Another sad day for all of us

[rye_a]

Has anyone noticed a recent price increase in the remaining retail stock? I went to a popular online retailer that has a healthy CSC inventory and I swear the prices have all gone up by $10.

I also noticed this. I have respected and done some business with that retailer, but a move like this makes even a staunch capitalist question his integrity.

 

[William Schrade]

With all due respect, there is a lot more to operating a successful Manufacturing Company than turning out a quality product. A Quality Product does not, of itself, guarantee success. My comments are meant in general terms only as I have no direct knowledge of Canal Street Cutlery's business plan.

My comment was not critical of CSCC. They had the best cutlers and experienced leadership but doing business in the USA can be hostile, hence the reason so many go off shore.

 

[eisman]

Manufacturing is about to make another quantum step forward in the next few years and the globalization of the market and workforce make it very difficult for small businesses.

 

[picturerock]

Part of the problem, in my view, is that many fewer people carry pocket knives these days. That shrinks the market and makes it harder for small manufacturers to be successful long term. I try to encourage my friends and family to carry a pocketknife every chance I get, as the more folk that do that, the better for us and for small manufacturers to keep the doors open in good times and lean times.

 

[okbohn]

I also noticed this. I have respected and done some business with that retailer, but a move like this makes even a staunch capitalist question his integrity.

So here is the deal. We raised the prices on Canal St 10% ($8-10 ea) because of two reasons.

1. We will have higher costs in handling the knives because everyone will want them checked because there is no warranty on the knives. (which is happening) and that adds significant cost.
2. There is no warranty on the knives, so any knife with a problem is mine.

It is not capitalistic greed, it is the only way I can stay in business.

PS. There was barely any mark up in CSC. I carried them because I liked their company.

 

[rma100]

Part of the problem, in my view, is that many fewer people carry pocket knives these days. That shrinks the market and makes it harder for small manufacturers to be successful long term. I try to encourage my friends and family to carry a pocketknife every chance I get, as the more folk that do that, the better for us and for small manufacturers to keep the doors open in good times and lean times.

Not all pocket knives are made by "small manufacturers". Even in this country. Not by a long shot.

 

[Foghorn Leghorn Fan]

So here is the deal. We raised the prices on Canal St 10% ($8-10 ea) because of two reasons.

1. We will have higher costs in handling the knives because everyone will want them checked because there is no warranty on the knives. (which is happening) and that adds significant cost.
2. There is no warranty on the knives, so any knife with a problem is mine.

It is not capitalistic greed, it is the only way I can stay in business.

PS. There was barely any mark up in CSC. I carried them because I liked their company.

I also had noticed the price increase and was not a happy camper, however the points you make above are quite valid and in my opinion justify price increases.

 

[Dean51]

So here is the deal. We raised the prices on Canal St 10% ($8-10 ea) because of two reasons.

1. We will have higher costs in handling the knives because everyone will want them checked because there is no warranty on the knives. (which is happening) and that adds significant cost.
2. There is no warranty on the knives, so any knife with a problem is mine.

It is not capitalistic greed, it is the only way I can stay in business.

PS. There was barely any mark up in CSC. I carried them because I liked their company.

I ordered a CSC Boy's Knife - African Zebra Wood from you and it should be here friday.
I had been waiting for another barlow but since that won't happen now, I jumped on the Boy's Knife.

 

[Ballenxj]

Part of the problem, in my view, is that many fewer people carry pocket knives these days. That shrinks the market and makes it harder for small manufacturers to be successful long term. I try to encourage my friends and family to carry a pocketknife every chance I get, as the more folk that do that, the better for us and for small manufacturers to keep the doors open in good times and lean times.

One ploy I use to combat this when constantly asked by someone if they can borrow my knife is to tell them flat out, I don't loan my knife out, and where is yours? After all, I'm the one who has to clean the glue off of it when you used it as a box opener, and resharpen it after you have done something stupid with it.

So here is the deal. We raised the prices on Canal St 10% ($8-10 ea) because of two reasons.

