I HAVE A QUESTION..............................

Mike Turber · Dec 18, 1999

I am working on marketing material for BFC and I need your help.

I need to know how BladeForums.Com has influenced you to buy knives?

I mean if BladeForums.Com was not here, would you have bought the same knives you now own?

Have you been influenced by the info here to better your collection?

Did the info here help you make a more informed or better decision?

We want to know if we are having a positive effect on the knife industry and what the manufacturers, and others, want to know is how much an influence BFC has had on your buying decisions?

Also how would you compare your experince here to your experince in the magazines?

Would you rather read a magazine to find info on a future purchase or read and search BladeForums?

I know this is all marketing garb and such but your help is appreciated.

THANKS!

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Mike Turber
BladeForums Site Owner and Administrator
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DIVER JOHN · Dec 18, 1999

I think it has had a positive effect in that it has made me aware of the number of quality manufacturers around. And their products. It has also saved me from a couple of lousy buy's. I await the hopfully unbiased info from your up coming E-zine.
John

OneofFour · Dec 18, 1999

Mike,
to answer some of your questions...

a) I would definitely not have bought the knives that I have without BladeForums. I live in the UK and the magazines are hard to get, and people who sell and know about knives can be hard to come by.

b) I was able to read the forums and also to ask a question directly and got some great feedback from other users and some real experts with no axe to grind (pardon the pun) about particular blades. I was able to check which internet dealers had a good reputation and as a result I went to NorthWest Cutlery, and also direct to Chris Reeve Knives and Rob Simonich. I was considering the Emerson Commander at one point, but comments about the variable build quality caused me to think again as I can only really buy over the internet and returning goods can be a bit of a pain. Perhaps I'll check one out on my next visit to the US.

c) While magazines are great for reading on journeys, in bed or on a quiet afternoon, they cannot provide the immediate or the widespread feedback that the forum provides. I will always use the forum to check out purchases first with others. I'm currently looking for other forums on outdoor gear to complement my time on this one.

Hope this helps.
Regards,
Gerry

stjames · Dec 18, 1999

Mike, the main advantage that the Forums have over the Magazines can be summed up in one word: Feedback.

If you read a magazine and have a question of the author or maker presented and send it to the editorial section, it most likely will be a matter of weeks if not months until you receive a response, if at all. If someone disagrees with your point of view or has a question on the Forums, you will hear about it! And from the people who matter most; the ones who put out their hard-earned dollars for a tool that they need to depend on. Not to mention the fact that the information presented might be out of date by the time the piece reaches publication. In most cases, the best way to get more information is to contact the knifemaker directly, something not promoted by the knife rags.

If a knifemaker takes a part in these forums, the feedback is almost instantaneous. For example, I posted a piece about the new Elishewitz Diablo late last night. Before I awoke today, Allen had responded to my input with an invitation to contact him if I needed any further information. If that doesnt help promote the industry, I dont know what else would.

The forum has had enormous impact on my purchasing choices. The information presented here and the interaction with both makers and users is why I come back day after day. The members are our most valuable assets.

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James Segura
San Francisco, CA

JoHnYKwSt · Dec 18, 1999

I have bought more knives. I have bought higher quality knives. Because of Bladeforums, and the information I have gained, I have made much better choices. I am sure bladeforums has influenced the knife industry in a very postive way. It has made more people aware of knives in general. If bladeforums did not exist, I'm sure there would be fewer people buying knives, and the people buying knives would buy less.

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Johnny
[]xxxxxx[]=============>

Hoodoo · Dec 18, 1999

The first time I logged on to this forum, I picked up on the controversy over liner locks. Before that, I had never heard of liner locks and had no idea there was a problem with them.

The things you get here, you don't read about in magazines. This is real world stuff.

In the magazines, a reviewer gets a knife from the factory or wherever and tests it out and writes the usual glowing review. Often the knife hasn't even hit the market and the piece that's being tested is deluxe 'cause it was all checked out before it was shipped to the reviewer. So one knife, one test, lots of cool pictures, and you run out and buy the thing. Other than hyped ads, that may be the last you hear about that knife in a public arena--unless you read Bladeforums.

Here you can benefit from lots of experience. You can ask questions about ANY knife and get some feedback. You can't match this anywhere except in newsgroups. And as for expertise, the technical level here seems to be as good and often better that what I've seen in the magazines.

Of course, I still like the magazine format 'cause it's pretty relaxing to kick back and look at some cool pics and new products and there often are good reviews (and I get tired of looking at computer sceens). But for shear reliable information that comes from an interactive discussion format, BF is hard to beat.

