Selling ZDPs

[Rogcohen]

Just a quick question. Was looking on Ebay and I noticed there was someone selling 10 Delica ZDPs :eek: Are these dealers who realize the knives they were going to sell for $70 are now going for $150 and are out to fleece the consumers? Seems harsh that so many people who'd actually use the knife haven't been able to get one due to the price inflation :(

R

[Michael Cook]

:spyder: That's the downside of American capitalism. The d4 in vg-10 is a very nice knife with very nice steel. Honestly this past fiasco with the zdp-189 delica has soured me on sprint runs. I'd love to buy these knives but I won't be exploited by speculators. :spyder:

[bh49]

After Jess Horn come out, I think price is going down. today D4 ZDP-189 was sold for $117. Jess Horn for $90.
In a few weeks second batch of six hundred Delicas will shipped. Than second batch of Jess Horn, than Lum Chinese and than Caly Jr and so on...
I think, everybody will be able to buy some ZDP blade at reasonable price.

[speyederlover]

This is crap. I paid around $70 from NGK. At least NGK has some integrity!

[JD Spydo]

The hard cold facts about this ZDP surge we are witnessing is this. An item is worth what someone is willing to pay for it> Really that is the bottom line.

I do agree that there is some slimey wheeling and dealing on Ebay as well as other internet sources. I have already on many occasions voiced my extreme disapproval of those who sell knives on Ebay that they don't even have physical possession of the said item. I am sorry I think Ebay should ban such crap. I have a good friend who bought a Purple Salsa and paid for it right after the auction. She never got the knife, the seller never responded to her e-mails and she didn't get her money back for about 6 months after the fact.

And for anyone else selling these items when they don't even have them in stock is just down right unscrupulous. But as far as the auctions are concerned>> if the participants want to bid the item up that high and are willing to pay for it then I just don't see anything wrong with that.

This will all dissipate in due time. Market forces are no different that stocks & bonds, precious metals, currencies or any other commodity. But if a guy/gal wants one bad enough to bid it up to Mt. Everest then let them do it. :)

[David Lowry]

:spyder: That's the downside of American capitalism. The d4 in vg-10 is a very nice knife with very nice steel. Honestly this past fiasco with the zdp-189 delica has soured me on sprint runs. I'd love to buy these knives but I won't be exploited by speculators. :spyder:

I agree 100%.

It's a shame really. ;)

[JD Spydo]

I agree 100%.

It's a shame really. ;)

But David don't you think it is sort of the consumers fault for falling into their trap. If people would just not pay the price the people doing it would quit doing it immediately. People buy stuff all the time with the expectation of making a profit on it. I'm not against ticket scalping either. If someone wants to go to a football game bad enough to pay $1000 for a ticket>> then all I got to say is>> that's where a fool's money ended up in the hands of a guy who was a bit smarter than that.

The way around that is to get your order into New Graham or any other great, above board dealer in advance so you won't be in a position to have to pay high prices for them. I would have never paid over $200 for either one of my ZDP-189 Calypso Juniors but a few people did. If someone wants one of mine bad enough to Paypal me $300 my extra one would go out in tomorrow's mail. Our whole economic system is about making a profit. What's totally more obscene than fliping a couple of pocket knives is what this criminal government is doing with gasoline and oil prices. That truly is totally rigged and we don't have a choice in that regard at all.

[BlackNinja]

But David don't you think it is sort of the consumers fault for falling into their trap. If people would just not pay the price the people doing it would quit doing it immediately. People buy stuff all the time with the expectation of making a profit on it. I'm not against ticket scalping either. If someone wants to go to a football game bad enough to pay $1000 for a ticket>> then all I got to say is>> that's where a fool's money ended up in the hands of a guy who was a bit smarter than that.

