BM Pulling from Distributors-Who Won't Put Up With It!

[Jesse B.]

So ultimately, the only major thing that's changed is how companies cannot advertise a price reduced more than 15%? You have to call or enter a coupon code (e.g. Knifeworks.) You are not forced to pay MSRP.

 

[Folderguy]

Don't judge the Axis lock based on the hard to deploy Kulgera. It has a design defect. Namely the studs on either end of lock bar don't project far enough past the handle slabs. If you make a custom handle, you can scoop out the area around the bar ends. Lengthening the bar is a more difficult matter. The projection distance is easily measured with the step feature on a digital caliper. Besides the shortness of the bar, the ends are less grippy than on other models (they got away from the beehive design and substituted castellated ends).

Very helpful info. So there is a design flaw in the length of the bar stud. What about the stuff that seems to find its way into the lock? Also, this is not an easy to disassemble and reassemble knife... So, if a lock gets crud in it, its not at all easy to remedy the situation. I don't doubt that not everyone would be able to take care of the situation I was confronted with is going to be a happy camper if they need to send their knife back to Bm to get it working properly again.

 

[tjsulli790]

That's lost revenue on our part, on our distributor's part, and on Benchmade's part.

There is where you are wrong. If they specifically want a Benchmade knife do you think they will stop pursuing one just because your store didn't stock it? If you want to stock BMs you can do it the same way every other store does it. It's not that hard...

 

[kya]

Funny, I lost 5 potential knife sales today because the store I work in no longer carries Benchmade (side note: this is just the people who specifically came up to our knife counter and asked if we carried Benchmade knives, then walked away when I told them we didn't anymore). Why? Because we're a regional chain, and to simplify ordering enough stock for over 70 stores in three states, we deal with a single regional distributor. See the problem yet?

We were the one pf two store in the area that carried Benchmade products, and the only one that actually kept the selection updated for newer models. And now, thanks to the direct sales part of the equation, we can no longer carry them. That's lost revenue on our part, on our distributor's part, and on Benchmade's part. How does that make sense? And how is that making no difference?

I guess I didn't make myself clear, I was replying to the people complaining about having to pay MSRP and how they are misunderstanding the MAP policy. Yes, I understand the distribution changed and that sucks, but as far as pricing when ordering online....you can still get the same knives for the same price.

 

[thejamppa]

I'm already paying MSRP prices due offshore retailer's don't get same pricing rights as retailers did in USA.

 

[eisman]

The point is that a distributor is supposed to be a step between the manufacturer and the retailer. Historically businesses that have allowed distributors to retail as well have lost business, profit, and customers. Companies that use multi-level marketing depend on retailers to provide market penetration, and try to price their wares in such a manner as to make this profitable for all concerned.

If you want a good look at what could happen to the knife trade without enforcement of sales agreements protecting the MSRP and retailers you only have to look at the firearms trade.

 

[2brothers]

They did it because of all the mom and pop brick and mortar stores that were complaining that they could not keep up with the internet.

B&M stores were complaining that "Everyone" was buying from an online store before MAP went into effect. I can accept that.

Now there are online stores offering additional discounts and coupons to get the prices back down to what they were before MAP.
Those "mom & pop" stores can't afford to give additional discounts like that.
If Benchmade thinks a MAP policy will work but lets stores further discount products then they have some re-thinking to do.

I don't see the B&M store complaints ending anytime soon.

As many have stated in this thread, you can still buy at/or about the same price before MAP.
So, what was the real reason they changed to MAP pricing?

 

[Folderguy]

If you want a good look at what could happen to the knife trade without enforcement of sales agreements protecting the MSRP and retailers you only have to look at the firearms trade.

When the MSRP is unreasonable, as happens often with watches (just check out what Invictas, Swiss Army, Swiss Legend, Jacques Lemans, yada yada...) that have an unrealistic MSRP, those watches don't sell. So the MSRP is a joke. Thus one finds "great deals" on eBay and elsewhere. Those "great deals" are simply prices that the market will often bear. Not always, because some of the stuff isn't worth what the "great offer" is.

Consumers these days are usually not foolish when buying items that are somewhat pricey.

Let BM set artificially high MSRP and try to enforce it. It's their choice. Maybe it'll work for them.

However, it won't work on me.

Folderguy

 

[Folderguy]

I don't see the B&M store complaints ending anytime soon.

Tough cookies. Adapt. Or do we need a TARP bailout for mom and pops? (FWIW, I'm opposed to TARP bailouts.)

There's another thing. Mom and Pops have plenty of other knives to choose from for their customers.

I don't recall seeing too many Benchmades in any stores, not that I've been looking.

Heck, BM can triple their prices if they want. When Joe Customer picks it up in the Mom and Pop and asks how much it is, and there are Kershaws and Spydies and CRKTs and so on in the same case going for way less with very similar quality levels, what do you think Joe Six Pack is gonna spring for?

 

[TrailingEdge]

Too bad for Benchmade.

I can patronize companies that value their customers.