Benchmade pricing seems to have changed

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I would expect the word games from Bark River but not you Benchmade lol, sorry I had to say it lol. Still love Bark River you just have to reprofile them when you get one. Anyways back to the topic... I agree with most here, was looking at Griptilians as a Christmas gift for a good friend as he has never had a good quality knife ever but I'm not sure if with prices see now.. I mean why pay 100+ when I can get an Endura or Delica for 40 less dollars... I hope this passes like the ammo crisis soon.... Come on Benchmade.. USA! USA! USA!
 
This ticks me off becuse Benchmade was my favorite knife manufacturer. Good prices, USA made and the Axis Lock. Guess I got in the knife game to late. I hate to say it but now that a PM2 and a Grip are about the same money the PM2 is a much better deal.
 
I have a post in General asking people to help me spend $350. I didn't realize Benchmade forced retailers to stop using discount pricing (MAP or whatever), as I had planned to buy several Benchmades from my favorite retailer, Roger at Knifeworks. Well, I bought a Ruger handgun instead. I won't pay almost $200 for a 943 or similar knife when I can buy another brand's similar knife for half the money and get just as much knife. I'm a huge Benchmade fan but I won't throw money at them.
 
SaintlyBrees said:
No, YOUR prices have not changed. But our costs have gone up....

Seriously, don't play semantics. When you force a dealer to do away with discounts it changes the pricing structure for people who buy your product using that discount. Word games notwithstanding.
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+1
Most of my funds go towards custom knives, but I've bought a couple of different BM models with the discount codes over the past couple of years. However, without the discount neither of these knives would have been purchased. My wife just bought me the ZT0566 for $114.00 with discount, so what BM would I purchase in that price range now? No doubt in my mind that sales will suffer greatly without the discount.
 
JNewell said:
No one has more loyalty to Benchmade knives than I do, but I have to say that your reply is, frankly, insulting. :mad:
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I might have more loyalty... I only own Benchmades. After their "statement," I'm inclined to agree with you. I don't like someone insulting my intelligence.
 
Doesn't make sense to buy the regular Contego 810 with CPM-M4 and black G10 for $178.50 delivered where for an extra $17.45 you can get the somewhat limited Contego 810-1401 with M390 and nice two-tone G10 handles! Last week the difference was a whopping $62!
 
Benchmade said:
Our price levels HAVE NOT changed. Our dealer base and customers of all shapes and sizes are of the upmost importance to us and we will continue to pursue the best possible avenues to support them. Please know that we are listening and appreciate your feedback.~Benchmade Knife Company
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Surely you realize this response is a non sequitor. As others have said it insults the intelligence of your customer base. It would have been better to have not posted at all.

Not only is the business decision questionable but the timing boggles the mind. Doing it now during the Christmas sales season borders on incompetence. I'm sure Benchmade will weather this storm but I hope you realize the damage you have done to your reputation in the knife enthusiast community is considerable.
 
I emailed and ask two different online retailers about this and both responded basically the same.
They either sell at there price or stop selling.
There not gettin any of my money (retailers) .............. theres more than one way to skin a cat.
I believe there hurtin the retailer too ............. I,d rather sell alot of stuff at a little profit , than alittle stuff at a huge profit
I also believe this wont last ............ if it does , well so long for now ..........LOL
BM customer service is great ..........the only things I,ll probably buy are knives I cant live without , no more buying just because.
 
I'm blown away by the non response Benchmade, would it be better for us to reach you on Facebook for a real answer?

Brand value is diminishing as we speak when the response is that prices aren't rising when they clearly have.
 
Skimo said:
I'm blown away by the non response Benchmade, would it be better for us to reach you on Facebook for a real answer?

Brand value is diminishing as we speak when the response is that prices aren't rising when they clearly have.
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I think the dealers still pay the same ............. there just not aloud to sell them cheaper than BM allows.
This is how I take it.
 
I think that it is going to take a least a few months for Benchmade to reconsider, if they do at all. Someone in accounting is going to have to look through sales data to notice that sales dropped somewhere in the middle of november. I would wager that it will be at least three months before Benchmade actually does something about the discount policy.
 
addylo said:
Surely you realize this response is a non sequitor. As others have said it insults the intelligence of your customer base. It would have been better to have not posted at all.

