- Joined
- Jul 25, 2014
- Messages
- 6,374
Ok, to start with, I've been an active, vocal apologist for Kizer for a long time. I was one of the first people on Blade Forums talking about them, recommending their knives and sometimes defending them. At times I've referred to myself as the OKFB (Original Kizer Fan Boy). I'm stating this to clarify that I'm not a hater nor a Sinophobe.
Recently it came to my attention via social media that Kizer was directing people to their new web store to purchase their budget Tangram line of knives. That web store is at an on-line marketplace that will go unnamed other than I like to refer to it as "Liar-Express". This web site is infamous for selling, direct from China, more clones, counterfeits, knock-offs and homage knives than any other singe source in the Western world.
From the safety of VPN and a sand box I visited Liar-Express and found not only the shiny, new Tangram knife store portal but almost every other current production Kizer knife. I tried the same for WE, Reate, Bestech and a few other value import brands and they were not represented.
I'm really conflicted with this. From a free market sense, Kizer has a right to distribute their products via any means they choose. On the other hand, this seriously damages their credibility as an upright manufacturer and importer. Kizer has come a long way since the early days of the Britton/Tango kerfluffle and they seem to have flushed it all away by throwing in with the marketplace that distributes copies of knives made by some of the very designers that Kizer works with.
For now, I've put a complete halt on any Kizer purchases or recommendations.
I'm not trying to start a poop show but I'd like to hear what the rest of Blade Forums thinks and whether I need to change the way I'm viewing this massive error.
Also, anyone contemplating a Kizer purchase needs to be aware of this significant shift in their marketing plan.
Thanks in advance for being civil and respectful of all viewpoints.
Recently it came to my attention via social media that Kizer was directing people to their new web store to purchase their budget Tangram line of knives. That web store is at an on-line marketplace that will go unnamed other than I like to refer to it as "Liar-Express". This web site is infamous for selling, direct from China, more clones, counterfeits, knock-offs and homage knives than any other singe source in the Western world.
From the safety of VPN and a sand box I visited Liar-Express and found not only the shiny, new Tangram knife store portal but almost every other current production Kizer knife. I tried the same for WE, Reate, Bestech and a few other value import brands and they were not represented.
I'm really conflicted with this. From a free market sense, Kizer has a right to distribute their products via any means they choose. On the other hand, this seriously damages their credibility as an upright manufacturer and importer. Kizer has come a long way since the early days of the Britton/Tango kerfluffle and they seem to have flushed it all away by throwing in with the marketplace that distributes copies of knives made by some of the very designers that Kizer works with.
For now, I've put a complete halt on any Kizer purchases or recommendations.
I'm not trying to start a poop show but I'd like to hear what the rest of Blade Forums thinks and whether I need to change the way I'm viewing this massive error.
Also, anyone contemplating a Kizer purchase needs to be aware of this significant shift in their marketing plan.
Thanks in advance for being civil and respectful of all viewpoints.
