Is this a sensitive topic?

Joined
Aug 30, 2001
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166
I am wondering why there is no Benchmade forum on either of the two most popular knife oriented discussion boards? It seems a very strange omission to me. Can anyone enlighten me on this?
 
Benchmade I believe has always had thier own forum. They were around before Bladeforums or Knifeforums. Used to be an old forun called RecDotKnives (not to be confused with rec.knives). There and Benchmade were the two big forums at the time.

Guess they do ok on thier own, and I was always under the impression that they like to have complete control over content.
 
Originally posted by Richard
I was always under the impression that they like to have complete control over content.

The way you worded it, it makes me think of Nazies, but I get what you mean.
 
I am pretty sure that BM's forum was the first knife forum other than the news group rec.knives.
 
yes benchmade forums is run very strict

they censor posts and ban ppl alot

content has to usually stay postive regarding their products and you can't even point a person to a source to get out of production/discontinued knives

I really wish it were as casual as the forums here
 
Originally posted by Richard
I was always under the impression that they like to have complete control over content.
This sounds to me like a reason why there SHOULD be a forum here or on that other board!
 
Originally posted by curious2003
yes benchmade forums is run very strict

they censor posts and ban ppl alot

content has to usually stay postive regarding their products and you can't even point a person to a source to get out of production/discontinued knives

I really wish it were as casual as the forums here

That's too bad. I wish they could loosen up a bit. Just curious, has anyone ever broached the subject with the folks at BM? I really appreciate Benchmade and have no doubt they would be well received here.
 
I have not been there in quite some time, but I do think it has been discussed before. It used to be quite a nice forum when a guy named Mark McWillis (or something like that) was there moderating. He left Benchmade, and the forum was then moderated by the "Benmade Support Team" which was about as worthless as it gets. They were not very active and seemed to specialize in posting things that did nothing but take up space and answer nothing. Who knows, maybe they are better now.
 
"Nazis" TMG, "Nazis". I'll let the repeated bastardisation of "definitely" for example go, but that one is important to get right I think.

That might be going a bit far. I can't envisage BM invading Poland, for example, not with Panzers anyway. Also, Les de Asis doesn't have a moustache does he? Although...

I expect this could be sensitive topic ajrand, but they occur here all the time - just mention Sebenza, for one.

I really like a lot of the BM product. You might come across some past comment here and there concerning quality control issues, but they seem to have redressed this in recent times, judging from all accounts. Their customer service is also clearly top notch - you'll see any number of adoring Angie threads, for example which, while excessive and sychophantic at times, do seem to be warranted.

But the BM Forum is pathetic, in my opinion. Distinct indications of heavy handed marketing there. I wont go into all the detail now (although I still have it here I notice), but here are two reasons why I think so:

- wide eyed junior college kid posts, asking whether he should pay full MSRP - buy from BM direct, in other words. As bloody if. Anyway you could hear the metaphoric pin drop, 100 miles away. BM moderator later instructs those who endeavoured to assist in a diplomatic fashion not to do so, essentially. Ultimately deletes the thread.

That same kid also posts about Autos. He's encouraged by some to 'forget the law' etc - very silly advice generally, but even more so on this occasion. BM makes no comment, does nothing, although you can be certain it was read.

So protecting their prices is more important than the other, clearly. Stuff the kid's future, let's just see his wallet, kind of thing.


- you will be told repeatedly that BM declines to comment on this and that because: "Oh, but this is YOUR Forum" - meaning for the members, not BM. That is galling crap, frankly. Ask something which is both basic and innocuous, say whether the Nimravus has a new grip - not a peep from BM. In stark contrast, see what happens if there is even the most well-reasoned criticism of the product. BM is way more disposed to comment then, in a manner highly consistent with self-interested censorship.

What they are really about is, to suit themselves. That Forum is a marketing exercise, first and foremost. Fluff, a lot of it, so that people who go there come away with the impression that all is wonderful in paradise. In fairness however, of course you can obtain good information from it and there are some really decent and knowledgeable people who participate, no question.

Whether this is because of the moderators or from higher up, I don't know. It isn't good, either way. It's their choice obviously, but I consider it to be very misguided.

All of the above is glaring, if you spend any time at all looking at how Sal Glesser or that Peter ? from Fallkniven for example conduct themselves, by comparison. They are REAL. It is ironic actually, as I do own a number of BM's, but no Spydies or FK's as yet. But the favourable impression they create in the process certainly has caused me to think a bit.

It's disappointing, but BM seems incapable of doing likewise.
 
In another thread, there are talk about custom knives and what constitute handmade knife. Along the way, the issue of 'soul' was brought up .. i.e. how the maker put his/her care and 'soul' into the knife.

I believe, even for a production knife, the attitude of the maker/manufacturer would be reflected in the finished product customer service, attention to QC, etc. With that kind of attitude BM shows, i start wondering about their knives ..

Business has to make profit, that's for sure. But making profit has so many different ways. I don't own a BM, anymore (did have BM239s balisong, which was great) and i never have a Spyderco, but comparing the attitude (shown by Sal on this forum and his own forum here) and BM, it seems to be so contrast. Another fine example are Buck forum and SOG forum here(i don't visit the rest, not saying the rest are questionable, but simply never been there).

What's wrong pointing to a kid where to get your knife cheaper? After all that place is your dealer (internet, wal-mart, whatever).

If one's product is good, one is honest and with integrity, what can one be afraid of being out in the open?
 
By all indications, BM is a successful business. They sell a lot of knives and have a good reputation. Many of their knives (710, 806, 42, etc.) are taking on the "cult" feel of a Sebenza. With their restrictions on dealers in regards to discount price advertising, they are beginning to look like control freaks.

Many knife companies don't have authorized forums just like many computer software companies don't have authorized user groups. The reasons can be similar: too expensive, no capable PR people who know how to deal with customers, and mostly if they allow customers to speak then it is implied they have to listen to them (God forbid!).

I believe BM is a combination of the last two. They unlike Spyderco don't have a charismatic customer oriented leader like Sal Gleser, They unlike Spyderco are unwilling to take customer direct input from experienced knife users and put it into their product. They will tell you what is right and what you should buy not the other way around.

That said, if all of you spent as much time bitching at the BM Forum as you do here, maybe you could get some results. Before you flame me, I do participate in their Forum. I don't much like it but if you don't use it you shouldn't criticize it.
 
I'm not registered at the BM forum so I don't post there, but I do enjoy visiting that site and reading what others post.
I have'nt noticed any excessive heavy-handedness or strick censoring.
The folks there seem rather friendly and helpful--I'll bet alot of the Benchmade forum members are also Bladeforum members.


Allen.
 
switched is right!

i originally entered the forums already half-anticipating the neagative stuff based on what I read about the BM forum from the spydie forum :)

In a few searches trying to find information I did realize the critiques rang true. Their forum is run in a very bad way.

Makes it seem like BM doesn't care much about customers but merely profit and making sure that A) BM always looks good, B)you should only pay full MSRP prices from BM, and C) you can't criticize BM in any way or dicuss issues regarding controversial issues regarding BM

oh yeah and not talk about other manufacturers!

and did I mention not talk about future knives at all?

and what I said earlier...not even being able to talk about trading/purchasing out of production knives b/c BM wants people to only buy NEW knives from them...

very disappointing when compared to the Spydie forum...
 
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