Open letter to Spyderco

L

Lavan

Joined
Nov 8, 2000
Messages
2,301
Hi Sal,
I think it would be a great idea if Spyderco would "suggest" to retailers that they should not use PICTURES of models that are not for sale.
In my search for an old Delica 3rd generation, I can't even count the number of retailers and websites that picture the Delica 3 but are selling the 4.

It would end confusion and eliminate irritating of customers who will associate the mixup with the valuable Spyderco name.

Just a thought.
:)
 
Are these retailers actually listing the item as a D3, and using the D3 SKU numbers? It seems to me that a lot of confusion could be avoided by reading the description and double-checking the numbers.
 
Spyderco cannot prevent anyone from using pictures of things that are not for sale. That's up to the individual store.

This should be an "Open letter to whatever stores you are referring to". Send them an email, talk to them on the phone.
 
Good idea. I'll lambaste all the places I find on I-net or ebay that are using D3 pix and D4 text. There should be no need to read description on an easily identified product. I....do.... read the descriptions and that's what pissed me off. The picture is a misleading "lead-in"
Like a bait and switch.
A real time waster.

I do agree that only a moron would complete a sale without reading the description though.
 
And I'll bet a hunnert bucks that Spyderco CAN prevent the use of pix.

What if I sell Chinese knives with a Delica picture and am also a Spyderco dealer? I betcha I would get a lil reminder from the legal dept.

;)
 
Hi Lavan,

Possible? Maybe?

"Policing" is very difficult and expensive. Most dealers do not purchase directly, but from distributors. We don't even know who they are.

The staff required to find "infractions", the actual number of infractions, The cost of maintaining the data, the costs of lawyers writing letters, etc. Pretty tough to do.

Kinda like stopping Cheap copies that come from an unknown source, through unknown channels, sold through unknown dealers and distributors to unknown internet and other customers.

sal
 
Thanks for the reply, Sal. As a retired independent businessman, I know exactly what you face.

Just had to vent.

My only "suggestion" would be a boiler plate blurb in whatever paperwork the ..distributors... get stating that it is a "violation" of Spyderco policy to advertise product with a non-matching picture for the entire distribution chain.

Then they could do as they wish. But...as that old independent businessman that I "was", I always balanced my practices against OFFICIAL manufacturer "policy" while keeping in mind the value of continued relations with the company.

wink, wink, nudge nudge.

:D
 
The problem Lavan is that if an online retailer like NGK, decides to sell Delica 4s but the picture is still of a Delica III that is not Spyderco's fault and I don't think that they can do anything about it.

NGK has a ton of plain edge knives that they sell with pictures of the fully serrated edge. It's just understood that it's a "stock image".

People will use stock images all the time. They always have and always will.

Why? Because they don't care, and people like us read the print anyway. :)
 
Knife11,

NGK was just an example. They are a great place. However if you look at the site you will see what I mean.

Here's an example or two:
http://www.newgraham.com/detail.aspx?ID=5569
(combo edge for sale but a serrated edge is shown)

http://www.newgraham.com/detail.aspx?ID=3927
(a black coated combo edge for sale but the picture is an uncoated combo edge)

I'm not singling them out. Grand Prarie Knives does it, as does Knifeworks, and many others.
 
We are not suppose to be doing that. :o I will forward this to my webmaster.
I am truly sorry for any confusion this is causing.
md
PS, I just pulled the incorrect pics on the two SKU's cited. (not to "cover our tracks", they were wrong, but to avoid more confusion). Please let me know if (and I know there certainly are) you notice more errors. With over 3000 different items on the site, sometime we get lazy. My apologies again. md
 
dear spyderco, would you tell your dealers to remove pictures of knives that are out of stock, it's confusing.... :D :D :D
 
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