New goodies coming

[DrMegabyte]

All of those, including the original 110, are arguably overpriced. So drop everything by 20 or 30 bucks, new 110 at $179.99.

But of course the problem lies with the mega fans. If its overpriced, but it still sells out, it will continue to be overpriced. Lets not forget that they sold a knife for $500 last month because it had purple titanium scales on it.

I think we need to decide what we define as "correctly priced" and decide from who's POV we are looking at it from.

 

[DrRollinstein]

I think we need to decide what we define as "correctly priced" and decide from who's POV we are looking at it from.

Is $500 a proper price for purple scales?

 

[Generalist]

The fit and finish should be better to justify such pricing.

 

[DrMegabyte]

Is $500 a proper price for purple scales?

Given it sold out very quickly, one could argue Buck underpriced it ... But again it comes down to how you define "proper price."

It wasn't a "proper price" for me as I didn't see the value proposition in "High voltage purple anodized titanium handle with bronze PVD coated fasteners" and a "Satin-finished MagnaCut steel, straight clip point blade with tumble-polished steel thumbstuds" but 50 people did.

I bet for the accountants at Buck, that $500 price felt "right proper" as they recorded a super quick $25,000 cash injection into their Q2 cash flow.

 

[DrRollinstein]

Given it sold out very quickly, one could argue Buck underpriced it ... But again it comes down to how you define "proper price."

It wasn't a "proper price" for me as I didn't see the value proposition in "High voltage purple anodized titanium handle with bronze PVD coated fasteners" and a "Satin-finished MagnaCut steel, straight clip point blade with tumble-polished steel thumbstuds" but 50 people did.

I bet for the accountants at Buck, that $500 price felt "right proper" as they recorded a super quick $25,000 cash injection into their Q2 cash flow.

Agreed, perspective plays a role. I'm sure the new 110 is going to sell out extremely quick, but it definitely feels like they're alienating their entire fan base for extra profit. I bought my 110 in 2020ish for $45 and now they're $90 in most areas. Greed + inflation is a dangerous animal.

Obviously they've got a ways to go before they can match Benchmade (the BM Narrows keeps coming to mind), but its not a great path to be on.

 

[SharpBits]

Ah, so Buck should cut wages and benefits and scrape by on minimum profits?

They still sell lower cost knives, including a US made under $80 knife.

 

[Sharp & Fiery]

Ah, so Buck should cut wages and benefits and scrape by on minimum profits?

They still sell lower cost knives, including a US made under $80 knife.

I don’t think that that is the message here. I think the entire message is that knife prices in general have gotten out of control.

$250 is a good chunk of money to be spending on an aluminum framed knife that is known to be a workhorse over history.

 

[SharpBits]

Then seemingly the only alternative was to not release it and not try to develop new products. Just keep making the same old same old until your customers die off and you end up like all other closed knife manufacturers.

I certainly don’t like the prices from any manufacturer these days and frankly I can no longer afford much. But I also understand how difficult it is for manufacturers to continue to stay in business in the US these days.

 

[Lesknife]

I remember just a couple years ago that the standard 110 was being sold through the big chain stores for $34 and some were $28. Crazy thing is the 112 in some other stores was priced at $47 to $52 during that time period. I couldn’t get that low of a price directly from Buck factory even with my discount. Msrp was around $60 for the 110 and $58 for the 112. I just don’t understand the pricing for a lot of things. I assume the large volume through the big retailers is contracted at a certain price. My way of thinking is that the mark up, cost of materials, supplies, labor and cost of operation like electric power and other utilities will dictate the msrp. But whadoino ?

 

[SharpBits]

Buck was probably losing money or close to it with the Walmart deal. Walmart deals are designed to make Walmart richer, not their suppliers.

 

[Sharp & Fiery]

But I also understand how difficult it is for manufacturers to continue to stay in business in the US these days.

And herein lies the problem. Insanely increased prices everywhere across the board. I totally get what you are saying, J.
We cannot get into the discussion any further here.
I feel for manufacturer’s that have had their overhead costs skyrocket.

 

[DrRollinstein]

Ah, so Buck should cut wages and benefits and scrape by on minimum profits?

They still sell lower cost knives, including a US made under $80 knife.

Never said this.

Obviously not really the place for an in depth discussion about this, but I highly doubt a $250 buck 110 is at bare minimum profit level because they put a different lock and aluminum scales on it.

And no they shouldn't scrape by on whatever their minimum profit would be, that would be silly and anti capitalistic, but that doesnt mean every new release needs to make as much profit as possible. Would they make more long term profit if the knife was under $200? Or is it worth the less sales they will get at $250? We can only speculate.


I personally love the new 110, checks all the boxes for me, but im going to wait until I can find one second hand or on sale.

 

[TheFishman]

When Buck raised their 110 prices back in January, a relatively small YouTuber (HT'S EDC) released a video (My Buck Knives concerns) on his thoughts on the price increases. CJ Buck responded to the video and left a comment explaining the price increase. CJ explained why the WalMart price was so cheap and other factors that have affected their bottom line.