Not only is the business decision questionable but the timing boggles the mind. Doing it now during the Christmas sales season borders on incompetence. I'm sure Benchmade will weather this storm but I hope you realize the damage you have done to your reputation in the knife enthusiast community is considerable.
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Well said and I agree. Worst thing you can do is insult your buyers intelligence. It at the same time insults themselves because they are in a way saying that only idiots/ignorant/"believe what they are told types" buy their knives. I would like to think that smart and experienced people who know what quality is buy my product and I'm proud to say that because I sell a good product. Their statement says the opposite.
 
rajincagin said:
Um, no. It's also in poor taste to come to a manufactures forum and talk about how other brands are better.
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Our price levels HAVE NOT changed. Our dealer base and customers of all shapes and sizes are of the upmost importance to us and we will continue to pursue the best possible avenues to support them. Please know that we are listening and appreciate your feedback.

~Benchmade Knife Company

It's actually in poor taste imho for a manufacturer to give a statement like this about their new insane price fixing policy. ( Their price levels HAVE changed!!! )
Sorry but I'd rather be the DOG than the FIRE HYDRANT.
 
rajincagin said:
Um, no. It's also in poor taste to come to a manufactures forum and talk about how other brands are better.
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Um, yes. Its also in very poor taste for the manufacturer to come to their own manufacturers forum and insult their fans intelligence by saying "Our price levels HAVE NOT changed.":rolleyes::rolleyes::thumbdn: while technically in one sense, they are correct, there have been no price changes between BM and the dealers, their have been some very large price changes between the dealers and US, and its US that will ultimately affect BM's bottom line the most.

BM's company employees and its dealers don't make any difference to BM's bottom line..We Do.

This thread is turning into a mega train wreck for BM.
 
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Retail Prices

CONSUMER ALERT

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ATTORNEY GENERAL



The Attorney General provides Consumer Alerts to inform the public of unfair, misleading or deceptive business practices, and to provide information and guidance on other issues of concern. Consumer Alerts are not legal advice, legal authority, or a binding legal opinion from the Department of Attorney General.




The Real Story of Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Prices.


The Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division receives many inquiries about price fixing on a variety of products, from appliances and home stereo equipment to toys and health care products. A typical question is: "I was shopping for stereo speakers lately and the brand I like is priced exactly the same at every store. When I asked one of the sales clerks about it, he said the store won't reduce the price any lower because it would be below the manufacturer's suggested retail price. Isn't that price fixing?

While the question may seem simple, the answers are complex and specific to every set of facts. Illegal price fixing may occur under a number of different scenarios:

While it used to be that manufacturers could only suggest a minimum retail price, the U.S. Supreme Court recently changed that rule. Now, manufacturers may, under appropriate circumstances, require a minimum retail price to be charged.
A number of different manufacturers may not agree to set prices for their products. Agreements between manufacturers to set prices are illegal.
Similarly, a number of different retailers cannot agree to set prices for their products. Agreements between retailers to set prices are illegal.


A manufacturer does have a legal right to set a suggested retail price (a manufacturer's suggested retail price or MSRP). The manufacturer also has the right to unilaterally terminate a retailer who prices below the MSRP. Frequently, when prices are identical for a product at every store, it is because each retailer has decided to adhere to the MSRP.

It is frequently difficult in antitrust enforcement to determine when a retail price is set based upon a manufacturer's unilateral pricing policies and when the retail prices are set based upon an illegal agreement. The basic rule of thumb is: if the manufacturer's decision to set a suggested retail price and the retailers choice to adhere to that price are independent decisions, then it is probably not considered price fixing under the law. But if manufacturers and retailers agree that a certain price will be charged, the agreement will be considered illegal.

For further information about manufacturer's suggested retail pricing policies, contact the Federal Trade Commission's Bureau of Competition at (202) 326-3300 or the Michigan Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division at toll-free (877) 765-8388.
 
What Benchmade has done is barely legal,highly unethical and down right UN-AMERICAN imho ! :mad::thumbdn:
 
Not sure what everyone is complaining about. I just bought two Benchmades with discounts in place. Like I said before, I think it's the retailers choosing not to use the discount codes to pad their profits and putting the blame on Benchmade.
 
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