MAP Pricing

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gadgetgeek said:
Since its run its course, and we've wandered, knives are probably the least of Amazon's problems. Fake SD cards, USB cables, fragrances, supplements, the list goes on and on. You think Benchmade or KAI have pull at Amazon, try Samsung and Louis Vitton! We barely count, and that exchange program goes both ways. They do have to get their house in order, but they are happy to eat loses on the retail side for now. When they stop, then things change.
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For that reason, many companies are now also instituting a policy that their products cannot be sold on third-party websites. That is to say, that the seller must be the owner of the website, as opposed to having a seller account on Amazon, eBay, etc.
 
Never heard that before..... I think that would be a huge deterrent to buying for a lot of us who might do the resale thing. Which companies? Or do you mean that new knives (as in first retail sale to customer) cannot be sold through an unauthorized dealer?
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
For that reason, many companies are now also instituting a policy that their products cannot be sold on third-party websites. That is to say, that the seller must be the owner of the website, as opposed to having a seller account on Amazon, eBay, etc.
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A few of my vendors, not knives of course, are now offering exclusive lines or internet protected product. Basically, it's the same thing as you can get dirt cheap at below my cost. However they upgrade a few parts (in my case it might be improved seals or gaskets) and give it a ridiculously good warranty compared to what is generally offered. They can't even be sold online. Any mention of them needs to be in a "come in and take a look at..." sort of way. They give it a specific model number and new sticker to keep track of where it came from, and basically the customer walks away with more warranty and better brick and mortar support while I make a sale. Not for your price is king shoppers, but who wants a customer that beats you to death over a nickle anyway.

I have also noticed a few of my vendors only honoring the manufacturer's warranty if purchased through an authorized dealer as well. They'll still sell 500 units to a guy to drop ship and make 20 bucks profit per pump on the bay, but if he's not on the dealer list whatever he sells has HIS warranty. 30 days? 90 days unopened box? All sales are final? Who knows. It certainly won't include labor. You might save a few bucks upfront then get ranked over the coals to get something fixed.

I think manufacturers in all industries are starting to learn this. The whole world can't operate as a cottage industry. Communities need storefronts and places to do business at sometimes. If the vendors cut the legs out from under all the little guys trying to make a buck, then where are people going to be able to go when they need something that cant show up at their doorstep in 2 days?

The world can't operate on Amazon and YouTube DIY vids.
 
22-rimfire said:
Never heard that before..... I think that would be a huge deterrent to buying for a lot of us who might do the resale thing. Which companies? Or do you mean that new knives (as in first retail sale to customer) cannot be sold through an unauthorized dealer?
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I don't have list off-hand, but have seen it from numerous companies through my distributors. It just means retailers (NOT end-line consumers) of the product have to sell it on a website they actually own, rather than selling through Amazon, eBay, or other "marketplace" websites. This helps make it easier to identify the folks selling fakes.
 
I can see why they are not allowing their knives to be sold on the grey market. Because in many ways a premium knife is a luxury item and they need to control their image.

My own experience with this is with watches.
A couple of years ago a bunch of Omega watches showed up at costco. Well the serial numbers were all ground off. And when I looked at them I realised they were old stock at least 3-5 years old. Ironically they were $100 more then list. But since its costco people thought they must be a deal and were buying them up.
Well that watch end up costing the owner much more.
Watches need to be oiled every couple of years and these were borderline. To get a omega serviced is very expensive. But the kicker is Omega won't service it without a serial number.
So what happens is locally Omega gets a bad rap. That they don't keep time well, can't be fixed etc. Other people don't know the other guy who's complaining bought a grey market watch. But it scares them from buying new Omegas.

Tl;dr

I think it can hurt a knife industry the same way. I wonder how many fake spydercos were showing up for warranty before they had to change the warranty wording?
 
jill jackson said:
That is interesting considering I recently read Bezos makes around 3000 dollars a second and the workers about 15 an hour.
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Oy, Jill! I guess the ol’ inverted pyramid model is how ‘trickle down economics’ actually works. We spend the money, and all the profits trickle down to Bezos. ;)
 
Pilsner said:
For those who love the Big River Site, here is some food for thought:

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news...rom-inside-amazon-they-treat-us-as-disposable
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I'm no fan of Amazon, but this article reads like the poor abused worker vs. evil corporation routine. business is all bad. the poor abused worker, who picked to work there which always seems to be ignored, is abused and suffering. no details on how just generalities without any details. typical media. does it continue into details in more articles or is that it?

having said that I dont use amazon for knives at all anymore. I dont trust their procedures and I dont find them as good as the paid dealers here. meaning both price wise and service etc.
 
I will say that the frequent issues I've seen with knives coming from Amazon and the issues I've had with them on other items has soured me. I'll be buying my cutlery from dealers exclusively from now on.
 
jbmonkey said:
I'm no fan of Amazon, but this article reads like the poor abused worker vs. evil corporation routine. business is all bad. the poor abused worker, who picked to work there which always seems to be ignored, is abused and suffering. no details on how just generalities without any details. typical media. does it continue into details in more articles or is that it?

having said that I dont use amazon for knives at all anymore. I dont trust their procedures and I dont find them as good as the paid dealers here. meaning both price wise and service etc.
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Apparently it is the first in a series. I agree, it is highly subjective. However, when examining evidence, it is important to look thoroughly into all points of view. It’s not my article, but it is germane to this discussion.
 
There's a mountain of evidence of backing up reports of Amazon's poor treatment of warehouse workers. Just takes a quick Google search and you can find tons of articles, many of them providing more to back up their claims that that particular one does.
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
There's a mountain of evidence of backing up reports of Amazon's poor treatment of warehouse workers. Just takes a quick Google search and you can find tons of articles, many of them providing more to back up their claims that that particular one does.
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no ones arguing that. I'm arguing if this article series is going to give us details on the abuse and such. the first version was generalities with no details at all given just basically speculation.

I'm not for corporate abuse of working people and anyone who accuses me of that is dead wrong. I am a working person. have been my whole life.

I am questioning this article series as it reads as I stated in my posts already.

for those not catching on I'll make it real easy. I'm being critical of potentially bad journalism. a bad start for sure on the series. we shall see as the series continues whether it becomes quality or not.
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
There's a mountain of evidence of backing up reports of Amazon's poor treatment of warehouse workers. Just takes a quick Google search and you can find tons of articles, many of them providing more to back up their claims that that particular one does.
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There's a mountain of evidence that there are thousands of jobs in the Bay Area if these slave workers want to change jobs (and they should if its that bad). I live very close to Amazon HQ in Tracy CA and Bay Area jobs at the level of warehouse work is plentiful.
 
Stays Sharp said:
There's a mountain of evidence that there are thousands of jobs in the Bay Area if these slave workers want to change jobs (and they should if its that bad). I live very close to Amazon HQ in Tracy CA and Bay Area jobs at the level of warehouse work is plentiful.
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The availability of work isn't the issue. Just because there's plenty of work in the area doesn't make it okay for them to treat their workers like garbage. :p
 
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