2019 Price Increase?

[DShiflet]

You asked a real question and got a real answer from the man himself. .

Yes, because if it really WAS greed, no doubt the man himself wouldn't try to pitch it as something else, and would instead just come out and say "yeah, you're right, we know you suckers will pay so we'll keep jacking up prices till you stop"?

 

[91bravo]

Yes, because if it really WAS greed, no doubt the man himself wouldn't try to pitch it as something else, and would instead just come out and say "yeah, you're right, we know you suckers will pay so we'll keep jacking up prices till you stop"?

So now everybody thinks Sal is a liar? Simple, just don't buy Spydercos anymore, problem solved!

 

[on_the_edge]

It's not crying. We're bitter because we feel like it's greed, being pitched as rising costs.

Greed goes both ways--the buyer of an item can be greedy every bit as much as a seller. Haven't you seen those commercials where you can get some product for free just by calling a number and everyone is jumping up and down over it? Since when did it become even possible to sustain such a business model? Obviously you aren't asking for a free Spyderco knife, but the mindset and the unreasonable expectation of prices set to accommodate buyers IS present. It's really simple. If Spyderco prices all of their knives over $1000 today, they will be out of business tomorrow. Likewise if they price everything at $5. The "sweet spot" is somewhere in the middle. Finding it in a potpourri mix of many rapidly changing factors--many of which are uncertain--is one hell of a balancing act if you ask me. I have no doubt that Spyderco tries supremely hard to please its customer base...in ALL ways. Proof you ask? Look at all the models, combinations, and steels they have put out over the years. Every combination, every new model, every new steel is a risk to Spyderco that they may not cover costs never mind make a profit.

The marketing at year's end that goes: "better buy now, before the price increase!" also is irritating.

Let's flip that coin over...I can hear it now..."Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa, how come they didn't tell me to buy BEFORE the price increase? Now I have to pay more!"

We WANT to support these companies, but they're making it harder to do.

I will preface this by saying that I mean it gently and respectfully regardless of how it sounds. There is just no more succinct way to say it--Suck it up! Stop being so soft. LIFE is hard...everywhere around the world...and a heck of a lot harder in some places than others.

I just bought a Manix2. $95. Last week, it was $90. That's over a 5% hike. It's a U.S.-made model, so I don't think the steel tariff had anything to do with it either. You're telling me it costs 5% more to make in 2019 compared to 2018?

If the minimum wage went up in a state where an authorized Spyderco dealer was, could that account for a price increase, at least from that dealer? What about insurance costs for the building housing the retailer? Property taxes? What about the cost to insure Spyderco's manufacturing equipment and facilities? What about the cost to maintain or acquire new capital? Stop looking under a microscope and educate yourself about the larger picture.

No, it's just supply & demand. They'll keep raising the prices until demand goes down.

The term for it is "market economy."

Makes me feel like we're just dollar signs to Spyderco.

I'm sorry, but what you feel is not Spyderco's responsibility. It is YOUR responsibility. Did I mention that life is hard????

Cold Steel seems to be doing OK, price-wise. Only charges more when the steel gets better. Too bad the taste in knives outta not as good...

Since you seem to be very focused on price, I would like to suggest that you go buy whatever knife you want, something that you feel offers you a better bang for the buck than Spyderco. Try it out, use it, carry it, show it off to your friends, and see if you grow to love it. If you do, that's awesome. But don't be ignorant of that pesky other side of the coin. Don't overlook the possibility that maybe what you buy will be garbage that falls apart in short order, or doesn't work like you expected, and now you are "forced" to buy yet another knife to suit your needs, making your wallet even lighter than it would have been had you just bought a Spyderco from the git-go. Maybe you'll come out ahead, maybe not. Yep, not knowing the future is hard...like life...

 

[on_the_edge]

I don’t fault Spyderco for raising their prices if they feel it is necessary but it does affect the value equation. We only have so much disposable income.

It impacts "perceived value". Value is extremely subjective and as such, it becomes impossible to please everyone all of the time.

 

[Colorodo]

Rising prices is part of life.

 

[craytab]

The marketing at year's end that goes: "better buy now, before the price increase!" also is irritating..

