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- Jun 10, 2012
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And since ZT doesn't really fit into your general knife buying pattern of buying ONLY sub 4oz folders, I doubt they will notice.
LOL pretty much what I was thinking!
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And since ZT doesn't really fit into your general knife buying pattern of buying ONLY sub 4oz folders, I doubt they will notice.
They are a bit like ZT, showing and announcing stuff that is never made and pricing their products like it is pre 2008.
It certainly does seem that way. And yet my guess is that the lion's share of knife sales and revenues are in the <$100 segment. Part of the issue is that, as knifenuts, we tend to have a skewed vision of the market. We look at it as if everyone who buys a pocket knife thinks the way we do. I seriously doubt that's the case. And knives with g10, steel liner locks and s30v, 154cm blades are going to be around for a long, long time to come . . . especially as manufacturers like ZT and Benchmade price themselves out of the market with their greatest super steel, titanium frame lock, carbon fiber and bearing pivot offerings.The WHOLE knife market is moving upmarket.
I truly believe that the Benchmades and ZTs of this world are counting on the fact that people have short memories. If they keep dangling carrots in front of us, they hope that sooner or later we'll start nibbling on them and eventually, all will be forgiven. Only time will tell if they're right about that. But for the moment, at least, I'm not in a forgiving mood.This whole thing gives me a headache. I know what the companies are doing (price fixing), and why(make their brand seem more than what it is). I can also understand their reasoning and what they hope to achieve.
Because we have been loyal customers and are members of their "secret clubs" (Order of Kai and Benchmaniacs) they took the leap into MAP enforcement gauging that the loss of pissed off consumers (like me) will be offset by new customers along with the undying loyalists who passionately love their product (like Scurvy). Which is fine. They are trying to get the newbie knife knuts to see them to be as good as, or almost as good as a CRK or Strider they are alienating their base consumers by just assuming that we will gladly bend over and take it up the ass with a smile.
What I can't and WON'T do is go along with it, because there is a flaw in the plan. Neither company (especially Benchmade) has actually done anything from a manufacturing standpoint to match the QC and tolerances of the companies they are trying to emulate. You can change the styling and jack up the price on a KIA to make it SEEM like its on par or just under a Beemer. But if you don't completely redesign the car it's all just smoke and mirrors. By trying to get the newbie knife knuts to see them as almost as good as a CRK or Strider they are alienating their base consumers by just assuming that we will gladly bend over and take it up the ass with a smile. Well count me in amongst those who choose to keep their pants on and go elsewhere with my money. I'll see you in the Custom forums.
Congrats to everyone who was able to buy a new 0770CF for less than MAP. There are still some folks out there who are selling them at discounted prices. And they're not that hard to find. But I'd suggest you hurry before they too are forced to raise their prices.
It certainly does seem that way. And yet my guess is that the lion's share of knife sales and revenues are in the <$100 segment. Part of the issue is that, as knifenuts, we tend to have a skewed vision of the market. We look at it as if everyone who buys a pocket knife thinks the way we do. I seriously doubt that's the case. And knives with g10, steel liner locks and s30v, 154cm blades are going to be around for a long, long time to come . . . especially as manufacturers like ZT and Benchmade price themselves out of the market with their greatest super steel, titanium frame lock, carbon fiber and bearing pivot offerings.
ZT isn't pricing themselves out of the market, they are following the market.
The SureFire analogy is an apt one. What's telling is that many of the high-tech flashlights are made in China by mostly Chinese companies. It won't be long before we see a lot more high-quality and innovative knives from Chinese companies. Consumers win again just like with the dizzying array of flashlights which just 6-7 years ago did not exist.