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growing weary of the sprint run game
- Thread starter powernoodle
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- Nov 18, 2005
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Uh huh. Every sprint you want...at full MSRP. I'd rather take my chances with discounted sales through regular dealer channels.
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Anothe good point...Full MSRP is usually way more than even the highest price you will find on the secondary market (of course there are a few exceptions).
I used to buy short run/special edition slippies and make 'em safe queens but it just isn't right for me anymore. They are tools and I use all of them. Getting excited, waiting and waiting only to tuck it away in a dark safe isn't for everyone. They aren't worth a dime if you don't sell them and if you don't use them what do you really have? You spend hours getting that S90V edge down to a few molecules and then put it away like a mushroom!
Rabbit Trail!
Iron has a plain atomic structure, there are no molecules. Iron atoms occupy a space of about 250 Picometers. Therefore a half micron edge (500 Nanometers) will be about 2000 atoms thick. You can probably bring that number down with various polishing methods though.
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- Apr 21, 2006
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The entire mule team program has been a wonderful surprise to me.
One of the reasons the mules are kept at SFO is the more people that end up in the chain, the higher the price creeps.Everybody has bills to pay.
The markup is just a fixed percentage over actual cost. On some knives it's been less than $5 per knife. My guess is just an educated one but I have bought enough steel and supplies to have an estimate on cost. When they have sold them at cost or as seconds to get rid of them I've yet to see over $5 difference over what first quality, non seconds cost.
Put them through wholesalers and dealers and the cost jumps up.
Recall Sal began this sort of as a favor, or experiment for us steel junkies not as a new line for profit, or even as a new line of "kit" knives.
The mule team is really an amazing thing and I still see it as more of a public service than a business move. That scheduled production time at any of the plants could be better used for profit making. Spyderco gets much more goodwill than revenue generation from mules.
My opinion anyhow. Still glad you're back Carlos. Almost like the old days.
Joe
- Joined
- Jul 16, 2011
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- 198
I'm enjoying the Spyderco sprint runs. It's nice to see those of us who arrive late for the game can still sometimes snag a version of something we've read about or seen a picture of on-line.
Unlike many here I have little interest in buying the same knife in different steels; I'd rather have different knives. New shapes and textures are pleasing to the senses.
The end result of this is that I'll collect the sprints but I'll only use a knife I know I can easily replace. Hopefully in the future I can convince myself to do otherwise but I guess it's a "collector's mentality".
Unlike many here I have little interest in buying the same knife in different steels; I'd rather have different knives. New shapes and textures are pleasing to the senses.
The end result of this is that I'll collect the sprints but I'll only use a knife I know I can easily replace. Hopefully in the future I can convince myself to do otherwise but I guess it's a "collector's mentality".
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- Oct 20, 2009
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- 980
The last few sprint runs were very easy to get without pre-ordering, and can still be found in regular suppliers at decent prices. Actually, I just bought the gray Lum tanto. The light gray Para2 and the brown Military are still abundant. Others (like the Manix with Carpenter steel) are not hard to find at prices below MSRP.
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- Nov 12, 2005
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Does anyone else think that larger size sprint runs would be good for the both customer and Spyderco. The only people that would not like the idea of this should be those hoping to turn a quick $$$.
It would be a big win for the user wanting to try out some great new steel.
I would say that over 75% of the "sprints" with top end steel never see the light of day, let alone any use.
Kershaw has been guilty of the same thing.
Make all that you can sell without discounting makes more since to me. Driving the after market price up by making a small sprint run does very little to help Spydercos bottom line.
It would be a big win for the user wanting to try out some great new steel.
I would say that over 75% of the "sprints" with top end steel never see the light of day, let alone any use.
Kershaw has been guilty of the same thing.
Make all that you can sell without discounting makes more since to me. Driving the after market price up by making a small sprint run does very little to help Spydercos bottom line.
