Benchmade Inflation

[sunandsteel]

I own 3 Benchmade knives, a mini grip, a grip and a Bone collector fixed blade. I have to say that I am not very impressed. I carry the grip every day in my weak side pocket for box opening and general cutting duties. So it does get used more than any knife I own. Both grips are CPM 154, so edge retention is pretty good. The mini grip is when I travel to cities where sheeple have length restrictions. But I would not want to be in a situation where my life depended on either of them. To be fair, I carry daily much more expensive folders strong side pocket for deployment when my life depends on it. More expensive, but much more capable as well.

In total, I am much more a fan of the Kershaw line for affordable U. S. made knives.

I like Kershaw designs but I'm not a fan of assisted opening. Some will say to remove the torsion bar, but I'll pass on that even though it might be easy to do. Not sure why Kershaw holds back from making models without assisted opening.

 

[McVeyMac]

I like Kershaw designs but I'm not a fan of assisted opening. Some will say to remove the torsion bar, but I'll pass on that even though it might be easy to do. Not sure why Kershaw holds back from making models without assisted opening.

True. I own a blur, and it is not even close to my favorite knife by any means. But some of the less expensive ZT line excell in my opinion. I own a Dirskin Hunter fixed blade that is an exceptional and very affordable knife that I would have no problem depending on.

 

[sunandsteel]

True. I own a blur, and it is not even close to my favorite knife by any means. But some of the less expensive ZT line excell in my opinion. I own a Dirskin Hunter fixed blade that is an exceptional and very affordable knife that I would have no problem depending on.

Don't want to go off topic so I sent you a visitor message.

 

[fzla226]

I'd much rather pay more and go to a store, a real store, not the fancy interweb.

I wouldn't mind it. But not at full MSRP that most places charge for. The outdoor store closest to me, they actually charge OVER the MSRP. That's a big box place. $20 to $30 over the MAP prices. No way I'm giving my business to places like that. The local gun dealers aren't much better. I lost most respect for those places during all of that panic. If you ever went into one they were talking up and straight up lying about what would happen with gun laws. Creating panic to try to sell product. The closest premium plus BM dealer to me also charges over the MAP prices, and also barely has an online store. What do they expect in this day and age. It's not 1993, people can shop around and you can't prey on people's ignorance as much as you used to be able to.

 

[fzla226]

I like Kershaw designs but I'm not a fan of assisted opening. Some will say to remove the torsion bar, but I'll pass on that even though it might be easy to do. Not sure why Kershaw holds back from making models without assisted opening.

The blur is a really great knife as a manual. The one I have is probably the smoothest knife I own. no side to side play and drops free when you depress the lock. The only problem with mine is that the lockbar seems like it's worn out and it's starting to get vertical play. The locks in those are especially flimsy. Give it has a small liner with a straight cut in the blade and it's not heat treated to be very stiff. But if you treat it as a light duty EDC knife, you wont have a problem.

 

[42Jackbauer23]

Darn. I was just about to pull the trigger on a 707 sequel. Love that little knife. I think I'll wait and see how this pans out.

 

[Stays Sharp]

Why wouldn't the MAP go up in proportion to the wholesale? That's the way it works in all retail. My guess is Benchmade is responding to complaints from all the small retailers. As much as I don't like having to spend more it is the only fair thing to do for the smaller accounts. If not what is the point of a small business investing money and floor space in Benchmade product?

If true that they care so much about these little stores, I gotta wonder if they care about their customers also. Competition is fierce between knife companies and they are pricing themselves out. Gotta compete with your price points BM...

My 707 was AWESOME from the BF exchange for $85. It was a fair deal for $106 from internet dealers... It's insulting that they think it is worth $140+ with their new pricing. What a joke.

 

[JustinWatts]

Honestly, this is the reason I haven't had the chance to own a Benchmade yet. I can't justify paying $85 for a sub 3" (mini-grip); whereas I can pick up a spyderco with better blade steel, handle material and customer service. I realize the Axis-lock might be good, and I haven't had any experience with it, but I'm happy with my linerlocks, framelocks and backlocks.

 

[JerryIsAlive]

I wanted to try out a 940. Not happening now

 

[knife2Agunfight]

I wanted to try out a 940. Not happening now

Same.

 

[southernknives]

I'm just trying to decide if I should sell off my BNIB BM collection at the old prices. I might regret it though. Not because they went up on our price, but I don't really need them.

 

[golof]

I will still buy Benchmade even with the price increase. I buy local, quality and American and that's what Benchmade is to me.

 

[CrialJLA]

There is a thread on the Benchmade forums showing how the pricing policy and fit and finish of some BM knives don't add up anymore. I mean almost $200 for a 470 and a 940? Another hundred will get me in 2nd hand Sebenza territory. No thanks! Grip went up as well? NO thanks, I'll stick with a delica or endura.

 

[Ryanol]

Interesting topic.

Channel management is often about many of the things ppl are touching on.

Protecting VARs, retailers,distributors
Protecting brand equity
Establishing market position
Managing price/revenue/margins so that they move inline with expenses.
Managing capacity
Managing secondary market pricing

And frankly many times it can be a power struggle between large distributor/retailers and manufacturers about who should he what slice of the pie.

The knife market is a complex weird beast with retailers commissioning exclusives/sprint runs etc and manufacturers playing around with supply/demand schedules throw manipulation like prototypes/limited editions & numbered first production type techniques.

Add in easy access to consumer data via forums/exchanges/social media and the whole kit and kaboodle looks like a gigantic goat rodeo.

Good luck to benchmade, good luck to all knife companies. With the internet delivering easy relatively free access to market data and commerce and te rise of small batch manufacturing technologies (3d printing, CNC, rapid proto) the competition is about to get fierce.

bottom line: "pimping ain't easy"

 

[Ken44]

I thought they were just a bit high in price before considering the steel used on most models, and there QC is no better than others in their old price range.
I now feel they are way over priced for what they are, and they're not even on my radar anymore.

I can't imagine many people buying at these new prices, but what do I know.

 

[JNewell]

I thought they were just a bit high in price before considering the steel used on most models, and there QC is no better than others in their old price range.
I now feel they are way over priced for what they are, and they're not even on my radar anymore.

I can't imagine many people buying at these new prices, but what do I know.

Maybe they should just brand them all Emerson so they can sell 154CM at premium prices???

There's actually a historical connection there if you go back far enough!

 

[JNewell]

Interesting topic.
And frankly many times it can be a power struggle between large distributor/retailers and manufacturers about who should he what slice of the pie.

I had wondered if that wasn't what was going on...who knows...