Strike is over!

[Guyon]

I have been reading everyone’s thoughts, some put the blame on the company some put the blame on the union workers. I find it interesting that nobody has put the blame on themselves or other people in our country. What am I talking about? Let me say first; I have met allot of great people while dealing through knives. I carry a wide price range and quality in my knife inventory. Here is what I see; The same guy that complains about a $15.00 or $20.00 knife being made in China will pick up a knife in another case and
complain that a knife made in the USA costs $40.00 or $50.00. Then he looses his breath when he picks up a CUDA or a BK77 and looks at the price. I feel that all hard working American people deserve to make a good living. I also think that a great company (like Camillus) deserves to make a profit and prosper. But to do this they need to charge a premium price for there product. How can they do that when other companies like Frost, Rough Rider, ect.... import these knives made in China. In order to get their piece of that
market Camillus, Buck, Boker, United ect... has to import and carry a China made knife line. This is called the free market folks.

When I first started selling at trade shows 90% of what I took to the shows were knives made in the US. So many people wanted a $10.00 or $15.00 knife, I had to start carrying more of the “China Knives”. Now I carry about 50/50 China/US knives.

True knife collector are a cut above, but they make up a small group of knife buyers. Most people in the US are price shoppers and quality follows a distant second. The problem (if it truly is a problem) is that the knives made in China, and Taiwan are of higher quality than they were years ago. American technology is being implemented in the other countries. Cheep labor with higher quality control is producing a good knife at a low price. Do I sell these knives? Yes. Do I buy them, do you buy them? Yes. Is it going to stop? No. Instead of pointing a fingers at Camillus and its workers why dont you buy
all of your loved ones a good American made knife for Christmas, hey while your at it buy yourself one or two. Last but not least look around your house. How many things do you own that was made in another country, how many of those products were made in the US 10 years ago?

Well put Tom. I agree that much of the blame has to do with how Americans support their own interests. The "Wal-Mart" economy is to blame, as are the folks who buy into it.

As for me, I'd just as soon bury a "Made in China" knife as look at it. But then I'm not most folks.

 

[KKHansen]

Myself, I don't feel the American people had anything to do with Camillus' decission. They made a great product, had a great name, following and customer base.

There will always be that Mall Ninja, gotta have the coolest, badest looking blade out there for $10.00, There will always be a flooded market for cheap, disposable items....That is what the American people have come to.

R** D**** Vacuums or most any other brand are cheaper to replace than have fixed, crash your car and Insurance companies total them.....We live in a market that has a Disposable Product Mentality.

I would rather buy from an old time American Company and have done so but when the Old Time American Company elected to import and sell junk I will take my American dollar elsewhere.

I have a number of CRKT knives and full well know they are made with parts that are imported and assembled here....I have 4 CRKT Hissatsu's and I am sure the knife is completely made in Tiawan or simular but no other caompy offers anything close and the knife is not junk.

If Cadillac started having it cars made in China should the American buyer still support them....I don't think so. It is bad enough that Chevrolet has plants in Mexico but the illegals come here to work but that is another Rant.

I think Camillus had a great chance of a come back but the Union and Management made a lot of errors looking out for how was number 1 and lost momentum and support from the buying public. Then to opt to import a product that sells for $10.00 with the Camillus name and hope Horde would flock and buy them is again a mistake.

Not pointing fingers at any one party, I guess this whole mess would fall under the new coined phase for Military Errors....Fog of War and life goes on.

Karsten

 

[Mountainwind]

There will always be that Mall Ninja, gotta have the coolest, badest looking blade out there for $10.00


Karsten

This to me, this is the thing that hurt the US knife industry the most. The younger generation has forgotten what a good folding pocket knife is all about. And a good basic hunting knife, is no match for a bada$$ looking knife to hang on your belt, or clip to your pocket so everyone will think your one bad dude.
Kinda like the arm tatoo that Van Diesel has, that everyone else had to have, so everyone would think their a bad dude just like him.
Yep, a tatoo or killer looking blade, makes the man.

 

[KKHansen]

This to me, this is the thing that hurt the US knife industry the most. The younger generation has forgotten what a good folding pocket knife is all about. And a good basic hunting knife, is no match for a bada$$ looking knife to hang on your belt, or clip to your pocket so everyone will think your one bad dude.
Kinda like the arm tatoo that Van Diesel has, that everyone else had to have, so everyone would think their a bad dude just like him.
Yep, a tatoo or killer looking blade, makes the man.

But you buy all those killer looking Fantasy Blade, killer Tat's, Gauge'd ears and pierced this of that and one day you wonder why...

Buy the good stuff that is gonna last for years even thought it isn't cool, Mall Ninja Certafiable.

But I have to admit Kat on Miami Ink is Hot even though she is a self proclaimed NERD.

Karsten

 

[Bladite]

well, in part, or in whole? here's some areas to lay blame:

the government that gives, practically encourages companies to take all kinds of incentives, to off shore things, WTC, having official offices not in the country to save taxes, that hires 3rd world people at $0.02/hr which frankly isn't a competitive living wage here, let alone minimum wage... and the companies that actually TAKE these loopholes and sell out.

camillus is just hurting themselves. i won't buy a new product from them, just got a nice new/used BK on the for-sale forum, and will continue to collect/trade a few items, and esp older items pre-camillus.

when ethan jumps ship and products his line again elsewhere, i know who i'm buying from.

companies can choose their path, we can vote with our $$$

bladite

 

[CRKS]

GUYON,

I was looking at your avatar. If and when you find one we would all like to know if you got the entire package (denim and all).:thumbup:

 

[Guyon]

GUYON,

I was looking at your avatar. If and when you find one we would all like to know if you got the entire package (denim and all).:thumbup:

Well, the "denim and all" trucks with gimmejr. I just want what's in her back pocket.