Lot buy--did I overpay?

[cody6268]

I just won this lot on FleaBay, and I would like to request opinions. Total cost $47 shipped. Someone ran my $25 bid up quite a bit last minute to $38. I think I set my high bid too high when I came across the auction earlier this week. My standard for small used SAK lots such as this is a $25 budget/max bid. I think I overpaid as the seller didn't do good enough photos to show condition; as they had just this one mosaic photo. I set my starting bid too high at $50, as I thought the Rodania watch advertising Secretary was actually a watch case opener; and people want a premium for those.



Here is what I believe the lot contains and what I believe to be the approximate value going by sold eBay listings and averaging it out. I'm not reselling these (though I am swapping the Rodiana Secretary for a Vic or Wenger with the watch case opener blade).

Left column:

Classic SD missing toothpick--value to me, about $3.
Gardener--fair value, about $10.
Rodiana watch advertising Secretary. I don't know how to value it. There's a Bulgarian seller with one in poorer condition for $50 . I do notice that there seems to be a LOT of listings from Bulgarian eBay sellers with very heavily worn/junker knives for excessive prices, so I tend not to use their prices as guides. I say it's worth around $20, as those with watch advertising seem to be more desirable; as watch collectors buy them also. The thing also is that the eBay knife has an ad for a jeweler on one side; while mine has the Rodania ad on both handles.

Right Column.

Victorinox 58mm Companion (seller says glue on back handle). $10. It has no advertising for once.
Wenger Golfer--$10-15
Wenger EVO S101/Viking. Vikings are about $10-15 on eBay; and a new Evogrip S101 is $40.

So, by my math, close to $100 worth of SAKs. But, it's more than I typically spend on an eBay lot.

[FolderBeholder]

I did not bid on this lot, but I sure like the Rodania, plus you got some other decent knives. 
I've done worse. 

[Rizio Il Ghiro]

Cripes - not seen such cheap lots in the UK for quite some time! Good score!

[Alan K.]

It takes two sides to make a deal, a buyer and a seller.  If both sides walk away happy at the end then it was a good transaction. If you're happy with what you got then you didn't overpay for it.

[kamakiri]

I find it difficult to assess value without seeing the tools. I place a fair amount of price weight on the tool condition. But off the cuff, you should be okay as long as they aren’t all smurfed.

But this is one reason why I hate bidding on knife lots. Usually end up paying more for the one knife that I do want. I think this is why sellers use this practice. I think it works for knives with relatively low values, but works against the seller with more valuable knives.

I’d like to see more pics when they come in.

[Jim the Brave]

Well shucks, good thing I didn't see this lot! I wonder how in tarnation I missed it.

Chances are, I would not have paid that much, but that's because I like to leave a good margin to resell. I try not to pay more than $2 for Classics, $5 for Spartans, Tinkers, Gardeners, and Managers, $7 for Climbers, Campers, and Super Tinkers, and $8-10 for Huntsmen and Fieldmasters. Basically I want to pay less than 1/4 of the new price.

However, if I look and it ticks all the boxes for being in very nice condition, I may pay a little more than 1/4, especially for the rarer and more expensive ones. Sometimes 1/3. In the case of a Swisschamp, I'll pay up to $40 if it's in real good shape. Only gotten one so far, and I paid $38 for it I think.

I probably shouldn't reveal my secrets.  Naturally I try to at least double my money on every knife. Triple on the Classics if possible. I'll take a smaller margin on a more expensive knife.

[Aloha]

It takes two sides to make a deal, a buyer and a seller.  If both sides walk away happy at the end then it was a good transaction. If you're happy with what you got then you didn't overpay for it.

  especially if reselling isn't what you're trying to do.  I think we've all overpaid a time or three.  I tend to buy what excites me when I see it.  Price is part of the transaction.  If I really find the item interesting that's a big plus.  If I really want the item that's another plus.  I always want to buy at a price that reflects my budget and as Alan says we both walk away feeling good. 

[nate j]

I think you did fine.

Even if not, and you made a $47 mistake, that wouldn't be a big enough issue to be worth losing any sleep over IMO.
 

[Jim the Brave]

I think you did fine.

Even if not, and you made a $47 mistake, that wouldn't be a big enough issue to be worth losing any sleep over IMO.
 

Yeah, and it wouldn't be a $47 mistake anyhow...only a mistake by the difference of what you paid vs. what you might-should-have paid. But no it wasn't bad, especially if you wanted the knives.