I belong to NICA (National Independent Cutlery Association).
http://www.nicacutlery.org
At their yearly meeting this very subject was discussed. This statement was suggested and approved:
"NICA members will not knowingly sell any product which appears to be counterfeit. NICA members will also be vigilant in an attempt refuse to sell any product which presents a trade mark infringement." A press release will be sent out to major magazines.
To stop the problem, the buying public must support those retailers that abide by this philosophy.
Here are some of the problems these retailers face:
While most traditional retailers spent the past year struggling to stay in business, Ebay doubled their bottom line profit. (What percentage of Ebay cutlery sellers would agree to not sell knockoffs?)
Internet stores have cut traditional profit margins to unheard of levels. Not too many years ago, Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price was considered a fair price. Now MSRP has become the "dirty word" of the buying public. Consistant internet prices of 30%-40% off MSRP have become the norm.
As a normal retailer trying to stay in business it is hard not to be tempted to sell a product that even at heavily discount prices allows at least a 50% - 60% mark-up, while a modest 30% markup of brand name cutlery is now scoffed at as being too high priced!
To stem the flow of counterfeits, and knock-offs, the buying public, retailers, and manufacturers must all work together.
The public must be willing to not purchase knock-offs. They must go one step further by buying only from those retailers that refuse to sell knock-offs.
The retailers must make a commitment to refuse to sell such products.
Finally the manufacturers must consider the prices customers now seem to be willing to pay for their products (MSRP has become a myth). They must look at their operation, become more efficient, and produce a knife that still mainatins quality, but is priced at a level that causes the general public to not consider a knock-off. The manufactures must create an environment where retailers that refuse to sell knock-offs are rewarded and those that do sell knock-offs are punished(perhaps price incentives).
Have you noticed that some companies are less likely to have their knives "knocked off". Columbia River Knife and Tool produces a quality product at a price point that doesn't cause the buyer to consider a knock-off at a lower price. The knock-off manufactures can not produce a product at a substantially lower price. Most of the buying public isn't interested in saving a few bucks for a knife of much lower quality.
T. Erdelyi, you make a very good point. What do most people consider a knock-off? Does taking a handle design from one knife, and a blade design from another knife constitute a knock-off or just an uninspired (or overly inspired) knife design? Is a knock-off a knife design that infringes on trademarks, or just cashes in on those designs that haven't been trademarked? Which is more important, what we consider knock-offs or what the courts consider a knock-off?
Pam
alchemyknife
edited for spelling.