Purchasing for use? Please vote and comment!

[jekostas]

Alright guys, I'm going to be doing a series of polls over the next few days, so please read carefully.

This is for a major consulting project I'm doing right now.  The background is that I'm helping a client put together a business expansion plan to become a major special orders supplier for a number of knife and multitool brands to a retail brick and mortar chain.  There are a couple of issues that need to be worked around, and these questions will really help us set direction for our final recommendations.

Please answer and give me some feedback!  All highly appreciated.  I'm going to leave this poll open for 7 days, and I'll post the reasoning for the question at the end.

[Mr. Whippy]

Depending on price point, I won't buy something unless I can handle it.  If it's less than $40, that's not hard and fast.  As the price goes up, it gets to a point where I want to handle the tool more and more.  Somewhere around $100 -150, I either have to handle the tool or have experience with a similar tool (For example, I don't need to handle a Charge, if I own a Wave).

[jzmtl]

Heavily depends on brand. If it's a well known quality brand I'm willing to chance it, i.e. a $150 spyderco, or a lm juice. Or if it's similar to something I already have, like a flashlight, they are really all the same damn thing with different skin.

[asupernothing]

Prior to joining this little group, I would never have bought a tool without touching it. Since joining I have become much more willing to reliey on the experiences of other like minded people. Even then I still like to see and touch the item I am thinking about buying. This is to the extent that I will try to buy a tool/knife from a brick and mortar store over an online store, even when I know I am paying a bit more. I also try and support independent/local business.

IMHO if a store is willing to provide me with the ability to see and touch an item, I would rather give them my business and hope they can stay open.

I think I started rambling again.

[Benner]

Considering that I have never really handled anything before buying because of the availability of things like that over here, I'm happy to go by the guys opinions here.

[cerbera147]

I had to choose No Importance 

Of all tools, knives, lights and Maxped gear I own I've only prehandled the Crunch and the Charge TTi 

There is severe lack of physical stores where I live that sell the stuff we hold so dear. The few that stock Leathermans only hold a minimal range and normally older lines 

If I had the ability to handle with ease then my choice would move to Somewhat Important. I guess the reviews and general discussions here help make our mind without the need to handle 

Pretty much all my purchases were made on recommendations / reviews here  Most were from here as well 

[Shorty66]

I would definitely handle a tool before buying if it would be possible around here.
The problem is though, that if it would be possible, chances are that the shop where i can handle the tool asks about twice the money for the tool in comparison to internet shops.

That's why i voted: Less important. I will always try to get my tools as cheap as possible and being able to handle the tool wouldn't be worth more than 5 bucks to me. So in most cases i just buy the tools from internet stores and send them back if they dont fit my needs.

[grimm_kaosboy]

I voted somewhat important. To be honest, in a perfect world I would always handle the item in question first. No matter what the purchasing point was. 20 or 30 bucks is still money that if I buy something I thought I would like/use and don't is still money I've blown. Recommendations from friends and people that I trust, be they "real life" or on the net helps abate reservations and make decisions on items that I can't get my grubby paws on.

[sawman]

I don't know how to answer this one because although I'd like to sample every product before I buy it, in actuality I don't.  I'm more concerned in receiving something in its unopened shiney clam package to ensure nobody has dribbled over it previous to me.

[Vladimir]

Considering that I have never really handled anything before buying because of the availability of things like that over here, I'm happy to go by the guys opinions here.

+ 1

[MultiMat]

The only chance I have had too handle a MT before purchasing was a LM SuperTool300.
Just not the chance too try things out in Oz  . Most stores do not have a very good range & MT's are normally locked up.

[CQC-7]

I usually handle a knife, etc... before buying if it is going to be a user.  However, there are some knives I'd intend to use that I buy if I believe the description is adequate to what I think I want.  For example, if I'm looking for a hard use folder and I find "X" model online while browsing and it has a 3" blade that is 1/4" thick and made of 154cm and a titanium handle with the wholr package weighing 12oz. I can be assured that it is a pretty tough blade.

