Benchmade pricing seems to have changed

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rajincagin said:
How do you know that? Do you have some inside info the rest of us do not?
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One of their authorized dealers has said on their (the dealer's) facebook page that "They [Benchmade] will still be selling the product to us [the dealer] at the same price."

The end user is the only one paying the extra cost here.
 
Skywalker31 said:
One of their authorized dealers has said on their (the dealer's) facebook page that "They [Benchmade] will still be selling the product to us [the dealer] at the same price."

The end user is the only one paying the extra cost here.
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And that's it isn't it.

Benchmade won't be making a dime extra by doing this
 
Skywalker31 said:
One of their authorized dealers has said on their (the dealer's) facebook page that "They [Benchmade] will still be selling the product to us [the dealer] at the same price."
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which one? not that I don't believe you, I would like to see it though;)
 
rajincagin said:
How do you know that? Do you have some inside info the rest of us do not?
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I do not know that. Only the impression I've gotten from reading what's been posted in this thread and why I said "If".

If they are enforcing MAP pricing on the dealer level and cost to the dealers remains the same, only the end user is paying more.

If I had any inside info I would of course share it as I'm as much in the dark as everyone else and also awaiting official reply from Benchmade.
 
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Man, all this talk has got me wanting to pick up a black blade 581 or a 586 while I can... bleh. I'm trying to be done with new knives now, haha.
 
RevDevil said:
For me (a member of Bladeforums writing, not a moderator) it's as simple as not putting all my eggs in one basket. I do enjoy using and buying Benchmade knives. But the same cane be said for many other manufacturers. There are some that have gone "pure Benchmade" and I know of some others that go "pure Kershaw/ZT" or "pure Spyderco". I've never been able to do that, there are so many great designs out there that it's really toughto be loyal 100% in that regard to one company. This is especially true when things like this happen, or when quality issues arise, or other community wide issues.
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Sadly, us lefties don't have many options for fully ambidextrous knives. Axis lock, ball bearing lock, a button lock. Sadly, not even all ambidextrous locks have right/left carry options. I'm a big Benchmade owner because of that. I just haven't had much success getting used to right-handed locks. This leaves me with few options. Spyderco offers the Manix 2/XL, plus the...? The Hogue knives have the button lock, but they are right-sided carry only. No reversible clip. No one has catered to southpaws the way Benchmade has. Will I continue to buy Benchmades? Hopefully, but it will be few and far between due to the increase in price. I want an Adamas and another Rift to replace my first one, but if I can't afford them before every site loses the discount codes, I won't be getting both. Benchmade will have lost at least one sale.
 
neverdie36 said:
And that's it isn't it.

Benchmade won't be making a dime extra by doing this
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No - what they're doing is artificially protecting the dealers who don't discount at the expense of online dealers (who will lose sales) and end users (who will pay artificially, uncompetitive, inflated prices).
 
neverdie36 said:
I noticed the same thing as well.
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The same goes here. There are many reasons for the decline of the company forum. Speaking for myself; after years of participation, it was time to leave. I've really got no regrets about doing so, and a large part of it was the lack of moderation backed with gravity. The system of moderation as expressed on Blade is a good thing; it's structure is designed to not only support the poster, but go in and make corrections and timely edits when they're necessary.

I remain bothered by the fact that there's been no response by Benchmade to this point with anything official; everything else posted is hearsay and rumor. But one thing stands out loud and clear Is the silence and not even a suggestion of interest. (So far...)

Rev, I am one of those brand types. Gillettes and Merkurs to shave with, and Benchmades to carry. The 'disconnect' you describe is very real to me at this posting. While I don't need to buy another model any time soon, I am looking at other maker's offerings and sizing them up for speed.

There is one thing in general as expressed here: Knife lore, knowledge and experience come like everything else with practice. I know a heckuva lot more than I did when I started collecting, but in all this time I've learned to savor good customer service. Currently this is being put to the test and I don't like it at all.
 
JNewell said:
No - what they're doing is artificially protecting the dealers who don't discount at the expense of online dealers (who will lose sales) and end users (who will pay artificially, uncompetitive, inflated prices).
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Yes,manufacturer-imposed, minimum resale price restrictions.
 
jeffwithaj said:
How dare Benchmade pull such a stunt on their loyal entitled customers? How dare they discontinue the deep discounts across the board online? How dare they keep production in the USA?? How dare they expect a return equal to quality,after sales service , and CS? Bastards!!!
I will never buy another Benchmade product again.
Really? Who needs to be treated like this?
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I'm not a loyal "ENTITLED" customer, just a very good customer. A very good customer, not a leg humper. ;)
 
SaintlyBrees said:
I would have to say that BM's silence in this thread speaks volumes about their consideration of the customer. That silence is equally disappointing to the pricing change and is really making me look at BM in a new light.
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This is default Benchmade inaction/inattention, this is how their forums are. The price raise without a warning is poor form from Benchmade.
 
Theory: BM is leveling the playing field to protect the smaller, non online, local, mom&pop dealers. Eliminating the consumer from having to choose between supporting their local shops or getting it cheaper online.

