Benchmade pricing seems to have changed

[spydercobenchmadekai]

If they want me and others to continue buying products from them, then yes, I expect someone about 5 days ago.

It doesn't seem like they care, though, so no, I won't buy their products, and no, I don't think they'll come on.

The Benchmade Forum may go the way of the Kershaw forum.

 

[spydercobenchmadekai]

And yes, I feel I am owed an explanation.

 

[austonh]

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?

Benchmade requested this forum be setup here on BladeForums to facilitate communication between them and us. No one forced them to, it was a decision they made all on their own. If you are going to have a subforum set up for your company, you had better damn well use it for communication. They have also failed to communicate via facebook as well regarding what is a major pricing change on their products. So yes, we do demand an explanation because failing to communicate with consumers is a major mistake from any business class 101.

 

[skyhorse]

Benchmade was hoping we wouldn't notice.

 

[Professor]

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.

I've been waiting for someone to finally hit this nail on the head. MAAP (not MSRP, but Minimum Allowable Advertised Pricing) pricing enforcement is designed to protect all authorized dealers. Some dealers, online and off, had been discounting below MAAP in order to draw you to buy from them above others, and can afford to do so since they buy in such bulk (from what used to be distributors--not sure of their role anymore). Hey, I get it. And I love that I got my BM Bali's for a song (pun intended), but I can fully understand and support a manufacturer's efforts to level the playing field for it's loyal authorized dealers. This has nothing to do with increased profit margins on the part of BM (MSRP has not increased, has it?) and it's by no means the first time a manufacturer, including BM, has moved to enforce MAAP pricing. Someone mentioned CRK in this thread--they've been doing this for as long as I've been buying their fine products, and I'm fine with it. Heck, CRK's MAAP pricing IS MSRP. Enforcing MAAP pricing benefits no one but the authorized dealers, whom it should.

Now, please, put down those pitchforks, step away from your keyboards, and go actually cut some stuff with those BM's that you were lucky enough to buy at less than MAAP pricing. BM has likely not responded here since they knew full well that we'd eventually arrive at this conclusion ourselves.

At least the aftermarket value of our stuff has probably increased in this process, and I truly dig that folks are as passionate about their Benchmades as I am.

Prof.

 

[d0nut]

Benchmade requested this forum be setup here on BladeForums to facilitate communication between them and us. No one forced them to, it was a decision they made all on their own. If you are going to have a subforum set up for your company, you had better damn well use it for communication. They have also failed to communicate via facebook as well regarding what is a major pricing change on their products. So yes, we do demand an explanation because failing to communicate with consumers is a major mistake from any business class 101.

Wow, didn't know that was the case.

Thanks for the explanation.

I still don't think that warrants an "owed" explanation. I mean, where does it stop? Do you expect to know how much profit they make per Griptilian they sell? Do you expect to be told where they buy their bulk carbon fiber from? Do you expect to know the administrative assistants at the corporate offices make per year?

Stockholders? Yes.
Consumers? Not so much.

 

[spydercobenchmadekai]

I thought that part of what we paid for was good customer service--guess not. It seems like some of you guys work for Benchmade. Why defend their higher prices?

 

[spydercobenchmadekai]

I've been waiting for someone to finally hit this nail on the head. MAAP (not MSRP, but Minimum Allowable Advertised Pricing) pricing enforcement is designed to protect all authorized dealers. Some dealers, online and off, had been discounting below MAAP in order to draw you to buy from them above others, and can afford to do so since they buy in such bulk (from what used to be distributors--not sure of their role anymore). Hey, I get it. And I love that I got my BM Bali's for a song (pun intended), but I can fully understand and support a manufacturer's efforts to level the playing field for it's loyal authorized dealers. This has nothing to do with increased profit margins on the part of BM (MSRP has not increased, has it?) and it's by no means the first time a manufacturer, including BM, has moved to enforce MAAP pricing. Someone mentioned CRK in this thread--they've been doing this for as long as I've been buying their fine products, and I'm fine with it. Heck, CRK's MAAP pricing IS MSRP. Enforcing MAAP pricing benefits no one but the authorized dealers, whom it should.