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Hoodoo

When you arrive at the fork in the road, take it.
Yogi Berra

dsvirsky · Dec 18, 1999

Mike,
BladeForums has had a very positive effect upon my knife buying habits. There are at least four knives in my collection that I would not own if not for the education I've received here. I buy better knives, because I am a better informed consumer. A year ago, I wouldn't have understood why anyone would spend $100+ for a knife; now, I know that there is a William Henry CF Kestrel in my future.

I don't read the magazines; they don't seem particularly oriented towards my needs. I do read and search BladeForums to find information for future purchases. I know that if the answer isn't already here, my fellow members will be willing and able to help.

Dave

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Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of More Knives

[This message has been edited by dsvirsky (edited 18 December 1999).]

brian w edginton · Dec 18, 1999

Net forums (mainly BFC and rec.knives) have, markedly, changed my attitude towards magazines. I used to rely rather heavily on the hardcopy publications even though I realized that there was a serious bias towards retaining advertisers and "sugar coated " reviews.
After all, there wasn't much else.

The advantage of the 'net forums (fora ?) is that you can, immediately, challenge doubtfull reviews and ask for second, third and one hundred and eleventh opinions.

The danger is that many reviews are fabricated, biassed or based on gut feeling rather than experience. I tend to disregard the "xxxx is a POS" posts without supporting data.......nah, not true : I don't ignore them at all, do I

But a little experience on the part of the reader helps sort that out. And, as I said, you can challenge the seemingly outrageous posts in ,almost, realtime. (Actually, it pisses me when it seems I am the only one to do so...maybe I have a problem ?? )

Sometimes I think we should have a code of posting practice.....including rules of behaviour AND how to write credible posts.
Wouldn't hurt to mention the benefits of reading posts properly before jumping on the keyboard......I could use THAT kind of advice

Anyway.....yes, the forum does have a major influence on my knife-buying/lusting. Much moreso than the print media.

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BrianWE
ICQ #21525343

Matt Shade · Dec 18, 1999

I was trying my hand at knifemaking before I found the forums. But I was hesitant to try any thing really serious because I didn't have any one to ask questions. Now that I can get other people's opinions I've ended up buying a lot of supplies and tools to help me out and I'm alot more serious about making knives.
I also use the forums to get opinions on which knives are good or bad and whats a good deal. And I would much rather come to something interactive like this than just read a magazine every month.
Thanks alot for starting Bladeforums, and please continue this wonderful site.

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Fix it right the first time, use Baling Wire !

timdennis · Dec 18, 1999

Mike,
This is sure an understatement.I've been reading blade since 1981,tactical knives every issue and fifghting knives the entire run. However I discovered that I'm about average to below average to the others here(at least those that post regulary-100?).
It has DIRECTLY changed my buying decisions-
1-I have changed my mind and NOT purchased some when I read the info. on lock failures something I had no inkling of.
2-The opposite is also true.I liked the looks of the outdoor edge impulse and when I asked about it both the designer and co.president emailed me personally with advice-WOW!Of course I now have two and wish I had the cash for the custom. I just asked a question yesterday on the M16-Kit Carson flipper and received responses which have sold me on the knife.
These are just some examples.I could fill pages but you get the idea.

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Tim

Jake Evans · Dec 18, 1999

With this forum you get answers to your knife questions within hours, sometimes minutes, what printed publication can offer that? All the replies here are no holds barred, from peers and after a short time one realizes that most everyone involved has the betterment of the knive community in mind.....I'll get off my soapbox now..

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Jake Evans

Jiantbrane2 · Dec 18, 1999

HA! BFC has made an immense difference in my knife-life! If I spent half as much time on my homework as I do here, I'd probably making straight A's!!! I come here EVERY time I get online, and usually multiple times, especially when considering purchases.

BFC KILLS magazines in every way. There is a personal feel here, the reader is also a writer (if he/she so chooses), and there's humor sometimes. There is also a strong feeling of community. In magazines, you never see articles about KNIFE X vs. Knife Y, but here, just start a thread requesting such a request and BOOM, you got it! You can't ask a magazine specific questions (well you can, but A- you probably won't get answered and B- if you do, it won't be until the next issue!). You can quote me on that; heck, put words into my mouth if it'll help BFC! I trust ya.

