what an ugly a$$ knife, who ever bought it probably doesn't cook their own food anyway.
what an ugly a$$ knife, who ever bought it probably doesn't cook their own food anyway.
Once a person purchases an item it is then theirs to do with as they wish. Unless there was a signed contract before the purchase there's not much he could do about it. Even then I don't think it would hold up in a court. There's already been court precedence set on such matters.
He can put whatever price tag he wants on his knives, obviously people will pay it. (Though I still don't know why)Bellyaching when someone resells it is just bad form. Makes him look like a whiney baby because he only got $15k and the person sold it for $20k or whatever. Meh...
I don't think that Mr. Kramer is claiming that you 'can't' do it, and in fact, I can't give you a source of the verbiage. That being said, if you sell a knife that Mr. Kramer agreed to specifically make for you (at a rate lower than what an auction knife sells for) and you go sell it on eBay for $10K more, why would he ever make custom knives? It would be more advantageous for him to close his books and simply sell knives at his auction.
You're arguing with yourself here, bub. No matter what people agree to; they'll still get that knife, realize it doesn't cut any better than other knives, and sell it for more than they paid for it. You can't change human nature.
If any knifemaker had the same supply/demand issues as Mr. Kramer I doubt they would sell their knives at a discounted market price just for the sake of giving people the opportunity to purchase a knife.
I think I remember hearing that if your number gets pulled from the lottery and you turn around to sell the knife you're breaking an agreement made with Mr. Kramer. Fairly certain it's a big 'no-no' to do this to him and it will put you on his bad side (rightfully so). It don't feel like it's because of the money, but the principle of the matter.
I just hope my name gets picked one of these days. 2 years on his list I believe. And I'll wait even more without a doubt. But in the end, no matter how old I am when I get that call, I'll still pee my pants. In the meantime, I'll still enjoy my ZK's and shun Meiji.
Good posts Anton and cheesit.
I cannot believe people are suggesting Bob is egotistical or a "whiney baby". I've been around these forums for about 7-8 years now and it's always the same BS. So when I ordered my two knives I spoke with Bob on the phone and we discussed the current market. He is very concerned (this was 4 years ago) about the secondary market inflating his prices, and people taking advantage of him not raising his price to match the market. Read that again, he has kept the prices of his knives WELL BELOW market value. He is one man, he can only make so many at the level of quality his name possesses. Anyone that is an artist or passionate about something knows that when they make something for someone, they want that result to be enjoyed and respected, not whored out. That's Bob. Say all the negative things you want about the man, I applaud his restraint. As probably the most famous knife maker in the world, the man lives pretty frugal. How many people at the top of their game live that way?
Many Kramer owners like myself are not rich or lucky, we were in the right place at the right time. If I had a nickel for every time I realized most life happens this way.
Just to clairfy, I am passing no judgement about Bob Kramer. I don't know the guy, haven't met him, don't know what he is thinking. I was just saying if what cheezit posted originally is TRUE about getting being on Kramer's bad side if you sold a custom, it begs to question why he would feel that way. If it was about ego then that's silly. You obviously know him better than I do.
I am all for Kramer charging whatever he wants low or high. Its great his demand is so great he can pull 30K+ per knife. He's worked hard to make his brand what it is so there is no reason why he can't reap the benefits. It honestly doesn't matter if he lives frugal or flashy. He's earned it and it doesn't reflect on what kind of person he is.
I'll stop kicking the dead horse.
I don't think Bob would be happy if you bought one and turned it around for profit, but there would be nothing he could do about it other than not making another for you. Like that matters, most people in line will probably not get one in their lifetime, let alone another one. Like most artists, he wants you to enjoy his creation, not whore it out. I can understand that. Also, he doesn't sell a knife for $30K, the bidders sell each other the knife for $30K. If only one person bidded, it would be sold at the reserve price, probably what he charges per inch. No one becomes a knife maker to get rich, he was the one exception. No way any knifemaker out there would turn down the ability to have his commercial success.
Its just eyecandy. Again, im sure its performance is on par with stuff that retails around $300.What is it that makes his knife such a high brow artistic creations compared to a number of other custom kitchen knife makers that arguable make better knives from both a functional and aesthetic perspective?
Maybe it's just a smart marketing move to keep those high dollar auctions rolling. The people who pay that price maybe don't know much about how a kitchen knife should function, but they can feel better since look, Kramer blesses the plebs with his knives that must obviously function better than anything else at that price.
There are art knives that it is hard to argue are not worth their price, I just don't see how the knife in that photo is worth $30k.
A few years ago I went to an eye specialist, he asked me what I did for a living. I told him that I made knives. He asked if I knew a guy named Bob Kramer, of course I said. He then told that he wanted one of Bob's knives. I told him that he might be interested in some of my knives, he politely declined.
Hoss
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