, I dont go to the other sites often either.

It brings up a laundry list of questions for me, that's why sites have disclaimers holding them harmless. Paypal with buyer protection would be my only form of payment if I were to do so.