Spyderco, no longer the value it once was...

[Neomentat]

Prices of Spyderco knives are going through the roof. I have been a long time Spyderco guy but am now a days finding their knives offering less and less value (although they do offer the most interesting variety of design and blade steel). All the new Spyderco are coming out at around $200 retail pushing $300, that's getting into Sebenza territory and is plain ridiculous.

Not too long ago, Spyderco used to be the value option against Benchmade, however these days Benchmade (even with their MAP price enforcement) is much CHEAPER than Spyderco's new models. Most BM knives are under $200 and their warranty is head and shoulders above Spyderco's, free pocket clips, blade replacement, no $5 shipping charge etc...

Now before anyone jump on me about the made in U.S. Spyderco Para 2, Manix 2 being a good value. First of all, the new Para 2, Yojimbo 2 when they first came out all cost around $90-$100. Nowdays due to demand they're for sale around $150-$175 new on many dealer's websites and that's if they're in stock. So who's gouging us? Did Spyderco increase whole sale prices due to demand or are the dealers trying to make more money? Maybe both? And the FFG Manix 2 is impossible to find also.

I understand supply and demand perfectly and if people are willing to pay these prices for Spydercos then yes they are worth the asking price. I'm simply pointing out that Spyderco's business strategy has changed and is no longer the value option it used to be years ago.

Personally I'm ditching my Spydercos unless the design really appeals to me and going more Benchmade.

 

[Quiet]

I'd like to argue this post, but sadly, I guess I really can't. I was on the preorder list for some of their new releases, and when the BladeHQ email arrived, and I saw all of the nearly $200 prices for VG-10 and plastic handles I just had to pass.

 

[Lee48]

Okay.

But I have not found Spyderco knives to be any more expensive than those made by Benchmade or ZT, the two companies that I consider to make knives of of the same quality as Spyderco. Usually, the selling prices for Benchmade are higher than the selling prices for Spyderco. And ZT costs even more.

You may be confusing Spyderco's expensive "Sprint Run" knives with their standard line. These are limited editions and cost considerably more than the standard line. But you also have to consider Spyderco's "value" line of knives. The Tenacious is probably Spyderco's most popular knife right now and it's available for less than $40 from many retail outlets. Where is the $40 Benchmade or ZT? While the Japanese Spydercos have increased in price due to increased costs involved with the Japanese economy, you can still buy a current classic Delica for less than $60. Again, not much offered in the Benchmade and ZT lines for $60. Furthermore, if you look closely at the Taichung Taiwan produced Spydercos you will find the quality to rival that of custom knives for the price of a higher end production model. It's hard to complain about value when you consider these facts.

Granted the PM2 prices are currently premium. That's due to supply and demand. There just ain't enough of them to satisfy the demand so retailers can tack on that premium to their selling prices. Right now Spyderco is in the midst of an expansion project at its Golden, CO, plant and that's causing delays in production in their USA-made models that is affecting supply.

I guess you can call me a Spyderco fanboy (and I am...along with Benchmade and ZT and several others) but I'm just trying to point out a few facts that might have been overlooked.

 

[Insipid Moniker]

S110V for $110 shipped.

 

[calc]

Nowdays due to demand they're for sale around $150-$175 new on many dealer's websites and that's if they're in stock. So who's gouging us? Did Spyderco increase whole sale prices due to demand or are the dealers trying to make more money?

If Spyderco were to increase wholesale, you would expect to see an increase in retail across the board since each and every retailer would have to adjust. However, this hasn't been the case, since a few shops still offer them for ~$105. The unfortunate fact of the matter is that most retailers charge what they charge because people will pay it.

Most BM knives are under $200 and their warranty is head and shoulders above Spyderco's, free pocket clips, blade replacement, no $5 shipping charge etc...

Now this is something I'm curious about... of which models are you speaking? In general, if two knives of similar style and materials are offered by both companies, I find the Spyderco to be the better value... Para 2 vs. Large Ritter or Bone Collector, Delica vs. Mini Grip, etc.

