How important is it to you

SilverFoxKnows

SilverFoxKnows

Joined
Sep 25, 2002
Messages
3,179
if a maker/manufacturer has a forum here? Will you buy a Spyderco or a Buck not only because the design suits you but because you know the company is really involved with us knife knuts? Or do you buy Benchmades because of the Axis lock or CRKT because of the price point and just expect that most companies aren't too involved with the customer? For myself, I really like to see the makers here. It tells me that there are still companies that aren't in it ONLY for the money. It speaks of an old school integrity that is increasingly rare.

Frank
 
Excellent topic. I was a Spydie fan/owner as far back as 1991 but my respect for the company and Sal in particular has grown exponentially since I found BFC. For Sal to take the time to interact with us and even get our input as to what knives should be discontinued or kept speaks volumes to me about Spyderco's appreciation for the buying public. I'm sure that the Busse fans and others feel the same way about their favorite companies who have a true presence on BFC. I do have a couple of Benchmade knives and I probably always will but my take on them is no where near my views on Spyderco.
 
I think this issue is more important than you most might think. It's nice to be able to PM a rep. for a knife company right here on BFC to check on the status of a repair or to ask a question.
 
I was born into a Buck knife using family. I'm pretty dedicated to them.Even so, It is very nice to see CJ on the boards. My esteem for a number of other companies and/ or makers has really grown by seeing their participation with public forums. To say nothing of my spending:D
 
I don't use the presence of a company forum as the basis for buying a knife. I do appreciate and enjoy it, though, when companies that I buy from maintain a forum here. Like trane_fan, I am very impressed by their customer involvement.

However, IMHO this is not a question of putting integrity over money. In fact, it is just another outlet for building customer satisfaction, which translates directly into revenue. There is pretty good evidence that customers who experience a problem which gets resolved can be even more satisfied with a company than customers that never have a problem. Strange, but that is how people's minds work. It seems to me that the difficult part would be finding a balance between resolving problems via these forums versus using whatever customer service outlets a company already has in place. This is a tough balancing act.

Another benefit of the forums is to help build a loyal core of enthusiasts who advocate a company's product to others. Also, our input might help improve products by letting a company know of an annoying flaw that they otherwise would have been unaware of and to suggest new features.

Then, there is always the fact that we egg each other on to buying more and more stuff...;)
 
I was going to say that it isn't very important until I looked at the last couple of knives I've purchased or traded for and they're all Spydercos. Spyderco's forum here on BF really keeps up my interest in Spyderco knives. It helps that Sal is a cool guy and likes to hear from his customers.
 
it influences, but not dictates, mine. while im more partial to BM's designs, ill usually give Spydie first shot b/c it is so nice to have Sal responding to concerns and comments. that alone breeds lots of satisfaction with me. BM, while making a good product and having quickly responded to my requests for CS, is not on the same level. i guess it comes down to breeding good will w/ your customers.
 
The fact a manufacturer has a forum here does influence me. It doesn't dictate what I buy since there are other issues involved, but if I'm trying to decide between two knives and one does have a presense here and the other doesn't then the advantage goes to the one that interacts with its customers here.
 
I think its nice knowing that a compnay keeps a forum here. It shows that they care about their customers, and want thier input. But I would also consider it to show the same type of concern if they host a forum elswhere. I think that the point is that they have a way for me to contact them, and other people who use thier product.

Does it inlfuence me? I don't know, probably not that much actually. I make my decisions based on what I think of the knife, and what others have said about it. I think that most manufacturers have some way to contact them if I needed to. But just knowing that I can do it through these forums, does make it a bit more friendly. I guess ultimately it factors in a little bit, but wouldn't be a deciding factor either way.
 
I like when they have a forum here. It makes them seem more in tune with their customers, and it's nice to be able to talk to their reps, or see, in public, how they respond to people. Gives them that "personel" touch.
 
If it were not for forums I would not even have heard of swamprat knives and now they are my favorite. I also like benchmades. Doesn't each knife company have a forum of some sort on their websites if not here? I enjoy reading forums, I think it influences me to a certain extent.
 
For mine, it counts for a bit if a maker has a forum.

It counts a bit more if they have one here.

Determinative? Il dépend.
 
For me it's really important to peruse the Makers/Mfgrs forums. I'm not really knee deep in the knife world anymore, and I never know what's new or what's cool.

There are makers forums I never visit, I think some of them are probably a waste of time and bandwidth. But, that's why I'm not the boss. (Ok, there might be one or even seven more reasons).

A presence here shows makers are "in touch", I think. It's so nice to have a hobby with such accessible manufacturers and spokespeople.
 
I think it works the opposite way. Makers with a forum here are more likely to get their new products in front of me, and explain the special features that aren't made clear in the ads. I also can see feedback from the group. I get my appetite whetted here, and then go buy.
 
Well I was going to say something like what "tarsier" said....but I couldn't say it as well ! The only thing I might add is that personally, when I use the Manufacturers Forum to research a knife I am considering for purchase ...I wonder how objective the feedback is on that forum. I wonder if it isn't like asking a bunch of Chevy owners in a Chevy plant what is the best car in a particular category. The incentive might be to justify it's attributes because of peer pressure..... you know, following the "crowd"...not to mention that the manufacturer is monitoring the forum. But people do speek their mind on the individual makers forums! I just always like to see what others have to say about a particular knife on the General Discussion Forum and the Testing Forum. I hope to get a more objective overview there.
 
It's interesting because now that you mention it I pretty much only buy knives from companies represented on this board:
Spyderco, CRK, Buck, now Busse.

I don't know that I bought only because they participate, but because they participate I get more information about their new knives and hence more likely to buy them.

But yeah, it certianly doesn't hurt that their here.
 
The active participation of the Buck, Spyderco, Camillus, Swamprat...management has made me much more aware of their products and design intent. I have bought more knives from manufacturers represented at Bladeforums than from other manufacturers. Sal in particular has added significantly to my experience here. I'm working on an excuse to buy a Swamprat at the moment.
 
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