To open... or not too open?

[irish88]

Greetings all!

I haven't posted in here in a long while, partly because I haven't purchased any new MT's or knives until just recently (Leatherman Signal).

And so my question for all of you is... do you feel as though that by not 'unboxing' this particular Multitool that it will not only retain its value, but at the same time its value may increase?

And for the record I do use a great many of the vast amount of MT's and knives that I own and have no plans to sell any of them, yet I still consider each and everyone of them as an investment.

What say you?

Thank you all in advance for your replies!

[captain spaulding]

I would say open it. The Signal is not something I personally see gaining any value. Just my opinion though.

[Corwyn]

Neah.. open it... te Signal will only lose value in time:
1. It was mass produced
2. It worked reasonably well not to be recalled
3. It sold pretty well (tacticool-design) not to be discontinued too fast...

It will never be a collectible and even as tool it will decrease in value a lot. Unopened>unused>gently used>well-loved>abused>ruined but really for stuff like the Signal the price difference between Unopened and Gently used will be minute...

[Gerhard Gerber]

While ago watched a documentary on comic books, and basically by the time I got into it so many where being printed that future value was basically nothing.
You could probably argue the Signal is the most consumerist LM yet, it would take nuclear apocalypse to increase its value 

[kirk13]

What they said!


The things that become truly valuable are the cheap things that get bought,and destroyed in bulk,or the things that are produced in very small limited quantities...

[Huntsman]

Open and use.

What they all said.

MT's are an investment in terms of their use.
They are quality products that will last a long time and serve you well.

They are not a financial investment.
They are common and mass produced - and their quality strangely means their value will not increase.

Having said that I recently bought a LM Hybrid and paid probably about 2.5-3x the original price when it was available.   
So my theory could be all wrong!! 
 

[Corwyn]

Well... the Signal... a rather new, expensive and slightly niche tool is now listed as the 13th best selling Leatherman tool.

I'm reasonably sure more Signals are being sold each month (three months at most), than Hybrids were sold throughout the run...

[sLaughterMed]

Well... the Signal... a rather new, expensive and slightly niche tool is now listed as the 13th best selling Leatherman tool.

I'm reasonably sure more Signals are being sold each month (three months at most), than Hybrids were sold throughout the run...

I am still so sad I never got a hold of a Hybrid. Theres a B&M that has one, but its still so darn expensive...

[gregozedobe]

Well... the Signal... a rather new, expensive and slightly niche tool is now listed as the 13th best selling Leatherman tool.

I'm reasonably sure more Signals are being sold each month (three months at most), than Hybrids were sold throughout the run...

I am still so sad I never got a hold of a Hybrid. Theres a B&M that has one, but its still so darn expensive...

Yeah, all 3 of the Leatherman pruners (Genus, Hybrid & Vista) are scarce, in demand and therefore expensive.  They do seem to have increased in price over the last 12 months or so.

[eamo]

Well... the Signal... a rather new, expensive and slightly niche tool is now listed as the 13th best selling Leatherman tool.

I'm reasonably sure more Signals are being sold each month (three months at most), than Hybrids were sold throughout the run...

I am still so sad I never got a hold of a Hybrid. Theres a B&M that has one, but its still so darn expensive...

Yeah, all 3 of the Leatherman pruners (Genus, Hybrid & Vista) are scarce, in demand and therefore expensive.  They do seem to have increased in price over the last 12 months or so.

so whats a hybrid worth these days ? My wife has one she has barely, if ever used . . . . . . 

[tosh]

Well... the Signal... a rather new, expensive and slightly niche tool is now listed as the 13th best selling Leatherman tool.

I'm reasonably sure more Signals are being sold each month (three months at most), than Hybrids were sold throughout the run...

I am still so sad I never got a hold of a Hybrid. Theres a B&M that has one, but its still so darn expensive...

Yeah, all 3 of the Leatherman pruners (Genus, Hybrid & Vista) are scarce, in demand and therefore expensive.  They do seem to have increased in price over the last 12 months or so.

Agree totally on the LM pruner triplets - but it seems amazing deals come up still....couldn't believe this sold for so little:-
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Leatherman-Genus-Pruner-with-Knife-Saw-2-screwdrivers-Rare-Retired-/222012591777?hash=item33b0fb4ea1:g:Z6sAAOSwL7VWr~Ih

[Aloha]

If you bought the tool to use then by all means open it and enjoy.  If you bought the tool for investment then  its much too new and too many are being produced to be worth more down the line.  Funny thing is, regarding the trio of pruners by LM, used they still command a high price because they're so scarce.  We've also seen other LM tools fetch a high price however who would have known at the time ( Juice SX og version ).

