Benchmade Inflation

[RamZar]

I try to buy "value" in all my purchases. Benchmade s "value" has now gone way done. On this basis they re simply not competitive with other knives I like as well. Too bad.

Many of the Benchmades WERE tremendous values. For instance, that great big Contego with the wonderful CPM-M4 was at around $135 delivered a superb value. Price-wise, that compares well with the other great folder with CPM-M4, namely, the Spyderco Gayle Bradley (GB). However, at the current prices for the Contego it's GB for the win all the way and no looking back!

 

[jac_solar]

I would have to say that all of my Benchmades were bought at my local gunshop for around the prices you're now seeing online. I bought them at a time when those same knives were usually available cheaper online, so I could support my local gunshop. So maybe it's just that online prices are now catching up to street prices? I'd have still paid it either way, as my Benchmades are some of my favorites.

When ordering from the internet, you only have to click a button to buy it (An internet store doesn't have to employ someone for 8 hours a day.), the item doesn't take up any store, or shelf space, etc. But most importantly, most of the places (Internet and real stores.) that offer low prices bought a bunch of the knives for a lower per unit cost (Ie, buy 5, pay 100% for the individual knife, buy 1000 and pay 90% for the individual knife.), or they have a deal with the supplier, and because it's a lot easier for the customer to take their business elsewhere when ordering from the net.

 

[Nal0n]

When ordering from the internet, you only have to click a button to buy it (An internet store doesn't have to employ someone for 8 hours a day.), the item doesn't take up any store, or shelf space, etc. But most importantly, most of the places (Internet and real stores.) that offer low prices bought a bunch of the knives for a lower per unit cost (Ie, buy 5, pay 100% for the individual knife, buy 1000 and pay 90% for the individual knife.), or they have a deal with the supplier, and because it's a lot easier for the customer to take their business elsewhere when ordering from the net.

Are you sure about the store and shelf space?

Amazon Warehouse Photos

 

[leghog]

Here's a question for everybody - how many of you own an Apple product? They enforce MAP at all retailers.

It's not an uncommon practice. All part of marketing and branding and building a market image -- ensuring a brand retains "value" and cachet. Rolex has been at it for decades. Retail enforcement and distribution enforcement (no gray market) have been a very successful strategy for them. People now paying WAY more than their products should truly cost. People are paying for the brand and their perception of the brand's cachet. Non-watch aficionados (to whom most watches, even expensive ones, are sold) consider Rolex "THE" luxury watch company.

Only time will tell if the strategy will be a success for BM. I believe it will be. Perhaps not on the level it has been for Rolex but a success none the less.

 

[jbmonkey]

Business can do what it wants...and so can the consumers. as for this consumer....at those prices there is no competitive value, imo. No more benchmade for me....unless used or a new product released at a market value price point. So be it.

 

[d0nut]

Once again: Spiders eat Butterflies alive!

Once again: the butterfly soars high above the spiders.

 

[Scurvy092]

I have no issues with benchmade or any company having a map (minimum advertised price). The issue is that after the discount codes, they were good values and competed well with other knives at the price point. Now the new prices put every knife in a new category and new knives to compete with that they don't stack up well against.

At 130 bucks there aren't many knives I would rather have than a bm940. At $180 though there are plenty of nicer options.

 

[dkb45]

Benchmade made a big mistake. The Mini Grip is a great knife... but for nearly friggin $100 it is a whole lot less. MAP does little to help businesses. People will still go to whoever offers the best deal, like shipping or sales, or they will continue to shoot wherever they were shopping before. Or, they can drop that brand altogether because the value is barely there any more.

 

[fzla226]

I would have to say that all of my Benchmades were bought at my local gunshop for around the prices you're now seeing online. I bought them at a time when those same knives were usually available cheaper online, so I could support my local gunshop. So maybe it's just that online prices are now catching up to street prices? I'd have still paid it either way, as my Benchmades are some of my favorites.

After how most of the local gun dealers in my area handled the panic last year, I don't think I'd want to give them any business anymore.

 

[JD Mandrell]

Any form of "price controlling" usually turns out bad for those doing it. Benchmade should set the price they want from their retailers, then leave the price between them and final consumers to those parties.

