Things to watch out for when customers choose outdoor knives for wholesale purchase

How to choose outdoor knives

        Huaao trading co., LTD. In the exchange with customers, often found that many friends in the purchase of outdoor knives or camping tools wholesale will encounter a lot of how to choose the tool problem, so how to better choose to their more satisfied with the appropriate tool?To sum up, here are ten things to note.

In any transaction, a wise buyer will weigh whether the goods are worth the money. Buying a knife is no exception. The most basic principle is value.Experienced buyers, collectors, and middlemen all have their own expertise in this area, but it is generally recognized that a key point is the seller's credibility, and the credibility of the seller is very important.

In addition to the basic principles mentioned above, we consulted some experts in this field and concluded from their opinions that there are some major mistakes to avoid when buying knives.Of course, it's impossible to list all the issues that might be encountered in a trade, but we hope readers will benefit from this article and have fewer chances to regret a trade.

One: don't trust pictures

A picture is worth a thousand words, but the picture itself can be deceptive.A good dao may not be photogenic, while a bad dao may be beautiful in the photo."If you see a knife on the pictures seem to be very cost-effective, at this time is often a gambling", Rhett Stidham, the 32 years cutting tool business experience, and successfully introduced Randall tool brand middlemen said, "however, if the price is not very tall, and traded with you seller to provide a reasonable return policy, then you might as well try."

Johnny Perry, columnist for the American knifers association and a collector with 23 years of experience, agrees."If you've only seen the pictures and not the real thing, it's best to deal with a reputable seller and ask for a return guarantee.""The quality of the photos can confuse the product," he notes.

Knowledge of knives is the key to buying knives by the book, says Les Robertson, author and middleman of the custom knife buying guide."If you know enough about the knife in the photo, like you've seen the real thing, or some other product from the same manufacturer, then you basically have a picture in mind when you look at it.So it's necessary to do your homework before you buy."

The second point: do not only value steel

For some purposes, some steels are better than others."Follow the carpenter's philosophy: what to do and what tools to use," Robertson said. "when you choose a knife, you have to evaluate it thoroughly."

"If you're going to buy a knife to use, you should consider the steel, what you're going to do with it, and how well you can sharpen it.""Ask a few more questions when the seller tells you what steel the knife is made of," Stidham suggests.This includes the Rockwell hardness of the steel, the thickness of the blank, the geometric design of the blade, how the blade holds, how easy it is to grind and why.

"Any steel makes no difference to collectors.""If you're just a collector, the chances of using it are very low," Perry said. 

Third point: just holding comfortable is not enough

The handle of some knives, you feel very good to hold, but it may be too soft, holding for a long time will cause blisters;And finger slots often prove to be designs that do more harm than good.

"You don't really know if a knife is a hand until you use it for a while," Perry added."You know what you're going to buy a knife for, so you know which ones you're not going to buy."

"When most people buy a knife, they pick up a knife they're interested in and do a cutting test," Robertson says.They can usually jump to a conclusion: good or bad.However, soon they will find that the handle is thicker or thinner and longer or shorter."

"The knife 'tells' you if it likes you, and it lets you know if you like it," Stidham says with a smile. "so first impressions matter.If I feel uncomfortable holding a knife, I will never buy it.That's the trick."

4. Don't follow suit

Just because a knife is "hot" doesn't mean it's worth it."There's always something in fashion," Perry says. "and there's always something new.People follow trends in the hope that they will be recognized by society.Know who you really are and buy what you really like."

Stidham warns customers not to jump on the bandwagon."A lot of collectors buy things that are in vogue, and that was true when I started as a middleman.Now I also have something popular because people want to trade.What I want to say is, follow your heart."If you're an investment, then at least make sure your hot item doesn't appreciate and you're happy to have it in your collection."

"There is always the phenomenon of following suit. At any given time, someone buys a custom knife that may not be necessary for them, but it is a positive for the industry."Robertson said."If you buy a popular product, unless you buy it right when it's hot and sell it, it often doesn't hold its value.Investment in knives is not for beginners.First, do your homework and know what you're doing.A lot of people buy with their emotions too carefully." 

