Are spyderco knives overpriced?

I like this.

Is the main problem for some the fact that they know it is not an American person assembling this knife? Not that there's anything wrong with that, if that's their beef, but if we agree fit and finish is comparable, IS that the sole problem here?

9blades said:
I don't know - but I think if there was a more capable manufacturer that could produce the same fit and finish at the same price, Sal would have chosen them. With that being said, I don't think it was a question of "why Taiwan?" But of "why not Taiwan?".
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Penetration said:
Before I get another comment about this. Quaility? Spyderco has amazing quality I mean we all know spyderco is at the top of the list in terms of best quality knives that being said I know they have good quality I can't think of anything better for that price and basically what I'm Trying to say is things get overpriced for me when they charge a lot more for a specific material or color variation of a certain knife
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Now it just sounds like you're crawfishing on your original post. You've been a member here for a week, and you've admitted in previous posts that you just started collecting knives an don't own a knife above $60 so maybe you just really don't know what quality knives are..eh?

Let's talk about pricing. The green CTS-204P Para 2 sprint MSRP was the EXACT same price as a standard satin Para 2. It's the dealer that has the option to sell that knife for $110 or $180 or anywhere over and in-between, and with the crazy demand for the Para 2, (if you ever use one you'll understand) I don't blame the dealers for upcharging. It's the secondary market that demands the insane prices for these. And speaking of the Para 2, there's a reason that a standard black/satin "sold and shipped" from Amazon, not a 3rd party, sells for $150 today...because even they understand the demand too. Edit: As of 2/21/14 PM2's are down from near $150 yesterday to $118 today shipped and sold from the big river site. Feel bad for the guys that bought one at the higher price. Great thing to see some PM2's back on the market though.

So maybe it helps to understand what REALLY expensive knives cost (say >$300) and the quality you get, then take a step back and realize the materials, quality, and f/f you can get for no more than your average monthly smartphone bill these days.
 
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M.FREEZE said:
But my question still remains- why Taiwan? I understand the Golden plant is expanding, but there had to be several capable makers between Colorado and Taiwan.
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So your problem is Taiwan. You don't have a problem with Japanese Spydercos correct? Taiwan is not China and a country that we Americans fully support and would go to war with not against should not be confused with the communist country. They have labor laws that mirror the west and pay their workers fairly.
 
MEJ said:
They already have trouble keeping up with demand in golden , i doubt they could produce those models also withought huge expansion.
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They could have chosen to expand in Golden, they didn't. Cheap labor is cheap labor. Other companies produce knives in the USA, and sell them for similar prices. Buying foreign made products is a personal choice, some accept it some don't.
 
rajincagin said:
They could have chosen to expand in Golden, they didn't. Cheap labor is cheap labor. Other companies produce knives in the USA, and sell them for similar prices. Buying foreign made products is a personal choice, some accept it some don't.
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Are they not expanding right now?
 
I don't have an issue with Taiwan itself. My issue is that today's most popular models are produced overseas when they could be made here. If all spyderco knives were made in Taiwan or Timbuktu I would have zero issues. But the fact that some are made here and others are outsourced overseas bugs me.

I have no issues with Seki-City spydercos. They aren't at the high price point like the current Taiwan made models.
 
rajincagin said:
They could have chosen to expand in Golden, they didn't. Cheap labor is cheap labor. Other companies produce knives in the USA, and sell them for similar prices. Buying foreign made products is a personal choice, some accept it some don't.
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It was a smart business move from spyderco judging from the results, if he had expanded the Colorado factory he still would have had to charge a lot more for the knives he is currently producing in Taiwan. Some people have problems with it but the majority seem to appreciate the Taiwan knives. Most everyone buys foreign things, and i never see hear anyone complain about sweaters made in peru.
 
M.FREEZE said:
I don't have an issue with Taiwan itself. My issue is that today's most popular models are produced overseas when they could be made here. If all spyderco knives were made in Taiwan or Timbuktu I would have zero issues. But the fact that some are made here and others are outsourced overseas bugs me.

I have no issues with Seki-City spydercos. They aren't at the high price point like the current Taiwan made models.
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So you would rather have fewer people able to afford these awesome knives so you can feel comfortable buying a US product?
 
