Spyderco Consumer Announcement

In this case, it might be good for Spyderco overall. Several retailers had mentioned they no longer carried the brand because the individual retailers are selling the product at cost, and it's hard for retailers to make any money off the line. The issue is that much of the 2014 and 2015 line up saw a drastic increase in collaborations (and cost), probably more than at any other time. To add to this, the prices of some of these newer items was much higher in comparison to previous years and on par with some other companies. If this adjustment means that the brand becomes a viable line for retailers, it will help it survive on shelves for those that want to pay for the newer collaborations. Some still feel that the newer collabs are priced well above their comfort zone.
Comparing this to what other manufacturers have done is viable, but the MAP amount makes it different. A 40% off MSRP is not that hard a pill to swallow, than say 20% MSRP or even 15% MSRP. In terms of the USA made line, I think it will be fine.
 
This new MAP policy is quite disheartening. Knife guys, as a general rule, tend to be self-reliant, freedom loving people. That's what makes us knife guys to begin with. The imposition of artificial restraints on the freedom of buyers and sellers to engage in free commerce runs afoul of this notion. That's the core reason why MAP pricing makes us grumpy.

The consumer keep getting kicked in the shins with stuff like this, and is always told how its all for his own good. Well, that's hog hockey. MAP pricing is intended to protect or increase Spyderco's revenue stream by artificially inflating the prices of their products. I stopped buying Benchmade knives when they did this, and I can stop buying Spyderco. If everyone did this, they would stop kicking us in the shins and expecting us to smile about it.

Consider the Delica, which has a completely arbitrary MSRP of $109.95. Multiply by .6 (that is, 40% off MSRP) and you get a 2016 price of $65.97. The gray Delica is currently available for $54.10 shipped from one of America' largest online retailers. So Spyderco's new price-fixing scheme means that Delica will cost 22% more next year. That translates to a $44 price hike on a $200 knife. Great news for the consumer, right?

Maybe the title of this thread should be "Spyderco announces 22% price hike next year! :):):):)".

If bricks-and-mortar stores can't compete with online vendors, then they should be allowed to go out of business. The herd is strengthened, not weakened, when its sickest members can't keep up and are eaten by lions. MAP pricing is little more than a consumer-funded bailout of a business model that is no longer competitive.

I love Spyderco, and Mr. Sal may be the nicest guy on Bladeforums, but I won't be participating.
 
I personally see it from a business perspective and completely understand some of the reasoning for implementing it. For example, Spyderco offers a program for police, military, and firefighters in which they sell knives at 50% off retail. Heck of a deal, except places online are already selling them at 50-60% off msrp.

I understand why I never see spydercos in brick and mortar stores, they simply can't compete. This will level out the playing field. I'm sure it will result in prices being a little higher and that's a reason to be upset. I hope they didn't do it just to inflate prices. It's not a reason for me to stop buying them.
 
powernoodle said:
This new MAP policy is quite disheartening. Knife guys, as a general rule, tend to be self-reliant, freedom loving people. That's what makes us knife guys to begin with.
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No, liking knives is what makes us knife guys.
When Benchmade enacted MAP, I said "So what?"
Now that Spyderco is doing it, I say "So what?"

The Canadian to US dollar exchange rate affects my knife buying power far more...if I were going to care about something, that would be it.
It would also be pointless, because I can't change the reality of it...just like with MAP.

So, in conclusion, "So what?"
 
This is just the "advertised price" I presume you can still get on the horn and swing a better deal.
 
I've never understood why MAP is even legal. When a manufacturer sells their products to a retailer, at an agreed upon price, that should be the end of their control over those products. MAP smacks of arrogance and elitism.
 
While I'll never be happy paying more for something as opposed to less, it won't stop me from buying the Spyderco knives I want. If it happens to help smaller stores compete, I'm ok with that.
 
Just come out with more s110v paramilitaries and I'll call it even Spyderco!
 
For some reason, whining about MAP reminds me of "Back in my day..." rants, which reminds me of this:

[video=youtube;-o-7MmhqNfA]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-o-7MmhqNfA[/video]

:D
 
Jim malone said:
Sad news. As a "foreign" buyer i can't buy in Europe due to the fact that they use MSRP pricing. If they implement MAP on online vendors i fear buying Spyderco's is a thing of the past sadly.
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So you're saying you can only afford to buy Spydercos when you can get more than 40% off MSRP? They're not stopping online vendors from discounting MSRP, only capping the discount at 40%, and only a handful of dealers regularly discount deeper than that now.