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- Nov 9, 2009
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The problem with larger runs is that there is no way to accurately determine "How many" to really make. There would be a risk of stock sitting on shelves across stores.
In theory maybe, but hard to say "yes" in practice
Hard to say what percentage uses tehir knives. Just because we don't read posts or see pictures of them in use doesn't prove or disprove anything
???
Spyderco doesn't make tons of money from existing sprints as it is. People on the various knife forums are less than 5% (+/-) of the total market. What really wouldn't make much sense is to produce a product that there really is no viable market for, tie up production floor time, only to have them sit and not sell. Remember the CPM-D2 para and the Orange Mili - Both started life as Sprints that were extended. Everyone loves orange until they own one.
In theory maybe, but hard to say "yes" in practice
Hard to say what percentage uses tehir knives. Just because we don't read posts or see pictures of them in use doesn't prove or disprove anything
???
Spyderco doesn't make tons of money from existing sprints as it is. People on the various knife forums are less than 5% (+/-) of the total market. What really wouldn't make much sense is to produce a product that there really is no viable market for, tie up production floor time, only to have them sit and not sell. Remember the CPM-D2 para and the Orange Mili - Both started life as Sprints that were extended. Everyone loves orange until they own one.
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- Dec 4, 2010
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I buy that for some models. But take the Manix 2 for example - does Spyderco really not know that a "regular production" FFG Manix 2 would perpetually sell? I've been wanting a FFG Manix 2 for a while. A basic black would be fine, but I also liked that blue handled one. I didn't "get" that if I didn't preorder one, I'd be out of luck.
I've finally been able to order a CTS-BD30P Manix 2 at a nicely discounted off retail price (instead of 2x or 3x retail like that elusive blue handled Manix 2).
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In my case, sprint runs have actually stopped me dead in my tracks to purchasing my next knife and now I'm in a holding pattern.
I really want a PM2 to replace my EDC PM1, but I have my heart set on what seems to be the unobtainable, the CF S90V version. I'm certainly not going to spend $400 for one, heh. So I'm left with purchasing a regular production model or waiting for another sprint that interests me. And so far, I've chosen to not purchase anything. I guess I'm just trying to make the point that in some situations the sprint runs might actually cause a lost sale.
I really want a PM2 to replace my EDC PM1, but I have my heart set on what seems to be the unobtainable, the CF S90V version. I'm certainly not going to spend $400 for one, heh. So I'm left with purchasing a regular production model or waiting for another sprint that interests me. And so far, I've chosen to not purchase anything. I guess I'm just trying to make the point that in some situations the sprint runs might actually cause a lost sale.
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- Sep 7, 2006
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Why not get the CTS-20CP one? It doesnt have CF scales but that steel is very close to S90V. And it can be had for a darn sight cheaper. You could then get a pimper to put CF scales on it for you. And it will probably still be less than the S90V one.
Thats a good suggestion. The 20CP version is still available from retailers for good prices. After custom CF scales, you could still be around $250 or less
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- Oct 1, 2009
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I kind of feel your pain, although all will be right in my world if I can snag a ZT 777... There have been a few Spyderco Sprints that have interested me, but were cost prohibitive on the secondary market so I am ok living without..
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- Oct 15, 2002
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Just recently saw a TiM4 Military advertised for close to $440. Annoys me quite a bit, since I am pretty sure it was bought solely for the purpose of making $$. Would make a great user, but I cant justify spending twice the amount of what it originally cost (the owner bought it from KW). Oh well, capitalism I guess. I know it's my problem, not the sellers, and he has every right to sell it for whatever he wants, but it still annoys me that such wonderful knives end up being merely for presentation or money-making purposes.
Keno
Keno
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- Nov 18, 2005
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What makes you so sure? That knife was shipped a year ago or so. No one would hold onto it this long if they purchased it "solely for the purpose of making $$." Circumstances change. Other knives come along. Some knives just plain don't float your boat.