I guess you missed this: I paid $17 shipped -- it was delivered to my door two days after I ordered it. If you have more money than time then order something else, however the OP is looking for a budget option and this is a good one.
Yes.
But there's budget. Then there's cheap. there's a difference.
Cheap are those Chinese etc items. both in price and quality.
They would NOT have decent steel in them
The likes of Tojiro and that Brazilian mfg (Mundial) would be the lowest i'd go for a knife I wanted to give and hold a good edge.
and still be good in 5/10 yrs time.
If you're happy with crap. SO be it.
but after handling and using mid range steels you wouldn't go back.
I've had mainly Wusthof with a few Mundial for over 50 yrs and been 100% happy. the individual knives last that long.
46+ the last 8in Chef.
And it had a hairline crack in spine from new. (I never worried about it.)
Took it to a knife shop to compare handling to another, and she said
Hey. Send that back They (Wusthof) will replace it.
YEA.....
Well. I did. AND They did. without a word. Just a new Knife after 40 odd yrs of use. That's warranty...
and one of the reasons you go that way.
I have a Mundial 6in chef here.
Blade well worn down (softer steel) but still holds an edge and the wife loves the feel of it.
Along with my Tojiro 150 Petty.
These starter Japanese ones (Tojuro) are a step UP the ladder Steel wise (Core 10 laminates). and lower in price than Wusthof and Mundial.
They just have to be learnt all over again. Especially the sharpening.