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So you really think a company like KAI decides 30 days in advance to discontinue a product before announcing it.
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Newly Discontinued ZTs
- Thread starter Bigfatts
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The old dilemma of the hard use knife that you also love and/or collect
This is why I almost want to carry a knife I don't like to use/ruin because by the time my favorite blade is a well-loved toothpick, the spare blades will be exhausted. A hundred years ago, people might have had the same conversations about their shiny new Cases, Schrades, and Camiliuses.- Joined
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Companies do calculated tests of markets all the time. KAI probably decided to drop several product lines months in advance, and tested the markets to see how well enforced MAP/RPM policies would work on all product lines, discontinued or otherwise.
KAI's allowing dealers to suddenly go below MAP on the discontinued stuff is very telling.
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That's all well and good but that's assuming that MAP enforcement was long planned out and tested when we know for a fact that it wasn't. It was a reaction to dealers abusing a MAP system that was already in place forcing ZT to enforce it because they were getting carried away.
I don't see how not enforcing MAP on discontinued items is relevant. Its called clearance pricing and happens in every sector regardless of pricing controls.
I don't see how not enforcing MAP on discontinued items is relevant. Its called clearance pricing and happens in every sector regardless of pricing controls.
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I think you peeps are reading a little too much into this. MAP didn't help generate this list. Pretty sure most of these have been close to the axe list for at least a year, a couple of them a little longer. On top of that decision the need to make room for upcoming pieces and collabs is an ever present reality.
I understand giving a tribute to thedeceased er discoed but what this should really be about is being excited for the awesomeness that is looming in the near future! Shot show isn't that far away...just saying
Cheers!
I understand giving a tribute to the
Cheers!
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1) I'm sure ZT will have parts left for warranty. 2) Anyone still wanting one of the discontinued models is going to get GREAT deal right now. 3) Our pal Thomas Welk and ZT surely has something really cool in the works for 2015. We live in exciting times. :thumbup:
:thumbup:
nyefmaker
Gold Member
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Surprised they are dropping some of their most popular models.....!!! The 300 and the 560's I thought were huge sellers. I have a 301 and love it. I think you get a lot with zero tolerance for the $$ spent. Far better than Strider imho at half the price.....!!!
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I'm surprised they dropped the 560's as well. I'm thinking they must be working on something even more awesome to replace it?
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Seems to me, like the 0392 and 0562 covered the new hinderer's. I'm hoping for some collabs with other makers! A ZT/Strider SNG would be awesome! One could only pray for a ZT/Warren Thomas collab.
Daniel Dorn
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I'm just happy I picked up both a 0550 and 0561 this past year. I got extra custom scales for each, as well.
I'm looking forward to the next big one to replace the 056X series.
I'm looking forward to the next big one to replace the 056X series.
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True that. The 550 was also the only knife in the ZT lineup using S35VN steel. The GEN 3 is one beast of a folder, and it's worry free...no de-assisting required. Out of all the discontinued products this is the one that gets me the most. Why stop producing a folding knife that is arguably the APEX of the tactical hard use folder? I'm sure there's a legit business reason (profit margins, not enough sales, etc) but it still sucks. Glad I got mine in July
Vininull, so far you have "sold" me on two knives, the 550 and the Adamas. Great videos, keep them coming.
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- New knives are released at significantly higher initial prices than disco'd knives were - uhhh
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They are? Last I checked the 030x and 0560/1 were the two most expensive folders in the lineup. The 0562cf is 20 bucks cheaper than the 0560 and it has carbon fiber and m390... The 0200 was not much cheaper than the 0770cf and 0801...
Your hard use video was the reason I bought the 550 over any other folder.
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Not after online dealer discounts were applied IIRC.
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Maybe some of you guys can answer a question I just thought of while deciding to spend money I don't have on a discounted ZT 560. Here goes: Are ALL the versions of the 560 and 550 being discontinued, or will certain variants (ie blackwashed models) still be in production? If they are still producing the blackwashed versions, than it is really only the standard version being cut, right?
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When the original lineup came out, they were sold at MAP. That's the way it went for years (I paid 272 for a 0301 and 260 for a 0560) and only after several years would you see some discounts start to happen. It was only very recently that dealers started violating MAP right from the first shipment. That's what eventually ruined it for everyone.
Not quite right... Yes, there are two of the newer models that, at MAP, cost more than what some online retailers were selling for before MAP enforcement. The rest of the new/current models, even at MAP, are either right in line or even a little cheaper than the pre-MAP-enforced prices of the discontinued models.
Some of the more popular discontinued models and what they were typically retailing for before MAP enforcement (data from that "Camel" site that tracks prices on a very large online discount retailer):
0200: MSRP = $200, MAP = $160, typical retail = $130
0300: MSRP = $340, MAP = $272, typical retail = $210
0550: MSRP = $250, MAP = $200, typical retail = $165
0560: MSRP = $325, MAP = $260, typical retail = $215
Some of the current models and their MAP pricing:
0350: MSRP = $175, MAP = $140
0566: MSRP = $180, MAP = $144
0770CF: MSRP = $225, MAP = $180
0801: MSRP = $240, MAP = $192
0562/0620: MSRP = $250, MAP = $200
0562CF/0620CF: MSRP = $300, MAP = $240
Looks like the 0562CF and 0620CF are the only ones that, at MAP pricing, are higher than the pre-MAP-enforced prices for the upper end of the discontinued models. For that $25-30 difference, you get carbon fiber instead of G10 and M390 instead of Elmax or S30V.