Am I Missing Something Selling Knives Here?

[Gr8wazu]

Hey All,

I've learned so much on this site so I thought I'd try to become part of the buyer/seller community here. I got approved to sell and have posted ten or so knives. Some knives definitely have aspirational prices but others are below market, I think.

I've come across some of my knives for sale here in Google searches, so I know the listings are live. I'm guessing I'm missing something that's prevented even one sale. Are the knives I've posted in conditions that aren't valued here? Is it because I'm an unknown quantity? Is it poor lighting/display/descriptions? Do people not want to pay using PayPal? Or are my prices actually just way off?

I've got a bunch of more unique and higher quality knives in my collection I'd prefer to sell here, but I need to figure out what I'm doing wrong first. Any feedback would be appreciated.

[CarMan]

Myself, when I look at the AAPK store, I strictly look under the Military Knife section. If I see something I want I make sure it’s a comparable price. That being said my budget isn’t extreme like a lot of other peoples. Best of luck. This is a great community.
John

[bestgear]

Good Morning and to AAPK. I took the time this morning to look at your AAPK store inventory and maybe I can offer some constructive feedback.

Positive:

• Your images are fine; good lighting and perspectives.

• Your pricing seems in line with similar sold auctions on eBay.

• Your shipping rates and policy seem very reasonable.

• The condition of your knives are what they are and like coins, they have to be graded and priced accordingly which I believe your lowered prices reflect.

Negative:

• Your inventory of knives (manufacturers) is going to appeal to a narrower buying pool than a more mainstream manufacturer like Buck or Remington.

• Your descriptions are wordy but complete for a $35 knife (Salm) but short and almost AI-written for a $125 knife (George Furness & Sons).

Suggestions:

• Most men won't read paragraphs of information no matter how good it is but rather assimilate to something more like this (https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/ca ... -paperwork)

• You are somewhat of an unknown quantity but I don't view that necessarily as a negative. We have dozens of store owners who never post in the forums and some who post daily. I think more exposure through the forums is a good thing (plus at 100 posts you are eligible for our monthly knife giveaway (viewtopic.php?t=82465) - sorry for the shameless promotion .

• I don't think buyers necessarily care about payment platforms as much as sellers do so if PayPay is your payment processor, I think you are OK.

• Make business acquaintances with fellow store owners in the AAPK Member Store Forum which is a forum for member store-related discussions. Here viewforum.php?f=101you can ask questions, report bugs, make suggestions, view tips, tricks & instructions & more.

• Put the name and URL of your store in the signature of your profile so that every time you make a forum post viewers are seeing that you have a store and a path to navigate to it.

I hope this helps, hang in there, summertime is traditionally a slow time for knife sales.

[Gr8wazu]

Fantastic feedback! Thank you for taking the time to review and respond. That's good to hear regarding the length of post because sometimes I feel compelled to try to include more wordy descriptions on AAPK because that seemed to be typical. I'll happily distill things down.

That said, often times the shorter descriptions correspond to more rare knives for which it's harder to find references. In addition to forums and other web pages devoted to pocket knives, I have The Standard Knife Collectors Guide book, but even that I find lacking. Can you recommend other books for American, German, or British pocket knives?

[Sharpnshinyknives]

One thing I can tell you from experience is that older used knives are VERY difficult to sell. When I first joined AAPK my first collection I sold here was a Keen Kutter collection. Mostly old, used and some had cracks in the handles. I finally sold them all but at a significant loss. I ended up selling the last pearl handled ones for 10 for 50 dollars, way less than I thought. Having paid for the education, I stopped selling used knives. A used knife condition is in the eye of the beholder. What I think is good used condition someone else may complain about as being in poor condition.
So I only have 1 or 2 knives in my store that have any use on them, out of over 200 listed.
Returns on these low priced knives can cost you a lot too. Since I include free shipping and free returns, it really adds up on an inexpensive knife. The return shipping can be more than the cost of the knife.
Hope this helps.

[bestgear]

Can you recommend other books for American, German, or British pocket knives?

There is a current topic here: viewtopic.php?p=1147311&hilit=books#p1147311 but if you use the AAPK search feature, you'll find more detailed information on all types of books including manufacturer specific books (i.e., I searched for "Boker Book" and found this: viewtopic.php?p=1047421&hilit=boker+book#p1047421) and searched for military books and found this: viewtopic.php?p=1116732&hilit=military+books#p1116732 and I searched on Hudson River Valley and found this: viewtopic.php?p=721614&hilit=knives+of+ ... ok#p721614)

I highly recommend getting familiar with the powerful AAPK search feature which when researching knives is the best of the web!

I love your new signature Happy hunting!

[Railsplitter]

Considering that you already have an AAPK store, I suggest listing some of your “more unique and higher quality knives” that you mentioned.

That just might be the boost that you need. Or not but it seems that you wouldn’t have anything to lose.

[Gr8wazu]

Good point. I'll give it a shot later this week. I just didn't want to expend the effort (very limited free time with two small kids) when I hadn't even gotten a nibble yet. But you're right, if I can find the time, it can't hurt.

[CarMan]

Good point. I'll give it a shot later this week. I just didn't want to expend the effort (very limited free time with two small kids) when I hadn't even gotten a nibble yet. But you're right, if I can find the time, it can't hurt.

I have to admit that I am one of those that very much enjoys the old used knives, I love the character. I was looking at the one you have marked Kingston, & I like that one it’s just not doable right now. Best of luck

[Gr8wazu]

Thanks. I love those knives as well. They seem to be extra rugged and maintain their usefulness better than most other knives of the era. Feel free to submit an offer on it. I think I should have that option enabled on all my listings.