Question...and a "thank you"

The only thing that I can suggest as an improvment is more a suggestion that might improve your overall business model. We all have our favorite online sources for Esee products and not to take away from them.

However, I would also like to be able to go to a local shop and handle the blades and show them to others who are looking for a new knife.

Ofcourse being in the manufacturing business myself, I know very well that this is not something that is in your hands and you rely on retail companies to agree to carry your line. Which is a lot of work and very time consuming. However, you asked for suggestions and that is the only one that I can come up with as you are a great company with fantastic customer service and great product.

For example, in Ontario and Quebec Canada there is a company called Le Baron. http://lebaron.ca/english/main.htm A great hunting, outdoor, fishing store. This might be a great company for you to look at and sell more knives.

My company sells to Canadian Tire which is a huge company here in Canada that has a very large camping section. There are many other options as well and that is just in Canada. We have a number of retail stores that would be a perfect match for Esee products.

Again, only suggestion that I can come up with. I am a VP of sales and marketing for my company and this is where my brain goes when it comes to business. If you would like a contact at Canadian Tire I would probably be able to provide that in private.
 
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dirtpig67 said:
Actually something like this would be pretty cool. I am not recommending cable TV or anything that big but a well-designed series on youtube would be pretty cool to maybe show the ESEE products in action so to speak. I know there is a lot of stuff like this on youtube already, but a series showing crossing the ESEE line with some of the skills you teach in your survival classes would be something I would like to see. Most people cannot attend the classes you guys put on but are very interested in the skills you teach during them and this would be a good way to spread the knowledge while at the same time promoting your products.
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I'ld like to see this as well.

Given ESEE is growing, while so many other companies are struggling to survive, I'ld say you have product development and customer service under control. Maybe you should offer Business 101 seminars to some of these Fortune 500 companies.
 
R.A.T. said:
Appreciate all the responses, but this post hit on a key point to me. Sometimes we all get "comfortable" in what we're doing and by doing so you eventually lose that motivation and drive that made something great to start with. Stagnation is the biggest enemy to motivation, so our desire is to always push the envelope and constantly evolve. We couldn't do it without the feedback from folks like yall.
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I agree with this completely.

You can always be better. NOTHING is as good as it gets ever.

It reminds me of what my father told me when I was a young man. He said ''Son, the end or a conclusion is just a place where you got tired of thinking''.



Now I haven't been here very long, but I have been around a long time. There is only some much of you and your hands on time that can go around plain and simple. If it was me, I would make it easier for people to buy your knives. By that I mean have an online lay-a-way type of plan.

I mean have people be able to log onto their account and make payments of any amount at anytime they want and when they finally pay $150 or whatever, you ship their knife. It is completely up to them how quickly they get their knife.

I mean how many people out there don't have $150 right NOW for a knife but always have $10 on them that they spend at McDonalds or some place like that?

People always have a little disposable income but not always $150 to $200 worth of disposable income, and they will never save it up for a few months and buy the knife they want. They just keep dreaming and hoping something will change so they can get it, but it doesn't. If you create a situation where they can make a change a little at a time, that might be something they would do.

I think many would rather make a $25 a month payment to their account for six months and get their knife, than spend it at McDonalds or on crap.
 
I would recommend a company newsletter. In it you can put survival skills, company

news and we could all see what was happening and see whats new, or what you've been

up to.

Maybe it could come out every month, or even every other month. You wouldn't have to

mail it out, just email it to the people who want it. When customers write in with their

stories and their happiness with ESEE, you could put that in there too.

Just a thought.
 
Before I started typing I was thinking that it's pretty bad (or I guess really good) when you can't tell the truth without looking like you're a kool-aid drinker or kissing a$$. :D

Jeff, you and Mike the THE MODEL of customer service and backing a product. I can't count how many times I have seen the two of you go out of your way to help a customer with an issue and often times it's something where the customer had a Homer Simpson "Doh!" moment and broke or damaged a sheath or whatever; something outside the warranty of just the knife.

The customer interaction here in the forum is second to none. I have plenty of forums and in fact I have started weeding some out. I don't hang around this forum for the excitement of the latest 3 vs 4 thread but because I enjoy the "from the horse's mouth" information that we get from you and Mike. The group here was great helping me get started with my first ESEE blade so I like to help out the new folks just the same.

