Benchmade pricing seems to have changed

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Losing the discounts is unfortunate, it did indeed make Benchmade a great bargain. That being said I feel they do not stand alone. I for one will continue to support and buy Benchmade perhaps with a bit more restraint.
 
I think MAP means "minimum advertised price." This doesn't mean they can't sell the knife for cheaper, just not list it for cheaper.

On a related note I know most authorized dealers for apple products where giving away $100 gift cards with the purchase of an ipad during this past weekend to get around map pricing.

Buy a benchmade and get a $50 gift card! :)
 
Kyle78 said:
I think MAP means "minimum advertised price." This doesn't mean they can't sell the knife for cheaper, just not list it for cheaper.

On a related note I know most authorized dealers for apple products where giving away $100 gift cards with the purchase of an ipad during this past weekend to get around map pricing.
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Unfortunately the trend may be any communication be it phone call, email, or website ad sale under MAP from vendor to buyer would be discouraged. (I'm not speaking in absolutes as no official word has been released as of yet, and we are all waiting.
 
Kyle78 said:
I think MAP means "minimum advertised price." This doesn't mean they can't sell the knife for cheaper, just not list it for cheaper.

On a related note I know most authorized dealers for apple products where giving away $100 gift cards with the purchase of an ipad during this past weekend to get around map pricing.

Buy a benchmade and get a $50 gift card! :)
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That's what BladeHQ was doing today for its Cyber Monday Holiday Specials:

Spend $150 or more on Benchmade products and get a Free $30 Blade HQ gift card

Offer applies to any qualifying purchase of Benchmade products. Just type "BMCM30BK" in the notes at checkout. Offer valid on orders placed online, and by phone December 2nd and 3rd only.

$30 Gift card will be sent to the email address provided on all qualifying orders. Gift cards will be sent on December 5th, 2013. Can be combined with other giveaways offers.
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MAP does, indeed, mean "Minimum Advertised Price". It does not set a minimum sale price, just a minimum publicly-offered price.

What they're doing here is completely different. The only way around it is the gift card type thing, which allows the retailer to print the UPP price on the receipt to cover their butts while still giving you a discount. It's just more complex for you and requires multiple purchases to see the benefits...


I wouldn't have called the old prices bargains, just a reasonable premium for a premium product.
 
I don't do gift cards and next will be Benchmade points or a mail in rebate.I will wait and see if there is an official response and hold back any future purchases until some transparency happens.It is quite possible that not all dealers are on board.I don't think the MAP enforcement will work if some of the larger dealers don't go along with the MAP.I will wait and see if any of them are actually banished from selling Benchmade products.Is there more than one channel for a dealer to stock Benchmade products?Question? What new products will Benchmade offer in 2014 that is an absolute must-have?
 
There was a press release dated November 29, 2013: Benchmade Knife Company wins 2014 American Made Outdoor Gear Award.

Here's a relevant portion of that press release:

Benchmade Knife Company's story is not one of a US manufacturer finding a way to survive in a category that is largely sourced and price-point driven. It's the story of a US manufacturer redefining and reinventing a category that was created, well, about 10,000 years ago," said David Fee, VP sales and marketing at Benchmade. "As a domestic manufacturer, we choose not to compete on price. Instead, we focus on superior quality, materials, service and customization. And more and more outdoor consumers choose Benchmade because they see that we deliver superior value."
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salmonkiller said:
I don't do gift cards and next will be Benchmade points or a mail in rebate.I will wait and see if there is an official response and hold back any future purchases until some transparency happens.It is quite possible that not all dealers are on board.I don't think the MAP enforcement will work if some of the larger dealers don't go along with the MAP.I will wait and see if any of them are actually banished from selling Benchmade products.Is there more than one channel for a dealer to stock Benchmade products?Question? What new products will Benchmade offer in 2014 that is an absolute must-have?
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Buying $150 worth of Benchmade products to get a $30 gift card will not work for me either. Just give me the discount.

Benchmade's new products at the Blade Show consisted mainly of the Gold Class 7505 series which have a very limited market due to high price and being an automatic albeit "dual-action". May be I'm missing a deluge of product announcements or they're all coming at the SHOT Show in Vegas!?
 
Perhaps we can get a word from David Fee, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Benchmade Knife Company.
 
MattWRog said:
Losing the discounts is unfortunate, it did indeed make Benchmade a great bargain. That being said I feel they do not stand alone. I for one will continue to support and buy Benchmade perhaps with a bit more restraint.
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Not trying to pick on your post :) but in my opinion at the current/recent past discounts, Benchmade was NOT a great bargain...not even a small bargain...they were merely competitive. At MSRP, they are completely uncompetitive.
 
L2bravo said:
Perhaps you will turn blue and die, while holding your breath good sir.
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I think that is the most likely scenario. Hell of a way to die imho. It's not likely they will attempt to explain what makes their products worth 25% to 27% more overnight to the consumer. Anyone had a 25% pay raise lately?
 
skyhorse said:
I think that is the most likely scenario. Hell of a way to die imho. It's not likely they will attempt to explain what makes their products worth 25% to 27% more overnight to the consumer. Anyone had a 25% pay raise lately?
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Are their products suddenly made 25% to 27% better overnight?
 
The very best knife retailers are members here on B/F. That being said,I believe some people would be surprised how slim their profit margin per knife truly is. They make their living in volume of sales. Marketing items they can turn fast is how they survive. Will production knives priced at almost semi-custom levels move quickly? Imho,no.
 
JNewell said:
Not trying to pick on your post :) but in my opinion at the current/recent past discounts, Benchmade was NOT a great bargain...not even a small bargain...they were merely competitive. At MSRP, they are completely uncompetitive.
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That's up to you. $65 shipped for a Mini Griptilian, made in the USA with quality materials was a bargain as far as I'm concerned. Sure Kershaw and maybe others have USA made knives that come in under that price but none that have the same substance as something like the Griptilian, again strictly my opinion.

Haven't seen any decline in the desire for Sebenzas and most back up the $325 or whatever plus price tag as being justifiable. Spyderco and Benchmade (Bradley) both make Ti Framelock knives that come in under $200 and are subjectively comparable. Maybe there will be some Benchmades aren't worth it with the price change but I believe the value will still be there. Could be worse, like I said just throwing my opinions out there to the mix for discussions sake.
 
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