Your reasoning seems to be based on sound logic. Canal Street has now gone the way of Schrade, Camillus, etc. I note that all of those brands in good shape seem to have increased substantially in value.
If you are sitting on a pile of brand new ones from CSC, I don't think an $8 to $10 increase in price is that far out of line. Most of the people that are suddenly rushing to buy them are doing so for investment purposes, and hoping for increased value later.
This begs the question, if everybody expects to profit later, is the person that has a lot of them not expected to make a profit as well?
Let me put this in perspective. If a person has many pounds of Gold that he paid $20 per troy ounce many years ago now expected to sell for the same price even though it is now $1200. per ounce? Let's draw a line somewhere in between and call it fair market value.

 

[Cory Hess]

2. There is no warranty on the knives, so any knife with a problem is mine.

I have to say that this is the first thing that popped into my mind when considering purchasing a CSC before they dried up. I've been on the lookout for a CSC with D2 blades for around six months now. I have contacted the company several times to ask about any offerings they have with this steel and to find out about vendors that may have some in stock. I've been completely blown off and had given up on owning a CSC. Then this news came out and my first instinct was "I better redouble my efforts and get a hold of one of their knives soon." Once I was looking at the knives and considering which one to buy it started to sink in that if I get a lemon or something happens down the line with this knife there's nobody standing behind this product anymore.

I appreciate that there's stand up guys like Derrick out there, but there's definitely an increased risk in dealing with a product with no backing by the manufacturer. There's no safety net so to speak. I've decided that for me personally, it makes more sense to stick with other offerings. I can't be the only one, and of those making purchases they are going to want some verification that the knife they're shelling out for is worth the price.

I'm incredibly saddened by the loss of another traditional manufacturer. However, I do believe that there is a purpose in all things. Hopefully the remaining companies can look at what happened at Canal Street and learn some things that will help make their own companies more successful going forward. My thoughts and prayers will be with the families affected by this, not only those working at CSC but those that supplied the materials and sold their products. When a manufacturer shuts down it affects people up and down the supply chain, not just those that work in that building. Thank you Derrick for reminding us of that.

 

[Jolipapa]

I noticed the same thing. I was going to purchase a few knives from this company but decided not to because of the increase. Not that I can't afford it...just didn't like the fact that they raised the prices because of CSC's closing. Other companies have left their prices as is. I'll spend my money elsewhere.

+1 This is shooting on an ambulance!
I won't have a scond CSC, just the forum knife. Even Dog's head Ka-Bars have increased of $10+... So bye bye Ka-Bar...

 

[sitflyer]

+1 This is shooting on an ambulance!
I won't have a scond CSC, just the forum knife. Even Dog's head Ka-Bars have increased of $10+... So bye bye Ka-Bar...

Your loss... I completely understand the increase, and actually have been whiteness to what happens when a company goes away.

Back when Schrade closed I was working for a hardware distributor, we found out they were closing when we placed a re-stocking order and got the word that they weren't shipping any more orders and would be shutting down. We got stuck with a bunch of product that didn't sell, and got stuck with some broken/ defects that got returned down the road from our customer base.

This is a sad time for us as customers, but there are those who stand to loose a lot more than just a single knife purchase, or a slight increase on what is left available on the market. A seller should never have been called out in an open forum here in the first place. Some of this discussion, quite frankly, DISGUSTS ME!!!!!

I am more sorry for the folks employed, and their families, and wish each and every one of them a speedy return to a hopefully productive and prosperous career. / end rant

 

[rye_a]

Derek, Thanks for stepping up to explain your decision. I should point out that some other respected retailers have followed suit in terms of increased pricing of CSC products during the course of this conversation.

 

[Ramrodmb]

Some have NOT.
Thank you to them.
Mark

 

[knarfeng]

Enough with the pricing discussion.

 

[Easyrider]

This news stinks! I am sorry to hear about this.

 

[Fanglekai]

I received my 2015 forum knife today. Aside from some very nit-picky cosmetic imperfections the knife is really stellar. I'm sad to see CSC closing their doors. They really knocked it out of the park with this knife IMO.

 

[Dean51]

Boy's knife came in the mail Friday, my pictures don't do it justice. Walk & talk is perfect & very smooth, blade is centered, I'm happy with it.