Pricing Policy

[Burke]

While I do not by any means intend this as an attack on Spyderco, who I consider to be one of the most reputable knife companies around, I take issue with their minimum advertised price policy.
1. Shouldn't retailers have the final say in what they are willing to sell a knife for? I am considering a Spyderco Military, and may buy it from Chai Cutlery simply because I like the attitude of the company, though I would end up paying more.
2. The policy creates hassle for buyers. Most deep-discount web-sites sell Spyderco knives for less than the "minimum allowable." In order to find out what the real price is, one generally has to send an e-mail to a mailbot, which then replies. This is extremely annoying.
3. I don't see this policy being effective. I personally know of one website advertising on the web-page, and not through "request-only" e-mail the Spyder Military for 102.67, another for 129.95, and most which claim to comply with the pricing policy at around 160.

In conclusion, I don't believe that this policy has any effect on the marketplace other than making it hard for ELUs like me to comparison shop for what are admittedly good deals at any price, and making it more difficult for honest retailers to compete with those who care less about their relationship with their suppliers.

Allow me to reemphasize that this is in no way a personal attack on Spyderco, but more in the vein of a forumite wondering about a policy which seems to have more disadvantages than advantages.

 

[Marion David Poff]

Burke,

I would suggest that you use the search feature to find and read the original posts and discussion about this not too long after it first came out. Key your search off of sal glesser the president of Spyderco and moderator of this Forum, he began his association with us answering that very question. I would try to paraphrase what he said but I would probably mess up. I too at first did not like the policy and it still bothers me slightly, but there are good reasons for it.

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Check out the future possible Spyderco Worker 2000 www.bladeforums.com/ubb/Forum20/HTML/000224.html

One may want to keep an Eye out for my review of the Bob Kasper designed, Kevin Gentile modified AFCK and interview of Bob Kasper. Sorry about the wait, my review and interview should be online shortly, luckily Spark has graciously offered to do the pictures, look for it right here at BladeForums.com.

Marion David Poff ska Eye, one can msg me at mdpoff@hotmail.com

"A journey of a thousand miles begins but with a single step" Lao-Tzu

 

[Sal Glesser]

Burke - We'll let you know for sure in about a year. We're always evaluating our decisions. The decision was made and carried out to solve a problem that existed. Whether or not it solves the problem, only time will tell for sure. Whether or not it creates a greater problem, again, time. Please try to understand that Spyderco is always trying to manage our company in an "honest, fair and proper manner". This is in our mission. Improvement and evolution as well.

As new problems come up, solutions are sought. Since our company has some uniqueness about it, solutions for others don't always work for us. We must learn our own road, often times the hard way. We apprecate your comments and don't take them as a negative.

In trying to create solutions that work for everyone in the business chain from the raw materials to the ELU, there is a constant change as time and technology alter the way humans conduct business. (Marion, thanx)
sal