That marketing is from the dealers.

I just bought a Manix2. $95. Last week, it was $90. That's over a 5% hike. It's a U.S.-made model, so I don't think the steel tariff had anything to do with it either. You're telling me it costs 5% more to make in 2019 compared to 2018?

You're not understanding the economics of business very well. At the beginning of 2019 it probably doesn't take 5% more to make a knife but by the end of 2019 it will likely be much more than just 5% to make a knife. Costs for pretty much everything involved in making a knife go up throughout the year. They are not fixed for the year unlike the price of the knife you are complaining about.

You need to get a little perspective on this issue before you call long time respected company owners, who know much more about their business than you, a liar.

 

[benchwarmer380]

Not many owners of knife companies will interact with their customers. I understand how business and manufacturing works and costs, so I really appreciate Sal giving us the transparency that he does. Spyderco has their own forum and Sal is pretty active over there.

Thanks Spyderco, for some of the most innovative knife technology out there!

You could probably expand that to owners of most companies, not just knife companies. Even if others do, it is rarely to the same degree as Sal.

 

[sgt1372]

I've been around for 68 years and I don't know of any specific instance when the cost of any product or service has not increased over time.

The only way that the cost of goods/services will decrease (temporarily or permanently) is during an economic recession or depression (affecting the economy broadly or a certain industry specifically).

I have experienced several recessions in my lifetime but I hope to never experience a depression, as my parents did in their time, in what's left of mine.

 

[Danke42]

Err, so many of those others have already been cheaper than Spydie and Benchmade all these years, so I don't think that's the case. Kershaw Natrix, 8Cr13MoV steel, G10 handle scales, China made, $30. Spyderco Tenacious, 8Cr13MoV steel, G10 handle scales, China made, $50. Even if you get the Natrix with carbon fiber overlays it still runs less than a Tenacious...

Then why not buy that knife that's a great deal and use it and move on?

When I shop for groceries or gas I look for the best deals, get what I need and move on. I don't start writing letters to Casa Fantastico to tell them their premium black beans are overpriced. I don't send emails to Shell that Gulf has gas that's 2 cents cheaper. If that grocery store sees the beans on the shelf they stop buying them or put them on sale. Same for the gas station that's loosing all the traffic.

There is no legal requirement to own any Spyderco knives. If you don't buy them you're not going to jail.

 

[AF]

The sense of entitlement and immaturity is a bit disheartening. But hey, this is a diverse forum. And it's anonymous.
Personally I'm grateful for Sal and Spyderco. I know they run the business with integrity. I buy what I like and can afford.

 

[DShiflet]

Then why not buy that knife that's a great deal and use it and move on?

I will. And if Spyderco keeps jacking up their prices by such a large amount(sorry, if it was truly just "cost of doing business", ALL knife companies would be doing this), so will a lot of other people. And that's generally not how a business stays in business.

For the record, some price increase, I understand. Prices do go up. But do you really think the rising "cost of business" alone accounts for a nearly $20 increase on a PM2?

 

[Obcessed]

It is amazing how many people don't have a clue about price structuring. Those complaining about the price do't let the door hit you in the can. Enjoy the hobby for what it is. A fun time and a place to talk knives.
Got to order my Spyderco Autonomy 2.

 

[stabman]

I will. And if Spyderco keeps jacking up their prices by such a large amount(sorry, if it was truly just "cost of doing business", ALL knife companies would be doing this),

The prices ARE going up for most of them.
Or they are outsourcing more to China, and/or using lesser materials.

Try opening a business...any business, not just a knife one.
I wanted to open up a used book store some years ago, and when I started looking into it, it was amazing how much it would take to make the equivalent of just minimum wage for myself. And if I wanted to have any employees, whoo!!!

I'm still working on getting a small run going of one of my knife designs, and the cost to get started on that is more than I can scrounge. And then if I wanted to actually make any money from selling them, I'll bet a bunch of you would complain that I was being greedy...and once again, that would be just trying to make less than minimum wage for myself; no employees, no buildings, land taxes, worker's comp, insurance, etc.

