I'm thirty years old...but good guess. I'm very young at heart.
I think you misundertand a lot of what I'm saying...
I'm not talking about marketing to any crowd that existed in the past. I'm actually saying "
market Buck to those same weekend warriors that read Field & Stream" that you are talking about. (to make up for that lost market, no?)
Do you want to know why?
So that Buck can sell more knives in more outlets and make more money.
Do you want to know why?
So that the company doesn't go under because as you said in your post "
Most people's disposable income today goes towards the purchase of cheap, black plastic items from China."
From what you've posted, it seems like you're saying that these "psuedo" sportsmen of today don't deserve to buy a Buck knife. Well I don't know of any company that prospered with that type of attitude towards any demographic.
On to your point about "
The very fact that Asian products sell like they do is a testament to this. The sportsmen of yesterday would have never purchased these goods."...you already said that that group doesn't exist anymore. Do you want Buck knives to go the same way eventually? If that group of "educated" buyers doesn't exist anymore...who the heck are you supposed to sell your knives to? Wouldn't it be logical to say anyone who wanted one?...or anyone who Buck could get to want one?
I just bought a diamondback from Buck knives that was made in Taiwan. Buck themselves have stated that they need to make these cheaper knives to compete, because as you stated...the average american buys cheap imported knives.
Now let me ask you this question...Isn't this the same group of people that I'm saying should be marketed to so they DON"T buy the cheaper imported knife? If they have the choice of a 20 dollar import and a 20 dollar USA made, don't you want them to make the USA choice? If they're not made aware of the brand, how will you get them to buy it?
To be honest, it seems like you are debating this really basic concept just to debate it. The question is...
Do you feel that "everyone" should have a Buck knife...or do you feel that only "true outdoorsmen like yourself" should have a Buck knife?
It sort of sounds like the latter to me...which to be honest is okay. You should be proud of your abilities and experience...but it doesn't mean you should be so proud that you don't think the average Joe should be made aware of the quality and dependability of a Buck knife.
You should still want other people to support the company even if you think they won't use a knife to the potential you could...so that you'll always be able to buy a Buck knife for yourself...cause the company would still be making them for many years in the future.
Schrade and Camillus lovers can't do that anymore can they? It's cause they went out of business, right?
If you think that these ideas are not compelling...what do you think Buck could do to ensure that they don't go the way of these other fine American institutions?
("But wait, there's more!")
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ginsu
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