Keep doing what you're doing, don't change a thing.
 
Except better shipping Options outside the US (yes there are some Esee Fans in continental Europe) and the hope you don´t start mixing Up your Productportfolio and Pricing i´m more than happy with Esee. Top value for the Money (or look at the GEK 2000 Counterpart "Survival/Outdoor" Knive which costs about 320 $ but with no super big Ad On compared to your Knives) and good Service (I hope - didn´t need it yet).

Last thing as an Idea: No DVD or big shows - but short Clips on the Basics in handling the Knives correct (Battoning - do´s and dont´s, Firemaking with the Esse 5, right handling of the Machete) would be very helpful for the absolut Beginners (nothing fancy).

Andi
 
From the standpoint of a customer, I'd have to say stay low key and focused as ESEE is now. I'm glad to see there's not a flood of new blades and gear in constant variations coming out every month, but a steady stream of quality items.
 
as a customer, I enjoy the interaction and dont see how that could be better, being a MOD on BF for you guys , I try to help out where I can & generate interest in ESEE Products being I stand behind what I use....and Knowing you Stand behind your product.
We as the Mods try to keep things fresh & Exciting between our "real job" and to me that is the most important, Keeping the same level of interest w/o BS people,using the product and calling it like I see it and answering all questions via PM/Emails honestly & to the best of my ability
 
The only thing I think you guys could possibly do that you haven't already done, is to open a second division of your training company. This would be a program to train other companies on how to provide good customer service. You guys are the best in that category and it is only right that you should train others how to try to achieve what you have inately done. KUDOS!!
 
Your doing fantastic. However, as posted prior.....I would like to go to a local retailer and get some hands on with the rest of the Esee lineup, and Im sure your product lineup would boom around here. Although I do like my buds asking/commenting..."What kind of knife is that?" "Where did ya get that?" "Man, I like that" etc. Makes me feel im the pony express of your product, in my territory. All good for Esee and me. The word is getting out. :thumbup:
 
Well, I always liked the name RAT Cutlery, and I am still struggling to accept the name "ESEE" ... :D:thumbup:



Really though, here is what drove me to buying RAT knives:


MADE IN THE USA -Please continue this with the primary line:).

WARRANTY/ GUARANTY -The warranty is near-flawless. I don't even understand how it is possible. :thumbup:

CUSTOMER RESPONSIVENESS- The fact that I can easily contact and communicate with the RAT team is amazing.

REAL OPINIONATED PEOPLE -you guys joke around with your customers over the internet! How cool is that~:cool:. You are not "invisible corporate heads" who give weak-neutral answers to serious questions and tasteless jokes. Keep being yourselves!

GIVEAWAYS- I hope this continues. It blows minds:eek:. :D
 
I think reworking the overseas shipping policy is something easy to do. It may require you contacting me via email to get a shipping rate but many do that now anyway. So we can fix that. Getting the knives into more small retail shops so you can do the "hands on" test is a little harder to do. But we can lok at the possibilities. Mostly it is up to the small dealers to contact the distributors (like Blue Ridge) where they can buy at the best price but maybe we can find a way to reach out to them and see what is possible.
 
MikePerrin said:
I think reworking the overseas shipping policy is something easy to do. It may require you contacting me via email to get a shipping rate but many do that now anyway. So we can fix that. Getting the knives into more small retail shops so you can do the "hands on" test is a little harder to do. But we can lok at the possibilities. Mostly it is up to the small dealers to contact the distributors (like Blue Ridge) where they can buy at the best price but maybe we can find a way to reach out to them and see what is possible.
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Also with regards to the overseas shipping more and more is available through the local distributors so it should not be as complex as it used to be ;)
 
MikePerrin said:
I think reworking the overseas shipping policy is something easy to do. It may require you contacting me via email to get a shipping rate but many do that now anyway. So we can fix that. Getting the knives into more small retail shops so you can do the "hands on" test is a little harder to do. But we can lok at the possibilities. Mostly it is up to the small dealers to contact the distributors (like Blue Ridge) where they can buy at the best price but maybe we can find a way to reach out to them and see what is possible.
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The problem with shipping international when using pay pal you only have 2 options. So in order to reduce the cost you need to increase your time you devote. As I've found out the PO is a PITA so it's not always worth it to decrease the price.
 