The way around that is to get your order into New Graham or any other great, above board dealer in advance so you won't be in a position to have to pay high prices for them. I would have never paid over $200 for either one of my ZDP-189 Calypso Juniors but a few people did. If someone wants one of mine bad enough to Paypal me $300 my extra one would go out in tomorrow's mail. Our whole system is about making a profit. What's totally more obscene than fliping a couple of pocket knives is what this criminal government is doing with gasoline and oil prices. That truly is totally rigged and we don't have a choice in that regard at all.
Exactly!!!!!!!!!!
How can you blame someone else for selling a knife above what you think it should be sold for, if you don't put a pre-order in for it? I can't complain if I didn't put an order in for one, and then the price jumps up, because it's a nice knife. Especially if I know only a certain amount are going to be produced. If I'm a seller, I don't expect to make 0% profit on it! If I ordered one for x price, then I don't have to worry about paying double what I should. I have yet to hear of a seller that expects to make a no profit on something. I don't sell on ebay, and rarely sell on other forums. I'm just saying, what do you expect?

[David Lowry]

JD Spydo,

Yeah I do agree with you also. It actually blows me away that people pay so much for the stuff.

I don't have anything against it I was just saying that I will not be caught up in the crazyness. :)

[The Mastiff]

What's totally more obscene than fliping a couple of pocket knives is what this criminal government is doing with gasoline and oil prices. That truly is totally rigged and we don't have a choice in that regard at all.


Please keep your political opinions out of this knife forum. There are places for that stuff. I sure don't want to hear it. Thanks. Joe L.

[Rogcohen]

I don't really have a problem with the prices and people selling on ebay, but what I do have a problem is with distributors selling on ebay. They're supposed to supply from producer (spyderco) to us, and to buy ten or more knives from spyderco as a distributor and then to sell them at auction for more than the recommended retail price seems crooked. Maybe the guy just managed to buy 15 of them from someone, but somehow i doubt that considering how hard they were to get a hold of. Oh well, I just get the feeling there was some shady dealing going on. Distributors telling people they were on waiting lists while selling their knives off for more. That sort of thing...
R

[speyederlover]

Please keep your political opinions out of this knife forum. There are places for that stuff. I sure don't want to hear it. Thanks. Joe L.

Thanks for filling in for Taz Kristi while she is busy...

[BlackNinja]

I don't really have a problem with the prices and people selling on ebay, but what I do have a problem is with distributors selling on ebay. They're supposed to supply from producer (spyderco) to us, and to buy ten or more knives from spyderco as a distributor and then to sell them at auction for more than the recommended retail price seems crooked. Maybe the guy just managed to buy 15 of them from someone, but somehow i doubt that considering how hard they were to get a hold of. Oh well, I just get the feeling there was some shady dealing going on. Distributors telling people they were on waiting lists while selling their knives off for more. That sort of thing...
R
Now, I agree with that 100%! Very good point!

[Civilian]

It comes down to; for me, not buying "new models" off of ebay sellers. I don't mind buying older models, I don't even mind paying a premium for the rarer ones.

[bh49]

I don't really have a problem with the prices and people selling on ebay, but what I do have a problem is with distributors selling on ebay. They're supposed to supply from producer (spyderco) to us, and to buy ten or more knives from spyderco as a distributor and then to sell them at auction for more than the recommended retail price seems crooked. Maybe the guy just managed to buy 15 of them from someone, but somehow i doubt that considering how hard they were to get a hold of. Oh well, I just get the feeling there was some shady dealing going on. Distributors telling people they were on waiting lists while selling their knives off for more. That sort of thing...
R

I feel the same. I know at least two dealers, who sold D4 ZDP on ebay. They are out of my list.

[Ted]

I don't think the second batch of 600 has shipped yet, so I'm pretty confident price will drop to $90-$100 on Ebay, maybe less. Only when the full 1200 are sold out, it will go up again.
The latest auction went for $117, buy-it-nows are at $149 and not many are selling. Regular auctions go to $130 or so. So, comparing to the $225 it started at some weeks ago, prices are dropping fast.
Patience is the key here!

[Tim8557]

I placed a pre-order with a reputable online retailer last Fall....I was supposedly number 28. I still have no knife yet I had no problem going online with another dealer and getting one of the Jess Horns in ZDP for $69 in 3 days. No preorder, no nothing.

Maybe my "reputable" guys got lured into selling his allocation on EBay and the hell with the preorders.

