I'm curious as to how Boker can justify their prices. The Boker Gemini, for example, is an ABS handled, 420J2 bladed linerlock, with a MSRP of about eighty dollars. A comparably sized Spyderco, in better steel, is under fifty. I've also seen Boker's copy of the Nealy Bodyguard (or Specialist, I'm not sure) for well over a hundred (140 at Knifecenter). I think they're 420J2 as well. For a hundred more, you can get one of Nealy's own from KnifeArt. Is the craftmanship on Bokers exceptional, or is their pricing as out of line as it seems?
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Boker over-priced?
- Thread starter Burke
- Start date
Hi there,
If you compare Bokers prices in US with US-made knives sold in Europe, you'd wonder.
Manufacturer, exporter, shipper, transportation, import customs clearer, general importer, country dealer, local dealer, taxes, customs. Everyone is loosing money, it's just the bulk that makes it (almost) breakeven. So I do buy via the 'Net.
I do not want to contribute to all these "losses".
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D.T. UTZINGER
If you compare Bokers prices in US with US-made knives sold in Europe, you'd wonder.
Manufacturer, exporter, shipper, transportation, import customs clearer, general importer, country dealer, local dealer, taxes, customs. Everyone is loosing money, it's just the bulk that makes it (almost) breakeven. So I do buy via the 'Net.
I do not want to contribute to all these "losses".
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D.T. UTZINGER
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I cannot tell you about other Boker knives, but for example Boker Specialist (Bud Nealy design) can be found for about 80.00 USD (which is what I paid for them) and they are 440C steel. I do not think they are too expensive... but for 140.00 they would be.
David
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David
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Elvislives
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I thought Boker had an outlet here in the US, in Colorado I believe. Is that just a distribution point?
Brandon
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Brandon
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I've handled one, and I thought it was nice, but overpriced.
Besides demand influencing pricing, there is also the effect of branding, and the knowledge base of customers.
Participants of bladeforums are probably more apt to determine value of a knife based on the design and materials used.
Some companies target this market, others target to a probably larger, less knowledgeable market. They rely on branding, recognition and using price as a way of influencing perceptions of quality.
DaveH
Besides demand influencing pricing, there is also the effect of branding, and the knowledge base of customers.
Participants of bladeforums are probably more apt to determine value of a knife based on the design and materials used.
Some companies target this market, others target to a probably larger, less knowledgeable market. They rely on branding, recognition and using price as a way of influencing perceptions of quality.
DaveH
The Magician
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I first saw the Boker Specialist 1 in A knife mag. I called and ordered one for (direct from boker) $140.00. I kept it A few months, decided I didn't like it. I was only able to get $ 70.00. Also had A top lock auto with thuyawood handle paid $112.00. Sold for $45.00....I hate Boker! P.S- They also operate A company called Magna or something like that, they are POS knives and are made right in the same factory.
SPYDERCO or BENCHMADE!!!!!!!!!
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SPYDERCO or BENCHMADE!!!!!!!!!
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AKTI# A000991
Richard
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I had a Top-Lock....way over priced and IMO poor quality. I have nevr handled the Brend design, but I have heard mixed reports on them. It seems Boker oughta stay out of the tactical type market. Where they really shine is in the traditional styles, stockman, pen knife and so on. For traditional styles they are very hard to beat.
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Richard
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Richard
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bteel:
The Magnum line distributed by Boker USA in Colorado is not made in the same factory as the main line Bokers. They are made for Boker in Taiwan just like CRKT knives are made for CRKT in Taiwan. Most of the main line knives are made in Germany with a percentage being made in Argentina. I'm not aware of any Taiwan made knives that bear the Boker or Tree Brand logos.
You may find it interesting to note that we ship more Boker knives than we do Spyderco or Benchmade so they're certainly popular with somebody. We get fewer returns than we do with Benchmade, too, so they seem to stay sold a little better. I don't know how this reconciles with the information above but I thought you might find it interesting. Take care.
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Fred
Knife Outlet
http://www.knifeoutlet.com
The Magnum line distributed by Boker USA in Colorado is not made in the same factory as the main line Bokers. They are made for Boker in Taiwan just like CRKT knives are made for CRKT in Taiwan. Most of the main line knives are made in Germany with a percentage being made in Argentina. I'm not aware of any Taiwan made knives that bear the Boker or Tree Brand logos.
You may find it interesting to note that we ship more Boker knives than we do Spyderco or Benchmade so they're certainly popular with somebody. We get fewer returns than we do with Benchmade, too, so they seem to stay sold a little better. I don't know how this reconciles with the information above but I thought you might find it interesting. Take care.
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Fred
Knife Outlet
http://www.knifeoutlet.com
The Magician
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Fred,
Thank you for the correction..My mistake.ee that boker is A popular brand.I bought the top lock before I knew much about knives... for some some reason I always thought Boker was top of the line. I guess from seeing their prices when I was A kid and thinkink Holy $hit!! that must be the best! Sorry for my misinformation. Brian
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Thank you for the correction..My mistake.ee that boker is A popular brand.I bought the top lock before I knew much about knives... for some some reason I always thought Boker was top of the line. I guess from seeing their prices when I was A kid and thinkink Holy $hit!! that must be the best! Sorry for my misinformation. Brian
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AKTI# A000991
As I am of German descent, I hope I can relate this anecdote without drawing flames.
I used to be friends with an auto mechanic who outright refused to work on German cars. When I asked why, he said the issue had nothing to do with the cars themselves, but the owners. They were so enamored with the mystique of 'German Engineering', they made difficult customers when their Bavarian craftsmanship failed, as all mechanical devices will do. Perhaps Boker is deluded with their heritage, or perhaps that's the market (the BMW drivers who buy knives at the 'Sharper Image') they're targeting.
I do think they are overpriced, and don't really seem to know where their target market is. Funny though, they don't seem to be real popular in the Tactical market, but they have probably the most overtly Tactical/Self-Defense related ads going.
I used to be friends with an auto mechanic who outright refused to work on German cars. When I asked why, he said the issue had nothing to do with the cars themselves, but the owners. They were so enamored with the mystique of 'German Engineering', they made difficult customers when their Bavarian craftsmanship failed, as all mechanical devices will do. Perhaps Boker is deluded with their heritage, or perhaps that's the market (the BMW drivers who buy knives at the 'Sharper Image') they're targeting.
I do think they are overpriced, and don't really seem to know where their target market is. Funny though, they don't seem to be real popular in the Tactical market, but they have probably the most overtly Tactical/Self-Defense related ads going.