I'm kinda grooving on the idea of a quarterly email newsletter as proposed above.
it could include upcoming trainings, a "monthly special", official news, survivial tips, and a community calendar for get-togethers or campouts.
if this is a thing you might be interested in doing, I'd be willing to help.
 
1066vik said:
I'm kinda grooving on the idea of a quarterly email newsletter as proposed above.
it could include upcoming trainings, a "monthly special", official news, survivial tips, and a community calendar for get-togethers or campouts.
if this is a thing you might be interested in doing, I'd be willing to help.
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Still holding out for the ESEE magazine!!
 
R.A.T. said:
Mike and I are back in the office after the Warrior's Conference show in Reno. Neither of us have had time to go through all the new posts but if there is something that anyone needs us to answer specifically, please drop us an email or post it back to the top.

I also wanted to take the time to say thanks to all of you for supporting this forum and our company.

Lastly, we would like your input on how we can become better at what we do. Not new designs but input on customer service, interaction, contests, etc. that makes us an overall better company for the end user. Recently a customer emailed me and said "the one thing that separates ESEE from the rest of the pack is their customer interaction." We appreciate that since much of this company has been built on forum members suggesions and ideas. So, keep 'em coming!

Much thanks,

Jeff
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Jeff, I appreciate how engaged you and Mike are with your entire customer base, from the guys who still get their shorts soggy after buying the 22nd orange handled RC3 they own, to the folks who are buying their first ESEE.

I remember the thread you responded in where you told the old timers to back off the new guys, because the new guys were just as important.

I can think of several makers/ manufacturers off the top of my head who do NOT foster this interaction between all facets of their client base and not only is this a stupid business move, it's a stupid people move as well. What I find really amusing about this is your product costs a lot less and generally does a lot better job than these folks' fine wares.

I'd fervently wish you maintain this aspect of the RAT model.

I think it's also important that you maintain a couple of ambassadors like Tony Dobbs or the Shotgunners wherever you're doing business. Folks in the community acting as solid citizens, always on the lookout for the rest of the crew. Tony is at another forum I frequent and he's a solid presence there as well as here.

I can't ask for better customer service - I broke a knife doing something stupid and you guys are replacing it. It's hard to top that. You encourage folks to make mistakes so we can learn from them, even bigger.

I appreciate you building your knives in USA and am deliriously happy to see Made In USA on the knife every time I use it. Maybe you guys can buy the old Zenith plant in Elk Grove Village (assuming they have not knocked it down to expand the airport) and build TV's too. I just want to watch a television which says Made In USA, but until that happens, the knives are an excellent substitute and far more entertaining.

Just keep building entirely functional knives and gear here, and try not to let it change you from what you guys are doing now.
 
R.A.T. said:
~~~~~~~~~
I also wanted to take the time to say thanks to all of you for supporting this forum and our company.

Lastly, we would like your input on how we can become better at what we do. Not new designs but input on customer service, interaction, contests, etc. that makes us an overall better company for the end user. Recently a customer emailed me and said "the one thing that separates ESEE from the rest of the pack is their customer interaction." We appreciate that since much of this company has been built on forum members suggesions and ideas. So, keep 'em coming!

Much thanks,

Jeff
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teacher said:
I'm not just blowing smoke up your arse's....... But being fairly new to ESEE, I am pretty darn impressed with the way I see y'all do things. :thumbup:
[I mean, what else would I expect from a NE Alabama boy though.... :D..]

My only suggestion is...... keep it up. ;)
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Jeff, after my first post I did think of one thing.

But before I get to that I'd like to say, "you are most welcome" for the thanks you offered all of us for supporting ESEE & the Forum here. It is truly our pleasure. :thumbup:
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Now, for the totally self serving Idea I came up with...... :eek: :D

You need to offer us Etowah County boys a day, every couple of months or so; to come over, bring some cool ones, some food, and we sit around under a shade tree and shoot the shit. Also throw out some ESEE stuff at "deep neighbor discounts" at these happenings. [We gotta take care of each other ya' know.] ;)

Of course we would be sworn to total secrecy about everything relating to these "Etowah County Only" events. ;)

Now is that a plan or what.......... :D:D:D

Keep up the good work..... :thumbup:
 
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