 

[stabman]

And yeah, I'm buying less knives now from all companies, but it ain't so much due to their price increases as the low wages the horrible jobs you can get around here pay.
People whine about the low wages so many companies pay their employees, but then whine about the prices required to pay employees a decent wage...

 

[Danke42]

I will. And if Spyderco keeps jacking up their prices by such a large amount(sorry, if it was truly just "cost of doing business", ALL knife companies would be doing this), so will a lot of other people. And that's generally not how a business stays in business.

For the record, some price increase, I understand. Prices do go up. But do you really think the rising "cost of business" alone accounts for a nearly $20 increase on a PM2?

The last PM2 I got was a BHQ exclusive in M4 for $159.99 new. Seemed like a fair deal to a guy like me.

Would I have liked it more if it was $130? Maybe.

Are there other knives that cost $130 that are acceptable if that's all I have? You bet.

Would I be as happy with it as $170? Probably.

Do I need more than one PM2? Probably not but I might get another one or two. I accumulate users and I like niche steels but I'm not obsessed with catching them all.

 

[AF]

I will. And if Spyderco keeps jacking up their prices by such a large amount(sorry, if it was truly just "cost of doing business", ALL knife companies would be doing this), so will a lot of other people. And that's generally not how a business stays in business.

For the record, some price increase, I understand. Prices do go up. But do you really think the rising "cost of business" alone accounts for a nearly $20 increase on a PM2?

Firstly, it would be helpful to get your facts straight.
In 2018 MAP for a standard PM2 was $136.47. In 2019 it's $140.40. That's a $4 dollar increase, not a $20 increase.
Secondly, your logic is questionable. A company that didn't raise their prices may have had a higher margin and decided to absorb any cost increases.
I think there's an irony in your implied accusation that Spyderco is raising prices to maximize profit. That's how most businesses are run! The irony (as I see it) is that Spyderco is actually run with more of a focus on social good than most companies.

 

[BilboBaggins]

These threads leave a bad taste in my mouth. Spyderco is one of the "good guys" out there in the knife community. Even putting aside the tremendous variety of both designs and steels that Spyderco brings to the table, they go above and beyond to be good citizens in the knife world. From Sal's shiny footprints, to their charity efforts, to a presence here on Bladeforums (not only on their own, very active forums!) by the man himself. Prices go up. It's the reality of things. Spyderco isn't here to gouge us.

 

[Rhinoknives1]

The prices ARE going up for most of them.
Or they are outsourcing more to China, and/or using lesser materials.

Try opening a business...any business, not just a knife one.
I wanted to open up a used book store some years ago, and when I started looking into it, it was amazing how much it would take to make the equivalent of just minimum wage for myself. And if I wanted to have any employees, whoo!!!

I'm still working on getting a small run going of one of my knife designs, and the cost to get started on that is more than I can scrounge. And then if I wanted to actually make any money from selling them, I'll bet a bunch of you would complain that I was being greedy...and once again, that would be just trying to make less than minimum wage for myself; no employees, no buildings, land taxes, worker's comp, insurance, etc.

————————I do own my own business and the costs are astronomical.————————/-———I don’t bother listening to any criers that have never owned or even operated any kind of business. ————If I don’t care for a product or if I think it’s to expensive, I move on to another one that, Cost equals Value!

 

[Sal Glesser]

Yes, because if it really WAS greed, no doubt the man himself wouldn't try to pitch it as something else, and would instead just come out and say "yeah, you're right, we know you suckers will pay so we'll keep jacking up prices till you stop"?

That's it DShiflet!

You found me out!

sal

 

[Sal Glesser]

Sal, Smaug does not speak for the rest of us. You’ve been successful and then some at being an active and fundamental pillar of this community and hobby. Your transparency honesty and diligence are a very significant part of that. Everyone, but for a few outliers is able to see and appreciate that.

Thanx for bringing that up Ben and thanx for the encouragement. It's a very important concept. Sometimes when an employee is "not being good", my first reaction is to be ticked at all of the employees and I have to catch myself and remember it's not all. We have a lot of great crew as we have a lot of great ELU's.

sal