If I had a nickle for every time I’ve been asked that question…. Chances are, you’ve asked it yourself.
Here’s the scenario: A potential customer calls or comes in. They know they want something, but they also know that they don’t know enough to come to an informed decision, and so they want my help. This is a good thing, because unlike shopping at a faceless billion dollar fulfillment group, they actually would like to get the opinion of someone who knows what they are talking about.
First, let’s narrow it down a bit: What do you want the item to do? Be realistic about your expectations; if you are opening boxes all day, you are going to want something that holds an edge and is ergonomic. If you wear a suit in an office environment, you don’t want something that looks large and threatening. If you are using a flashlight for long hours, you want something rechargeable or failing that, something with the longest possible battery run time you can get. Similarly, you don’t want a shoulder bag for extended camping, nor would you want a heavy backpack for short trips into the city.
The next question is typically “What sort of budget do you have?” I’m a firm believer in get the best quality possible for the money that you are going to spend. I’d much rather see a customer not make a purchase in haste and waste their money on something of low quality, even if it costs me a quick sale. Why? Because when that low quality item fails them, then they have to spend their hard earned money again, and (on top of that) they are mad because I recommended something that failed! When in doubt ask my opinion. Opinions are free, so make use of my product knowledge.
When you are paying for an item, typically there are a number of factors that figure into the end price. The materials. Quality of construction. The Name / Reputation of the manufacturer. Demand. Warranty service. Etc. If two items are made of the same materials, and have similar quality of construction, but their prices are wildly disparate, ask why they are such different prices. There’s no magic that goes into manufacturing these days; it’s modern techniques and commodities, so there’s no magic there. Do your research and think before buying. Sure, the $400 fixed blade looks really cool, but do you really need it, or will the $100 one made out of the exact same materials work for you?
Finally, make sure you are happy with what you are going to spend your money on. Consider the practicality of your purchase. Don’t spend so much money that you are going to be heartbroken if the item is lost or stolen or damaged during use. Don’t buy something so heavy that it stays home on your dresser. Don’t buy something that eats $5 batteries every hour it is in use. I can’t emphasize it enough… if something doesn’t feel right or isn’t comfortable to use, it’s going to wind up left behind at the first opportunity and will do you absolutely no good when you need it.