I'd like to argue this post, but sadly, I guess I really can't. I was on the preorder list for some of their new releases, and when the BladeHQ email arrived, and I saw all of the nearly $200 prices for VG-10 and plastic handles I just had to pass.

New model prices are generally higher right off the bat and tend to settle down after a short time. Additionally, a lot of their higher priced offerings tend to be marketed towards collectors or specific types of users, and with a smaller market will often come a higher price to justify spending the resources to make it.

Granted the PM2 prices are currently premium. That's due to supply and demand. There just ain't enough of them to satisfy the demand so retailers can tack on that premium to their selling prices.

Yes, and thankfully there are still retailers out there that aren't price gouging. OP mentioned $150-$175 for a Para 2, which is just outrageous - if you're patient and do even a little research, you shouldn't be paying anywhere near that. That's not a knock on Spyderco, that's a knock on price gouging retailers. But, at the end of the day, they're in the business to make money, and if they can get away with charging a premium they should do what's right for their business.

S110V for $110 shipped.

Good example.

 

[Quiet]

New model prices are generally higher right off the bat and tend to settle down after a short time. Additionally, a lot of their higher priced offerings tend to be marketed towards collectors or specific types of users, and with a smaller market will often come a higher price to justify spending the resources to make it.

I am hoping that will be the case. I'd really like a Spyderco Roc, but I'm damn sure not paying over $170 shipped for it. That is a fact. I have a Buck Vantage Pro on the way, G-10 handles, S30V steel, made here, shipped? $65. That isn't a direct comparison, as I understand that it couldn't be given the Roc's highly stylized nature. I'm just explaining that to me, style won't be worth another hundo. I'll wait awhile for it to come down.

 

[Clanton]

The last new standard PM2 I bought last month from Knifeworks was $108. Good luck with Benchmade.

 

[Sunyata]

I'm not seeing it.

Some of the sprint runs or special type knives are pricy but still on par with BM or ZT. The main line up are still a great value.

The s110v manix is a great example

 

[calc]

I am hoping that will be the case. I'd really like a Spyderco Roc, but I'm damn sure not paying over $170 shipped for it. That is a fact. I have a Buck Vantage Pro on the way, G-10 handles, S30V steel, made here, shipped? $65. That isn't a direct comparison, as I understand that it couldn't be given the Roc's highly stylized nature. I'm just explaining that to me, style won't be worth another hundo. I'll wait awhile for it to come down.

I hear ya. There are a bunch of apps out there that can calculate and graph price fluctuations on Amazon, if you take a look at their Spydercos, you'll see pretty wide swings in price. Some start high and drop (Domino), some start low and rise (Para 2). As with any purchased good, supply and demand comes into play, as does the hype around a newly released or newly popular item.

I'll also reiterate this point, as the Roc is a good example: Spyderco is constantly innovating and pushing out new models, for which the consumer must pay a little extra. The fixed cost in new tooling and processes isn't trivial; if they were to produce the same models year in and year out with very few additions to their product catalog, maybe they could afford to lower the prices a bit as the variable cost settles in a bit more and the manufacturing process becomes more efficient. But that's the price you pay for CQI and innovation.

And for for those who don't care about that and just want a high value product, there's still the Byrd line, the Ambitious/Persistence/Tenacious/Resilience, the Delica/Endura, etc.

 

[Fanglekai]

Sprint runs tend to be expensive no matter what company. ZT isn't selling their 562cf for $120, for example. Benchmade sprint runs in M390 or M4 aren't super cheap either. Yet I saw the Manix 2 S110V on sale for $105 including shipping. No other company offers S110V for anywhere near that price. For regular production models I see high priced offerings from many companies. If you don't like the price on a particular piece, buy something else or try to pick it up on the Exchange or somewhere lightly used. If you don't need a fancy knife with fancy materials, last I checked you could get a Delica or Endura for under $70.

