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POS Spyderco Ripoffs
- Thread starter FullerH
- Start date
- Joined
- Feb 20, 1999
- Messages
- 1,284
Hello Hugh,
Mr. Dellea has been around for some time, and I remembered that he posted an ad for those knockoffs before, got bashed, and didn't show up for a couple of months.
I guess he's back, and just didn't learn his lesson from the last time.
I wish we can educate him on that, in a more diplomatic way, instead of scaring him off like the last time.
Stay cool,
Dan
Mr. Dellea has been around for some time, and I remembered that he posted an ad for those knockoffs before, got bashed, and didn't show up for a couple of months.
I guess he's back, and just didn't learn his lesson from the last time.
I wish we can educate him on that, in a more diplomatic way, instead of scaring him off like the last time.
Stay cool,
Dan
- Joined
- Oct 3, 1998
- Messages
- 3,264
When a POS knife that "retails" for $9 and goes on "sale" for $4 costs the dealer less than $2, bought in bulk, a lot of dealers will shrug off our outrage for a profit margin like that.
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- JKM
www.chaicutlery.com
AKTI Member # SA00001
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- JKM
www.chaicutlery.com
AKTI Member # SA00001
James, I understand all of that, but I am deeply offended by this guy trying to steal Spyderco's good name and reputation. Considering how much Spyderco has done for BladeForums, I suggest that we, as members, should not tolerate his presence. I am not saying that Mike or Spark should ban him, but we, the members, should make it clear that he is NOT welcome to do this.
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Walk in the Light,
Hugh Fuller
Arlington, Virginia
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Walk in the Light,
Hugh Fuller
Arlington, Virginia
I don't really want to take sides here, and maybe I'm too idealistic, but the people who buy the $10 rip off knives aren't too likely to buy a real Spyderco anyway. We, on the other hand, who realize that quality is worth paying for would never buy a rip-off.
I'm not saying that people who sell rip offs aren't wrong, I just think that they're rather inconsequential. I suppose Sal is the best one to answer the question of "how much do these rip offs effect your bussiness?"
Just my $0.02,
Mitch
I'm not saying that people who sell rip offs aren't wrong, I just think that they're rather inconsequential. I suppose Sal is the best one to answer the question of "how much do these rip offs effect your bussiness?"
Just my $0.02,
Mitch
Sal Glesser
Moderator
- Joined
- Dec 27, 1998
- Messages
- 11,668
Mitch - We believe it to be fairly significant.
Local gas stations have baskets of "Ladybug" KO's with signs that say "Compared to Spyderco at $27 - our price $3.00.
Possible consequesnses are;
1) ELU think that Spyderco is an "overpriced" knife company. Reducing their potential as a future customer that may "gravitate to Spyderco"
2) "I can by seven of these, throw them away and still save money" - The assumption being that the performance is equal. When they are unhappy with the performance, Spyderco is blamed for poor design and they also become less likely to become a future customer.
How many of you have been turned off of serrations because of using another company's serrations before trying ours?
The dealer puts his $20 KO next to our $60 model. He sells them on the original, when he sees price resistance, he offers the KO rather than explain (teach) the virtues of the original.
The Sales numbers also support significant reduction in sales of those models copied.
Just my opinion and I'm biased.
sal
Local gas stations have baskets of "Ladybug" KO's with signs that say "Compared to Spyderco at $27 - our price $3.00.
Possible consequesnses are;
1) ELU think that Spyderco is an "overpriced" knife company. Reducing their potential as a future customer that may "gravitate to Spyderco"
2) "I can by seven of these, throw them away and still save money" - The assumption being that the performance is equal. When they are unhappy with the performance, Spyderco is blamed for poor design and they also become less likely to become a future customer.
How many of you have been turned off of serrations because of using another company's serrations before trying ours?
The dealer puts his $20 KO next to our $60 model. He sells them on the original, when he sees price resistance, he offers the KO rather than explain (teach) the virtues of the original.
The Sales numbers also support significant reduction in sales of those models copied.
Just my opinion and I'm biased.
sal
Sal,
Thank you for you great response. I didn't realize the knock offs effected your bussiness that significantly. I think your comment "Just my opinion and I'm biased" is not just an opinion...you are the true expert on Spyderco (obviously) so your "opinions" are based on something more real than just opinion. It's sad that we live in a money driven world, where you quality products get a bad rap because some "sales people" (if you can even call them that) try to pass off inerior products as your own.
~Mitch
[This message has been edited by UW Mitch (edited 12 December 1999).]
Thank you for you great response. I didn't realize the knock offs effected your bussiness that significantly. I think your comment "Just my opinion and I'm biased" is not just an opinion...you are the true expert on Spyderco (obviously) so your "opinions" are based on something more real than just opinion. It's sad that we live in a money driven world, where you quality products get a bad rap because some "sales people" (if you can even call them that) try to pass off inerior products as your own.
~Mitch
[This message has been edited by UW Mitch (edited 12 December 1999).]
- Joined
- Aug 8, 1999
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- 5,094
Maybe I Spyderco should make a 420 steel version of the Ladybug. If the retail could be reduced to $15 or $20, I believe that Spyderco could reclaim some market share. Also, does Spyderco aggressively market the Ladybug and Dragonfly to people who supply gas stations and convenience stores? I think that if a Spyderco is side by side a POS knife at the 7-11, I think a significant percentage would pick the Spyderco. By the way, if a cheaper Ladybug is made, please still make some of the AUS 6 models for those of us who care.
