Walmart vs. Online stores vs. buckknives.com

Noshtero

Noshtero

Joined
Oct 10, 2002
Messages
1,551
Question for all you buck genious-types.

Why is it that the 110 is:

$70 on buckknives.com
$40 at most online knife shops
$25 at walmart

I understand that buckknives.com is showing MSRP, so I can understand it being a little more. It's the knife shops online vs. walmart/cabellas/whatever that is bugging me. I heard a dirty rumor somewhere that the walmart Buck's were not real Bucks. Kinda like how you can buy a "schwinn" bike at a walmart but it's not a real Schwinn that you would buy a bike shop. The difference, I was told, is that Schwinn reserves specific model names for the department store bikes (the Ranger, for example), whereas Buck uses the same names.

Can someone explain this to me? If the Walmart Bucks are indeed the econo-line, is it worth paying double to get the real deal from an online knife shop?

Thanks.
 
Noshtero said:
...I heard a dirty rumor somewhere that the walmart Buck's were not real Bucks..... If the Walmart Bucks are indeed the econo-line, is it worth paying double to get the real deal from an online knife shop?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

You heard a very poorly crafted and false rumor.

The Buck 110 you get at Wal-Mart will be no different from the one you get at an online store, there is no "econo-line" 110.

You might get a nylon sheath instead of a leather one, but the knives themselves are the exact same one.

Part of it, is plain old supply and demand, a smaller retail store will not sell nearly as many 110's as Wal-Mart, so they will mark them up higher, to make up for the smaller number. The MSRP on Buck's website, is the same as on most manufacturers website, sort of a "guess" about what their product "should" sell for, but in most cases, rarely supported by the market.
 
Hogwash... I think! A 110 is a 110. They do make 'special' runs for several stores - the Alaskan Guides for Cabela's - the 110 in 154CM for Bass Pro - the 110 with a nylon sheath for Wally World, etc. I'll bet W-W makes little if anything off their $26-$30 110's - just using it as a loss leader - to get you in for all those PRC-made other products.

Stainz
 
The thing with Wal-Mart is that they have massive buying power. Also, the way they conduct business with a manufacturer is to demand they provide all costs associated with the manufacturing/delivery of a product. Then Wal-Mart tells the company how much they will pay for the item in order to sell it in their stores at a larger discount than most places. If a company will not divulge all the costs associated with an item then Wal-Mart refuses to do business with them.
 
Ya it's uncharted territory for me. I'm historically a Benchmade/Kershaw/Spyderco type, which you don't find in Walmart. I read the results of a study done by some big time hikers/survivalists where they took like 10 top manufacturer's knives out for 2 weeks of hard use. I wish I could find the article, but I'm sure a lot of you saw it since you're all Buck fans. Anyway, after 2 weeks, the $40 Buck was in the best condition, leaving the multiple hundred dollar BMs and whatnot in the dust.

Interestingly enough. The first knife I ever bought for myself was a Buck 119. I figured it had to be something good if it was called "The Special" :) I was happy to see Les Stroud using that particular knife quite a bit on this season's Survivorman.

Unfortunately, the first Buck on my list is a Hartsook, and I think that's a little too unique for Walmart. I'll check mine though. I'd be delighted to pick one up for less than $20.
 
tom19176 said:
Walmart sells both Kershaw and Spyderco on line....
http://www.walmart.com/search/browse-ng.do?ic=24_24&ref=125872.382905&catNavId=4155
Click to expand...

I sense I may have sounded a little elitest in my last post. I didn't mean too.

You are absolutely right. In fact, the 1660VIB Kershaw Leek is $54 at Walmart, and $71 at my usual online store.

Now that I know the department store Bucks are the real deal, I think I'll have to pick a few of them up. I'll cross my fingers that my hometown Walmart carries the hartsook :)

Thanks guys!
 
My local Tractor Supply did not sell Bucks... Why not? At our WM the yellow box 110 is 34 and change with the nylon sheath, tin is 5.00 less! In China Everybody works {slaves} for the state????????
 
bucksway said:
At our WM the yellow box 110 is 34 and change with the nylon sheath, tin is 5.00 less! In China Everybody works {slaves} for the state????????
Click to expand...


Also ALL 110's are USA made... ;)

(whether or not they come with a leather sheath... cordura sheath... in a clam pack... in a box... or a tin! 110's are USA all the way. Maybe the tin or sheath is not but the knife for sure is.
 
The Wal Mart ones have the nylon sheath, no box (dreaded clam shell that you need hedge clippers to get into!), and as mentioned they probably buy more 110's than the entire rest of the dealers in the country in a year (buying power).

For the military guys around the PX sells them for under $30 with a leather sheath. I'm always watching for a mark down there :)
 
Ah, the best way to try S30V is the Spyderco S30V Native - <$40 at Wally-World - and they have an assortment of Kershaws, as well as several USA made Bucks (Ranger, 110, & 119).