[Harry White]

...I had no problem going online with another dealer and getting one of the Jess Horns in ZDP for $69 in 3 days. No preorder, no nothing.
me too -- i just went online and ordered one tuesday for $79.95 and got it wednesday. ebay is not the only source, but some people act (buy) as if it were.

[eljay]

Note that the Delica that went for $117 was from a guy too lazy to post a picture. I think that cost him about $15.

[Halfneck]

I want a ZDP-189 Delica really bad, but I won't pay the crazy asking prices I see. If I am unable to get one, so be it.

I agree that I think it is wrong if distributers are selling on Ebay at the inflated prices.

[STR]

Anytime I've bit the bullet and paid more for a knife than my gut told me it was worth its kind of funny, because even with as much cussing as I did at the time I'm still here. It never hurt me all that bad and in the long run I never really missed the money or regretted the purchase either. There are some that don't mind just getting the shopping done when they can even if they pay a bit more than they probably need to. To us types that don't particularly enjoy shopping that much its worth it to just get it overwith sometimes.

Now if its thousands upon thousands of dollars it might be a different story but I've paid a $1000 more for a vehicle in my home town that I could have bought in Tulsa for less just because to me in the long run it pays off to be able to have it serviced local just like it pays off to buy a quality product like a Spyderco with a great long term warranty over say a cheaper lesser quality blade for the same or more money with a five year warranty.

Just my thoughts on it.
STR

[The Deacon]

I don't really have a problem with the prices and people selling on ebay, but what I do have a problem is with distributors selling on ebay. They're supposed to supply from producer (spyderco) to us, and to buy ten or more knives from spyderco as a distributor and then to sell them at auction for more than the recommended retail price seems crooked. Maybe the guy just managed to buy 15 of them from someone, but somehow i doubt that considering how hard they were to get a hold of. Oh well, I just get the feeling there was some shady dealing going on. Distributors telling people they were on waiting lists while selling their knives off for more. That sort of thing...
RThat's a pretty strong accusation, do you have any proof to back it up? I know there are a number of dealers selling on eBay, but distributors? I think Spyderco might look unkindly on that.

Beyond that, I'm sorry, but I have no problem with the current prices. These are not essential items, they are trivial luxuries. If they are worth more to someone else than they are to you, or to me, so be it. I tend to reserve terms like "price gouging" and "profiteering" for situations where someone is inflating the price of essential goods or services in the wake of a disaster, or other emergency. This is more like the kids who "have to have" the latest sneakers, even if they are in such short supply that they're selling for more than the list price.

Funny thing, IIRC, one of the posters strongly objecting to the prices ZDP Delicas are bringing sold several ZDP Calypso Jrs on eBay at well over MSRP.

[zenheretic]

I want a ZDP-189 Delica really bad, but I won't pay the crazy asking prices I see. If I am unable to get one, so be it.

I agree that I think it is wrong if distributers are selling on Ebay at the inflated prices.
Hi Halfneck, unless you got something against the Jess Horn...it goes for less and is still ZDP. I just got my today and boy oh boy is it sharp! ;)

[zenheretic]

How many times are we going to beat the price asked for selling of goods on eBay to death?

I'm amazed at how many closet Socialists there are in this group considering we are all knife knuts.

IMO, the only folks with a legitimate gripe are those who preordered from a dealer and didn't get their knives, AND that same dealer had to also sell all the stock on ebay. The problem being, can you prove that is what happened?

[Manix Guy 2]

Here is another thought concerning EBay hold back let the buffoons pay way out of line prices , they will later see the folly . These Delicas will mushroom later on the same site and sell for less . Please all be patient let the market absorb the inflation and circle like sharks later . I share everyones pain I too and playing a waiting game but for me Ebay clowns are not an option .

[thom lambert]

I'm amazed at how many closet Socialists there are in this group considering we are all knife knuts.

:confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:
Now there's an interesting correlation. So, complaining about pricing on Ebay means that someone also believes that all land, resources, and essential services should be owned by the State? That is so much simpler than the way my poli-sci prof explained it. :rolleyes:

[zenheretic]

:confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:
Now there's an interesting correlation. So, complaining about pricing on Ebay means that someone also believes that all land, resources, and essential services should be owned by the State? That is so much simpler than the way my poli-sci prof explained it. :rolleyes:
You harbor a narrow interpretation regarding the definition of socialism. Basically, the chief complaint of many in this thread and approx. 3 others exactly like it is that the price asked is much higher than many wish to pay. However, there are apparently enough willing to pay to keep prices above the bitching threshold up to this point. Essentially the only way to instill a price control upon a product is government legislation...or government control/oversight of distribution...all certainly not capitalistic actions. So until you provide a better word, socialism it is.

[will_77]

Well, to quote an earlier post by Sal: "In the case of ZDP-189, Because of Hitachi's requirements, Japanese manufacture is necessary. I selected the two "preferred" FRN models (CAly jr & Delica) to provide samples of the steel in a high function, cost effective package so those aficianados interested could experience the steel without having too large of a negative impact on the wallet."

I wouldn't presume to put words in Sal's mouth, but I don't think middlemen diverting knives to ebay and more than doubling the price fits into this strategy. Anybody doing so is scum in my opinion.

You can only have ten of any one item listed on ebay at a given time, so we don't know how many will eventually surface from these sellers.

[zenheretic]

Will, you have a good point on that one. Luckily I have faith that Spyderco will meet market demand (eventually) and we will all be happy with prices we are used to...oddly much less than suggested retail price...you know the price Spyderco thinks is reasonable.

[JD Spydo]

Please keep your political opinions out of this knife forum. There are places for that stuff. I sure don't want to hear it. Thanks. Joe L.

EXcuse me SIR!! I was just making an analogous comparison of market actions and how they apply pertaining to the subject matter that was brought up on this thread. I was also asserting that the pumped up prices on these ZDP knives are only the fault of the comsumer who falls for those prices. I don't apologize to you or anyone for saying what I said because it was consistent and right in line with the big picture I was trying to get across to my fellow Spyderco knife enthusiasts. So unless you are one of the owners of Spyderco or an official Spyderco Moderator I suggest you keep your petty criticisms to yourself. You have no rights to censor what I say here on this great Forum>> And that goes for Spyeyderlover as well. I am really surprised at you guys> :(

[zenheretic]

I am really surprised at you guys :(
Honestly JD, some of your ongoing comments regarding local, state, federal government can be rather offensive to some folks. But I just called a bunch of us closet Socialists...so I can't really criticize. :D

[smcfalls13]

Gentlemen, do calm down. It's not worth getting in a fight over. :p

The reason these knives are selling at inflated prices is because there are buyer willing to pay it. Gotta love a capitalist marketplace. If there wasn't someone willing to buy the product, the seller would be forced to drop his/her prices.

The problem is that with "trivial luxuries" such as knives(Deacon is 100% right about that) everyone wants to be "the first on the block" to get the new super cool knife. If everyone would be a little patient, once the rest of the ZDP knives hit the market later this year, there will market saturation of ZDP, in which case the supply of knives exceeds the demand, and prices will drop to reasonable levels.

Regarding JD's political comments, yes they can be irritating at times(we all should know by now that JD loves to criticise the government, but he has every right to do so, even if you don't agree) but in this particular case, I think the gas analogy was perfectly appropriate. The accusation that it's rigged is a little over the top, but the basic premise applies. Gas is not a necessity. It's also a luxury, albeit one our culture is dependent on.

If you don't like JD's posts, or mine for that matter(as I'm sure this post will irritate many), you may feel free to use the ignore feature. You are not obligated to read these posts, and as long as these posts remain civil and appropriate, there is no reason to censor them.

TazKristi and Carlos cannot be here all the time, so it sometimes becomes necessary to moderate ourselves. Just my opinion though, you can always tell me to go **** myself if you so desire. ;)

As was quoted on this forum a while back, "I do better if we stick to knives." :cool: So let's forcus on the original discussion, inflated prices.

[The Mastiff]

TazKristi and Carlos cannot be here all the time, so it sometimes becomes necessary to moderate ourselves. Just my opinion though, you can always tell me to go **** myself if you so desire.

