You know I am just a hobbyist but at the same time I do like to make a little money!! When I first started I sold some knives for not much more than the materials I had in them! Hoping that it would get my name out there. It did and the name was sucker. For every one I sold for a little of nothing, I got request for more,...........at the same price I sold the first one at!! As John said, I was my own best competitor!!
When my wife got so sick I sold some of my stuff off and basically quit for a while! I got the urge to do it all again. So at slower pace I set out to build a knife and get what I figured was an honest price for it!! Another thing I did I started building what I wanted to. When I finished it, if you wanted to buy it you were welcome to it!! At a price that I thought was fair. I still think I am under valuing some of my stuff, but I am also still learning as I go!!
I think one of the biggest problems is that a custom knife is not for everyone! When you get the Wallyworld mentality asking prices, ........lets face it you probably ain't gonna sell one to that person! He falls into that category of probably not for everyone or at least him!
I don't have a website or a facebook account. Hopefully after the first of the year I may be able to step up a little more and then we will see!
I had to finally look at this like a business, even though it still is not really a moneymaker for me yet. When I use to do construction, you came to me with the job, mostly because I had a good reputation. You explained what you wanted , I figured it up and gave you a price. You didn't come to me because I had an add giving the lowest price! If you didn't like the price then maybe we could discuss some options. But I didn't give away my time, material and labor, I still had to make a profit!! When I started thinking of knife making like that I begin to enjoy it more!!
I don't do many pre-sales but when I do I get my price or I don't do it. Now I am not ugly to the prospective customer but if we are within walking distance of each other (pardon the pun) then we can probably negotiate! It helps to open a dialogue and explain a bit more about what a custom knife entails, and why I will do my best to make you a happy customer if you decide to go my with me!!
I agree with John on this one. Out front pricing can be your own competition.
Custom knives aren't always as expensive as you might think. Its kind of like a hunter who will spend a fortune on his truck and his dogs and his shotgun, but try and get him to pay the price for a custom knife. Why h311 no, I can go to Wallyworld and buy three or four knives for that price. Yes you can my friend and good luck with the hunting to!
EDIT:
One of the best things I ever did I have an old hunting buddy who eats, breaths and sleeps, deer hunting. Running with him years ago nearly cost me my marriage, (another story). Anyway I haven't hunted in years, I just can't afford it. So I don't see my buddy as often as I use to. He stopped by the shop one day and was admiring one of my knives. He said now if this was mine I would have you change this and this!
So I call him one day, (hunting season was over) and told him to come by. I made him a knife with the changes he wanted. I told him I am gonna give you this one, and if you need it sharpened drop by from time to time and I'll sharpen it up for you! There is only a couple of things, I want in return.
Every time you pull this out up at the hunting camp I want you tell everyone within earshot how good this knife is, (he is also one of those loud good ole boys).
The other thing do not tell them I gave it too you. Just tell them I gave you a fair deal and they can talk to me about price!
So far that knife has brought me three clients, and only one wanted one similar too it when we got to talking things over!! It opened a dialogue and gave me the opportunity to find out just what each was looking for in a knife and we settled the price up after the discussion, based on what they wanted in a knife!! That was two years ago I gave him that knife. Like I said I am more of a hobbyist and my wife's illness often dictates the pace of that!