Getting sick and tired of Zero Tolerance

The problem the OP has with the ZT limited additions sounds a lot like the problem kids have during a fad. Typically during a fad a company produces several items I'll call the "common products" and a few hard to find ones. The common products get everyone hooked but the rare items are generally what everyone wants because they are cool and most people don't have them. It's simple supply and demand.

Assuming the OP refuses to pay the premiums set by the market and the gougers, the solution is TIME. Think about it, the thing with Fads is that they are only cool if everyone else thinks they are, and is caught up in the moment. In a few months or years, those guys who couldn't sell (insert knife model here) will suddenly become reasonable when they go to sell. In most cases, I suspect the knives the OP wants will not even have been used, let alone abused into nothing.

I do understand the OP's point about the LE designs not having regular production counterparts though.

Disclaimer: I think that part of marketing is to create Fads/Hype. If no one was interested in buying a product the company would fail. I draw the line when a product is falsely advertised/the buyer is mislead. I don't think ZT's hype is artificial, they are good knives.
 
Last edited:
EDCanAdamas said:
The problem the OP has with the ZT limited additions sounds a lot like the problem kids have during a fad. Typically during a fad a company produces several items I'll call the "common products" and a few hard to find ones. The common products get everyone hooked but the rare items are generally what everyone wants because they are cool and most people don't have them. It's simple supply and demand.

Assuming the OP refuses to pay the premiums set by the market and the gougers, the solution is TIME. Think about it, the thing with Fads is that they are only cool if everyone else thinks they are, and is caught up in the moment. In a few months or years, those guys who couldn't sell (insert knife model here) will suddenly become reasonable when they go to sell. In most cases, I suspect the knives the OP wants will not even have been used, let alone abused into nothing.

I do understand the OP's point about the LE designs not having regular production counterparts though.

Disclaimer: I think that part of marketing is to create Fads/Hype. If no one was interested in buying a product the company would fail. I draw the line when a product is falsely advertised/the buyer is mislead. I don't think ZT's hype is artificial, they are good knives.
Click to expand...

Yeah time is really bringing down the prices of stuff like the Tilt,Volt,Speedform, Purple Blur, I can keep going lol.....
 
Rookie82 said:
Why make 10,000 pieces, sell for $1 each, but only sell out 9,800 of them and sit on the rest. When instead you could make 5,000 pieces, sell for $2 each, completely sell out.
Click to expand...
well, improved asset utilization, fixed cost dilution, inventory turnover
plus elasticities are never that clean and that demand schedule shows you miss out on at least 4800 transactions. I mean, you sell 9800 for $1.10 each, and you're $780 ahead of the 5K for $2. Get into some price discrimination through a few different segments, and you're selling 5K for $1.10, 3K others for $1.25, and the last 1800 for $1.50. All of a sudden, half the production run for only $2 each sounds really lousy when you check your contribution margin with the same admin staff, rent expense, and insurance premiums no matter if you make 10 or 10,000 units.
and of course the goal would be to become competent enough to sell all 10,000 by meeting consumer desires, not fail to meet demand by only selling 5,000 of sub-par value propositions.

All this pent up demand means nothing if customers will pay $800 on the secondary market and you only direct sell for $500. That $300 extra never makes it to the manufacturer. Of course, in regular production, probably more than half the purchases wouldn't exist. It's a pretty lousy concept for long term viability. With all the sprints Spyderco does, they never stop selling the delica and endura. Though I think they could do for some longer runs on other knives, because they use cost plus pricing, and it's sometimes obvious that they way overestimate on demand when the comments on MSRP start rolling in on some of the VG-10/black G-10 sprints. ZT usually isn't seen as pedestrian like that, but it almost seems to be the opposite - these LEs exist solely to change hands over and over, not to be used. The materials and construction of course are up to it, but the presentation is more akin to perpetually selling collectibles rather than users.
 
nwmetalbug said:
Yeah time is really bringing down the prices of stuff like the Tilt,Volt,Speedform, Purple Blur, I can keep going lol.....
Click to expand...

Go ahead and giggle. Prices will go down once someone is stuck with an item they didn't really want and there are no buyers interested anymore. I didn't specify how long the OP would have to wait because that's up to the market. If a person has their heart set on a particular knife (ie a grail knife), and can't afford it, they will wait years for it to come around for the right price.

Generally, people just pony up the cash rather than wait ten years.:)
 
Im in the same boat I missed a couple LE ZT's that I know Ill never find for anything close to what MSRP was. I pretty much have written them off because chances are they wont come down in price and I refuse to buy at the high end. No biggie ill just try to get in on some of the next ones that I have a chance at. Its all a crap shoot anyway knives are fun as collectibles not investment vehicles.
 
EDCanAdamas said:
Go ahead and giggle. Prices will go down once someone is stuck with an item they didn't really want and there are no buyers interested anymore. I didn't specify how long the OP would have to wait because that's up to the market. If a person has their heart set on a particular knife (ie a grail knife), and can't afford it, they will wait years for it to come around for the right price.

Generally, people just pony up the cash rather than wait ten years.:)
Click to expand...

Get a pile of cash ready and watch the sales forums and other sales outlets (the bay etc) -

You see a deal pop up occasionally, and if you are poised to strike, then there you are!

Missing one here and there just adds a little excitement and purpose to your online knife travels in my experience.

I never could get an original ZT0777, and I was at blade, talking to the ZT folks, beating the bushes - just never happened.

I did get an M390 version, and that is good enough, but I still watch for that rare damascus 777 to pop up for a good price ;^)

best

mqqn
 
While most of you are going to bash the OP, I'll go ahead and agree with him. Yes, ZT marketing and distribution is a scam. It's one of the MANY reasons I have never bought a ZT and will never again buy a Kershaw. I also refuse to patronize Hinderer and Busse for similar money games.

I prefer to patronize honest, transparent companies. Bathe in the hate and be glad you aren't wasting your time with it. There are knife companies offering top tier materials and fit and finish without the games.
 
It seems as if all of their new knives have the same boring ti scales. I wish they would make the 0095 with the machined g10 scales their older models have.
 
gopeder111 said:
It seems as if all of their new knives have the same boring ti scales. I wish they would make the 0095 with the machined g10 scales their older models have.
Click to expand...

All the boring 0095's went over seas, so you don't have to worry about those! The 0095 is slated to become a production model in 2016, but no one knows the material's as of yet.

Have you checked out the 0562 yet? Its a wonderful knife for around $180.00
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top