You make a good point and if I may piggyback on it for a moment, please don't buy clothing from Bangladesh, if you see any. It's rather popular here and I have friends there, the labor laws are not good at all, and the workers are not taken care of.

End of rant.

MEJ said:
It was a smart business move from spyderco judging from the results, if he had expanded the Colorado factory he still would have had to charge a lot more for the knives he is currently producing in Taiwan. Some people have problems with it but the majority seem to appreciate the Taiwan knives. Most everyone buys foreign things, and i never see hear anyone complain about sweaters made in peru.
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RedLynx said:
I like this.

Is the main problem for some the fact that they know it is not an American person assembling this knife? Not that there's anything wrong with that, if that's their beef, but if we agree fit and finish is comparable, IS that the sole problem here?
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I would agree that the fit and finish is on par if not better than the Golden Co. made knives. My issue has nothing to do with "non-Americans" assembling my knife. This is not an anti-Taiwan thing for me. It's a "why not make it somewhere else in the USA" thing...
 
Why does some here and there bother you if all or nothing would not? Not judging, just curious.

M.FREEZE said:
I don't have an issue with Taiwan itself. My issue is that today's most popular models are produced overseas when they could be made here. If all spyderco knives were made in Taiwan or Timbuktu I would have zero issues. But the fact that some are made here and others are outsourced overseas bugs me.

I have no issues with Seki-City spydercos. They aren't at the high price point like the current Taiwan made models.
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Yes, it's funny how some here have this special knives rule where they become super pro American yet their NorthFace jacket is made in Honduras, their Car assembled in Mexico, Jordans made in China, Laptop they are complaining on made in China...And take no real issue with it.

Go American as much as you can, but dont be a hypocrite.

Read these:

http://www.spyderco.com/forums/showthread.php?30951-quot-Tenacious-quot-model&p=391555#post391555

http://www.spyderco.com/forums/showthread.php?34379-USA-made&highlight=Usa+made
 
I am by no means an expert at all and someone else will likely answer this much better than I can.

But it's my understanding that if the current Taiwan models were made elsewhere here, the prices would be higher. And with F&F being not any better, the only reason for that would be that it was made here.

M.FREEZE said:
I would agree that the fit and finish is on par if not better than the Golden Co. made knives. My issue has nothing to do with "non-Americans" assembling my knife. This is not an anti-Taiwan thing for me. It's a "why not make it somewhere else in the USA" thing...
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Sal made a statement awhile back on when, how, and why knives and other items can be stamped as "Made in U.S.A."

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/572208-USA-made

I made the mistake not too long ago of thinking that Taichung products were an inferior product purely because of their origin, and, as Stays Sharp has pointed out above, I also made the mistake then of believing that Taiwan was a part of China and that the workers were poorly treated, paid poorly, etc. My facts weren't straight, so my opinion was slightly skewed, and by slightly I mean very.

The newest Mule Team knife to arrive, the S110V MT18P is a Taichung model and has been by most reviews flawless. The MT17P K390 Model arrived with a few more defects - bowed blades and flash in the drilled holes. It's a Golden, CO. product.

Taichung models are priced to reflect the knife that they are, regardless of their origin. The same way any other product is priced.
 
Stays Sharp said:
Yes, it's funny how some here have this special knives rule where they become super pro American yet their NorthFace jacket is made in Honduras, their Car assembled in Mexico, Jordans made in China, Laptop they are complaining on made in China...And take no real issue with it.

Go American as much as you can, but dont be a hypocrite.

Read these:

http://www.spyderco.com/forums/showthread.php?30951-quot-Tenacious-quot-model&p=391555#post391555

http://www.spyderco.com/forums/showthread.php?34379-USA-made&highlight=Usa+made
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My thoughts exactly. I think you type faster than I do.
:thumbup:
 
RedLynx said:
Why does some here and there bother you if all or nothing would not? Not judging, just curious.
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It bothers me because spydercos aren't generic run of the mill knives. They have a reputation, and when someone unfamiliar with knives see "Taiwan" they immediately think it's cheap and crappy. No one thinks "hmm... Taiwan is not China and they have labor laws."

If I pay that kind of $$ I want it to go to people that live and work in my country.
 
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