Damn knives are too expansive!

[Misko]

I think these big knife companies are ripping the **** out of us with their prices! I mean who in their right mind is going to spit out 200+ dollars for lets say Police Utility by Emerson?! I was really looking forward to buying this one, but I think 200+ canadian dollars is just way too damn much.

 

[Kodiak PA]

I agree, I think for those prices the knives should stay the same size and not expand at all. In fact, any expanding of my knives would downright tick me off.

Sorry I couldn't resist.

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~Greg Mete~
Kodiak Alaska

[This message has been edited by Kodiak PA (edited 04-02-2000).]

 

[MTF3]

Start your own knife company, then sell yourself one for the price you want.

 

[Hoodoo]

I think knives are expensive but too expensive? Define too expensive. Isn't that a relative term? I've seen knives go for thousands of dollars. Is that too expensive? For me it is. But there are also lots and lots of bargains out there for under $100 and under $50 and under $30.

I'd like a new 16'foot Lund boat but it's too expensive. I settled for a 14' Alumacraft. It was expensive but not too expensive.

With boats and knives and guns etc., you usually get what you pay for (but maybe not always

).

Something being too expensive as opposed to being overpriced is another issue. And usually the price is market driven. In this day and age of internet buying, if something is overpriced in one place, you can usually find a better deal. But what I'm finding is that the "expensive" knives I want are in demand by others and therefore, waiting times are long and prices are high. Over priced? Maybe, but it's supply and demand. You can often find similar knives of similar quality for less money if you shop around. You may not get the specific model for the price you'd prefer to pay but you should be able to find something you will be happy with at a price you can afford. There's a great selection out there.


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Hoodoo

The low, hoarse purr of the whirling stone—the light-press’d blade,
Diffusing, dropping, sideways-darting, in tiny showers of gold,
Sparkles from the wheel.

Walt Whitman

 

[Allen Blade]

Hello,

And then there are some of us Knifemakers where you get MORE,, than what you paid for!!

8D
Regards,,,, Allen

 

[PhilL]

I agree with Allen, I've been buying handmade and customs, and they're a damn BARGAIN! I guess it all depends on where you look and what you're looking at.

I would agree with Greg, but I have no idea what he's talking about? I know that's my fault and not his.

 

[lifter4Him]

with handmade or more properly,benchmade knives-if you figure out what the maker is making based on an hourly basis, you'd be surprised he's not making as much as you thought. But these production companies that spit out hundreds or thousands of knives a day are definitely charging too much in my opinion-BUT, as long as people keep buying they will keep selling. Supply and demand.

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Dave
Phil. 4:13

Many are called but few are chosen,
Brother dont let your heart be frozen.-Charlie Daniels

 

[Hoodoo]

Originally posted by lifter4Him@aol.com:
But these production companies that spit out hundreds or thousands of knives a day are definitely charging too much in my opinion-BUT, as long as people keep buying they will keep selling. Supply and demand.

I'm skeptical about this. I can think of maybe one or two companies that might fit this description but I don't think production companies are getting wealthy at the expense of us poor consumers. When you look at the investments they make in infrastructure, it's quite a risk isn't it? I for one do not want to see ANY knife companies go belly up but they do. It happens. And I definitely don't want the knife world to end up in a dichotomy of KMART knives and customs. It's been a sweet knife world out there with all these new models rolling out from the production companies (look at the Becker knives, for instance). They've been responsive to our needs and in many ways they help the custom makers 'cause they whet the appetites of nouveau collectors who want more than production.

When I hear about how these companies are gouging us, I want to see the data. Where is that? We often assume we are being gouged by the big guys but where is the data? Where are the specifics? I know I've had problems with some producttion knives but in general, I've been extremely happy with what has been coming my way from the likes of spyderco and benchmade and others. If they are making a good buck and keeping the knife industry alive and generating a lot of excitement by using new steels, new locks, new handle materials, and doing custom collaborations then I think we should support them. I'm not a corporate person and I don't have a corporate mentality but I am a knife person and I really believe in supporting the knife culture in the country as much as possible and if that means supporting the bucks and the schrades and (Hoodoo choking a little on these next two words) united cutlery or whatever (except ripoff noname sweatshop thirdworld copies (and this doen't mean all asian imports either--just the pos stuff)), then I'm for it.

We clamor for spyderco to make one of these or one of those or whatever and spyderco responds and then we complain about the price? Gosh, those Wenger Jrs are just toooooo expensive. I dunno, I think we're gettin' kinda spoiled here.

------------------
Hoodoo

The low, hoarse purr of the whirling stone—the light-press’d blade,
Diffusing, dropping, sideways-darting, in tiny showers of gold,
Sparkles from the wheel.

Walt Whitman

 

[tom mayo]

why should you care??? If you only want to spend $20 there are plenty of knives out there in that category....If you think someone is charging too much...dont buy it. simple plan...plus...dont hitmen get paid really well????

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http://www.mayoknives.com




[This message has been edited by tom mayo (edited 04-02-2000).]

