GB started adding shipping charge for knives a while ago, especially to countries where knives get often confiscated by Customs.
For example, they charge me $2 to $5 to ship a knife to Canada, but shipping to the USA is often free.
FT often gets 10/15% off their whole website which often coincide with the USA holidays.
If you are not in a rush, the next one will probably be the first week of September for the “Labor Day” holiday. This will help bring the cost down. Just keep an eye on the customer forum/promotions.
I like a lot the 9002 and 9015 specially. One or two cms more and it would be a lot better for me.
But i like the new models from Sanrenmu. I hope they put new fixed knives in the market too.
Sorry for the late reply, but my kid got sick and I only saw the replies on my phone, but I am borderline dyslexic typing on mobile, so I rather waited to comment from the computer. There's nothing like an old keyboard!
Anyway.. GB had free shipping (in the folding knifes at least) for a long time.
Maybe it's just we (me?) who are not accustomed to pay huge shipping fees (sometimes the shipping cost as much as the knife..) and rather search for valued priced items, sometimes the eventual bargain, but never paying as much for the shpping as for the stuff itself.
Ofc the " free shipping " is a myth; we always pay for the shipping but in the asian markets the price is mostly dissipated with the product price.
I pretty much stand where you are regarding the FT.
As for now, I am on standby and won't be buying more knifes anytime soon. And by soon, I mean this month.
I am still waiting for a knife I purchased last month. Hope it arrives asap! It's my first from that particular brand, so can't wait to check it out and see whats all the fuss about it! :D
Either way, just for reasearch purposes, it would be of a great value to know alternatives to the more mainstream Gearbest and Fasttech.
Thanks for the tip! No, I am not in "rush"; the only issue is the model I was after might get discontiued, as it seems to be in other sites already. Maybe i'll try FT if they happen to have some deal in the Labour Day.
For me it’s good actually. I’ve bought some cheap knives already, right now I’m more interested in finer stuff.
Traditional knives do it to me atm, but I’d more like a knife kit and build it myself. I did regrinds and CF scales, etching and stonewashing and Ti anodizing on modern folders, now it’s time for slipjoints
Still I order with free shipping. 10 alligator clips for $1.49 on the bay? Sure shipping is subsidised by China.