Benchmade mini knife - 380 Aller

D

dirc

Joined
Jan 31, 2018
Messages
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I had to post this, since it looks like a nice minimal keychain type utility knife, great for boxes/ties/etc. Even has a little pry-tool

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The 'sale' price of $136 is just WAY too high for this imho (msrp is 160).
1.6 inch blade for 30 dollars more than a mini-grip in the same steel? no thx

(I'm not sure what bm marketing department is thinking, I'll be really surprised if they sell more than a few dozen of these at this pricepoint)

Do you expect they'll go down to around $60 ever?
 
dirc said:
I had to post this, since it looks like a nice minimal keychain type utility knife, great for boxes/ties/etc. Even has a little pry-tool

timthumb.php


The 'sale' price of $136 is just WAY too high for this imho (msrp is 160).
1.6 inch blade for 30 dollars more than a mini-grip in the same steel? no thx

(I'm not sure what bm marketing department is thinking, I'll be really surprised if they sell more than a few dozen of these at this pricepoint)

Do you expect they'll go down to around $60 ever?
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No!!!!! From my understanding, Benchmade prices skyrocketed since MAP pricing began. Remember, a knife is worth what the buyer is willing to pay.
 
I think the s30v minigrips for around $105 (typical sale pricing from retailers) are a decent price & value...
I really would like to have been a fly-on-the-wall when marketing was determining a price for this one
 
TheEdge01 said:
.... Remember, a knife is worth what the buyer is willing to pay.
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FTFY ... “A knife is worth what the buyer is willing to pay--to that buyer.”
My guess is that very few will be willing to pay that price for this BM belly-flop.
 
Hmmmmm...

Starting yet another thread questioning the choice of a well respected, profitable, and genuinely good company's production choices. Becoming a bit of a habit. :rolleyes::D

Benchmade knows what they are doing. If this knife doesn't sell it will be discontinued like all the other knives that didn't sell. I'm betting they've done their research on this.

Would I buy this knife? Hell no. I have no use for such a thing. Others might though. Comparing this to a mini grip is apples to elbows. Totally different cutting tools. Bm has been making the grip forever. Do you not think they can make it cheaper than some new design they've never made? Like I've said before, you aren't taking the manufacturing and knowledge of the market into account for a hugely successful player in the knife business. Maybe let them worry about what they should make.
 
Stumpy72 said:
FTFY ... “A knife is worth what the buyer is willing to pay--to that buyer.”
My guess is that very few will be willing to pay that price for this BM belly-flop.
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If a potential customer doesn’t buy the knife, they aren’t a buyer, if they do, then they are a buyer, which is basically what I said, so I don’t quite know what you fixed.
 
What is going on with Benchmade prices? Their quality control has gone way down, and now with sky rocketing prices. Benchmade won't be getting any of my money.
 
I agree that comparing this to the minigrip is apples to oranges, at least in terms of 'use cases' - ... a minigrip is a nice all around edc, this is a utility thing you throw on a keychain.

My point was the cost to make it CAN be compared. They both use s30v steel, but I bet the aller uses about 1/3 as much as the minigrip. Same goes with other cost in terms of raw materials. Perhaps they are spending a LOT more in grinding & finishing costs? I would doubt that, personally.

I think most of us would agree the reason for the higher map pricing is simply profit maximization - which of course they are free to do. More power to them if they think they'll sell thousands of these for $136, honestly.
 
dirc said:
I agree that comparing this to the minigrip is apples to oranges, at least in terms of 'use cases' - ... a minigrip is a nice all around edc, this is a utility thing you throw on a keychain.

My point was the cost to make it CAN be compared. They both use s30v steel, but I bet the aller uses about 1/3 as much as the minigrip. Same goes with other cost in terms of raw materials. Perhaps they are spending a LOT more in grinding & finishing costs? I would doubt that, personally.

I think most of us would agree the reason for the higher map pricing is simply profit maximization - which of course they are free to do. More power to them if they think they'll sell thousands of these for $136, honestly.
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You're still not understanding the business of design, manufacturing, and marketing. All of that is done for a mini grip. They can pump those out in mass. Plastic handles. No anodizing. No new tooling. No paying multiple designers. You can't just think of the materials. Also, this has a completely different consumer in mind than the run of the mill mini grip. It's meant for legal world travel.
 