Speaking of 'China'... Never, ever make the mistake that China is anything like our other trade pardners. It is still the 'Peoples Republic of China' (PRC). Sure, you can get all of the fancy machinery you need for manufacturing - and they will use it - and they retain all of the manufacturing control - including the personnel. When through with your contract, they retain the equipment - and can and will be making that product, or something similar, for someone else next month. Even in losing the equipment, the manufacturing cost is hard to beat. Plus, they have become adept at producing their own CNC machinery. And - their machinery is much better made, tolerance wise, than the Taiwaneese equipment. It's the labor cost, but not just in manufacturing - they own the ships, which are usually undermanned - and supply the longshoremen. The first American to touch their products here is likely the truck driver with a container rig. They tried to buy the San Diego piers a few years back. They have buried us!

I'll still buy the occasional PRC-made products - but my knives come from the USA or the EEC (Europe). I am sure the three-fer tin at W-W is nice, but I'll never know... that 110-tin is another matter!

The reactionary elder flatulance,

Stainz

PS I have an old S-B lathe, a NZ-made wood lathe, some USA-made micro-lathes, and both a PRC made mini mill and lathe - decent quality, for sure - but I still wonder how many have to be sold to produce a 'Silkworm' missle for our enemies.
 
ohen cepel said:
The Wal Mart ones have the nylon sheath, no box (dreaded clam shell that you need hedge clippers to get into!),
Click to expand...

Unless they have changed in the last week, ALL local Wal-Marts here have regular yellow/black box Buck knives.

The only time they have gotten in blister pack bucks are the holiday tin sets.
 
The Last Confederate said:
...The MSRP on Buck's website, is the same as on most manufacturers website, sort of a "guess" about what their product "should" sell for, but in most cases, rarely supported by the market.
Click to expand...
One reason a mfg will post their web prices higher than actualy market price is to protect their distributors/dealers. Knowing you can get one from a store cheaper than from the mfg web site deters people from ordering direct from the factory and skipping the "middle man".

Noshtero said:
... I read the results of a study done by some big time hikers/survivalists where they took like 10 top manufacturer's knives out for 2 weeks of hard use. I wish I could find the article, but I'm sure a lot of you saw it since you're all Buck fans. Anyway, after 2 weeks, the $40 Buck was in the best condition, leaving the multiple hundred dollar BMs and whatnot in the dust ...
Click to expand...

If anyone has that article, I would like to read it.
 
As an online dealer--I have virtually removed all but the collectible bucks because of the Walmart competition.

I am not complaining, but it is not a level playing field.

I was looking at the Ranger last year--my cost at that time was $28. The Walmart deal was $25. I bought a bunch (and will this year too) because it is a great knife at a great price and one of these days, they will go up in value (I think).

I'm sure both Buck and Walmart have their business plans in order and they are working for them, but they have effectively excluded a number of quality knife dealers who can't afford to sell their stuff at little or no profit.

JMO
 
Confederate,
I stand corrected. You're right Wal mart is in a box. It's the PX that is in a clam.
 
Guys - I'll set the record straight here. The 110 you buy in Wal Mart is made right here in the Idaho factory. The 110 line is the only production line in our factory that always works two shifts. Wal Mart can sell the 110 for a rock bottom price because they buy a ton of them. The nylon sheath that is supplied with the Wal Mart knives cuts down on their cost as well.

Wal Mart has asked us to used clam packs and boxes - they change their mind on this fairly regularly, so sometimes you'll see clams in Wal Mart and sometimes you'll see boxes.
 
At some level, you have to grasp the fact that WM dictates many things which influence price point etc. Buck is 'forced' (in a way) to agree to their terms. If you saw what WM actually pays for the 110's you'd drop your jaw. WM is a very muscular operation that wields incredible purchasing power, hence the ability to lower the actual cost to the consumer. Buck products are sold all over the nation in WM outlets. The knives are probably the most popular offerings in the hunting department due quality of the blades and their sterling reputation. The Buck name has considerable sales power.
 
thanks Jimmer!!!
here in WV i see the box's..
i agree many stores can not sell as low as WW
my first 110 at a mom and pop store cost me over a day's wages in 1967..
14$ for it and i made 1.50$ an hr.
to day, as a first day on the job electricians helper,
i would pay less then 2 hrs wages at wally...
i still miss mom and pop's hardware though i dont know if i can afford to buy there..
no one at wally knows jack _ or even what _ or shine-ola is...
unless they are my age maybe...
 
thanks Jimmer!!!
here in WV i see the box's..
i agree many stores can not sell as low as WW
my first 110 at a mom and pop store cost me over a day's wages in 1967..
14$ for it and i made 1.50$ an hr.
to day, as a first day on the job electricians helper,
i would pay less then 2 hrs wages at wally...
i still miss mom and pop's hardware though i dont know if i can afford to buy there..
no one at wally knows jack _ or even what _ or shine-ola is...
unless they are my age maybe...
 
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