Beckers at Walmart

[russianpolander]

And I am going to add that if not for WalMart right now myself and @ 450 others would be un-employed.They are our biggest buyer when you include Sams' Club.

 

[RUNIT]

If a retail chain the the worst evil you ever experience in your life you should be mighty happy about that.

Alright then, as evil a corporation as it gets. Hope that clears it up.
I work hard to limit my exposure time to evil and that makes me happy.

 

[MrKnifekid]

Would somebody mind PMing me that link that was removed please?

Thanks

 

[CCMI]

And I am going to add that if not for WalMart right now myself and @ 450 others would be un-employed.They are our biggest buyer when you include Sams' Club.

And if they can find someone who will make it cheaper, you will be.

I've read case studies where Company A makes "Product A" and sells their product to a number of customers. Wal-Mart strikes a deal with them, production increases and life is good. However, 80% of what Company A produces is now sold to Wal-Mart. They probably have to drop other customers to accommodate Wal-Mart's orders.

Wal-Mart then tells Company A they'd like a price reduction, for which Company A will barely make profit. Wal-Mart can always find another vendor. Company A risks losing 80% of their business if they refuse Wal-Mart's demands. This continues until they go out of business. Wal-Mart moves on.

Not saying this has/ will happen to your company. Just saying they aren't buying because they want to create US jobs.

I don't hate the idea of a large company like Wal-Mart, but I don't care for a lot of their business practices.

All that being said, I don't think we'll ever see Beckers on the shelves at Wal-Mart

 

[OFFICIAL_KA-BAR]

One point to remember: If it has "KA-BAR" stamped on it you are getting high quality items regardless of where you purchase. We don't have the time or desire to deviate from production runs.

-OKB

 

[trailbum]

one point to remember: If it has "ka-bar" stamped on it you are getting high quality items regardless of where you purchase. We don't have the time or desire to deviate from production runs.

-okb

thankyou.

 

[hughewil]

One point to remember: If it has "KA-BAR" stamped on it you are getting high quality items regardless of where you purchase. We don't have the time or desire to deviate from production runs.

-OKB

Two thumbs up and I never thought other wise. I think this is a good start to making BK&T and ka-bar products easily available to the public.

 

[SpookyDriver]

All that being said, I don't think we'll ever see Beckers on the shelves at Wal-Mart

I got my last BK9 at Walmart. I received a gift card for Christmas and used it on a Becker and a new 10/22 for my grandson.

 

[CCMI]

I got my last BK9 at Walmart. I received a gift card for Christmas and used it on a Becker and a new 10/22 for my grandson.

You bought it in the store? Or from the website?

Their website has it listed as "web-only"

 

[scouter27]

Would somebody mind PMing me that link that was removed please?

Thanks

If you haven't gotten it yet just go to the Walmart site and search "becker knife" They'll be there

 

[scouter27]

And if they can find someone who will make it cheaper, you will be.

I've read case studies...

Can I get the info one these studies? I have access to a ton of periodicals online and could probably find them with a little help.

 

[SpookyDriver]

You bought it in the store? Or from the website?

Their website has it listed as "web-only"

The local store had three of them sitting on the counter in front of the gun racks. First time I'd ever noticed Beckers there. They've had other Ka-Bar's for years, though.

 

[thrillbilly]

Every store has different items..depends on the demographic. I have seen some oddball "they would never have that at walmart'' items sittin on shelves before. Found a store in LA that had SOG tomahawks instock, dozens of them, never seen those before or since in a store anywhere else.



Walmart sucks. I know, I worked there 4 years LOL only good thing about it was my 10% Off discount.

 

[CCMI]

Can I get the info one these studies? I have access to a ton of periodicals online and could probably find them with a little help.

I couldn't tell you off hand as I'm going by memory from a class in college. I can try and see if I still have the info somewhere. Just did a quick search, here's an example of what I'm referring to:

http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/77/walmart.html

The local store had three of them sitting on the counter in front of the gun racks. First time I'd ever noticed Beckers there. They've had other Ka-Bar's for years, though.

Well I'll be darned.

 

[stabman]

Wal-mart is okay...due to their low prices, I can afford to live (sorta) with the minimum wage job which was all I could get after 5 years of university (so far anyway).
They unfortunately do not have the same selection of knives in Canada.

Is this really about Wal-mart, or is it about the fact that soon more people will own the knives, and it'll be less of a club-like thing?

 

[scouter27]

I couldn't tell you off hand as I'm going by memory from a class in college. I can try and see if I still have the info somewhere. Just did a quick search, here's an example of what I'm referring to:

http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/77/walmart.html

That's a good read, and quite enlightening. I still withhold judgement on Walmart simply because they are simply acting on consumer demands. If it hadn't been Walmart another company would have stepped in to fill the gap. Call it zeitgeist or whatever you like, this is the direction the world is heading in, IMO. Sad but true.

 

[midnight flyer]

http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/77/walmart.html

Even though that well traveled article is pushing a decade old, it still has strong, valid points. There have been classic examples of good and bad from a relationship with Walmart over the years.

Two things need to be added to make it relevant in today's context:

- Walmart has never, ever forced anyone to do business with them. I've never seen a low end Rolex watch there, a low end Weatherby rifle (think Vanguard for starters), an economy car like a Kia, etc., Duluth Trading Company clothes, Kreg woodworking jigs, and on an on. You do business with Walmart because the lure of making money and getting product exposure to their incredibly huge market can be lucrative

- People like Walmart. They like their products and prices. If they didn't, there would be no Walmart. Who makes anyone shop at Walmart? How do they maintain their status as the world's largest retailer, year after year after year? If there was no customer loyalty, there would be NO Walmart. You college Economic.Marketing class with tell you that customer loyalty is built on price/value/service/selection (order depends on the customer). They have to be doing something to please their public. (I personally reject the idea that folks that shop there are ignorant savages that don't understand or care about anyone but themselves)

I see both sides of the situation here. But as the article very keenly pointed out, this whole thing sure isn't anything new in American business.

To make those here happy, I am wondering of Kabar/Becker should prohibit sales of their products to Walmart, its affiliates and distributors. I don't know what it would accomplish, but it might make those that can't imagine their favorite knife brand being sold by big blue a little happier.

Robert

 

[CCMI]

Is this really about Wal-mart, or is it about the fact that soon more people will own the knives, and it'll be less of a club-like thing?

I can only speak for me, but I don't really care if Beckers become "mainstream". If anything I'd like to see them get the credit they deserve and sell like crazy. Buck knives are no secret, but I still like em. I've never really understood the "I liked that band until they got popular" mentality. I guess some people just like feeling superior to the masses.

I'm just surprised to see a Wal-Mart carrying Beckers on the shelves. Just doesn't seem to fit their business model, imo. But hey, what do I know.

 

[spider991]

I just bought a Remington 1187 from Wally world, I had been researching this gun for a while. It was 150-200 dollars less than any of the local gunshops.im all for supporting locals and even paying a few bucks extra but not that much. Oh and I got a dozen eggs and some mcguires car polish at thee same time.

 

[SpookyDriver]

I just bought a Remington 1187 from Wally world, I had been researching this gun for a while. It was 150-200 dollars less than any of the local gunshops.

Yep. I'm a licensed dealer and Walmart's retail price is often less than my cost from a distributor...unless I want to buy 10k units at a time. Economics of scale...