Fifth: don't overestimate the investment factors

If you're buying a knife solely for investment, you should be realistic about the return."Some knives go up in value very quickly, but most don't fluctuate significantly," says Stidham.

Robertson remains bullish on knife collection investments."Investing in knives is not the same as saying you can spend your old age on it, but you can spend 50 years on it.But if a knife can bring you 50 years of happiness, is it worth the investment?If you buy a knife for 5,000 yuan, if you can earn a return of 5,000 yuan one day, that's a good thing."

Mr Perry scoffs at the purpose."Don't think about investing in collectibles because you'll probably be disappointed," he warns. "put your money in stocks.Only when you buy a knife for its own sake can you really enjoy it."

No. 6: don't be misled by big names

A knife will not hold its value or even rise in value just because it is the work of a "big-name" knife-maker.

"I prefer the work of a big-name knife maker, unless the knife maker is sick or has a medical problem that degrades the quality of the work," Stidham says. "they usually sell better, and it's safer to invest in them, like buying blue-chip stocks.It's a big investment, but it's also safe."

Perry takes a different view."If you're buying a knife to use, you're probably not that concerned about fame.In fact, it might be better for you not to be famous.""But as a collector, you have to collect famous brands, because the value of a collection depends very much on the reputation of the knife-maker."

Robertson says it's a contradiction to emphasize the importance of famous brands.But there are also some knife makers who stop trying when they become famous, leading to a drop in standards."

Seventh point: avoid hyped bidding

"I'm always drawn to what's hot at auction," says Stidham. "I usually say I'm not going to pay that price, but when I see something I really want, I go for it.For the average lot, I would set an upper limit and never exceed it."

"You should set the price yourself," Robertson suggests. "if you know the price for a knife is 500, if you're bidding for 550, don't buy it.Again, do your homework.You can call the knife-maker first, or check the history of the knife to see how much it is worth."

"I tried to control myself during the bidding, but it wasn't easy," Perry said, laughing."I like to look at everything before the auction starts and then set a cap on what I'm interested in.Sometimes it's so competitive that you want to win and bring that knife home."

Number eight: don't forget to listen to others

"The principle of listening to others is good," says Robertson."Sometimes I give advice to my customers, but it's up to them to decide whether to buy it or not. After all, it's their collection, not mine."

"It's good to listen to people," Perry agrees. "if I need advice before I buy, I ask the seller for it, and then I ask someone who knows what they're doing.If the people I ask think it's good, I'll decide to buy it."

"Make sure the person you're asking for advice with the knife is trustworthy," Stidham cautions. "I know people who are giving advice who are deliberately confusing the buyer in order to get them back to where they are.If so, it's not good, it's bad."

No. 9: never be pushed

"Never buy under pressure or reluctantly," Robertson stresses. "I recommend that people go to a knife show and leave all their money in their hotel room on the first day.You might miss the chance to buy a particular knife, but you'll be able to walk through the Show without missing anything.This is not a bad doctrine."

"I don't pay attention to people pushing me," Perry says. "they talk me away.I don't need this kind of pushy selling. If it's a good product, they sell themselves."

"If it's special, or if it's what you want, go ahead and buy it," Stidham says. "but if it's not, don't put pressure on yourself to buy it." 

No. 10: don't ignore the return guarantee

Before you buy a knife, ask the seller for a reasonable 100% return guarantee."A return guarantee can be a good solution for things like a problem with the knife you get or a delivery error.""One thing you might find that neither buyer nor seller knows how to start is called 'return privilege,' where the publisher buys the product back," Perry said.

Stidham agrees. "the seller should be happy to return the money if the reason is right."

"I'm not saying you have to be 100 percent satisfied to buy a knife," Robertson warns. "most people in the custom knife industry are responsible for their actions, and if there's a problem, it's okay to return it."