If this is true, as a free market capitalist, I fully support BM's decision. After all, it's their business, they can run it as they choose. Where they messed up is allowing online retailers to discount in the first place.
 
rajincagin said:
Theory: BM is leveling the playing field to protect the smaller, non online, local, mom&pop dealers. Eliminating the consumer from having to choose between supporting their local shops or getting it cheaper online.

If this is true, as a free market capitalist, I fully support BM's decision. After all, it's their business, they can run it as they choose. Where they messed up is allowing online retailers to discount in the first place.
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A( free market )capitalist should be against this business practice imho.:thumbdn::)
 
The more I read this thread, the more I think people are way, way over reacting.

Do you guys get worked into such a lather when Speedway raises their gas prices .15 cents over night on a gallon of gas?

Do you get so riled up when Kohls marks their jeans up and then runs a 'buy 1 get 1 half off' special?

It would be nice to get an explanation on the price jump, but some of you are acting like you are OWED an explanation just because you've purchased a companies products before! Is this real life?

I enjoy Dasani lemon flavored bottled water. The price on this has raised about .10 - .19 cents per 20 ounce bottle over the last year. Should I be storming the Coca-Cola headquarters with torches and pitch forks demanding an answer?

If you don't like Benchmade knives (or Speedway gas, or Dasani water, or whatever) move on. Buy another, similar product. I think you're only fooling yourself if you sit around expecting corporate to explain their business model to you because you feel it's "owed" to you.
 
This isn't 10 or 15 CENTS. It is 25 to 30 PERCENT of the total price. A Griptilian now costs $25 more. I can get a pretty nice Kershaw for that much.

The point is, there was no need to raise the prices. Benchmade makes ZERO more profit, as they sell to the dealers at the same price.

I will look elswhere for knives in the future (my Spyderco collection needs a few knew knives...)--I don't mind spending money, but I hate spending more than I need to.
 
rajincagin said:
Theory: BM is leveling the playing field to protect the smaller, non online, local, mom&pop dealers. Eliminating the consumer from having to choose between supporting their local shops or getting it cheaper online.

If this is true, as a free market capitalist, I fully support BM's decision. After all, it's their business, they can run it as they choose. Where they messed up is allowing online retailers to discount in the first place.
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:thumbdn:

It was a bad choice IMHO. People will buy fewer of their knives, and since they sell them for the same price, they will lose profit. A free market should be allowed to offer discounts and offer competetive prices.

ETA: If Mom and Pop shops wanted to be competetive, the could lower their prices. Why not level the playing field by bringing DOWN the prices? Benchmade would make more money, as their (dealer) prices would be the same.
 
d0nut said:
The more I read this thread, the more I think people are way, way over reacting.

Do you guys get worked into such a lather when Speedway raises their gas prices .15 cents over night on a gallon of gas?

Do you get so riled up when Kohls marks their jeans up and then runs a 'buy 1 get 1 half off' special?

It would be nice to get an explanation on the price jump, but some of you are acting like you are OWED an explanation just because you've purchased a companies products before! Is this real life?

I enjoy Dasani lemon flavored bottled water. The price on this has raised about .10 - .19 cents per 20 ounce bottle over the last year. Should I be storming the Coca-Cola headquarters with torches and pitch forks demanding an answer?

If you don't like Benchmade knives (or Speedway gas, or Dasani water, or whatever) move on. Buy another, similar product. I think you're only fooling yourself if you sit around expecting corporate to explain their business model to you because you feel it's "owed" to you.
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The problem with your example is that you're making a comparison to everyday essential items such as water and gas. Benchamde products, or knives in general, are luxury items that do not need to be purchased to survive. The relationship between manufacturer and consumer is very different on essential items versus luxury items and that is the main point of discussion here. The Dasani water is subject to inflation as all things are, but if Dasani told gas stations and stores that they had to increase their prices to the end user simply to try and position Dasani as more of a luxury drink while having nothing to do with the increased cost of production; then yes people would be upset. Gas is subject to market prices that fluctuate on a daily basis so that example is very much a stretch.

The biggest problem that people here have is again that Benchmade knives are luxury items. None of us here need to purchase their products, we simply like to as they make excellent knives here in the USA. As knife addicts we enjoy collecting and trying new knives all the time. When a luxury manufacturer says that all of the products are increasing 25% in price with no perceived benefit to the end user other than a different market position for them, then yes we are upset and demand an answer because we don't have to buy their products but would like to. With a 25% price increase we aren't talking pennies here, but $20+ on every single knife. Consumers always expect to be understood and heard by each company; that demands is exponential when the market is smaller and more of a niche.

Just 0.02
 
spydercobenchmadekai said:
This isn't 10 or 15 CENTS. It is 25 to 30 PERCENT of the total price. A Griptilian now costs $25 more. I can get a pretty nice Kershaw for that much.

The point is, there was no need to raise the prices. Benchmade makes ZERO more profit, as they sell to the dealers at the same price.

I will look elswhere for knives in the future (my Spyderco collection needs a few knew knives...)--I don't mind spending money, but I hate spending more than I need to.
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Serious question - do you expect a Benchmade representative to come into this wasp nest of a thread, and explain their business model to you (or everyone else)? Do you feel you are owed an explanation?
 
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