Now, please, put down those pitchforks, step away from your keyboards, and go actually cut some stuff with those BM's that you were lucky enough to buy at less than MAAP pricing. BM has likely not responded here since they knew full well that we'd eventually arrive at this conclusion ourselves.

At least the aftermarket value of our stuff has probably increased in this process, and I truly dig that folks are as passionate about their Benchmades as I am.

Prof.

Like I said earlier, why not get rid of discounts, but lower MAP? Then, our prices would be the same, but all dealers would have the same prices. Just my opinion.

And Benchmade is NOT CRK. Benchmade is more like Spyderco or KAI. They can't think they're CRK, because they're not.

 

[RevDevil]

Wow, didn't know that was the case.

Thanks for the explanation.

I still don't think that warrants an "owed" explanation. I mean, where does it stop? Do you expect to know how much profit they make per Griptilian they sell? Do you expect to be told where they buy their bulk carbon fiber from? Do you expect to know the administrative assistants at the corporate offices make per year?

Stockholders? Yes.
Consumers? Not so much.

Every manufacturer forum on Bladeforums past and present has been set up that way. They only need to request it be added and provide a paid employee to moderate.

Again I say this as a member, not a moderator here. It's not about entitlement at all at least not for me. No one owes me a free lunch. The issue is with communication, in this case the lack of it. If you seriously think that business are run with a total lack of accountabbility to their customers, you are gravely mistaken. A notice or explanation would have been the courteous thing to do in my opinion, that is where it stops. After all, is that not what discussion forums are for? We aren't asking them for Colonel Sanders secret 11 herbs and spices recipies for crying outnloud.. So enough with the over cynical and flippant examples. It adds nothing but drama to your own post.

 

[d0nut]

.... No one owes me a free lunch.

Hey, speak for yourself. For as much as I've spent at Chipotle over the last 10 years even with all their price increases I will gladly accept a freebie.

 

[spydercobenchmadekai]

Every manufacturer forum on Bladeforums past and present has been set up that way. They only need to request it be added and provide a paid employee to moderate.

Again I say this as a member, not a moderator here. It's not about entitlement at all at least not for me. No one owes me a free lunch. The issue is with communication, in this case the lack of it. If you seriously think that business are run with a total lack of accountabbility to their customers, you are gravely mistaken. A notice or explanation would have been the courteous thing to do in my opinion, that is where it stops. After all, is that not what discussion forums are for? We aren't asking them for Colonel Sanders secret 11 herbs and spices recipies for crying outnloud.. So enough with the over cynical and flippant examples. It adds nothing but drama to your own post.

You sum up my thoughts perfectly. :thumbup: :thumbup:

 

[bedgoo]

Hey, speak for yourself. For as much as I've spent at Chipotle over the last 10 years even with all their price increases I will gladly accept a freebie.

I think Chipotle and Qdoba both owe me atleast one free lunch... lol

 

[skyhorse]

I agree with the Rev,Benchmade has read this thread several times and hasn't even bothered to respond.

 

[dfsutton]

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

I agree. Often times, luxury brands are priced higher as part of a strategy to create the idea/illusion of being a superior product. Grey Goose Vodka is a great example of a brand that marketed itself as a luxury brand successfully. That branding was one part quality and one part image with the higher price being part of that image. Consumers believe the idea that you get what you pay for, and will often assume that items are higher quality just because they cost more.

It would seem that Benchmade is trying to adjust their image to more of a luxury brand. If this is the plan, they wouldn't want their knives available for lower prices, because that would undercut their luxury image. The problem is that for established customers, like ourselves, this shift in branding has only raised our prices without any change to the actual value of what we are receiving. I assume that Benchmade must be Ok with alienating established customers as part of this shift.

 

[zpstl321]

That's to bad.

 

[flash900]

Benchmade isn't talking.

I called customer service to ask a technical question about my latest purchase. When I asked about a new pricing policy for dealers, the nice CS person said there was no new pricing policy.

"Nothing has changed," she said.

Are you sure? I asked.