As was quoted on this forum a while back, "I do better if we stick to knives

I'm not even attempting a moderation of this forum. I don't do anything I don't get paid to. I do attempt to stay in the forum rules by not making personal attacks, swearing etc but when some nutball starts ranting about my country and it's elected government on a forum dedicated to Spyderco knives in particular I'm gonna tell them about it untill the moderator removes my membership. We both certainly can have opinions. I attempted to express mine politely with just a reminder, that time.

JD, I'd da*^ sure say it to your face to. In your retort you didn't even have the nuts to back up your beliefs. You instead twisted it around to make it seem like I objected to your comments about knives and the current market for ZDP knives. Grow a set. :rolleyes: Joe L.

[BlackNinja]

I'm not even attempting a moderation of this forum. I don't do anything I don't get paid to. I do attempt to stay in the forum rules by not making personal attacks, swearing etc but when some nutball starts ranting about my country and it's elected government on a forum dedicated to Spyderco knives in particular I'm gonna tell them about it untill the moderator removes my membership. We both certainly can have opinions. I attempted to express mine politely with just a reminder, that time.

JD, I'd da*^ sure say it to your face to. In your retort you didn't even have the nuts to back up your beliefs. You instead twisted it around to make it seem like I objected to your comments about knives and the current market for ZDP knives. Grow a set. :rolleyes: Joe L.
Dude, no need to call him a "nutball," and talking about b@!!$. Don't you think saying a person is a "nutball" is a personal attack? :confused:

As smcfalls said, take it easy!

[peacefuljeffrey]

:spyder: That's the downside of American capitalism. The d4 in vg-10 is a very nice knife with very nice steel. Honestly this past fiasco with the zdp-189 delica has soured me on sprint runs. I'd love to buy these knives but I won't be exploited by speculators. :spyder:


Same here. :mad:

**standing by, watching knife-people tripping over themselves in their frenzy to fleece people just like them. Disgusting**


-Jeffrey

[smcfalls13]

I do attempt to stay in the forum rules by not making personal attacks

An excellent idea.

[QUOTE=The Mastiff]We both certainly can have opinions. I attempted to express mine politely with just a reminder, that time.

Also an excellent idea.

[QUOTE=The Mastiff]JD, I'd da*^ sure say it to your face to. In your retort you didn't even have the nuts to back up your beliefs. You instead twisted it around to make it seem like I objected to your comments about knives and the current market for ZDP knives. Grow a set. :rolleyes:

See now that's just not cool. If that was addressed to me, I'd take that as a personal attack, and I would not consider it polite in the least. If you have a problem with JD, take it to PMs or email, not here. You don't want to see political commentary in this forum? Fine. I don't want to see forumites attacking each other over trivial things.

We all have quirks here, if you stick around long enough you'll see that, and hopefully learn to accept it.

[peacefuljeffrey]

How many times are we going to beat the price asked for selling of goods on eBay to death?

I'm amazed at how many closet Socialists there are in this group considering we are all knife knuts.


I'm no bible expert, but isn't there stuff in the bible that admonishes people to be ethical in their financial dealings, and to charge fair prices?

I think that in many of these cases, the price is set by the seller; it's not as though the price got driven up by auction bidders, each of whom was willing to out-spend the rest. This is a case of greed. There is nothing wrong with making a profit -- that is understood and accepted by all. But an exorbitant profit? One's conscience is supposed to bother him in that case.

-Jeffrey

[txtroublemaker]

Okay, getting back on track here, a ZDP Jess Horn just sold on Ebay with a "Buy It Now" price of $89.99. :D I'd love to see the look on the guys face that paid over two hundred bucks for the first one listed. Looks like prices may be coming back down to reality.

[dialex]

Funny thing, IIRC, one of the posters strongly objecting to the prices ZDP Delicas are bringing sold several ZDP Calypso Jrs on eBay at well over MSRP.

He, he, now that's a funny fact indeed, (but so profoundly human). :o

Now speaking of the ZDP goodies... The ZDP Caly jr. sold pretty well that Spyderco decided to make another run (in Black FRN). So you have the chance of getting a ZDP Caly at a decent price eventually (unless if you're dying after a Burgundy one, and nothing else). I guess this will happen to the Delica as well if the market response is indeed that favorable.