He stated "HT and Gents...interesting video and reading of your comments. Will reach out to HT and have a discussion. There is plenty to share. There are two basic points I want to clarify. The first is for decades, Buck Knives was such a known value that our knives were used by large retail as a "loss leader"...meaning they were selling our knives below our wholesale price. Buying from us at a volume discount and then selling at virtually no margin for them as an enticement to get customers in their stores. The volume created was beneficial but over the long term it was damaging the value proposition of our brand. I sometimes assume that the more something costs the better it is...I know that is not always true but most times it is. We were being underpriced up to half in the marketplace and felt it was hurting our brand. When we fixed that it reduced our volume and did not increase margin for us as our sales price to dealers did not change, however it manifested as a substantial price increase in the marketplace as dealers and online sellers were now able to make a proper return on selling our products. That was 5-6 years ago. What happened last year was the impact of higher/uncertain tariffs and the dramatic reduction of import products in our product mix. This reduction of imports isolated our domestic production and we learned how much we were depending upon the profits from imports to hedge "breaking even" on our US made products. Our shop wages have gone up 50-60% over the last 5 years as well as increases in raw materials and utilities. The old adage of lowering the water level lets you see the rocks...Our pricing had not kept up with our rising costs and the demands for higher quality materials, CNC components and the wages needed to hang onto our best people...manufacturing products worthy of being passed down thru generations...these decisions were not taken lightly. It is bad on us for not keeping up and having to correct in this manner all at once. HT...appreciate you reaching out and giving me an opportunity to share."

 

[DrMegabyte]

Would they make more long term profit if the knife was under $200? Or is it worth the less sales they will get at $250? We can only speculate.

I’d hate to be a price analyst at Buck Knives. Talk about a tightrope walk. Coming up with an MSRP on a new model requires balancing an insane matrix of competing, localized, and macroeconomic pressures. Here are just a few I can come up with off the top of my head:

• The Core Base: Pricing cannot be so high that it alienates the loyal fans who built the brand.
• Macro Inflation: Prices must rise to absorb the ~3% annual increase in raw material costs (steel, brass, handle materials).
• The Post Falls Factor: Absorbing the intense wage pressures driven by the skyrocketing cost of living and housing right in their Idaho backyard.
• Market Competition: Remaining competitive with aggressive, fast-moving rival knife brands.
• The Retail Split: Giving independent, direct dealers enough margin to survive, while simultaneously meeting the brutal volume "price points" demanded by Big Box retailers.
• Line Hierarchy: Ensuring any new model’s price perfectly matches its perceived value relative to the rest of the existing catalog.
• Competing with the Past: Ensuring a BNIB (Brand New In Box) knife isn't priced so high that it pushes buyers straight to eBay, where thousands of indestructible, lightly used, "guaranteed for life" vintage Bucks are waiting for half the price.
• The Dual-Catalog Identity Crisis: Balancing two completely different buyer personas and supply chains. "China-Bucks" have to compete strictly on Value + Budget, while "USA-Made Bucks" command a premium driven by Quality + Heritage.

I personally love the new 110, checks all the boxes for me, but im going to wait until I can find one second hand or on sale.

We both agree. We both love the new model and we both feel that $250-ish, even if it is the "right price" for Buck, is not the "right price" for us.
I'll wait for the BCCI discount or for a "I tried it, carried it for a few weeks, I don't like it" sales posting.

 

[Generalist]

When Buck raised their 110 prices back in January, a relatively small YouTuber (HT'S EDC) released a video (My Buck Knives concerns) on his thoughts on the price increases. CJ Buck responded to the video and left a comment explaining the price increase. CJ explained why the WalMart price was so cheap and other factors that have affected their bottom line.

He stated "HT and Gents...interesting video and reading of your comments. Will reach out to HT and have a discussion. There is plenty to share. There are two basic points I want to clarify. The first is for decades, Buck Knives was such a known value that our knives were used by large retail as a "loss leader"...meaning they were selling our knives below our wholesale price. Buying from us at a volume discount and then selling at virtually no margin for them as an enticement to get customers in their stores. The volume created was beneficial but over the long term it was damaging the value proposition of our brand. I sometimes assume that the more something costs the better it is...I know that is not always true but most times it is. We were being underpriced up to half in the marketplace and felt it was hurting our brand. When we fixed that it reduced our volume and did not increase margin for us as our sales price to dealers did not change, however it manifested as a substantial price increase in the marketplace as dealers and online sellers were now able to make a proper return on selling our products. That was 5-6 years ago. What happened last year was the impact of higher/uncertain tariffs and the dramatic reduction of import products in our product mix. This reduction of imports isolated our domestic production and we learned how much we were depending upon the profits from imports to hedge "breaking even" on our US made products. Our shop wages have gone up 50-60% over the last 5 years as well as increases in raw materials and utilities. The old adage of lowering the water level lets you see the rocks...Our pricing had not kept up with our rising costs and the demands for higher quality materials, CNC components and the wages needed to hang onto our best people...manufacturing products worthy of being passed down thru generations...these decisions were not taken lightly. It is bad on us for not keeping up and having to correct in this manner all at once. HT...appreciate you reaching out and giving me an opportunity to share."

That's a great explanation that helps me understand what has felt like extremely rapid price inflation on Buck knives over the last 10ish years. Thank you for sharing.

 

[Ironbut]

I think we need to decide what we define as "correctly priced" and decide from who's POV we are looking at it from.

Right. I bought my first 110 about 50 years ago, at K-Mart I think, for $15, and I don't see the current 110 or 112 as overpriced. I also have no problem paying Custom Shop prices for what I want.

A knife is nothing more than a tool that cuts stuff. A $18 Opinel, or a $28 112 Slim Select will do that job very nicely. Anything that costs more than that, is just what makes a person happy.