Will Higher Shipping Rates Influence Your Knife Buying?

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Permalink Reply by J.J. Smith III on March 20, 2011 at 18:34

Even with higher shipping costs, it's still cheaper than the drive. Shipping incentives are a plus, add on an extra knife or related item to get free shipping is almost like getting the extra item free. (One way or another.)

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Permalink Reply by jeffrey dean deaton on March 23, 2011 at 14:31

are you familiar with the forever stamps?

i would probably be a good idea to stock up on them if you ship

alot of sytuff.

the postage is guaranteed to stay the same on these stamps forever.

hope this helped someone,

jd

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Permalink Reply by Steve"Hog"Hanner on March 23, 2011 at 15:55

Thank you all for responding so far.  What I've noticed is many catalogs that I get say buy so much and shipping is free! I know Smoky Mountain Knife works routinely offers free or .01 cent shipping as a way to entice knife buyers to buy more. Sometimes Custom Knife Makers may offer a good customer free shipping to help a customer.

I see fewer proposals that include shipping + handling which at one time was quite common.

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Permalink Reply by george morningstar on March 26, 2011 at 7:56

hog, it aqffected me about 2 or 3 years ago when smkw stared chargeing 8.00 shipping for a 10.00 knife . i can ship 4 knives for that or a big fixed blade.

 

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Permalink Reply by Ivars Duntavs on March 27, 2011 at 2:17

Today I order knives which are cheaper than shipping; to Latvia. For example: my RR toenail from ebay 9$ + 15$ shipping = 24$ + 22% taxes, because knife with shipping is more than 10 EUR Crazy price! And many sellers don't sell knives to my country! They just don't want to do that or some kind of other unknown reasons why? I don't know! I got a good recommendation from my friend here on iKC, to order knives in UK store who can order any knives from US and ship ham to me for normal price 4.50£ for 0.5kg. It mens that I can order more than one knife cheaper than one from US. Unfortunately, they cant get knives from US e-stores where is the best price for knife kit (two ad more knives). They order from manufacturers ore from distributors (or how they calls?). and prices is the same what in US 1$ = 1£ Thats why I still search knives in US and search for somebody who can get me knives which seller don't ship to my country! Of course partner gets % or regular prices from / for the deal.
I hope to get Case Seahorse some day! Hmmm... my dream!!! But 100$ isn't 100£ + shipping. :D Maybe again from ebay?

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Permalink Reply by Shlomo ben Maved on August 16, 2011 at 2:37

I try to support my local knife store or outdoor store with a knife section before ordering from the Internet as any "Free" shipping doesn't apply to Canada except from Amazon...Had a $15 shipping and brokerage fee and $10 duty and $4 tax on a $50 knife that I could have bought locally for $78 including taxes and would have had it that day instead of ten days later...If I had waited two weeks I could have gotten it on sale for $70 t.i.

 

This also allows my local gun store and fishing store and outdoor store to remain in business for the times that I really need something in a hurry...Ok, so I may pay $3 to $5 more for a box of super magnum shotshells then on the net but the $10 to $15 more I pay for the two or three boxes I use for the year certainly isn't going to break me, I have them right there and then and it keeps my gunsmith/store in business.

 

Too many people today look at the price of the object and of course want to pay the least amount possible for it but they fail to take into account the finalized price to their door as sometimes the slightly more expensive knife works out cheaper due to differences in shipping charges...I just was looking at a Ka-Bar Phat Bob folder and QRS Co had it on for $55 but none in stock and no rain checks, ABCo had it on for $61 while MNO Co had it on for $66...ABCo wanted $12 for  five day shipping and MNO Co wanted $7.50 for three day shipping...Amazon had it on for $70 w/free shipping but for only three days.

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Permalink Reply by Alexander Noot on August 16, 2011 at 8:15

For me definately. Being in europe I already face the risk of VAT and import duties whenever I buy something from the states and those can run up to 30-40% of the price+shipping of the knife.

 

An example:

I've always wanted to buy something from knivesshipfree.com recently they announced that for foreign buyers shipping charges would increase from $12 to $35.

 

Now I don't want to buy from them anymore. I'll just find another dealer that is willing to ship things to me the way I want them to be sent.

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Permalink Reply by Gus Marsh on August 16, 2011 at 11:54

I purchase knives from Amazon and a good friend in OH. They all charge for shipping these days. My local gun store doesn't carry the knives that I collect, so I don't feel bad. The strange thing is that back in the 80's he was selling all kinds of knives, now with the economy in a tailspin, his stock of knives is way down.

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Permalink Reply by Billy Oneale on August 16, 2011 at 15:26

It depends on how many knives am I going to order. I have a hard time paying $8.00 shipping for a $15.00 knife. It doesn't bother me as bad if I can get 4 or 5 knives and the shipping remains the same.

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Permalink Reply by Jan Carter on August 16, 2011 at 18:00

Ivars and Alexander,

Wow, shipping cost is certainly an added expense for you.  I can imagine that anything effecting that expense would effect your buying power.  We dont have much in the way of local dealers but it works out for us.  Our dealer is very shipping friendly.  If I am looking at an item on ebay, YES the shipping plays a part in my decision to purchase, how much I will bid on a knife and if I will just continue to look for that peice.

Jeffrey, Thanks...I need to go get some of those just even for everyday mailing.

Don, I try to utilize the US postal service whenever I can.  It does mean US jobs, they are not always as easily accessible due to my hours though  

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Permalink Reply by Kit Adams on August 17, 2011 at 8:27

Honestly it wont effect my purchases.  I have a problem with buying things on the internet.  I am an instant gratification kinda guy and I hate having money come out of my account/wallet and not have the item I paid for in hand.  That being said though, if it is something I want bad enough, shipping isn't going to stop be from acquiring it.

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Permalink Reply by Jan Carter on August 17, 2011 at 20:29

Kit,

You have local knife places?  I want to visit!

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