[peacefuljeffrey]

I just saw a whole slew of ZDP Delicas selling with "buy it now" for $149!

I think that blows a huge hole in the assertion that "the buyers are simply paying what they're willing to pay." If that was the case, people would be able to set the auction starting at $0, or even at a reasonable $75 or something and the price would still reach $149 from the bids -- IF that were REALLY what people think they should pay for these.

I wonder if any of these $149 Delicas will expire without getting sold.

But please, don't tell me that it's market pressure driving the price to these extremes, when the "buy it now" price is simply set by the seller at whatever he WANTS to get for the knife. That's hardly a price driven by the consumer's willingness to shell out boocoo bucks for such a knife.

-Jeffrey

[The Mastiff]

you can always tell me to go **** myself if you so desire.

Yeah, uh, we're getting kind of close. I'd appreciate if you'd back off now. Thanks. Joe L.

[dialex]

Regarding JD's political comments, yes they can be irritating at times(we all should know by now that JD loves to criticise the government, but he has every right to do so, even if you don't agree)

Why shouldn't you criticize the government? You are paying their wages after all.
If you run a company, you have the right (and the obligation) to survey your employees and criticize them if they are not doing their job well. But when it comes to politicians, this subject becomes suddently tabu, like they are a class of untouchable elites (which in fact they are, but on taxpayers expense) :mad:

[smcfalls13]

Yeah, uh, we're getting kind of close. I'd appreciate if you'd back off now. Thanks. Joe L.

Gladly. :cool:

[smcfalls13]

Why shouldn't you criticize the government? You are paying their wages after all.
If you run a company, you have the right (and the obligation) to survey your employees and criticize them if they are not doing their job well. But when it comes to politicians, this subject becomes suddently tabu, like they are a class of untouchable elites (which in fact they are, but on taxpayers expense) :mad:

I have no problem with criticizing the government, and I do it periodically myself. I was merely pointing out that some people don't take kindly to political attacks. I think it's entertaining personally. But some of the more "patriotic" people seem to take offense to it.

Sorry if that came across as me being against government criticism.

[The Mastiff]

Why shouldn't you criticize the government? You are paying their wages after all.

Dialex, I , like most others do just that. This isn't the place for it though. There are thousands of forums just for that. This is a spyderco knive forum. That was initially my point anyway. Joe L.

[zenheretic]

Okay, getting back on track here, a ZDP Jess Horn just sold on Ebay with a "Buy It Now" price of $89.99. :D I'd love to see the look on the guys face that paid over two hundred bucks for the first one listed. Looks like prices may be coming back down to reality.
I missed out on the Delica, but I'm more than happy with the ZDP Horn! It is sooooooo sharp. :spyder: :cool: I got it with a pre-Order from a fair and reputable dealer who has yet to screw me on highly inflationary sprints.

[txtroublemaker]

Zen,
Don't give up on the Delica, there are deals out there. When the ZDP Caly's were bringing crazy money, I picked one up for $75. Me, just like most of us here could easily put up the cash that some of these ZDP knives are selling for, but why? There was the initial frenzy when they came out, $200 plus for some of the first ones. GP knives had some Jess Horns briefly for a very reasonable price, one went on Ebay for $89. For me, part of the fun is the thrill of the hunt. Good prices are out there, you just need to find them. If Spyderco only made a 600 piece run of ZDP knives and was never going to produce anymore, with out question, I would throw down the money to own one. Not all of these are out and there are more models in the pipeline. I’m not going to throw good money away to be the first kid on the block to have the latest greatest. Now, if I had ten of these laying around, I would absolutely sell them for every penny I could get. Does that make me bad, probably, I’m just being honest. :p

[zenheretic]

Hey you Troublemaker, not giving up, just waiting for the next 600 to flood out....I also seem to have forgotten I got my CC# ZDP Delica :rolleyes: so in essence, I have one already, just waiting for the market to kick it down a couple notches to get another.
;)

[Manix Guy 2]

I have not been so amused in a very long time , so here goes ! Don't step on that Dwarf ! Hand me the pliers ! Take that Mr. Smarty Pants Communist ! -Firesign Theater . Just thought it was time to inject something off the wall , I respect all of you , have a good day , and after work enjoy a cold beverage of your choice !