 

[cerulean]

I've heard that it costs about $20 to make some high-end production folders that retail for around $100. Whether that's true or not, I don't know, but it's a common rumor. As Hoodoo says, I'd like to see some hard evidence to back up these claims.

I think these big knife companies are ripping the **** out of us with their prices!

It's important to remember that the companies don't determine the prices. The value of their products is determined by the market. If people are willing to pay more, then the prices will be high. You're not really getting "ripped off" no matter how much the companies charge because you could simply decide to not buy the product.

 

[fracmeister]

Knives are cheap. Now yahoo! stock is expensive. 1964 Dom Perignon is expensive. And whatever they Regis Feelbean is too much!

But the five grand I am paying for 4 customs? A Bargain... well, nobody held a gun to my head before I committed to the deal.

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Dances with lemmings
Accept M/C, VISA free, 5$ bonus to sign on.

 

[MPower]

I think we need to be realistic about this. If it cost $20 to make a knife that sells at $100 that company is not going to make a lot of money. After you factor in the factory, workers, managers, execs, marketing, packaging, shipping and insurance as well as other costs for development or percentages to designers I think we are talking quite a small margin. Not to mention if $100 is retail in which case the dealer is taking a chunk for himself. Either the knife companies are making LESS PROFIT than we think or the knives cost way SOUTH of $20 to make. My opinion is the latter, and I collect predominantly Microtechs! So that is a whole other economic model.

my $.02

 

[Lukers]

Ummm.....dude....you might want to think about what you say before you talk. I am a custom maker myself and find that there is a lot of time involved in it to make something that looks good and performs well. You making a comment like that makes me think you are very uneducated in the field of knives. You probably have no concept of what goes into making a good quality knife.
Sorry if this sounds harsh but it is the truth. Good knives will cost you a lot but you must think about the many hours that the maker spends getting it just right.
Luke

 

[Lukers]

By the way...why do you need something like emerson? It is you choice to want something over priced by them. Why don't you buy something that will cost a fraction of that and will perform better. I make and sell neck knives for $40 that will probably perform similar to knives 4x it's cost.
Just my .02

 

[volknife]

Prices too high? These other guys are right. Anyone can get a $20 (soon to be $15) piece of junk made in China. Today's top makers are using quality materials, exact workmanship, and backing up their work with guarantees. Through the internet, pricing continues to get downward pressure. If anything, dealers margins are being cut as well. I would not be surprised to see the production makers start to change their distribution methods to reduce or eliminate the homebased dealer. The homebased dealer is killing the retailer. I have heard that Microtech is numbering thier knives now so that they can track where their knives are going. Buy now, my man. You may not get as good a deal tomorrow.

 

[TimmyTheTalkingToilet]

Welcome back Misko, Yes there are a few that are expensive, but remember you are paying for QUALITY, much like guitars and amps, you get what you pay for.

See you on the "other" boards

 

[Davy Davis]

I don't believe that the markup on knives is significantly different than the markup on anything else.
For example, a recent report in the Denver Press is that if you order a steak at a restaurant for $20 the steak probably costs $7. But if you order a $12 pasta dish at the same restaurant the ingredients probably cost less than $2.
My point is that the source of the knife, in other words how many intermediates you have to go through, means that a $20 knife is probably made in China or Taiwan and costs $1.67 to manufacture, while a $290 Sebenza might cost $85 to actually make. There is, most likely less markup on a very high end knife than on a $20 throw away.
Note, I made up all the numbers above, but this is my understanding of the retail and wholesale business.
Davy

 

[MickMan]

Mishko, I agree..some knives, like everything else in life, can be a bit overpriced. If you want a quality fixed-blade knife at a more reasonable price, I would recommend SOG and Cold Steel.

 

[jon303]

Misko,
I'd have to agree with the others here, if it's too expensive to you , then don't buy it and don't complain. If you want to make and sell something you have every right to charge however the hell much you want. I'm certain you can find a better knife for much less money, and one that you would be happy with, whether it's a custom or a production. If the pricing ticks you off, no one said you had to deal with them, it's as simple as that. Don't give them your business if you feel they are charging too much. I don't think knives are too expensive, I don't remember who mentioned it, but knives are getting cheaper and cheaper through net dealers (god bless them) and are coming out all the time. That said, check out the knife reviews and see what happens, you may find one to your liking...price and performance wise....

jon

[This message has been edited by jon303 (edited 04-03-2000).]

 

[UffDa]

It's a funny thing. You look at a product and say "that costs too much". Of course, you forget or don't know in the first place how much it costs to get a product on the market.

Sure, that $200 knife may only cost $20 to produce, but does that $20 include the wages of the people making it or the cost of that $50,000 milling machine, the phone bill, the sales force, electricity, rent, lawyers, etc. etc. etc.

How many companies have gone under because they can't make a reasonable profit selling a $20 knife for $200? Many.

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Do not lead me for I will not follow.
Do not follow me for I will not lead.
Do not walk by my side either.
Just leave me the hell alone.

[This message has been edited by UffDa (edited 04-03-2000).]