[Threeme2189]

I don't know how to answer this one because although I'd like to sample every product before I buy it, in actuality I don't.

That's exactly my case. I have only handles 2 out of the 4 tools/knives I own.
So Although I would prefer it, It's not a must.

[Millhouse]

Handling a tool before purchase is extremely important to me. I have small hands and not all tools are good for me. Only by handling first, I've found the Swisstool, LM Core etc, too big for me. The only tool I have bought without handling is a Vic Spirit, because I could not find any retailers near me.

However, this does not mean I will purchase from the store.

[Agent X68]

For me it is also influenced by price.  The higher the price the more handling is important.

[Bill.H]

I didn't realize handling was so important until I fell in love with a certain Benchmade knife a few years back. Features, style, materials, blade shape, everything was perfect. I was just about to mail order it (was about $150) when I saw one at a show and picked it up.  I hated it    It just didn't fit my hand at all.

So for just about everything except a SAK (cause I already know what an x-layer y-mm SAK will feel like) I want to hold it if possible. Unfortunately, that's not always possible so I will buy blind if I must.

[Nathan]

The multitools that I purchase for use are generally well known and well documented products. I read reviews, look at pictures and watch videos on them to get an idea of their looks, functions and dimensions. I would prefer to try a multitool out before buying, but there aren't much shops around here where I can do that. I buy both new and pre-owned multitools.

[Dunc]

Its quite important to me to see it in the flesh first . If its not possible then the reviews and discussion on here can help give a very clear picture .

[bryan11]

Weight, movement of tools, and how it feels in my hand it critical.  I've rejected great tools because they hurt my hand when I used any strength to grip them.

[Gareth]

Considering that I have never really handled anything before buying because of the availability of things like that over here, I'm happy to go by the guys opinions here.

It's a slightly 'hit and miss' approach, but  that's rather been my experience as well.  I'll buy without holding something first, but I need to have read some well thought out reviews or be able to get first hand feedback from people I trust.

[Mercury]

Depends on price and brand.  I will usually buy any Victorinox tool sight unseen because of my experience with their great QC.   As far as SOG goes, usually no issues, so I don't need to see them either.

I don't mean to stir any fires here, and I am a huge fan, but I won't really buy a Leatherman tool anymore without handling it or getting it from a member here.  That is, I won't buy any LATE MODEL Leatherman tool without handling it.  I've yet to find a 90's leatherman with any deal breaker issues.  Most of my newer LM purchases are strewn with overgrind marks, wobbly blades, casting flash, undergrind marks, loose pliers, tight(really) pliers, blade play, and incomplete assembly!  I bought a crunch this year that didn't have the stops punched in, you know, the little parts that the center piece rests on when locked?  They were flush with the handle, they never got stamped in.  That was not a huge deal in the end because I was able to repair the tool, but I never would have bought it if I had seen that.

[Sean]

We're lucky here as you know with W&W just around the bend, and I've handed back a few of the better knife companies offerings and asked for another sample upon handling because of off center, rubbing, loose or less than perfect knives, tools etc.  I'm not super picky but I'll spend a few dollars more here to handle the merchandise because the odd time I order online if it comes a bit "off" it's usually not worth the hassle or expense to send it back trying to explain to someone what
I think is not quite up to snuff. 

[Paracord Junky]

voted Little. Meant to vote Somewhat. 
main reason i won't usually buy without handling is that i've got short hands, so i like/need to see that a given tool will fit comfortably.
like others have said, it's also somewhat price-dependent.  if the tool is around the $20-30 then i'll chance it. 
fortunately i've handled, or at least seen in person, almost every knife or MT i've ever had the least interest in, thanks to a trip to the mythical Smokey Mountain Knife Works. 

[jekostas]

Alright, this poll's been closed for voting.  I really do appreciate all the responses - you can read the reasoning behind it in this thread - http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,24052.0.html