[zenheretic]

I have not been so amused in a very long time , so here goes ! Don't step on that Dwarf ! Hand me the pliers ! Take that Mr. Smarty Pants Communist ! -Firesign Theater . Just thought it was time to inject something off the wall , I respect all of you , have a good day , and after work enjoy a cold beverage of your choice !
Best words yet for this thread. ;)

[catamount]

Joe L.,

This forum is the best that I've seen in terms of posters having civility and respect towards one another.

I don't know what you're used to, but your posts on this thread are inappropriate and offensive by this forum's standards.

[Chucula]

im selling my zdp caly right now :D . I have 3 knives that i like and will admire (blackhawk/spyderhawk/lum FB) but the rest will be used and i dont even want to try sharpening zdp.
I dont have a problem with people selling the knives at higher prices. I think its a great way to make a bit of money if your timing is right--in my case, i think i have already surpassed what i initially paid.
However, I wouldnt be happy if one of those online distributors bought all the zdp delicas from NGK or GPK before i had a chance to click buy.

As a side note, ive notice this place deteriorate a bit over the past few weeks (although i wont point fingers. no, it wasnt just 1 or 2 people). I suggest posting more thoughtfully and with a bit of humility. Then again, it could be my imagination but the advice seems good IMO.

[Rogcohen]

[QUOTE=peacefuljeffrey]I just saw a whole slew of ZDP Delicas selling with "buy it now" for $149!

Hi Jefferey. Those knives are the ones that got me to start this post, there are ten of them, all by the same seller (and as someone pointed out earlier, you can only sell ten at a time). And that was my point. whoever is selling these knives is not a knife collector. To have at least 10 (and probably more) indicates they are in some way a dealer or distributor and should be doing so in a fair practice. I don't mind the high prices so much, hell, if it got back up to $200, I'd sell mine in a heartbeat. Also remember, if companies can sell knives on to us at $40-50 below the recommended price, that means they are buying them for less than that! So for a dealer to be selling Delicas ZDPs for $149 means they are making a 250% profit. Once again, that's not just capitalising, that's abuse.

If the purpose of the Delica ZDP is to get a great ZDP knife out in a cost effective manner to knife collectors such as ourselves, then maybe there should be contracts with the distributors/dealers in regards to prices, preorders and ebay so we, the knife users and collectors, don't end up getting fleeced.

As a note, it's obviously not all like this and there are some great dealers out there. I got my ZDP off some company i'd never heard of, and they were excellent, and then there's NGK etc....

[eljay]

I don't think some of you guys quite get the point of "buy it now". "buy it now" is almost never a good deal. What "buy it now" is for is people who are some combination of impatient, who don't like the auction format, and who aren't particularly price sensitive.

I was listing items at $20 starting price auction, $25 buy it now for a long time and you would get people with very little time left in the auction paying the buy it now price because they just wanted to lock it in and pay immediately without coming back in a few hours to see what happened, and they just didn't care about the $5.

I put a ZDP Delica in my eBay store for $149.95. I didn't expect it to sell any time soon - at the time auctions were ending at $130ish (about like now) and there were a couple a day, and store items show up at the very end of search. I was counting on the fact it's just a couple of cents to list the item in the store for 30 days and if the prices eventually went back up, fine. It sold in a day or two. Why? Because all it takes is one guy willing to pay a $20 premium to not deal with the auction format. He just wanted to pay, get it done, get the knife.

I had a similar knife go for $150 earlier and the buyer commented that he was picking it up because he wanted a knife inexpensive enough to actually use. Think about that one a bit.

