I'll try to limit participation in this thread since (1) I'm not really a established member of this community and (2) those who have skin in the game should get their voice heard here. But to provide clarification to this question, I've purchased around a half-dozen times through KKF. My experiences were generally "fine" with two minor disappointments. At the time, I didn't say anything because I assumed it was my fault for not knowing better.
As others have suggested, yes, this article is deliberately highlighting some of the worst behaviors in order to push for change. That bad behavior is not limited to KKF; it also existed on reddit's r/chefknifeswap forum and elsewhere. But given that KKF is the only remaining major player in the second-hand market, it wound up being the label used to express a wider frustration.
Maybe taking time to research why the rules are the way they are before you write a treaty on them would be place to start. Many of the rules exist as they do because of past behaviours. Not trying to say that they are the best rules, but they are rules for here.
And maybe a note you can adjust this:
- The situation has gotten so bad that it’s developed a shorthand in BST: GLWS, or “good luck with sale”. This is coded sarcasm for a knife that should never reasonably sell given the assumed condition/price.
Yes - that does exist for knives that are over priced. But GLWS is also used quite genuinely for knives that are well priced and you wish the seller good luck.