- Joined
- Apr 16, 1999
- Messages
- 1,094
is it just me or can you hear the difference when you open them
Sal, thank you. I was beginning to feel as if I was crying in the wilderness. I do deem what they are doing to be tantamount to stealing your hard-earned reputation for quality,as I said over in the "Knives for Sale/Dealers" forum. I believe that this is, at best, unethical, and I wish that something could be done to stop it.
On another note, in that other post, I noted that the forumites seem to feel that we somehow own or have some sort of a proprietary interest in Spyderco. I know that this is not so, but I also know that I feel it. I have sensed your amusement and, at times, your irritation, with this, but we do tend to protect our friends and you all are certainly numbered among them.
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Walk in the Light,
Hugh Fuller
Arlington, Virginia
On another note, in that other post, I noted that the forumites seem to feel that we somehow own or have some sort of a proprietary interest in Spyderco. I know that this is not so, but I also know that I feel it. I have sensed your amusement and, at times, your irritation, with this, but we do tend to protect our friends and you all are certainly numbered among them.
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Walk in the Light,
Hugh Fuller
Arlington, Virginia
Sal Glesser
Moderator
- Joined
- Dec 27, 1998
- Messages
- 11,668
Anthony - We'll stick with the higher performance end...it is our choice.
Think of business as an "obstacle course" and they are one of the obstacles.
Reality is a firm, but honest teacher.
Also thank you for the kind words.
sal
Think of business as an "obstacle course" and they are one of the obstacles.
Reality is a firm, but honest teacher.
Also thank you for the kind words.
sal
- Joined
- Mar 20, 1999
- Messages
- 1,163
Have y'all seen the newest knockoffs and the way they are getting around the hole trademark? They have the Spyderco hole BUT it is filled with a cheap plastic thumb disk that breaks and or comes out easily. Some I have seen sold at local gun shows pop out so easily that the sellers are using that as a selling tool. "See...now you've got a knife JUST LIKE the Spyderco."
[This message has been edited by the4th (edited 13 December 1999).]
[This message has been edited by the4th (edited 13 December 1999).]
- Joined
- Jul 17, 1999
- Messages
- 795
The guy is taking a real beating, as he damn well should.Will probably be a few more months before he shows up again!
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AKTI Member #A000934
"The more corrupt the state, the more numerous the laws."-TACITUS (55?-130?)
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AKTI Member #A000934
"The more corrupt the state, the more numerous the laws."-TACITUS (55?-130?)
FWIW, I got a "free" POS knock-off with an order from Brigade Quartermaster. I knew it was a cheap KO, so I felt free to abuse it. BUT, in doing so I came to realize that I liked the "look and feel" (as Apple put it). So, at the next gun show, where I had never even glanced at a Spyderco, I bought a serrated Native. A very nice pocket knife, by the way.
Before that, an $18 Taiwanese KO of an Emerson introduced me to entire concept of the one-handed knife. That knife is a POS that can't be sharpened, but the whole one-handed knife thing hit me like a thunderbolt and the next show I got a Gerber A-F Covert.
I'm not defending cheap KO's. There offensive, both in the gall to copy any design that is remotely successful and in their quality. But for me, they ironically transformed me into a knife nut. Go Figure.
Before that, an $18 Taiwanese KO of an Emerson introduced me to entire concept of the one-handed knife. That knife is a POS that can't be sharpened, but the whole one-handed knife thing hit me like a thunderbolt and the next show I got a Gerber A-F Covert.
I'm not defending cheap KO's. There offensive, both in the gall to copy any design that is remotely successful and in their quality. But for me, they ironically transformed me into a knife nut. Go Figure.
- Joined
- Apr 16, 1999
- Messages
- 1,094
I think you should sue the people who blatently rip off your company, Boker does it (sueing and ripping off designs) but I'm not saying you should rip off other designs
the same thing happened to the Go-Ped
www.go-ped.com
[This message has been edited by TimmyTheTalkingToilet (edited 13 December 1999).]
the same thing happened to the Go-Ped
www.go-ped.com
[This message has been edited by TimmyTheTalkingToilet (edited 13 December 1999).]
- Joined
- Oct 3, 1998
- Messages
- 3,264
There's an terrible curse - "May you have a lawsuit where you know you are right."
Boker is interesting. They market a line called "Magnum" which are PRC POS knives, some of them knockoffs of identifiable designs by well known makers. But if somebody imports switchblades that are clones of the Boker Toplock, there's a "real rumor" that the call to US Customs will come from Boker.
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- JKM
www.chaicutlery.com
AKTI Member # SA00001
Boker is interesting. They market a line called "Magnum" which are PRC POS knives, some of them knockoffs of identifiable designs by well known makers. But if somebody imports switchblades that are clones of the Boker Toplock, there's a "real rumor" that the call to US Customs will come from Boker.
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- JKM
www.chaicutlery.com
AKTI Member # SA00001
Hey Smoke: I saw a fixed blade "version" of an Endura (possibly Delica) also but this one had a hole! It was shown in a popular mail order catalog and from the photo up close you can see "Seki Japan". I can' t positively recall the company but I distinctively remember this fix blade. Perhaps it was simply made for the cataloger as it was not priced at the POS range. And because it is a fix blade, perhaps Seki felt no infringement on the Spyder hole design. Unfortunately the hole does not have a patent design.
L8r,
Nakano
L8r,
Nakano