As for prices in Europe, that probably has more to do with taxes, and tariffs designed to encourage "local" industry by making goods from outside the EU prohibitively expense than with MSRP. Wholesale + shipping + the charges I mentioned are what determine the price. Spyderco MSRP isn't changing, nor are their wholesale prices, so the impact of MAP on EU prices should be nil. What difference does telling someone who doesn't discount at all that they can't discount more than 40% make?
 
I have mixed feelings on this one. On one hand, 40% off MSRP is still a significant discount on Spyderco products and means a very small pricing change at most dealers. My dealer will have to raise prices a little as his current Spyderco prices are 45% off MSRP. Benchmade only allows 15% off MSRP for their MAP policy and ZT only allows 20% off MSRP.

For those of you hoping for "Add to cart for price" situations, BM and ZT have stopped dealers from doing that, and I'm expecting the same from this policy.

The major upside of this policy is, obviously, that there will be no price hike for 2016, and it may curb future price hikes.

While I do think that Spyderco's approach to the MAP policy is reasonable, I also have some misgivings. The current policy is reasonable, but it is also subject to change any time Spyderco wants. The discount is 40% off MSRP now, but it could easily be 30% next year (or even in six months if they want). I understand that MAP policies are designed to protect dealers who can't afford to give huge price cuts, and I respect that. On the other hand, I tend to frown on artificial limits placed on these transactions as well. We'll see how this all pans out.
 
Sad, spyderco is my favorite, I own then almost exclusively. I haven't bought a benchmade since map pricing. At 40 percent I'll probably still buy spydercos, but much less frequently. It's not necessarily the price hike, just the idea of map pricing doesent sit well with me.
 
After reading the posts above and educating myself more on the issue, I completely understand why Spyderco has made the decision they have.
 
I don't like MAP pricing on principle. Even if the price doesn't increase significantly it is a consideration. At least it's 40% I guess.
 
stabman said:
For some reason, whining about MAP reminds me of "Back in my day..." rants, which reminds me of this:

[video=youtube;-o-7MmhqNfA]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-o-7MmhqNfA[/video]

:D
Click to expand...
Do you understand what MAP pricing is? I don't see how it is any way a "back in my day" thing.
 
MaxFisher said:
I have mixed feelings on this one. On one hand, 40% off MSRP is still a significant discount on Spyderco products and means a very small pricing change at most dealers. My dealer will have to raise prices a little as his current Spyderco prices are 45% off MSRP. Benchmade only allows 15% off MSRP for their MAP policy and ZT only allows 20% off MSRP.

For those of you hoping for "Add to cart for price" situations, BM and ZT have stopped dealers from doing that, and I'm expecting the same from this policy.

The major upside of this policy is, obviously, that there will be no price hike for 2016, and it may curb future price hikes.

While I do think that Spyderco's approach to the MAP policy is reasonable, I also have some misgivings. The current policy is reasonable, but it is also subject to change any time Spyderco wants. The discount is 40% off MSRP now, but it could easily be 30% next year (or even in six months if they want). I understand that MAP policies are designed to protect dealers who can't afford to give huge price cuts, and I respect that. On the other hand, I tend to frown on artificial limits placed on these transactions as well. We'll see how this all pans out.
Click to expand...


ZT prices their products realistically and Benchmade does not, lets hope Spyderco does not follow their lead with completely. Spyderco has always been my go to brand because of the value. Currently I can get a Delica for $55 or slightly less, for a very small and simple knife made out of non "exotic" that is a ok price that I feel is a bit high but I will pay it because I know I will be getting a good quality knife. I won't pay $65-70 for the same knife next year.

I think part of the problem is Spydercos MSRP prices are ridiculous.

It looks like a few places have already raised their prices.
 
johnny_boy02 said:
ZT prices their products realistically and Benchmade does not, lets hope Spyderco does not follow their lead with completely. Spyderco has always been my go to brand because of the value. Currently I can get a Delica for $55 or slightly less, for a very small and simple knife made out of non "exotic" that is a ok price that I feel is a bit high but I will pay it because I know I will be getting a good quality knife. I won't pay $65-70 for the same knife next year.

I think part of the problem is Spydercos MSRP prices are ridiculous.

It looks like a few places have already raised their prices.
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I think you may be on to something. I just checked the place I buy Spyderco's and the PM2 retails for $197.95.
 
MSRP on the Slys is $500 -40%=$300 . That's a lot of cash for that knife I know people say is a great knife but for that price I will pass . There MSRP are ridiculous . The only winner is there China product .
 
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