"Tenacious" model

[kshaw07]

I agree, it's not cheapening, it's expanding their market and offering a larger selection of great knives for different needs and uses. I'm pretty sure Spyderco wouldn't offer ANY type of new knife/brand without ensuring its quality. I think the Tenacious and the Byrds are really good knives and have made me a satified customer. By the way, these Spydercos are addicting.. just received my awesome Dragonfly and I'm already eyeing a Delica..

 

[resinguy]

We are not the enemy! Outsourcing and insourcing are! Like you said when they outsourced your good paying job to India, now all you can afford is chinese goods. What happens when you can't afford even these products? who will buy them Sal? The Chinese who make 40 cents an hour in a labor camp.

I know you all don't like the truth about economics and so I know you will all call for my head. To me the issue comes down to corporate greed.

You can make the items here with american labor and take a little less profit. Most of the corporations have chosen the easy way out, that way they don't actually have to sell their products on the merits and do marketing. Just offer the lowest price and walla you get to market to Wal-Mart.

I love spydercos products it is just sad that they have to go this route.

I beg to differ. For many manufacturing companies, it is not a matter of greed, but simply survival. Many businesses have net profit margins of 10% or less. If labor/production expenses go up 10 - 20%, then they would lose money. They cannot simply pass through the increases, or else many customers will vote with their dollars and find a cheaper product elsewhere.

 

[ilbruche]

You can make the items here with American labor and take a little less profit.

Well, what do you suppose an average worker at Spyderco makes? maybe $15 to $20 an hour depending on their position? A skilled job isn't going to pay minimum wage. A skilled position demands a higher salary. Labor costs are a companies largest expense.

If you make them here the labor cost increases the price. What are the ways to decrease labor costs? Well, you could pay your employees less. But then your skilled workers would seek employment elsewhere.

The Golden factory isn't that big. I'd say it employs 30-40 people? So to make this higher volume you need to either increase the size of your workforce or overwork your current employees. None of which are good solutions.

Sure we would like everything we buy to be "American Made". But lets face the reality that most Americans aren't willing or able to work for what a Chinese worker will. Deciding who's fault that is requires a seperate thread.

 

[jaislandboy]

So I just got a Byrd G-10 Flight the other day from New Graham and the build quality of these Byrds keep on getting better and better as they "evolve" through time ...the clip has been changed to a black "skeletonized" one which is both lighter and more discreet, and the tension of the clip on this one is "spot on". :thumbup:
If the F&F of the Tenacious is better than this G-10 Flight then I am confident that the Tenacious will be an excellent knife regardless of its origin of manufacture. Here are some lock and spine pix of the Flight.

 

[Grey Mullet]

Well, what do you suppose an average worker at Spyderco makes? maybe $15 to $20 an hour depending on their position? A skilled job isn't going to pay minimum wage. A skilled position demands a higher salary. Labor costs are a companies largest expense.

If you make them here the labor cost increases the price. What are the ways to decrease labor costs? Well, you could pay your employees less. But then your skilled workers would seek employment elsewhere.

The Golden factory isn't that big. I'd say it employs 30-40 people? So to make this higher volume you need to either increase the size of your workforce or overwork your current employees. None of which are good solutions.

Sure we would like everything we buy to be "American Made". But lets face the reality that most Americans aren't willing or able to work for what a Chinese worker will. Deciding who's fault that is requires a seperate thread.

American companies also have pay for overpriced US health care. Ford does not make the Crown Victoria or Mercury Grand Marquis or in the U.S. anymore, they are made in Canada.

 

[knarfeng]

I have a problem with companies that take existing US production and move it out of country.
I do not have a problem with a company that expands into a new lower priced market by producing in a foreign country while maintaining and even expanding US production.

Spyderco is doing the second one. Works for me.

And I would like to thank Sal Glesser for his candor and forthrightness in explaining his decisions. He did not have to do so. Such communications are what make Mr. Glesser one of the giants in the knife business.

 

[Vivi]

I just got done handling my Tenacious, and politics aside, Mr. Glesser has delivered a quality product. I see it as a good move, a way to reach a different group of consumers while still offering distinct quality in a product. If someone is unwilling to spend over 40$ on a knife, it's better to have a knife that fills that persons needs than to have no product at all to sell them. The Byrd knives are one way to do this, but I think the Spyderco name and the round hole (Plus the spyder on the clip) belong on Spyderco designs. I'm excited that Sal has found the means to offer a fully branded Spyderco at the pricepoint he has.

And I would like to thank Sal Glesser for his candor and forthrightness in explaining his decisions. He did not have to do so. Such communications are what make Mr. Glesser one of the giants in the knife business.

Such is one of the reasons why I buy Spyderco. Being able to personally communicate my concerns and praises with the man in charge himself is a wonderful thing.