[speyederlover]

EXcuse me SIR!! I was just making an analogous comparison of market actions and how they apply pertaining to the subject matter that was brought up on this thread. I was also asserting that the pumped up prices on these ZDP knives are only the fault of the comsumer who falls for those prices. I don't apologize to you or anyone for saying what I said because it was consistent and right in line with the big picture I was trying to get across to my fellow Spyderco knife enthusiasts. So unless you are one of the owners of Spyderco or an official Spyderco Moderator I suggest you keep your petty criticisms to yourself. You have no rights to censor what I say here on this great Forum>> And that goes for Spyeyderlover as well. I am really surprised at you guys> :(

JD,

I'm sorry I gave you the idea that I was on the noob's side as far as his self proclaimed moderator status goes. I was being sarcastic. Sarcasm doesn't really go over very well on the net. No hard feelings I hope. I really respect you as a member of the forum.

[The Mastiff]

I'm sorry I gave you the idea that I was on the noob's side as far as his self proclaimed moderator status goes.

This is a dead issue. Please don't try to provoke trouble with petty insults aimed at me but spoken to another. It's pretty much over already unless the mods decide to step in. Joe. L

[WORKER#9]

This is a dead issue. Please don't try to provoke trouble with petty insults aimed at me but spoken to another. It's pretty much over already unless the mods decide to step in. Joe. L

I vote they make you a MOD!! Your so good! NOT!!!!!!!!! :rolleyes:

[speyederlover]

This is a dead issue. Please don't try to provoke trouble with petty insults aimed at me but spoken to another. It's pretty much over already unless the mods decide to step in. Joe. L


So does this mean you are stepping in again? :D

[TazKristi]

I'm about to step in... end it here. Civility goes a long way, so does turning the other cheek.

Kristi

[JspyEDC]

Here is another thought concerning EBay hold back let the buffoons pay way out of line prices , they will later see the folly . These Delicas will mushroom later on the same site and sell for less . Please all be patient let the market absorb the inflation and circle like sharks later . I share everyones pain I too and playing a waiting game but for me Ebay clowns are not an option .

I don't see how you can question the integrity of a dealer who places a Delica ZDP-189 for a normal "auction", and lets the price escalate based on the will of the people doing the bidding. There is inherent risk involved there, in that there is no control over the final price, although there seems to be zero risk with the new Delica. I think what most knife knuts have a problem with are the instances where it has appeared a dealer has not honored his pre-orders. After seeing the buying frenzy created by the Sprint Run, he ends up participating in the frenzy, thereby screwing his customers who thought they had a Delica on order. Not a smart business decision IMO. Time will only tell for those types.

My question to you would be....How many Volpe's have you tried to sell at a profit? Not the easiest thing to do. Knife dealers have to make a profit to continue dealering knives to the public. NGK isn't getting 1200 Delica's, so you have to find one from someone, somewhere. It's your fellow knife freaks (all of us) who are controlling the price on this model. And the good news is.........DON'T YOU THINK SPYDERCO IS WATCHING THE FRENZY? MORE ZDP SURELY HAS TO BE ON THE WAY. SOUNDS LIKE A WIN-WIN TO ME!!!

Take care.

[scolby]

Like most major makers, Spyderco relies on a distribution network. So that the distributors can make money, Spyderco sells them the knife at let's say 1/3rd of the MSRP. The distributors sell them to dealers for about 55% of MSRP depending on circumstances.

So the trick is finding a way to sell the product for what the market will bear. By artificially keeping supply down, demand in the case of the early Spyderco ZDP's outstrips demand, making the MSRP invalid.

Nobody's life depends on getting their hands on a ZDP blade. As said earlier in this thread, they are "trivial luxuries".

Who care's how much someone is willing to pay to buy the delica's and calypso's?

In a short time, there will be enough ZDP kicking around to bring prices down. Hitachi wins either way.

[zenheretic]

I think what most knife knuts have a problem with are the instances where it has appeared a dealer has not honored his pre-orders. After seeing the buying frenzy created by the Sprint Run, he ends up participating in the frenzy, thereby screwing his customers who thought they had a Delica on order. Not a smart business decision IMO. Time will only tell for those types.
.
That certainly bothers me.


.......DON'T YOU THINK SPYDERCO IS WATCHING THE FRENZY? MORE ZDP SURELY HAS TO BE ON THE WAY. SOUNDS LIKE A WIN-WIN TO ME!!!

Take care.
I can hardly wait!