 

[Gadfly22]

Benchmade has to make its own business decisions. Personally, I find the MAP prices to overprice the product (though other consumers can certainly make their own appraisals). With the discounts in place, I've bought a couple dozen (at least) BMs over the past 2 years. Unless the MAP ploy is just a late holiday season leveling for retailers, with discounts to reappear in 2014, I'm unlikely to be adding to my BM collection. ZTs and Spydercos (other than "sprints" which I also find to be overpriced) have more attractive offerings for the money.

 

[blame it on god]

I have no issues with benchmade or any company having a map (minimum advertised price). The issue is that after the discount codes, they were good values and competed well with other knives at the price point. Now the new prices put every knife in a new category and new knives to compete with that they don't stack up well against.

At 130 bucks there aren't many knives I would rather have than a bm940. At $180 though there are plenty of nicer options.

I have to agree, I love my 940, but no way would I pay $180 for it. I didn't pay that much more for a Domino which IMO is a much nicer knife.

After reading all of this, I think BM is shooting themselves in the foot. If a dealer is willing to make a little less per unit, but sell more of them. That should be their business.

 

[sunandsteel]

Prices go up up, no problem, just wait longer between knife purchases and don't buy as many.

 

[Yo Mama]

Did this seriously need to bleed into General? Wasn't it enough to keep it in the sub forum that's at 32 pages long?

 

[sunandsteel]

Did this seriously need to bleed into General? Wasn't it enough to keep it in the sub forum that's at 32 pages long?

There's another one of these?

 

[bpeezer]

Benchmade made a big mistake. The Mini Grip is a great knife... but for nearly friggin $100 it is a whole lot less. MAP does little to help businesses. People will still go to whoever offers the best deal, like shipping or sales, or they will continue to shoot wherever they were shopping before. Or, they can drop that brand altogether because the value is barely there any more.

You can still get the Mini Grip everywhere for $85...there's a difference between MAP and MSRP!

 

[Syncharmony]

You can still get the Mini Grip everywhere for $85...there's a difference between MAP and MSRP!

Yeah, but you used to be able to get it for about $60-63 before the MAP took effect.

 

[RetiredGuns]

I have to agree, I love my 940, but no way would I pay $180 for it. I didn't pay that much more for a Domino which IMO is a much nicer knife.

Have to be careful making comparisons. These two knives are very different. There is a reason why the 940 has been consistently sought after for at least a decade I believe. Great designer, super fit and finish, nearly a 3.5" blade, axis lock, and all that at 2.9oz! It's a pocket carry dream and MADE in the USA. I'm not knocking the Domino, but it's another leaf blade in the mix of many while the 940 is absolutely unique.

 

[bpeezer]

Yeah, but you used to be able to get it for about $60-63 before the MAP took effect.

I don't care if you used to be able to get them for a nickel, at that price point there's nothing I would rather have than the mini grip. Value is determined by the buyer. When it's me buying, I still consider the mini grip a great value. If they raised the prices all the way to MSRP ($100) it would still be a great value to me.

 

[YoYojunkie]

I would have to say that all of my Benchmades were bought at my local gunshop for around the prices you're now seeing online. I bought them at a time when those same knives were usually available cheaper online, so I could support my local gunshop. So maybe it's just that online prices are now catching up to street prices? I'd have still paid it either way, as my Benchmades are some of my favorites.

I like your stance! You help keep your local shop open and putting food on the owners table and money in their employees pockets!

That said MAP (minimum advertised pricing) pricing might be something benchmade is enforcing more strictly these days and discounts might be available on a call in basis or not at all due to having to keep their accounts with benchmade.

To the OP

Benchmade is in the business to turn a profit just as any other business and with that comes increase in base costs to build knives and maintain a work force that is of a higher then normal caliber so that we can get high quality defect free (I know there is a rare occurrence where defects slip through) knives that will last a lifetime or two so with that being said we only really have two viable options either accept the cost increase and enjoy the benchmade products you've begun to love or take your dollars and purchase from one of the many (100's if not 1000's) of other knife makers that offer a productive to your liking in a price you're more comfortable paying.

Everything in life costs more at some point and when those increases come we have to decide if the cost of the show was worth the price if admission or not and if not we just find something else that fills our needs more and not be angry about the increase just move on.