The PT Barnum knife.
One is born every minute.

BM has become the Harley Davidson of knife companies.
They are selling the brand at a premium price.
 
Bad Ninja said:
The PT Barnum knife.
One is born every minute.

BM has become the Harley Davidson of knife companies.
They are selling the brand at a premium price.
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Reitwagen said:
Yes, it's true, the emperor has no clothes. Can't say as I blame them, I would sell myself as a premium brand, except nobody takes me seriously.
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What a load of total bollocks in both these posts. Go buy a Crooked River, tell me it is sub-par. Whatever agenda is going on in these posts should go take a leak, relieve that stress on the bladder.
 
Bad Ninja said:
My opinion has no agenda.
I think and act freely.
I call em as I see em.
Dial your accusatory tone back.
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Nope. You made a blanket statement based on your on your own anecdotal experience. I have every right, and I exercise it in this forum, to call such out as it truly is. You mention Barnum Statements, or words to that effect, I know what that means - do you?
 
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Pilsner said:
Nope. You made a blanket statement based on your on your own anecdotal experience. I have every right, and I exercise it in this forum, to call such out as it truly is. You mention Barnum Statements, I know what that means - do you?
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Yup. That's why I referenced it.
That's a pricey little thing.
I don't believe it's worth the price.

BM does, and they have a ton of fans that will buy it....and if it was the exact same knife, same price, with the exact same quality, and had a Buck lablel, I doubt it would have such an "enthusiastic" following.

Believe it or not, some people don't share the hive mind.

In fact, there's quite a few BF darlings that I wont touch.

That's not having an agenda.
That's just my personal opinion.
 
I for one have no issue with the 380 Aller, or the price, and will buy one when they come out, along with the 200 Puukko. Both are on my list of all the current new releases so far from BM in 2019.
I won't carry it on a keychain though since it's a friction folder. I think it will find it's way into my left front pocket, especially on the nights that may find me drinking a few ales and in need of an opener. I'm not sure where the quality issues are coming from but my last two BM's were the 485 Valet in M390 and a Mini Grip in combo edge, black blade, blue liners with grey G10, beautiful blue standoffs, and CPM-20CV. Both are flawless.

Secondly, S30V blade, bottle opener, mini pry bar, mini allen tool, pocket clip, and G10 with liners in a keychain size knife? That's a lot of quality, quality materials, and versatility, in a small package. What other quality knives can you buy with those features and materials for less than $136.00 besides the minigrip? I agree, apples and elbows.
My $.02
 
Bad Ninja said:
Yup. That's why I referenced it.
That's a pricey little thing.
I don't believe it's worth the price.

BM does, and they have a ton of fans that will buy it....and if it was the exact same knife, same price, with the exact same quality, and had a Buck lablel, I doubt it would have such an "enthusiastic" following.

Believe it or not, some people don't share the hive mind.

In fact, there's quite a few BF darlings that I wont touch.

That's not having an agenda.
That's just my personal opinion.
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Some of what you say makes sense. But the ‘hive mind’???

Presumably, you think I am part of some ‘hive’. Hahaha. Yeah. Bless.
 
Pilsner said:
Some of what you say makes sense. But the ‘hive mind’???

Presumably, you think I am part of some ‘hive’. Hahaha. Yeah. Bless.
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Lol.
You actually accused me of having "an agenda" because I have an opinion of a tiny overpriced knife. :P

Hive mind is a reference to the way forums collectively trend on brands and products.

I have no use for a knife that size at that price, and cannot imagine why anyone would think it's worth that.... But because it has Benchmade on it, I'm sure some would buy it.

Would you pay that for it, if it had "Buck" or "Case" on it?
 
Bad Ninja said:
Lol.
You actually accused me of having "an agenda" because I have an opinion of a tiny overpriced knife. :p

Hive mind is a reference to the way forums collectively trend on brands and products.

I have no use for a knife that size at that price, and cannot imagine why anyone would think it's worth that.... But because it has Benchmade on it, I'm sure some would buy it.

Would you pay that for it, if it had "Buck" or "Case" on it?
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What on earth are you on about? Genuinely, I am confused. You don’t seem to make much sense. Please explain from the beginning. You are attempting to perpetuate a feud with Benchmade. Go on.
 
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