Humm, is this a result of the New MAPP Enforcement?

H

harris2

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Jan 30, 2007
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A phone call would probably/maybe include an answer, but...

I just noticed, and am now wondering if this is a result of Benchmades recent MAPP enforcement pricing. Could sales be so negatively affected that a give-away gift is needed to bring back Benchmade knife sales? I won't say who is doing it, but they are one of the largest on-line resellers with a brick and mortar store too. I have bought almost all of my Benchmade knives from them. It could just be a normal promotional sale, but it makes one wonder because of the timing!

"Free Mini Tactical Pro Sharpener with purchase of any Benchmade knife".

The Benchmade Mini Tactical Pro Sharpener is selling separately for $19.95.

Hmm...

Moderators, if this post is too provocative feel free to delete it.
 
I think the price hike is funny, in the 2013 catalog in the back it says " prices are subject to change at any time without notice"

So at least they did give everyone a heads up.
 
Jastab said:
I think the price hike is funny, in the 2013 catalog in the back it says " prices are subject to change at any time without notice"

So at least they did give everyone a heads up.
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Well, I think it was dealers who alerted customers ahead of time. Benchmade didn't make a statement till well after the pricing went into effect.
 
ALLHSS said:
Well, I think it was dealers who alerted customers ahead of time. Benchmade didn't make a statement till well after the pricing went into effect.
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Agreed, but in their own product guide it is mentioned by benchmade. It sucks yes, but such is life.
 
I really doubt that is has anything to do with the pricing. If it did, offering free sharpeners isn't going to increase sales enough, to make up for any that may have been lost because of increased pricing IMHO...
It may be a first for BM, but It isn't uncommon for manufacturers to offer additional things with a purchase.
 
Jastab said:
Agreed, but in their own product guide it is mentioned by benchmade. It sucks yes, but such is life.
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As chestnut says, that's in every company's catalogue I have seen. Also in most industries. Oh well
 
I have not run into any fixed pricing with the last four Benchmade knives bought over the last three months. Both of the stores I buy from are still discounting their knives. That said, I even talked to the owner/buyer of one of the stores about ordering a specific Rift, and he said he would "and you know it will not be list price" was said without me even asking. I have not run into any problems with pricing so far, and I do not anticipate any after conversations with people in the stores.
What has been the experience for some of you?
Frank.
 
Helderberg said:
I have not run into any fixed pricing with the last four Benchmade knives bought over the last three months. Both of the stores I buy from are still discounting their knives. That said, I even talked to the owner/buyer of one of the stores about ordering a specific Rift, and he said he would "and you know it will not be list price" was said without me even asking. I have not run into any problems with pricing so far, and I do not anticipate any after conversations with people in the stores.
What has been the experience for some of you?
Frank.
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You used to be able to purchase knives online at 25%+ discounts with the use of "hidden coupon codes". Now those same sellers are offering discounts of 15%.
 
JP Chestnut said:
You used to be able to purchase knives online at 25%+ discounts with the use of "hidden coupon codes". Now those same sellers are offering discounts of 15%.
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That sounds to be the MAAP pricing (15%). If they are offering carbide pull through scrapers as a free gift, I would have to say no thank you. Those do nothing more than rip the metal off your knife so you can cut with a nicely deformed burr. GPK offered free sharpeners a while back with a minimum purchase too.
 
Recently there was another post that went into detail about this, but what you are probably seeing is the allowed/authorized 15% discount that Benchmade lets all its resellers sell for below the suggested retail price.

Benchmade has always allowed this discount. What they are now preventing resellers from doing is giving any additional discounts that they used to give, i.e, discount coupons/codes used during checkout or email for an unadvertised discounted price, etc. All on-line resellers that I have seen currently do not give this additional discount anymore, and they did before the current MAPP enforcement policy. I'm sure if they did offer them again they would be in jeopardy of loosing Benchmade as a product to sell.

EDIT: looks like you guys answered his statement while I was typing.
 
RevDevil said:
That sounds to be the MAAP pricing (15%). If they are offering carbide pull through scrapers as a free gift, I would have to say no thank you. Those do nothing more than rip the metal off your knife so you can cut with a nicely deformed burr. GPK offered free sharpeners a while back with a minimum purchase too.
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Exactly, that's strict MAAP enforcement.
 
I have noticed at least two dealers now offering free shipping on Benchmade since the MAPP went back into effect.
 
According to the policy, it is fine to give free shipping and it is fine to give away promotional items (but I think they have to be approved....). In any event, all dealers are treading lightly to learn the ropes.

I don't think the giveaway is a result of lower sales, it is just one of the ways that dealers can distinguish themselves in a busy market place.
 
15% off of retail (the price listed on the BM website). is the best I've seen online and locally.
 
TechDoc said:
15% off of retail (the price listed on the BM website). is the best I've seen online and locally.
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Local pricing around here is MSRP and then some. A lot of gun shops that sell Benchmade knives sell them for a few bucks over what the MSRP is, and their knives sit in those cases for months on end, or until the gun shows roll around. There was better pricing available about 5-6 months ago.
 
There's nothing free about the damage a portable carbide grinding tool can do to an expensive knife. :barf:
 
It is like a big box retailers giving you a gift card on an iPad. It is a way for a retailer to get around fixed pricing by manufactures. Some will offer free shipping on a knife in this case or some other gift.
 
I'm glad I got what I got it for 550 grips for 79.00 each at Christmas time. The place I bought them at is gone (web).
I've moved on to other brands, I'll miss the BM lock system though.
 
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