Knives are an essential tool in most peoples’ lives.
Indeed, over 140 million Americans engage in activities that require them. Whether they’re hunting, fishing, camping, or cooking, knives come in handy.
As you can tell, there are all manner of incentives for owning a quality knife. Having an OTF, double, or single-action knife makes life easier in a wide number of ways.
Are you thinking about getting your hands on one?
There’s a lot to think about- especially when you’re buying knives online.
After all, online shopping poses a risk. Without seeing, holding and touching the item first, there’s no guarantee you’ll a) get what you pay for, and b) be happy with what arrives in the post.
That’s bad news when you’re spending hard-earned cash on practical tools like knives. Asking yourself certain questions first should help you avoid coming into such trouble.
Want to know what they are?
Keep reading for 7 essential questions to ask before buying a knife on the internet.
1. Have I Done My Research?
First thing’s first:
Do your homework.
As we said before, buying anything online is fraught with potential trouble. One of the best ways to avoid it is to know your stuff before conducting your knife search.
Remember, ignorance is a scam artist’s best friend.
It means they can take a prospective customer for a ride with ease.
The seller can write or say whatever they like about the product. With no prior insight to draw upon, there’s no reason not to believe them. You’re more likely to fall for their lies and end up with a substandard knife.
Enter the process with an idea of the knife you want and an understanding of its features. Identify what it should weigh, what it should cost, what materials should be in play, and how it should look.
2. Is this a Reputable Supplier?
The next question to ask is about the vendor.
The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, right? The knives you buy online are only as good as the company/individual selling them.
In other words, you need to ensure you’re buying from a reputable source.
Search review sites and forums for answers; see what other people say about their experiences. A host of negative reviews is, of course, a bad sign. You’d want to search elsewhere for your kife.
Oh, and make sure they’re PCI compliant too. That means they’re considered secure enough (by an independent regulator) to store credit card details. You can rest assured that your sensitive information is safe and won’t fall into the wrong hands.
3. Does the Site Have SSL Encryption?
Take note of the website too.
You want to make sure it has a secure connection. Secure sites have SSL encryption, which means they’re less likely to be hacked. That’s good news when you’re considering inputting sensitive information into them.
Look for a little padlock on the left-hand side of the URL box of your browser. If the padlock is locked, then the site is secure.
Another option is to click on the site URL and to copy and paste it somewhere. The website is secure is you see ‘Https’ at the start, instead of just ‘Http’.
Avoid websites that aren’t secured in this way.
4. Is the Price Too Good to Be True?
With knives, as in life, you get what you pay for.
Budget options might be tempting and, rest assured, the internet is full of them.
The trouble is that they almost always break sooner. Blades get blunted or chipped (here’s a post on keeping them sharp!); mechanisms break and the knife can become unusable.
In other words, they’re no good and you waste what little cash you spent on them.
Of course, cheap knives tend to be fake ones too. If the price seems too good to be true, then it probably is! Buy it and you’re sure to be disappointed.
See your knife as an investment. Quality knives cost more but last exponentially longer without getting damaged. Look after them and you can expect it to deliver years of value.
5. Is the Knife Functional as Well as Aesthetic?
Don’t buy a knife based on looks alone.
Sure, aesthetics are great. But a knife isn’t made just to look pleasant. It’s intended to chop, hack, slice, and cut. If it doesn’t do those things well, then there’s very little point carrying it around.
This is a particular issue for counterfeit knives.
Good counterfeits often look exactly like the original in pictures (and sometimes even in real-life too). Unfortunately, you can expect none of the same functionality. Everything from the build quality to the materials from which they’re made will be subpar.
Looking for a knife that really walks the walk? Make sure that you buy the genuine article.
6. Can Anybody Verify My Purchase?
It’s always a good idea to ask a knife-aficionado before hitting the buy button.
All the research in the world is nothing compared to someone who really knows their stuff. Maybe they even own the knife you’re thinking about buying or have direct experience with it.
Think about anyone in your social circle who might have this kind of expertise.
Ask if they can take a look at the listing. If they can’t see any issues, then you can be more confident in your purchase.
Of course, you could phone up the company/individual selling the knife as well. You can ask them about the listing and get a sense of their trustworthiness at the same time.
7. Is There a Returns Policy?
Finally, inquire about a returns policy and think twice about buying a knife without one.
Check that you can send the knife back if it’s not what you wanted and get your money back. The longer you have to return it, the better.
Be Sensible When Buying Knives Online
Hopefully, this post will help anyone thinking about buying knives online.
Follow the tips and you’re sure to end up with a quality knife to take into your work and life.
Want to see the knives we have on offer? Click here now.
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