LM makes popular tools in the millions, Wave for example.  The Wave is far to common to fetch a higher than retail price now or into the future.  Even if LM decides to "upgrade" the plier head there are still far too many in the market to be a "collector" item. 

This is all my opinion and non of it should factor in what you decide to do. 

[Chako]

Agreed. One should never collect as an investment. That path is always fraught with disappointment. Collect because you enjoy doing so.

[powernoodle]

Definitely keep it new and unused in the box.  That way, after you die, your wife's next husband will have a new MT to throw in his tool box and then lose 2 weeks later on the job site.  So definitely keep it new and unused.

I want my wife's next husband to find my MTs covered in squirrel blood, drywall dust and biscuit gravy.  That way he will always remember that I was here first.

[Demel]

Definitely keep it new and unused in the box. 
I want my wife's next husband to find my MTs covered in squirrel blood, drywall dust and biscuit gravy.  That way he will always remember that I was here first.

[Corwyn]

Well.. I'm not touching my collectibles. when I go *poof*, they'll pass on to my daughter (hope one of you guys will help her get rid of them at a fair price) and I want to make sure she can do something with them.. buy a cheap car, move to France, take a nice vacation.. something...

[dks]

..or, the next husband will just sell them and spend the money on beer..


The real opportunity for investment is limited edition coloured Alox - Apparently they are not making any more LE coloured alox. They announced it last year.   

[jerseydevil]

This is actually a question?   No shelf queens!

[Corwyn]

The real opportunity for investment is limited edition coloured Alox - Apparently they are not making any more LE coloured alox. They announced it last year.   

What is this "coloured alox" thing? It sounds like failed fad... I doubt anyone would be sucked in and pay more than the value of a plain silver Pioneer for a coat of paint that will peel off in a few weeks of use... 

[SAK Guy]

The real opportunity for investment is limited edition coloured Alox - Apparently they are not making any more LE coloured alox. They announced it last year.   

What is this "coloured alox" thing? It sounds like failed fad... I doubt anyone would be sucked in and pay more than the value of a plain silver Pioneer for a coat of paint that will peel off in a few weeks of use... 

Did someone say my name in here?   

[kirk13]

Agreed. One should never collect as an investment. That path is always fraught with disappointment. Collect because you enjoy doing so.

 

[powernoodle]

I don't think there are any "shoulds", except each to his own.  Using, flipping, hoarding, whatevering - its all part of the sickness.

[captain spaulding]

Definitely keep it new and unused in the box.  That way, after you die, your wife's next husband will have a new MT to throw in his tool box and then lose 2 weeks later on the job site.  So definitely keep it new and unused.

I want my wife's next husband to find my MTs covered in squirrel blood, drywall dust and biscuit gravy.  That way he will always remember that I was here first.

Haha, love it!

[captain spaulding]

Well.. I'm not touching my collectibles. when I go *poof*, they'll pass on to my daughter (hope one of you guys will help her get rid of them at a fair price) and I want to make sure she can do something with them.. buy a cheap car, move to France, take a nice vacation.. something...

I was thinking about this situation (not you specifically  ) and always hoped if I or any other member left instructions to whoever would be handling our things after we are gone to access our account or start a new account of their own and sell our things on MTO. Obviously we would need a trustworthy member or group of members to fairly appraise the tools for them and help them with the sale.

[Chako]

Heck, I plan on being buried with mine. 

[Huntsman]

I see a new career in grave robbing emerging 

I am sure the profits will even pay for the flight from Oz to Canada

Maybe not the excess baggage on teh way back though   

[yud]

Heck, I plan on being buried with mine. 

That seem dangerous, I mean they would probably have to buy a special crane to lower the coffin

[Chako]

You do raise a good point.   

[metasyntax]

This is actually a question?   No shelf queens!

I got a new Genus two years ago for around $60. Last year, I worked up my courage and opened it. It was a hard thing to do, but I'm glad I did, because it's an awesome pruner and tool in general. I did the gardening all year with it, and it was much more fun in my hand than in a box. Now it's got some marks and stains on it, but it's all good because I put 'em there. :-)

I wish they'd bring this back, more people need to experience the awesomeness of the Genus.

[sLaughterMed]

I think you've convinced me to start saving for that Vista/Hybrid I know of.... im gonna use the heck out of it