Howie

Shawn R Sullivan · Dec 18, 1999

Mike,
BFC has had a huge influence on me. I am a much better informed consumer. I can get advise from 4000+ members about a knife or how to make a knife. I have asked a lot of questions and gotten lots of help here, and the feed back to my questions is QUICK!! If I sent a letter to a knife mag asking about their expiereances with knife XXXX, how long would it take for me to get a response back? If I ever got one.
I like being able to talk to the head of a knife company ( Spyderco ), if he has the time to answer my questions it only makes his product seem better in my eyes.
I still read some magazines. I picked up a new mag the other day, and I just like the forums better. I dont always have access to the internet so I will probably still buy a magazine now and then.

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Shawn R Sullivan
~San Diego, Ca~

brian w edginton · Dec 18, 1999

AND when I read the knife news in a mag, I usually think : "but I knew that months ago".

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BrianWE
ICQ #21525343
If you are not laughing, you may as well be crying.

SpecialK · Dec 18, 1999

I totally agree with St. James. Feedback has been the most positive influences on my knife purchases. This, IMHO, has been the one of the most positive attractions to this forum (even though everything else on this site is great, too).

But then again, wasn't that the point to BladeForums.com?

BTW, waiting for my X-mas bonus to subscribe

Al

whitebear · Dec 18, 1999

I have ABSOLUTELY purchased more and different knives because of BF!!! Were it not for the forums here, I would never have purchased an EDI Genesis, any of my several Spydies (including my BF Native and Moran fixed blade, and my Sharpmaker 204)or my CRKT Mirage, not to mention many others!

The information interchange here has been absolutely invaluable in my buying decisions. I seldom, if every, see any news in the paper mags that I haven't already known about for months via BF.

The only edge the hardcopy mags have that I can see is their profiles of new and upcoming smiths each month.

Thanks for supporting a habit, er, hobby that my spouse at least pretends to begin to understand!

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Tony King
Tulsa, OK
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A mind all logic is like a knife all blade. It makes bleed the hand that uses it.
-Rabindranath Tagore

[This message has been edited by whitebear (edited 18 December 1999).]

not2sharp · Dec 18, 1999

The Bladeforum rewards quality makers and penalizes people with inferior products and service. There is a wealth of information available for the asking; and the makers who will be most successful will make use of our input.

I have not purchased more because of the forum. The forum, however, has help me to select between products and makers.

Paracelsus · Dec 18, 1999

Mike, I crave information, and there is a lot of good Two way information exchange going on here. I recently bought two GenO Denning hunters probably Because I heard of him here. I particulary like reading various opinions about knives, good and bad, from makers and from users. I like the fact that a least a few makers take the time to share their expertise and experience with the rest of us. And for some of them, I know that will result in new customers that they might not have otherwise had (Ed Caffrey is a particularly good example since I will definitely own at least one of his knives someday). And the sense of community and fun keeps me thinking about knives a lot more than just reading three knife magazines each month. I won't Stop reading Blade, and Knives Illustrated, and Knife World because I spend time here. I think the two media are complementary. And I spend a lot more time here than reading the magazines. If I have a particular question about a maker or manufacturer, I know I'll get some good feedback fast at BFC. The magazines only write about a few things each issue. So I think your site is a tremendous boon to the knife making and buying public from an educational, marketing, and entertainment perspective. You are helping make more people aware of what good cutlery really is. Thanks for providing this forum for all of us! I hope you find a way to make money from it Soon.

Paracelsus

[This message has been edited by Paracelsus (edited 18 December 1999).]

PhilL · Dec 18, 1999

Another vote for FEEDBACK! Information, education, I've learned more in two months on the Forums, than from two years of trying to learn by myself.
First hand information, right from the source, the makers, (great Makers) the manufacturers, (great Manufacturers), dealers, collectors and just plain KNife Nuts. It just keeps on getting better.

I'm buying my first custom made in Jan. I had Ed Caffery, Kit Carson and Darrel Ralph answer a question of mine, I'm nobody, where else could this happen?

I've only bought two knives since being of the Forums, through BF links. I saved over $250 off list or book value, on just two knives that I only spent about $200 on. That's not a bad deal. How much do you think BF's will save me this year, when my knife budget goes to $200 a month?

There is No Contest between what BF's offers and what a Magazine can. I'm here several times a day, can you read the same monthly magazine several times a day? I once wrote a letter to Blade magazine in Jan. 1999, I got a kick out of it when I got a reply printed in the Oct, issue. Seems a little slow to me now. BladeForums, you have spoiled me, (I was rotten before).

Thanks to you all,

MICKEY77 · Dec 18, 1999

I myself bought an M2 Stryker because of this place and almost made several foolish desisions if I had not known of this plae

THANX SO NUCH BF

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My Email is- Hero47@juno.com -

I HAVE A QUESTION..............................

Sebenzanista