After checking, she came back and said: "There is a new policy. I can't discuss it. If you have any questions, you should talk to the national sales manager."

She added that he was unavailable.

The new pricing policy apparently is so secret that even some of BM's frontline employees are unaware of it.

 

[Stays Sharp]

Benchmade was hoping we wouldn't notice.

For the win. haha!

 

[pbcg]

Every manufacturer forum on Bladeforums past and present has been set up that way. They only need to request it be added and provide a paid employee to moderate.

Again I say this as a member, not a moderator here. It's not about entitlement at all at least not for me. No one owes me a free lunch. The issue is with communication, in this case the lack of it. If you seriously think that business are run with a total lack of accountabbility to their customers, you are gravely mistaken. A notice or explanation would have been the courteous thing to do in my opinion, that is where it stops. After all, is that not what discussion forums are for? We aren't asking them for Colonel Sanders secret 11 herbs and spices recipies for crying outnloud.. So enough with the over cynical and flippant examples. It adds nothing but drama to your own post.

about as spot on as it gets!

I would add for me It's not just this issue alone. It's an almost total lack of engagement of any kind by the company since the opening of this forum.

As stated the company forum exists for many reasons, one of which is for the company to have a mutually beneficial open line of communication between them and their fans / customers.

Some of us here have been loyal fans and customers for 15+ years. Some longer then that. BM knew when they opened this forum there was a certain degree or expectation of participation. Expecting the mod / rep to be responsive to reasonable and legitimate questions concerning their products is not an "entitlement issue" it's part of why the sub forum exists and completely in line with the spirit and tradition of manufacture sub forums here on BFC.

BM knew this when they opened the forum. It's not a new concept.

As far as their decisions concerning how they choose to run their business, as I said that's up to them. As a customer it's up to me to decide if I wish to continue to support them with my business.

If a company has a sub forum here then yes, I do expect them to be responsive to me the fan, enthusiast, and customer and so far their lack of responsiveness here, with this issue and other questions in the past does cause dissatisfaction on my part. Alienating your core base of fans is not good customer relations and certainly not good "business" either.

 

[JNewell]

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.

This is default Benchmade inaction/inattention, this is how their forums are. The price raise without a warning is poor form from Benchmade.

I really hesitate to sound negative, but as much as I love my Benchmade knives (and I do), I do think the company has a tendency to rest on its laurels, which is sort of the conclusion many people here are drawing from the thundering silence.

 

[JNewell]

I've been waiting for someone to finally hit this nail on the head. MAAP (not MSRP, but Minimum Allowable Advertised Pricing) pricing enforcement is designed to protect all authorized dealers. Some dealers, online and off, had been discounting below MAAP in order to draw you to buy from them above others, and can afford to do so since they buy in such bulk (from what used to be distributors--not sure of their role anymore). Hey, I get it. And I love that I got my BM Bali's for a song (pun intended), but I can fully understand and support a manufacturer's efforts to level the playing field for it's loyal authorized dealers. This has nothing to do with increased profit margins on the part of BM (MSRP has not increased, has it?) and it's by no means the first time a manufacturer, including BM, has moved to enforce MAAP pricing. Someone mentioned CRK in this thread--they've been doing this for as long as I've been buying their fine products, and I'm fine with it. Heck, CRK's MAAP pricing IS MSRP. Enforcing MAAP pricing benefits no one but the authorized dealers, whom it should.

Now, please, put down those pitchforks, step away from your keyboards, and go actually cut some stuff with those BM's that you were lucky enough to buy at less than MAAP pricing. BM has likely not responded here since they knew full well that we'd eventually arrive at this conclusion ourselves.

At least the aftermarket value of our stuff has probably increased in this process, and I truly dig that folks are as passionate about their Benchmades as I am.

Prof.

The thing is that we don't live in a sealed environment. This kind of thing is a lot like trying to make water flow uphill. It can be done, but only with the expenditure of a great deal of energy and a loss of some of the water. If you want to price your products like Strider (which no one ever accused of being a value line), you'll still sell, but a lot fewer knives to a lot fewer people. It's a choice...but we do get a chance to vote on this, with our purchase dollars.