I think Spyderco and other companies are trying to push the envelope of what they are producing. That costs money. Old faithful standby knives like the Delica, Endura, and others continue to cost little for what you get.

 

[Wolverine666]

Spyderco is the epitome of value in the production knife world. To say that BM is a better bang for the buck is about as far fetched as it gets. Enforcing their foolish MAP rule last year spoke volumes for the company. They want more money from us but they don't want to give us more anything (ie better QC , better steels etc.). Such a joke.

A 707 Sequel , 154CM and Axis = $140. Manix2 with S110V and BBL (plus a whole lot bigger and beefier) for $110. This is a prime example.

 

[Quiet]

The Manix 2 S110V is an amazing knife for the money, I agree. But what is somewhat amusing is how people keep saying "You can get the Manix...etc.". What? No you can't. Every single vendor is sold out of it, and they don't know when they're getting more. LOL Come on, now.

 

[BradT85]

S110V for $110 shipped.

$108 blade in a $2 handle. I wouldnt call it a deal personally because FRN is absolutely terrible.

The para2 for around $80-100, which they are going for on the exchange now, is a great bang for your buck and is hard to beat. I easily prefer Spyderco to BM, but will choose Kershaw/ZT when it comes to bang for your buck any day.

 

[Stays Sharp]

Personally I'm ditching my Spydercos unless the design really appeals to me and going more Benchmade.

I love both companies and which one you will go to more is simply preference but have you been living under a rock? With MAP pricing, Benchmade is the worst company to compare for your argument. Just some examples, a 943 is $183, standard 556 is now $90, and the 710 which typically went for $110 is not $156 is MAP. Axis lock is what's up though but they do not come close to the variety Spyderco does.

 

[RamZar]

The Golden made Spydercos offer great value as long as you wait for them like the PM2. Of course, once capacity is online it should take care of the backlog, introduce more U.S. models and possibly bring home more of the overseas models.

The Taichung knives are some of the highest quality in the world with premium materials. You can even find great bargains in there like Sage 1 and Chaparral 1.

I think it's the Japanese models that are the culprit here. It's tough to pay $200 for VG-10 and G-10.

Spyderco warranty and repair does excellent work on the knives but they're very slow and communicate inefficiently.

 

[Silvanus]

I can see some merit in the OP's argument. I've been eyeing the Southard since it came out, but I've hesitated because of the $250 price. Especially so since the ZT 0550 is comparable (NOT the same, comparable) to the Southard. I just now looked up the price and found it as low as $165. The value just isn't there in my eyes, maybe I'm wrong.

 

[Stays Sharp]

$108 blade in a $2 handle. I wouldnt call it a deal personally because FRN is absolutely terrible.

You should look into how much FRN molds cost to produce before making such a statement. Also, there are many out there who like polymer handles. Works on handguns, works on knives. Ti, G10, SS are all wonderful too, FRN does have it's advantages.

 

[Lee48]

The Manix 2 S110V is an amazing knife for the money, I agree. But what is somewhat amusing is how people keep saying "You can get the Manix...etc.". What? No you can't. Every single vendor is sold out of it, and they don't know when they're getting more. LOL Come on, now.

Not sure about the S110V availability but I see other models of the Manix 2 for sale and in stock with various sellers at the large female warrior website. Good prices too, from what I can tell.

You need to shop around.

 

[Alnamvet68]

Spyderco PM2 $90.00 NAVEX...readily available, and not really sought after by many military. ZT 0566 $90.00 NAVEX as well, and somewhat more popular. Personally, I have just 4 Spyderco's that I'll keep, and one ZT 0350 in orange that I'll keep, and all bought at less than $100.00 each. Same knives today are priced way over what they're worth; of course, YOMV.

 

[sunandsteel]

I don't think this affects me since I grabbed my PM2 for $110 and move in the opposite direction going for the Delica.